Sparring with the Sentinel

A real warrior never ignores an opponent waiting in the shadows! Resting near the weather-worn brick chimney, a massive pigeon landed with a heavy clatter of claws on the tar paper. It puffed up its chest, cocked its head sideways, and locked an orange beady eye right onto me. An imposing rival at last! I dropped into a balanced front stance, kicking up a dusting of crushed gravel under my boots, and thrust an open palm forward to signal the challenge. The feathered titan blinked, took a slow, heavy waddle back, and let out a deep, throaty coo before conceding the perimeter to me. Victory is uncontested!