The cold January night was starry. A pale full moon colorized the world in shades of blue and grey. The dark, firs cast shadows in the glittering snow.
This was a great night for hunting.
The adrenalin was running through his veins. Eyes and ears were sharp. Not faintest noise, the faintest move would slip his keen attention.
But he couldn't fully thwart the slight scrunch of his very own steps on the slightly frozen surface. A human ear would most likely not be able to hear him, but the prey was not human.
Not tonight.
The casualty had extraordinary senses. He was made for the night and could fade in the shadows.
The Hunter wrinkled his nose. A cloud of his own breath came from his mouth. He could smell his pray. The smell of sulphur and its soft fur was for him a well defined hint. It was near. He looked upward. Was there bright yellow shine of its eyes somewhere in the branches?
His heart started to beat a bit faster.
The hunt was his life. It was his destination. This night was so perfect for this. And his heart sung in joy awaiting the fight.
"Come out wherever you are", he thought with a faint smile, „I'm ready."

The other knew him well. His opponent for years now, he didn't felt himself as prey any longer. Tonight was his night and he was prepared for the facing his contrary.
With agile lightness he had made his way through the top of the trees.
The Beast was somewhere down on the ground. Near. Just to near for his taste.
Right now he was safe. The foe was not half as agile as he was. And the predator wouldn't crawl in the trees- aside he had to do so. He was too heavy. His rival weighted much more than a man of his high and shape normally weight. Often this was a plus- but not in this case.
He could see him by now. The hunter was directly below the tree. But it was even dangerous to look at him. His bright yellow eyes would give away his hideout in seconds. So he closed them, fully focused on the rest of his senses. When he wanted to surprise him, he had to be fast as lightning.
If there was ever some like "the right moment", then it was now.

Delicately, and within the strength of a wildcat, he jumped down straight against his adversary. While he fell, he could hear that the metal claws of his rival where piercing trough the skin of his knuckles. By the very same moment he realized that the other had turned, to avoid the hit on his body.
The Predator was regardless of his weight, dainty like a dancer.
The feet of the shadow touched the snowy ground and his hardened sword impinged on shimmering admantium.

"To slow" commented the hunter his ambitious try with a sardonic grin. Using his other fist, to ram the metal in the leather protected chest of the shadow. But the prey disappeared in a yellow cloud of stinky sulphur. Just to behind him. He laughed and tried to tousle the hunter's hair, while this one was turning angrily around.
"Yersel, Herr Vielfrass. If I were you, I would sue my hairdresser!" said the shadow amused.
He was jumping backward, out of the reach of the contrary. Just in time he could parry the strike his claws with the blade.
"Do you have any idea how much hair-gel I need, until it looks like this?" the combatant snarled in another fast and grim attack.

The Shadow grabbed a lower branch and swung himself up. While he was swinging upward, he hit the head of the hunter with is feet. The Predator stumbled in surprise. This gives the dark creature a moment to relax himself. He jumped down behind the other. But the hunter recovered faster, as the swordsman has bided.
With unearthly speed  and a snarl he turned around, storming at the prey and obviously he was not willing to play games any longer. The Shadow tried to fend of the angry and briskly blows with his sword. He swerved his body from the deadly blades. But then he failed. He tripped over a thick root, while he fled backward and lost the focus for a single moment. It was long enough for the predator. He bumped his deadly shivs into the leather suit of the dark one. Just his presence of mind saved the shadow from a certain death. In the very nick of time, he disappears in a cloud of yellow smoke.

Kurt ported again on the low branch and looked down his stomach, examining his black uniform. It had three well defined holes. Just there, were the lines of the X concurred.
"Toll. It was just fixed. Now I can repair it again...", he said with a sigh.
Logan's claws disappeared in his hand with a little 'cling'. He folded his arms in front of his chest and looked very satisfied.
"This was a win. I feel someone owes me a nice mans-purse of moosepee..."
"Damn again. Remember me to die next time..." said Kurt looking still at the holes in his leather suit, "So I don't have to pay my current debts. It will cost a pretty penny to fix that"
"Too bad!" Wolverine smirks, "but I warned you."
"Sure", Kurt muttered and put his sword in the sheath again.
"Someday I will win..."
"Someday you might learn not to play with the big boys."
Kurt jumped from the tree next to his friend.
"Since when are you big, Herr Järv?", he asked putting his arm around Logan's shoulder. "You might be shocked now, but I can grand you that you're everything but tall, sweetheart"
The small, brawny man left the words uncommented.
"Work on concentration, dude", he said serious now. "You were great tonight."  
"Next time I win. What's about a beer?" Kurt asked.
"That's the cue, Elf ", Logan said opening his uniform jacket, looking for cigars. One he offered Kurt, one he took in his own mouth. While lighting a Zippo he grinned.
"Ever heard of Wolverine spurning a beer?"