You smiled blearily as a large, crimson feather embedded itself in the wall beside your head, and the hero began his slow approach. Rolling your shoulders, you dropped into an action stance, breathing deep and unsteady in your exhaustion. Hawks shook his head with an incredulous chuckle, and you didn’t flinch as he placed the razor-sharp blade of a feather beneath your chin and lifted your eyes to his.

“Come on now. There’s a fine line between perseverance and stupidity.”