[@Doc Doctor]

Although Dartega had taken a few seconds to reopen his eyes, he had instinctually entered into his combat stance as he staggered backward, raising an arm in fr[b][/b]ont of himself and forming a simple guard with his forearm. It was similar to a boxing guard, a reflex that he had learned and perfected when he was just a boy.

It was all he needed to deflect the simple wooden skewer, even with his eyes closed, and he felt it splinter upon the armored bracers he had raised just in time. The jungle man was fast indeed, but not [i]that[/i] fast. Surely he would have expected such a reaction from a trained combatant. Perhaps this time, it was he that had been underestimated.

When Dartega's eyes did open, the visage of the jungle man's sharpened teeth was just before of him. He had likely overextended, lunging to reach Dartega with the skewer as he staggered backward and leaving open the perfect opportunity for a counter strike. With a vengeance, Dartega smacked the jungle man's assaulting arm out of the way with a backhand, in an attempt to open him up for a ruthless overhead slash from K'Girr.