What Kavala was saying now was what Kanikra had been telling her for a while. And it had been something of what Akajia had said, too. Kanikra wasn’t wrong, and Kavala wasn’t, either. If they didn’t practice, then those that did would be the ones to gut them. While she didn’t live and die by her weapons, the time might come when she did, and when that time happened, then the young Akontak had damn well better be ready for it. She didn’t much fancy having her entrails spilling out of her stomach, thank you very much.
“Yes, I know,” Raiha nodded faintly. “My attacking first gives you the defensive edge... allows my momentum to be turned against me.” Just as it did now - Kavala neatly slipped under Raiha’s blade, slapping her in the side with the flat of the dagger before the gangling teen could properly withdraw. This wasn’t a fist fight. Her hand there wouldn’t do her any good to protect herself, now, would it? If she’d had her hand low and back... might have enabled her to twist away, to bring her arm down... No good thinking about it now - better to have that ready for the next attempt. “But if one of us was waiting for the other to make a move, knowing what we both know, we’ll be here well-past sunset waiting for the other to take the first swing. We’re both patient enough to sit here all day watching the other for the advantage.”
HER ARM. PAY ATTENTION. Kanikra roared at her sister-soul, spying the movement of the lithe Konti in front of them, ever watchful and always cautious. Her arm stiffened like an iron bar as it came down hard, looking to bash her forearm against Kavala’s to force it downward. The suvai gripped in her hand pointed upwards to avoid putting it through Kavala’s arm, accidentally or otherwise. Even if she had managed to connect it with that surge, she did not want to have to pull it out. That would require quite a bit of healing. But that waiting, clenched fist that had been up there, near her chest, to protect herself was propelled forward at the force of her movement as her body twisted to serve that very purpose, aimed right for Kavala’s breast. Better.
“Yes, I know,” Raiha nodded faintly. “My attacking first gives you the defensive edge... allows my momentum to be turned against me.” Just as it did now - Kavala neatly slipped under Raiha’s blade, slapping her in the side with the flat of the dagger before the gangling teen could properly withdraw. This wasn’t a fist fight. Her hand there wouldn’t do her any good to protect herself, now, would it? If she’d had her hand low and back... might have enabled her to twist away, to bring her arm down... No good thinking about it now - better to have that ready for the next attempt. “But if one of us was waiting for the other to make a move, knowing what we both know, we’ll be here well-past sunset waiting for the other to take the first swing. We’re both patient enough to sit here all day watching the other for the advantage.”
HER ARM. PAY ATTENTION. Kanikra roared at her sister-soul, spying the movement of the lithe Konti in front of them, ever watchful and always cautious. Her arm stiffened like an iron bar as it came down hard, looking to bash her forearm against Kavala’s to force it downward. The suvai gripped in her hand pointed upwards to avoid putting it through Kavala’s arm, accidentally or otherwise. Even if she had managed to connect it with that surge, she did not want to have to pull it out. That would require quite a bit of healing. But that waiting, clenched fist that had been up there, near her chest, to protect herself was propelled forward at the force of her movement as her body twisted to serve that very purpose, aimed right for Kavala’s breast. Better.
