Rat had seen and dealt with a lot in his young life. Even some things that might stretch the imagination of others here. But this, this he had never seen before. This was not natural. This was caused by that mask. But this realization would be coming too late for him.

He cried out on the first impact, cracking ribs and folding an arm under him in a direction it hadn't been designed to go. His vision swam, and on the second blow he crumpled like a doll. He was still alive though. His breathing ragged and painful, his body shaking with pain. He knew he was going to die here. He'd pushed it too far. Picked the wrong fight.

But he wasn't about to just give it up. He slowly shifted, as though he were trying to get back on his feet. He wasn't going to die in a heap.