Pride still severely wounded, Merrick had taken to pushing himself even harder when practicing. Too slow, he kept thinking. Too clumsy. Stupid. So damn stupid--

It took a great deal of concentration, so when a nearby human addresses him, he grits his teeth in anger.

Merrick's reply comes a split second later, when he flings a throwing knife at the human who spoke. It whips right past his face and embeds in the wall behind him, just a hair's breath away from hitting flesh.