Natasha pulls away, ducking back as quickly as she can and circling to the left. A blow like that wouldn't do any serious damage, but it would hurt and she'd have t heal.

She doesn't back out or regret her choice, but it's occurring to her that she needs to avoid injury more than she used to. Animal blood doesn't help her recover as much as human did.

Alex isn't the only one who wants to win; Natasha rushes in again, reading the other woman's moves as well as she can and dropping lower in an attempt to get under her guard, aiming a quick pair of jabs at her abdomen, followed by a kick aimed at her knee.