Justin laughs, breathless and pleased as he watches the cat run off. He won. He won, despite his weakness and sickness and lack of practice. He feels like himself again, in a way that he hasn't in years. He's powerful again, capable, skilled.

He's standing tall and strong and Bertie's crumpled on the ground. Justin takes a step forward. There's a searing, overwhelming pain in his right hip, and he looks down to see blood and muscle and bone. But right now he's too high on adrenalin and recent victory to care about crippling pain.

"It's gone, Bertie! You can get up!"

Get up and look at him. See what he did. Be pleased with him, be proud of him.