A Silent Sparring Partner

A nocturnal challenger appeared upon the metal rail of the balcony. It was a mantis, slender and poised in a stance of strict, motionless balance. Sensing a duel of patience, I did not strike. I raised Galaxia just enough to align its golden point with the creature's folded forelegs, offering an honorable challenge. For several unbroken minutes, neither of us yielded an inch of ground. When a sudden gust swayed the nearby branches, the mantis uncoiled its limbs, bowed its triangular head, and took flight into the shadows. A disciplined exchange, concluded without bloodshed.