Scary Blue [Edreina]

[Razkar]

"Tis wading."

"Wading... Way-ding..."

Razkar turned the new word over in his mouth a few times like he was tasting a fresh morsel fo meat. There was a time he would mouth a new word in Common for hours, just to get his pronunciation right. The Myrian smiled inwardly. Now he was almost fluent, and even new words were quickly assimilated...

Just don't ask me to give a lecture on Alchemy or some such.

For a moment Edreina just wore her usual thoughtful expression and then-

"... Edri?"

Razkar frowned in genuine concern as it looked like the barbarian was having a seizure. Her eyes slammed shut, her face went red, and her hands tightened on the netting. He wading... no... would that be "waded", he wondered? Like "run" and "running"? Well, regardless, he was soon closer to her and saw the flush adding yet more color to her face, felt her...

Breathless.

The sight of that feeling so close to him... he hadn't experienced it from a female since he left the jungle. He thought of his Ayatah, now Goddess-knew-where among the barbarians of Zeltiva, but his own traitorous libido briefly imagined a very different person coiled around him.

Pale. Lithe. Innocent. And what happens to innocent things? They get corrup-

Enough! He willed himself, frowning so deep his eyes were nearly crushed from view. Have some self-control, or have you forgotten what you would be betraying?

That seemed to shut him up, and just in time, because her azure eyes flashed open and Razkar was suddenly glad his bottom half was underwater. Fortunately the Suvan was fairly cold at that season.

"Sorry! I just... uhh..."

Razkar blinked once... twice... and then he felt his eyes widen. He recognized those telltale signs, too. Sudden shyness, a complete lack of cogent sentences, flustered, disoriented... but no, it must have been something else. He was a savage, after all. Edreina was...

Better than you? No. But you're not her type, brother.

"I will teach you how to wade in one place instead of having to move as you do now."

He nodded a little faster than he needed to, elated that she was seizing the initiative he'd failed to and was plowing on this this suddenly-uncomfortable incident. She waded away from him and started to demonstrate, her arms blossoming from her sides like pale, shimmering wingers under the water.

"Just as your legs are your power, your arms are your balance. You try..."

He scrutinized her every move, watching her arms move in a graceful, logical sweeping. It was pure physics - offsetting unbalancing forces with other, opposing forces until equilibrium was found - but she made it... almost like a dance. Razkar frowned again. Task at hand, boy!

The water plopped and splashed briefly as he cast off from the netting, arms pumping. Pumping... yes, not quite as graceful. He splashed an flailed, the aforementioned opposing forces horrendously out of whack. He gulped down a mouthful of seawater and almost vomited at the salty nastiness of it, then steeled himself and... floated.

Waded. Wading. Whatever.

"It is... not an easy thing." He said eventually, frowning down at his own body, half-buried under the lapping waves, as if it was a foreign entity. "But I suppose it was be easier with more time."

Razkar grinned at her, trying to inject some of that innocent humor and excitement back into their encounter. He rallied and circled her slowly, enjoying her rolling eyes as the student tried rather pitifully to outclass the teacher.

"So, what you want train? More of what I show you last time? With punching and body-"

Body. Bad word. Those images and sensations and shivering images slapped around behind his eyes again and he had to grit his filed teeth before he could almost gasp out.

"Or gladius! Or ax! Ah... those... those are good, also..."

Goddess, man, how old are you again...?

[Edreina]

"It certainly gets easier... the more you practice." Edreina smiled brightly at her pupil, strange feeling forgotten at the sight of the Myrian fumbling about in the gentle surf. He looked at his own body as if someone had suddenly attached another appendage to the center of his chest. The playfulness in his grin and the way that he tried so desperately to impress her with his half-circle wading infused Edreina with a sense of jollity of her own. Grinning, she dove beneath the water, beneath Razkar, hair probably tickling his still stiffly-moving feet, and emerged behind him, grinning widely. "Last one on deck is a rotten fish!" She shouted, prodding the Myrian in the back gently with one foot. Spinning about, she reached up and took hold of the deck's railing with one hand, using it to fling her other arm over the railing. Despite how much strength the action may have looked like it required, Edreina had become quite proficient in her years of being shoved overboard by her brother. Tilting her hips, she swung on leg up onto the railing and rolled onto the deck. On her back, quickly being baked dry by the warm sun, Edreina laughed gleefully and rolled to see if Razkar had beaten her. To her great surprise, the Myrian had beaten her by seconds, it appeared. Perhaps his strength had allowed him to scale the net more quickly than she had flung herself onto the deck. With a frown, she rose to her feet. "Guess I'm the rotten fish, eh?" The frown did not last long as it was defeated by yet another expansive smile. The Myrian's breathing was slightly accelerated from his effort - and success in - beating her. The sight of it as well as his wet, chiseled form threatened to bring the nearly translucent image back to full opacity. Blushing lightly, she turned and went to retrieve her clothing. For once, the sight of her own near-nudity bothered her in the slightest. It made her remember that in some cases, nudity would be the preface to other events. Kneeling - for bending over did not seem entirely appropriate in her current state of mind - Edreina retrieved and wormed her way into her clothing, hoping that the less-than-comfortable material would keep her wandering mind preoccupied. "So... I believe it is your turn to teach me more about fighting," she said, rising back to her feet. Looking at the mast, and not the Myrian standing behind her, Edreina took a moment to center herself and her thoughts. If you don't stop thinking like this, you're going to do something you'll regret... silly... childish... immature wantings are not worth the ruin of a friendship. Besides. You are entirely not his type. He probably prefers women who are darker, tattooed, and certainly more... adventurous. Her mental scolding left Edreina slightly crest-fallen, as if the part of her that was still just an over-curious young woman had hoped to see what would come of her still muddy feelings. That is all that it is, Edriena... curiosity. With a quiet sigh, she turned back to Razkar, lounging back against the mast with a small smirk upon her lips. Her expression had shifted quickly from disappointed to expectant, one fiery eyebrow arching gracefully over churning blue eyes as she waited to see what she would be taught today.

[Razkar]

"Last one on deck is a rotten fish!"

After so thoroughly showing her waterborne superiority over him by surfacing on his opposite side, Razkar was definitely up to the challenge issued by her. He felt her toe dig into his back and turned in the water, a far slower and noisier proposal than on the land. Arms flapping, legs pumping, he saw he already reaching up for the rail...

... and lunged forwards.

Getting his hands around something solid again was satisfying. With this, he knew where he stood and was no longer an amateur. Razkar had been climbing since he was old enough to walk, and had the upper body to give more than enough leverage for when-

-he hauled himself up with both hands, knees lifting up towards his chest so his feet cleared the railing. He gritted his teeth as the strain tore into his shoulders and lower back, landing... less than gracefully.

But landing before her.

Panting on his side, Razkar gave her a dung-chewing grin as she was preparing to do the same to him. He chuckled breathlessly as her smirk of victory turned into a frown of nigh-on-incomprehension.

"Guess I'm the rotten fish, eh?"

The Myrian shook his head, trying and failing to be magnanimous. In between pants... Goddess, she was right about swimming taking more out of you than expected... in managed to shrug and let his body relax for a moment, stretched out on the deck.

"Not rotten." He winked. "Just slow."

Her smiled split open her face, white teeth flashing against freckled skin. Razkar had to resist the urge to shake his head. He knew countless females in Falyndar, but none had Edreina's... whimsical innocence about them. He knew it was over-simplifying her, but he also knew that such tendencies were beaten out of Myrians from a very early age. No place in the jungle for softness, or weakness, or whimsy.

Seeing it here, in her, was... almost blinding.

Her face flushed again and she rolled over, going to get the rest of her clothes. Razkar did her the favor of looking away, not wanting to ogle her like some horizontally-erect child. He had to literally snap his own neck in the opposite direction to get that to work, but still... it worked.

But he couldn't close his ears, though. He listened to the soft rustle of cloth sliding over wet flesh. Blinked and imagined that flesh, how-

This is getting tiresome.

"So... I believe it is your turn to teach me more about fighting."

Razkar turned and saw her leaning against the mast, all poise and expectancy and cool... attraction. His throat tightened as he focused on the flowing mane of red hair, wondered if it would be rougher or smoother than Ayatah's silky-

Ayatah. Yes. Remember her?

The Myrian took a deep breath that shook slightly at its midway point. It was a curse, sometimes, being young and having limited control over your bodily functions. But he would rise to the challenge, as he always did. Besides which, they were friends, were they not? Such a silly thing to stymie a friendship over.

He rolled the muscles in his shoulders and neck, welcome for the chance to get his head back into a familiar mindset. The mindset, as far as Razkar was concerned. It was his solace, his sanctuary, his... beat.

Even as he walked towards her, he found his heartbeat altering. His pace slowed, muscles rolling and moving more calmly, more controlled and disciplined. His hands unconsciously moved into half-clenched fists as if preparing to strike with them. The Myrian stopped before and his gaze became suddenly cold, radiating lethal intent like smoke off dry ice.

"You sure this training best for you?" He asked, genuine concern on his face clashing with the mask his face had become. "Will try to void it, but you might be hurt. Way I fight is not like knight in story. Is fast and nasty. You understand?"

Razkar wanted her understanding, and her gaze would penetrate her until she answered. Sparring and training for him was always a grueling, painful process, because he had been taught countless times that pain was a teacher. You remembered it, and its lessons. He did not want to inflict that on her...

But he wanted her to learn. He wanted her to be able to defend herself.

The briefest of grins settled on his lips before fleeing. Shame she can't always have a wooden mug in her hand...

[Edreina]

If a Myrian tiger hunted on two legs... the thought flashed through Edreina's mind as Razkar approached. This side of him was different than any she had seen before. His posture, his expression, even the look in his eyes... they all seemed to heighten his savage appearance. Gone were the gleeful, playful smiles to which she had grown accustomed as the day had worn on. His walk became one of sureness, as if the mindset which he had entered was as natural as the one that Edreina entered when caving. Blue eyes darted about to take in simple, minute features such as the way that his stance changed, loosened while attaining a certain sense of rigidity, the way that his hands instinctively curled into half-fists. The sight was utterly enthralling to Edreina. Svefra she knew, they never took on such a stance. But... then again... she had never seen a Deepseeker in battle. When he came closer, Edreina could feel the power rolling off of him such was his sureness that Edreina was, quite suddenly, a minnow before a barracuda. The thought caused a slight tremor to roll across her lithe frame, her toes tightening on the deck and arms fighting off gooseflesh. "You sure this training best for you? Will try to void it, but you might be hurt. Way I fight is not like knight in story. Is fast and nasty. You understand?" Something about the Myrian's eyes and his expression clashed violently, as if some unreadable emotion was trying to worm its way through the stark mask of indifference that he had constructed. Suddenly, Edreina did not like this change. She silently wished for the Myrian that had become her friend and not this rigid instructor. Edreina chewed on her lip for a moment, considering the possibility of deciding upon learning something else, simply for the sake of regaining her friend. However, with the rumors brewing, some knowledge in fighting may come in handy. "I'd rather a shark teach me to fight than a Keai..." The analogy would be lost upon the foreigner, she was sure, but it affirmed her own thoughts. "Do not spare me. I am a strong girl. And..." this she said with a small, teasing smile, pushing off of the mast. "The more mistakes I make now... the fewer I will make in the future." Her blue eyes danced with excitement as she walked past the Myrian, back onto the open deck. Your friend is still in there... somewhere... He won't hurt you too badly. The thought was hopeful, as if assuring herself of her own safety. With a gentle exhale of breath, Edreina took on the mindset that she would were she about to dive. Her thoughts came unrushed, as did her breath, her muscles lost tension as she took her stance, one foot back and her lead fist in front - as instructed. Unable to halt the smirk that danced up and onto her lips, Edreina nodded to the Myrian, preparing to either accept a lesson, or react on pure instinct.

[Razkar]

"I'd rather a shark teach me to fight than a Keai..."

Razkar's lips quirked into a brief smile. He had no idea what a Keai was - probably some kind of small, helpless fish, given the context - but he had heard variances of that analogy many times. They amounted to the same thing.

Better the strong than the weak. Because in battle, that's all there is.

"Do not spare me. I am a strong girl. And... the more mistakes I make now... the fewer I will make in the future."

He nodded his approval at her words, and the stance she took a moment later. She had the right mindset, that was for sure. She was willing to accept the pain and punishment his training would entail, and that was important. But Razkar knew as well that most trainees did: it was only after the first blows had marred their skin and jarred their organs that their resolve was truly tested.

"Let us hope you are not wanting."

There was the briefest respite as they took stock of each other. Razkar knew the Svefra was lithe and agile; her body shape and movements attested to that. That would aid her greatly... but she needed the ruthless certainty to go with it.

And some dirty tricks to help.

He lunged forwards with a right jab aimed at her head, half-speed. As expected, she swayed to her side, feet following her body as she side-stepped. No tremble in her. No wavering in her eyes, just a slightly increased breathing rate. The Myrian nodded as they circled each other at the center of the deck.

"Good. Speed is good. But not always the... obvious? Not always the clear-"

He lunged again, this time swinging to his left, bringing up his arm in a broad haymaker-

The obvious.

-and when she sidestepped again, he punched his right fist into her stomach.

And the true.

A short, powerful strike that doubled her over, but the pain would not be long on her boy. Razkar was pulling his punches, after all.

As she gasped air back into her lungs, his voice was as steady and insistent as ever.

"Enemy has two hands. Two legs. Head. Teeth. You must see all of them as threat. As way to hurt you. Just because you see one, does not mean one is true." He held up his right fist. "This was true. Learning?"

He waited for an answer, silently flexing and unflexing his stiff, wet legs. A small voice cried out in him that he was hurting the poor girl, this friend of his that sat and conquered her fear of him during his ritual, that taught him to... wade, and stirred buried feelings in him.

Lust and physical attraction, surely, he admitted to himself. But also the desire to protect. To ensure that for all the blood and carnage he coated his steps with, there was still innocence in the world to be protected.

But that is not battle, he told himself coldly, the words of his instructors throughout the years coming back to him with unrelenting logic, and in battle, only the savage and skilled survive. Only the smart and strong. She must learn this. I must teach her.

"Now." He said when she recovered. "Attack."

[Edreina]

Edreina responded immediately to the first attack of the Myrian, side-stepping quickly and ducking slightly. Despite this, she did not blink nor look away from her instructor. A sense of honed focus descended over Edreina like a cloak, giving her new awareness of her limbs as she tried to place them carefully, body still getting used to the solid surface of the deck. "Good. Speed is good. But not always the... obvious? Not always the clear-" As the two moved about in slow, steady circles, Razkar's voice was clipped, but something in his expression showed... pride? You didn't get caught on the first blow... But don't get cocky! He's holding back. Just as the thought danced through the red-head's mind, the savage lunged forward with a sweeping swing that Edreina easily avoided, dropping lower and to the side. Impact The blow itself did not really register within the Svefra, only the pain. It felt as if someone had pulled on a jib too quick and caught her in the ribs, physically moving her body with the force of it. Air knocked from her lungs, Edreina had to fight the urge to double over, only bending for and instant before she righted herself, blue eyes icy as she reexamined her opponent. She gasped once, shaking her head to fend off a cough - Did her red hair just draw the Myrian's eyes? Even for a second? - then focused in on what her instructor dictated. As he held up his right arm, Edreina felt her eyes narrowing of their own accord, as if being reminded of her injury focused her even more. The Myrian was obviously not entirely steady upon his feet, having not yet gained his boat-legs entirely. He carried himself with sureness, but seemed to rely heavily upon his power and knowledge, making up for what he lacked in speed. It was if the fight was ingrained into every muscle, every fiber, every thought that the Myrian possessed; he knew his body as any warrior would know their weapon. On the other hand, Edreina still did not know the limits of her body, only that her left side was stronger and that she was a touch quicker than the Myrian. He also had a longer reach than she, but Edreina could already tell that her smaller fists would deliver sharper, stiffer blows. If only she could get in close enough... Her brother had always complained that she wriggled like a fish... Perhaps that will come in handy. When given the prompt to attack, Edreina did not hesitate. With her right arm, she lashed out twice, wildly, towards either side of the Myrian's head, missing on purpose for the sake of disorienting him, and followed up instantly with a left jab at his solar plexus. The Myrian managed to avoid most of her blow, sending her small fist skidding off of his chiseled form with such unexpected power that she found herself following her fist, loosing balance as she over stepped. Quick to react, she dropped and rolled, tucking her body close as she hit the deck. The instant she hit the wooden planks, she was on her feet, fumbling for only an instant longer as a wave caught the side of the boat and rocked it at the wrong moment. Thankfully, the wave had caught the Myrian unaware as well and, though he did not present an opening, he did not attack her either. Then again, perhaps this was another example of him going easy on her. Setting her face against the blush of embarrassment at her bumble that threatened to dislodge her facade, Edreina reset her stance and lunged forward, stopping an instant before collision with the hulking Myrian so that she could step back and jab low with her left arm, swinging and striking true just below his ribs on his side - petch that hurt! He certainly had not been lying about punching hurting both parties, even though she did everything right within the fist itself. Before her instructor could retaliate - she doubted the punch had been little more than the alighting of a fly in his mind - she danced back a safe distance, waiting to hear his criticisms.

[Razkar]

She came on without a word or a beat of hesitation, and Razkar could not help but smile. Her face was a set, determined mask without any of the grim, hardened ferocity of his own. Will to victory unhampered by baser urges.

Such a shame you were born so far from the light of Taloba, by friend.

He stepped back and back as two swinging blows from her right fist swept before his face. He frowned even as he avoided them easily. This was not her. She had speed and coordination, and these were wild, undisciplined-

Obvious. Remember your own lessons.

The left came as a surprise, but not the one she had hoped for. He twisted away as her fist exploded, arm straightening with speed and accuracy, headed straight for his breastbone. But instead of a flat target it glanced off his turning chest, throwing her off balance as her body followed through. He raised his right arm as she passed him, eyes locked on the back of her neck-

-but she sped up, falling rolling, slipping away even as his own hand rose to chop down-

-coming up a fair distance away, rolling once across the swaying deck as quickly and nimbly as if it were dead steady.

The wave rolled him as well as the ship, and he felt his stance wobble on his feet, forcing him to stay still, bend his knees... miring him in one position. Razkar cocked his head and smiled minutely at her. She was discovered strengths and weaknesses. Using the environment to her advantage. Learning her enemy's tactics and using them.

He nodded slowly, a cold pride back in his eyes.

"Good."

But then she was on him again, moving fast and sure across the deck, a contrast to him, still a mite unsure over the rocking wood. He tensed expectantly as she barreled towards him, impressed by her nerve for such a direct attack-

-but it was not, and she stopped, but her fist kept moving-

-jabbing low at his stomach, striking his ribcage and making him grunt in mingled pain and surprise-

-and she was back again before his own hands could properly retaliate. He scowled briefly now, but it was only a little directed at her. He was a tested and proven Myrian warrior, and yet this willowy sprat was scoring hits on his body? He could not allow that to continue.

"Very good," he said, the two of them circling again, only now she was more wary, "You are fast, and you know how to walk at sea. When learn to make more power in fist, you will be dangerous. But-"

Razkar sprang forwards, throwing off his balance through speed alone, moving so fast that the swaying and rocking would effect him little. He aimed a forward kick at her stomach but she slid to her side, his leg sailing past her-

-but not his left arm, held out straight like a rod of wood that smacked into her upper body, rocking her-

-as he stopped and wheeled, spun on both feet, hands up to punch-

-only for his knee to come up instead, on the right, jerking upward into her midsection. The grunt from her was more pained, face scrunched as she absorbed it. He forced the sudden flash of remorse away, continued his lesson-

-dropped down low, legs bending with fierce speed and hammering an elbow into her right thigh.

Half-speed. Not enough to break, just to bruise. To teach.

But still he felt his insides churn slightly as she staggered back, falling own to one knee. Ah, yes. He learned that one the hard way, too. Back in Taloba. The Training Yards. A sharp blow on the thigh, delivered hard enough, could paralyze the muscle in it, send spikes of agony flashing up ones leg and driving all sense, all fight. Robbing you of a limb. Leaving you weak and at your enemy's mercy.

Razkar stopped, regaining his balance, both in and out.

"Your fists are not you only weapon." He said, and forced himself not to allow softness in his voice, even as she panted and winced before him. "Elbow. Knee. Teeth." He smacked his own forehead. "Even this, when put in enemy's nose, can wound. Even kill. You must use all. And must learn pain. Must learn to accept pain. Accept and drive out, toward enemy."

Another brief respite as he drew herself up. Her eyes, even more azure when clouded with the promise of tears... they were clear now. Hard. He nodded again, with just a hint of sadness in his smile.

"Good." The air crackled between them now, and he felt the wisp of that ancient, irresistible lust for revenge seep out of her. Good. She would need to learn to use that, too. "Attack!"

Edreina did, and a cry escaped her lips as she did.

[Edreina]

Once again, he sought to catch her unaware by attacking mid-speech. Luckly, Edreina had noticed the ever so slight tensing in his muscles that suggested something else was afoot. When he moved to kick, Edreina easily sidestepped the blow, but brought herself directly into the path of his punch. His doubled fist hit her just below the breast, physically lifting her to her toes for and instant as her body shied away from the blow. As her body wavered, rocking back onto her heels before stepping back to maintain balance, shoulders curling in on instinct to ease the throbbing in her chest, another impact racked her frame. The knee to her midsection knocked out the last of the breath she had managed to maintain, causing her to cough and gasp, facing contorting as genuine pain bloomed from her core. Unable to fight the instinct to curl in on herself, Edreina took a half step back which only opened her to the devastating elbow that managed to cause her thigh to seize up. Muscle locked, Edreina had no choice but to drop to her knee, trembling and gasping for air. With each breath, her chest throbbed in pain, radiating all the way to her back and down to her hip. But the blow from the elbow seemed to hurt the most. The point of the elbow had impacted the center of her thigh, stunning the muscle for an instant, just long enough for her to prepare for the pain. As the sharp, throbbing pain bloomed, Edreina grit her teeth in an utterly savage, primal expression. Gods it hurts... Please... Just end it now? her weakness was like a buzzing in her ears, pushing tears into her eyes as it plead. Teeth still set on edge, Edreina doubled her fists the the point that her nails bit into flesh, the fresh stinging centered her thoughts and allowed her to banish the weakling's buzzing. "Your fists are not you only weapon. Elbow. Knee. Teeth.Even this, when put in enemy's nose, can wound. Even kill. You must use all. And must learn pain. Must learn to accept pain. Accept and drive out, toward enemy." His words only steeled her resolve to banish the weakness, to use her pain to her own advantage. Already she could feel the pain being numbed by sweet adrenaline as it leaked into her veins, quickening her heart and her breath. All her life, when faced with the fight or the flight, she had chosen to run... to the sea... to her brother... but not this time. Forcing herself to her feet, Edreina felt her bones become steel, her muscles leather, her skin stone. He could hurt her, but he would not knock her down again. Her eyes were like the realm of Laviku himself the instant before a storm hit, a darkened gray-blue that churned with a ferocity she had never been aware of. Upon her head, red hair seemed to almost quiver, like fire, as energy seeped into her limbs, scorching them. "Good." Something in his smile almost made her question her decision to surprise him. She did not truly want to hurt her friend, only to prove to the both of them that she had some fight in her bones. "Attack!" The word seemed to be a catalyst within Edreina. With a hoarse shout, she dove at the Myrian, using the wave that she had felt approaching by the way the boat moved in its trough to knock the Myrian off balance as she rammed into him, plunging his shoulder into his midsection. In the instant that it took for him to regain his balance, pull his arms back in from the open stance they had taken as he went to improve his balance, she had rolled away from him, stopping behind him. Moving purely on instinct, Edreina dropped and swung her leg - knowing that she lacked the strength, and that such an open action would be folly, to aim for the head - at his knee, hoping that such an impact would shake his balance. Unfortunately, the Myrian sidestepped the blow easily and turned to face her, dropping into a feral crouch of his own. Darting in close, Edreina swung twice with her left hand, managing one strong blow to his midsection, a close range, stiff punch that audibly winded him slightly. He dodged the second but sent himself into her right elbow which she aimed high and managed to catch him in the throat. Eyes narrowed, Edreina brought up her knee and slammed it into the Myrian's midsection, stony knee meeting iron abdomen in a blow that likely hurt the both of them. But, she had made a fatal mistake. She had stayed in close to the Myrian for too long. Even as arms of steel coiled around her, capturing her, Edreina noticed her mistake, a stream of curses filling her mind. Her instinct was to thrash like a netted fish, roiling and coiling her body in an attempt to make or seize an opening. The indomitable odds against her quelled the fire just slightly, causing Edreina to return to herself, overtaking the instinctual creature that had been ruling her. Now what? part of her piped, as if to reiterate her mistake; it was all but dancing about singing 'I told you so!'.

[Razkar]

Finally, she had found her battle rage, and Razkar was proud of his student as only an instructor at the Training Yards of Taloba could be (well, partial instructor, but they needed the extra hands).

A war cry burst from her lips and she came in low, under his arms, slamming her shoulder into his chest as another shattered wave knocked him off balance. Unprepared for the sudden shaking, he grunted as she knocked him back, raising his arms together to bring them hammering down on her back-

-only for her to duck and roll under his armpit, away from him, behind him-

-and he spun on one foot, almost toppling over on the rolling deck-

-to find her already ready to strike again.

"Good!" He barked with animal joy. "Not stop until enemy is dead!"

Her knee came low, aiming for his knee, a smart target. The shin or thigh would hurt, but taking out a kneecap would all but cripple an opponent in battle. And in the heat and ruthless melee, crippled was as good as dead.

But she was still rudimentary in her fighting. None of the furious unpredictability of the true brawler. He slid a foot back and the kick went wide, opening her up-

-but she came on again, and his respect for her only grew. Her style was feral, almost wild, and now he narrowed his eyes slightly. The first punch on her midsection made him grunt again, brief gust knocked from his mouth and making him back up a step. Her second was too predictable, and he swayed to his left away from it, bring back his fist-

-and her elbow crashed into his throat like a hammer.

The Myrian actually choked and staggered back, one hand flying up to his throat instinctively as the muscles there suddenly refused to obey him. But even as he choked and sputtered and his tan face turned red, she could see him... smiling.

But not after her follow up knee caught him in the stomach, doubling him over and nearly sending both of them crashing together, him above her-

Got you.

-his arms snapped around her upper arms, squeezing her together and lifting her up. His teeth gritted as his torso and throat screamed their protest, ache burning through him and then angrily shoved aside. He squeezed harder, crushing the breath from her even as she wriggled and squirmed and kicked wildly as the deck vanished from under her.

Razkar growled into her face, and she saw every one of his teeth... filed to razor sharp points.

"This is how fight would end." He said in a growl between those pseudo-fangs. "I would rip throat out. Tear face off. Put teeth in your eyes. I use every weapon." He paused. Perhaps if she were a male, he would have just delivered a sharp headbutt and ended it with a broken nose. Or throw her to the side and upwards, flailing into nothing as she crashed against the moist wood of the deck. But he didn't. "Your rage is good, but-"

Razkar was an expert brawler. He had survived many a furious and savage scrum of ruthless bodies. But he still had much to learn, and she taught him one more thing when she jerked up her knee between his legs.

[Edreina]

Edreina felt the comfort of the deck be yanked out from under her feet as the Mryian's stone arms attempted to crush her into submission. Without the deck to standon, the Svefra's struggles consisted of only a roiling through her body and abrupt twitches whenever she thought that she felt an opening. Eventually, her struggles grew weaker and eventually stopped as she fixed the Myrian in a cold, blue gaze. "This is how fight would end. I would rip throat out. Tear face off. Put teeth in your eyes. I use every weapon. Your rage is good, but-" Eyes hard, but dancing with unexpected mirth, Edreina jerked up her knee towards Razkar's crotch, stopping just an instant before causing some serious pain. "Perhaps you should do it quickly, instead of gloating..." Her voice was a low, near-growl as she flashed her own teeth playfully. She kept her knee poised until the Myrian dropped her with an odd look on his face. Stumbling back with the suddenness of the motion, Edreina smiled widely. "Thank you very much for teaching me." Rage from earlier dulled, she had quickly returned to her bubbly, happy normal. Tucking her arms behind her back, she waited for her mentor to make another comment or the like. He's a great teacher... She commented to herself with a wry teacher. One lesson in and she already felt more apt to defend herself, her previously unknown fighting side finally revealed.