Numbness

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Nox had the same rule but she didn't say that outloud. Kenzie just started circling before she took her first stab at it. She remembered to keep her thumb in the proper place. It had been why the man had taught her to fight to begin with. He said if she was going to hit him, she might as well learn how to do it right. He taught her a lot more than that too. He also taught her to user her size to her advantage.

Kenzie ducked under Tatyanna's legs and yanked one as she went by.

[Tatyana]

Kenzie didn’t speak. She just began to circle. Her footwork was good. Nox was either a good teacher, Kenzie a good student, or she just had a natural knack for fighting. It could also be a combination. Tatyana moved too, her footwork matching Kenzie’s.

Kenzie took the first shot, her punch had good form and her thumb position was good. ”Good,” she said, giving Kenzie some positive encouragement.

Then Kenzie did something unexpected. Tatyana was skilled, but it had been a long time since she had really fought with someone. The occasional bout with a random vagrant didn’t really count. Tatyana was also better prepared for fighting people who were bigger than she was. She remembered what she had told Zeke about how she would beat Kasun. Tatyana could have kept herself standing if she had responded just a hair quicker, but the move was unexpected, and Kenzie, even small as she was, had enough weight and momentum to knock the balance away.

Aikido had taught her how to fall, so she wouldn’t be hurt. She back somersaulted out of the fall and ended up kneeling on the ground. She was uninjured and unphased, but let out a little laugh. It wasn’t mocking. It was actual joy. This was fun. But she sensed a teachable moment here, remembering one time her dad had been in a similar situation during one of their spars.

Tatyana held up her hand to pause the spar. ”That was a good move. Us smaller people need to use our size to our advantage. You have good instincts. Look at my position. I’m fairly stable, but you have an advantage still. Would be right for you to press it, but let’s shift gears here for a moment. Let’s say you’re in this position - down on one knee with your attacker coming toward you. How do you defend yourself and get back to your feet?”

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Kenzie didn't talk but she crouched down like Tatyana was and showed her exactly what she'd do. It wasn't the first time she'd had to start in the middle of a fight. What would she do? Kenzie shifted her weight and stood back up but maintained the crouched position. It would have been easier with some momentum from the fall but it might have also knocked her over. It was really hard to tell how things would work. She spoke softly "Though if I was moving it would be a whole different story."

[Tatyana]

Tatyana nodded. It was difficult to do in the middle without momentum. "It is hard, but it's good to think about these things. Then you don't have to think about it in the middle of a fight."

Tatyana began to move, demonstrating what she would do. "If your attacker is standing and you're not, they have to reach down to attack you, putting them off balance. So instead of blocking, you move out of the way and with a push, they're on the ground, then you can get up."

Tatyana did the movements and then stood up, and smiled at the girls. The pain of loss was still in her gut, but it was diminished. Something felt different. They were children, but now she had friends. Friends who really understood her. Others could say they understood her, but they didn't really. They didn't get it like these girls did. It felt nice. At the same time, they were learning how harsh the world could be. They could use someone like Tatyana to have their backs.

"You guys are pretty fun," she looked back and forth between the two of them. "If you're okay with it, I'll claim one of these alcoves as my own. We can still have our privacy, but be neighbors, no?" None of them had to be alone anymore.