my lungs will fill and then deflate

Avantika · 12-29-2020, 09:06 AM

The girl opened her eyes, realizing she'd shut them. She stared at the ground. It was evident to her that fighting with her eyes closed wouldn't be a very good strategy. So why did you do it? She didn't want to be afraid anymore. But she was starting to think she always would be, whether she liked it or not. She had been molded by her past like clay, and now she was stuck in this form. Right?

Avantika felt a tickle of annoyance as Rudy told her what she already knew. She kept her eyes on the ground, suddenly feeling heat stroke her face. She had to trust him. Odds were, he was probably a much better fighter than she and could keep them both from hurting each other. She ordered the raging knot of nerves in her belly to shut up. It would all be okay.

The boy offered for them to start the spar. Avantika finally looked up, nodding. "Yes." She took a deep breath, pulling every scrap of willpower in her to this moment. She mentally ran over the list of things Rudy had taught her to do. Hackles up. Head lowered. Teeth showing. Look fierce. Ears flat. There were so many things to remember! Someday, if she practiced enough, the stance would be second nature to her. She thought she had them all, though. She crouched a little, almost involuntarily, knees bending. She remembered a snake she had once seen stalking a mouse in the palace caves. The creature had slithered over the ground, slowly and carefully, but when it struck, it struck like a guillotine. The mouse had never had a chance. She would be like the snake, she decided. Cautious and observant, using her pull to facts and rationality to tell her what to do, but striking like lightning when she was ready.

Maybe--maybe not the killing part though.

She stayed standing, bouncing a little on her paws. She would let him attack first. She wasn't so scared then. She just wanted to see what he would do. Her eyes stayed on his chest. Watching. Waiting.

Avantika Azrail vs Rudyard for spar
Round 1/x
Age: Under 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Novice Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"speak"

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