Maya bears down with her strength, but even when he's completely human, it turns out that Derek has formidable strength.

She'd sort of known that in theory, but in practice it's a whole lot different, and she'd kind of been expecting to push him down. Having the tables turned takes her by surprise, makes it easier for him to throw her down.

She scrambles back to all fours almost immediately, an irritated yowl tugging itself from the back of her throat. But she catches that grin as she starts to pace back and forth in front of him, tail swishing. The yowl dies in her throat, and there's a moment of silence in which she prowls a full loop around him, looking for a hole in his defences. And then she chuffs again, sounding almost smug.

Made you smile.