[DUEL] Self-Defense Lessons (Thunzi & Mahiri)

[Jovi of Shadows]

(Leopards roll 2d6 on the first round of combat, and combine the two numbers for the total.)

It had been several days since Mahiri had joined their ranks, and in that time he'd noticed that the ruddy colored cheetah had gotten fairly close to Moya. The two had seemed to become fast friends, and Thunzi was fairly pleased by this. Moya had been coming out of her shell more lately, and he honestly believed that was good for her.

This morning Mahiri had approached him about teaching her some simple fighting techniques, to help defend herself. It seemed she had never been in a proper fight before, and if she was going to start taking on contract work then she wanted to at least know some of the basics. Thunzi agreed with this, so he was more than happy to help her.

The two stood with a few lengths between them, and when Mahiri indicated she was ready Thunzi began the training exercise. The leopard was quick on his paws, so he made the first move. A simple feint to the side to then go charging at her in the opposite direction. How well could she move and keep up with the flow of battle?

((Total: 8 ))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

(Cheetahs have advantage on every round of combat. Roll 2d6 and take the highest number.)

She had spent most of her days with Moya, and they had indeed become fast friends. Mahiri felt safe around her, and the two usually past the day by chatting about past experiences and learning more about each other's dreams and ambitions for the future. Today Moya would be working some of her artisan projects, and Mahiri was eager to see more of the pride. She had remembered how easily Thunzi had flipped her when she pounced him, and she realized she hadn't the slightest idea how to defend herself.

That could be a problem when she was out on contract work. Luckily the pale leopard wasn't busy this morning, and he had agreed to teach her some of the basics of fighting. She probably could have asked one of the mercenaries to help her, but the idea of fighting some of those brutes intimidated her. At least Thunzi was closer to her size, and she suspected it would be easier for her to learn from someone more her size. After all, she wouldn't have the strength of a lion.

Her red eyes focused on Thunzi and she gave him a nod when she was ready to start their spar, not quite sure what to expect from the mercenary leader. Her muscles tensed as she prepared for him to come at her in one direction, when he simply moved to charge at her from another! Mahiri stumbled a bit with her footwork as she tried to get out of the way, but one of his paws managed to tag her on the shoulder before she could completely get out of his reach.

((Total: 6))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

His paw easily tapped her shoulder and Thunzi realized just how little experience she had in this sort of thing. Instead of pressing his advantage like he normally would have, the leopard edged away and allowed Mahiri to put more distance between them. This was a training exercise after all, and he'd rather give her the space to realize her mistakes before going in for another attack.

His silver eyes watched her movements with a keen sensibility, as he studied how she placed her paws and how lightly she seemed to dance around on them. It was likely that she wasn't entirely sure what to do now the spar had started. Well, he'd show her, he guessed. Thunzi made a show of squaring his shoulders to her, all but shouting that he would be coming at her again, before rushing forward in a dash. It was a simple charge, but that's what she needed right now. The basics were boring, but necessary to learn. And unless she moved or did something to counter, she'd find herself face to face with her opponent.

((Total: 8+5=13))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Mahiri scrunched up her nose at Thunzi as he prepared another charge at her, and making a good show of telling her that's what he was doing. She supposed she didn't blame him for taking it easy on her, but it still stung to know that there was that much of a gap between them. Even though she knew he was about to run up at her, her mind still raced with what she should do next!

The cheetah eventually decided on meeting him head on, though she wasn't sure what all that would entail. When he was close enough she rose up slightly on her haunches to bat at him with one of her dainty paws. Probably not the wisest of decisions, but that's something she'd have to learn through experience.

((Total: 6+4=10))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

He tried not to smirk at her reaction, really, he tried, but his lips curled into a mischievous smile as she rose on her haunches at his approach. He'd teach her why that was a bad idea, sure, but why not have some fun while they were at it? Maybe it would help her remember some of the lessons better.

It was easy for the leopard to avoid her flailing paws as she tried to bat at him, so he slipped underneath her in one quick movement and when his shoulder was in place underneath her, he rose quickly to his paws. This resulted in Mahiri completely flipping over him, and her surprised yelp brought a grin to his maw. In one fluid motion he followed her movement to lightly pin her to the ground. "You need to be aware of any openings you create for an attacker to exploit," he told her softly as he lifted a paw to lightly tap her nose. "Now, how would you get out of this situation? Being on her your back is one of the most vulnerable positions you can be in, and should be avoided at all costs," he told her. He was definitely curious to see what she would do to get out from under him, though he wasn't holding her down very hard at all.

((Total: 13+4=17))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Well this was familiar. Mahiri glowered at Thunzi as he bopped her in the nose, though he had a point. This was definitely a position to be avoided in a fight, as she felt vulnerable and uneasy. She knew Thunzi wouldn't hurt her, but it was still uncomfortable. Now the only question was, how did she get out from under him? He was really close, and she could only imagine the damage that could be done to her from that position.

The cheetah thought about it for a moment before wordlessly bringing her hind legs forward to shove Thunzi out from atop her. He was heavier than she expected, but Mahiri suspected Thunzi moved with her to allow her space to get up. Hmm. Of course she'd probably have had her claws out if she had been in real danger, and he probably knew that. Mahiri scrambled to find her paws quickly and to take a few strides away from the leopard.

((Total: 10+4=14))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Thunzi did in fact move with her as she kicked her legs out to shove him, as it was a decent response to someone holding you down. He allowed her to get some distance on him before adopting a hunkered down, prowling stance as he slowly moved to circle her. "Distance and speed are going to be your allies in a fight, Mahiri," he told her. She wasn't very strong, and a head-on clash with an opponent would only put her at risk.

"You want to always be prepared to move, and to watch your opponent for any sign that they're about to attack. Keep that distance between you, and only strike when you're out of reach of their claws and teeth." It was a difficult dance that required a lot of patience and focus, but as a leopard, and a cheetah for that matter, they did not have the strength of lions. They needed to fight smart, or their life would be forfeit.

Thunzi switched up his stance then, as he moved to make a dash at her and to see if any of his lessons had sunk in yet.

((Total: 17+2=19))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Mahiri watched Thunzi's movements and she adopted the same stance he was showing her. Hunkered down in a slow prowl she circled in the opposite direction so there was always distance between them. It was difficult to keep her heart from racing in her chest, but the cheetah was determined to get this right. It may just save her life one day.

When Thunzi switched his stance she saw it in the tensing of his muscles and how he squared his shoulder in her direction. She knew then that he would be breaking the distance between them and she tensed her muscles in preparation to move away. Thankfully she had recognized the change in his stance ahead of time, as he came dashing at her she was able to leap away and run to his opposite side, but not before reaching out a paw to lightly tap him on the flank before creating more distance between them. She allowed herself to smile at that, glad she had been able to tag him while staying out of reach.

((Total: 14+3=17))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Good, she was moving away! As he was getting ready to give chase he felt the lightest of paw taps on his flank and Thunzi couldn't help but snort in good humor. Ah, she'd gotten him! Maybe he was taking it a little too easy on her then? But, it was good to know that his words weren't falling on deaf ears, and that she was indeed listening to him and his lessons. The tip of his tail twitched as a mischievous smirk played on his maw, and he wondered if he could get her with a feint again or if she had learned to recognize that as well.

The leopard adopted the same prowling technique he had shown her for a few strides, and watched with intent silver eyes as she mirrored him in the opposite direction. Good. She had learned that much at least. But then he transitioned into a dash, quick on his paws and with little warning. How would she react? When he was close he dug his paws into the ground and feinted to the opposite direction, where he knew she would flee, and reached out to tag her with one of her paws.

((Total: 19+6=25))  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Mahiri was prepared for the same sort of dash and charge he had done before, and though it had been quicker this time she had indeed intended to leap out of the way and run in the opposite direction. She had not expected Thunzi to suddenly switch it up on her and tag her in the shoulder with an out stretched paw! Mahiri huffed at him as she stood with him blocking her way of escape. Well, she'd just have to watch him more closely next time. And there would be a next time! She more she practiced, the better she would be at avoiding his attacks, she hoped.

"Thank you, Thunzi, but I think that's enough for today," she told him with a small smile. She wasn't use to all the running around, and she could feel herself growing tired. He nodded at her and Mahiri turned to take her leave of him. Maybe Moya would want to hang out for the rest of the day?

((Total: 17+3=20))