“Your footwork is lousy,” Sera Cresthorn chastised Khoruun disapprovingly. She took a step back, raising a cotton sleeved forearm to her brow. The Tauren was pleased to see that her forehead was beaded with sweat, his own body weary with exhaustion as he takes a moment to rest the three meter long spear on his shoulder. He had discarded his traditional robes in favor of simple leather britches for the exercise, though body armor may have been well advised; his powerful torso was already dotted with welts from the duelist’s handiwork.
“I have ‘hooves’,” He pointed out through gritted teeth. “I cannot execute the movements you are asking me to.”
Cresthorn shrugged, brushing a lock of blonde hair out of her eyes and raising the wooden training blade again. “Find a way to spin, twinkletoes,” The freckled blonde gave him another grin. “This exercise is about mobility. Humans are fragile creatures...but quick. You need to find a way to keep up. Again.”
Khoruun’s eyes narrowed as the corsair’s blade flashed again, his spear barely coming up to block it in time. It was a feint, of course; because why wouldn’t it be? By the time he had spun the shaft into place to block the blade, the rogue rapped the shaft once before shifting her grip, reversing direction and lashing out from the other side as she turned on her heel and delivered a stinging blow to the back of his thigh.
“Dammit!” The shu’halo bellowed.
“You’ve fallen for that combo three times now, Khor,” Sera chided him. “Half the battle is memorizing the steps. Don’t watch my sword, if I’ve moved my feet it’s already too late. Try to sense my move before I do it, that way you can start moving ahead of time.”
“I am not a mind reader,” Khoruun objected irritably.
“You are with animals, right?” Sera shrugged as she strafed around him. “Same principle.”
“Animals are easier than people,” Khoruun frowned. “And that is emotion. Not thought.”
“Like I said,” Sera gave a dismissive wave of her sword. “Same thing. People are animals, Khor. And all this is is emotion, reaction. There’s no time for thinking.”
“So we are agreed that this is a mindless exercise,” Khoruun snapped. “I cannot do this...what did you call it?” He awkwardly tried to mimic spinning around on one leg by kicking out with one hoof.
“A pirouette?” Sera smirked. “I’m sure it’s harder without toes. Can’t you just...use your tail for balance, or something?”
Khoruun scowled. “Let’s try it again,” He said simply.
Cresthorn twirled her wooden practice blade with a dramatic flourish, flashing a wicked grin as she moved again. Anticipating the pattern, Khoruun raised his spear to block the first blow, spinning the shaft back around in a counterclockwise motion and shifting his hips to meet the second just behind him. Narrowing her eyes, the duelist lunged for a gap in the spear’s defenses, only to have the hulking shu’halo vanish before her eyes.
“What on earth-” She arched both eyebrows as a panther darted against her leg, spinning around to track the movement of the creature, only to find the tauren rising before her. The long rapier was a useless tool at such close range, and the shu’halo had a smug smirk on his face as his tail whipped around her waist to pull and keep her close. As fast as the tauren was, the rogue was faster. Her free hand flicked to the inside of her vest, the flat edge of a silver knife finding its way to the tauren’s pectoral.
“Cute,” She remarked dryly. “Point.” She tapped the knife against him for emphasis.
“You cheated,” Khoruun scowled in disappointment.
“So did you,” Cresthorn pointed out as she gave the Tauren’s muscular chest a hard shove. “It was a nice move though, I’ll admit.”
“The tail was your idea,” Khoruun shrugged. “I just expanded on it.”
“You’re still not getting out of that pirouette,” The blonde informed him. “The point of the exercise is to keep up with someone who can spin around you.”
“Didn’t I do that?” Khoruun pointed out. “Besides, I’m not the one who needs to watch my footwork.”
Cresthorn’s brows knitted together as she looked back at him. “My footwork’s just fine, if you hadn’t noticed.”
“Is it?” Khoruun arched a curious brow, giving a spin of his fingertip before clenching a fist. Immediately, the blonde felt a tightening around her ankles as vines sprung up from the ground, constricting around her legs. She rapidly reached for the knife, but a snap of the druid’s fingers had a second tendril wrapping around to pin her arms at her sides.
“Khoruun!” The blonde snarled, fists clenching as she gave the vines a tug. “You cheated. Again.”
“I learned from the best,” The tauren smirked, walking over to pick up his spear, before approaching the rogue to give her a tap on the nose. “Point,” He informed her. She scowled back at him, turning her head as he kept walking.
“That is not funny,” Sera growled. “Khor! KHOR!” She shouted at the retreating Tauren, the druid only giving a mocking click of each hoof in response.
