"Nah, I think it adds to the ambiance." Another stomp, more cracking bone, and now he can sense fear as well as lethal rage. It's that fear that he chases, though he often doesn't get it - the fear of a much faster, much stronger creature, the disbelief of being taken down by something puny and weak.

The fear and the pain. It rushes into him, making him almost dizzy.

But he also knows better than to tempt fate too far, and the thing is still dangerous. He swings the blade down on the back of its neck, and with three hacks it's severed through to the floor. A second of nothing much, and then the body beneath him collapses to dust.