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Salem walked up to the familiar fire mage, moving some of his hair behind his ear and out of his face. Growing up he never quite learned the techniques or skills for hand to hand combat, but he had seen some action films so, he knew what to do...he hoped. As he approached her Salem smiled and nervously said [Color=82ca9d]”I don't really know how to fight, nor do I know how to pull punches. Forgive me if I manage to land a blow and actually hurt you.”[/color] He extended his hand out for her to shake.

[color=f26522]"Likewise,"[/color] she took his hand and shook. She had trained in hand to hand, but no weapons. She was confident in this fight, but didn't know what would happen when they were given swords. The two stood awkwardly after that for a moment. [color=f26522]Should I, like, just start swinfing?"[/color]

Salem began to draw a circle in the dirt, about 10 feet in circumference.  [Color=82ca9d]”Let's see who can not only win this little brawl, but also knock the other outside if the circle.”[/color] He moved towards the center of the new ring and began pouncing a bit in place with his fists up. [Color=82ca9d]”Feel free to swing first.”[/color]

Cassandra nodded and put her right foot back in a stable fighting stance, hands up in guard position. She struck out with her left hand in a jab, aimed loosely at Salem's face, but followed up with a more serious cross with her right, toward his midsection.

Salem bobbed towards the right, narrowly dodging her jab but unknowingly moving right into her right fist that landed square onto his midsection. There was a small cocky smile as he dodged the first hit, then a wince at the second.  [Color=82ca9d]”Nice hit.”[/color] Salem moved his right leg forward as he went to go hit Cassandra with his left fist, aiming up high towards her jaw hoping to distract her. His right leg quickly swept as he ducked and attempted to trip her.

Cassandra said nothing, and tucked her chin to protect her neck and jaw. Salem was a good deal taller than her, and when he swept her legs, she fell forward into him. 

She grabbed Salem about the waist, trying to bring him down with her.

Salem felt her force pulling against his, trying to bring him down. He instead clapped his hands onto her shoulders and attempted to hold her in place. [Color=82ca9d]"You definitely have some fire in you. But I'm not a frail as I appear."[/color] He began to shift his feet, moving in a circle to switch sides with her so that he stood where she previously was, before attempting to shove her off of him and back up.

Cassandra was all too happy to disengage. She took the step backwards, planting both feet firmly on the ground for the barest moment. Then the same foot came back, on level with Salem's neck, in a high roundhouse kick.

[color=f26522]"Apropriate,"[/color] she grunted through gritted teeth as he foot flew.

The kick landed square on his jaw as he froze for a second, eyes agape, before attempting to dodge it and failing. His head jerked to the right and he held it facing down for a moment before wiping his chin and looking back at her. The move seemed easy enough, if she could do it why can't he? He bounced back a bit, planting his feet just long enough to jolt himself forward and jump up attempting the roundhouse kick. However he miscalculated the ease of this move and instead fell flat onto his back, having the wind knocked out a bit.

Cassandra swiveled around, hoping for Salem's sake that nobody was looking their way at that particular moment. If someone looked [i]now[/i] they would just think she had knocked him down, which she was fine with, and presumably he would prefer. 

[color=f26522]"You okay?"[/color] Cassandra figured the fight was over, and stepped forward to offer her hand to pull him up.

Salem reached up and grabbed her hand, allowing her to help him get up. [Color=82ca9d]”Thanks. Aside from my ego, I don't think anything's bruised. Say, whered you learn to fight like that? It's kinda cool.”[/color] Salem mock jabbed as he asked the question.

[color=f26522]"I had an early awakening, and got tutored on a bunch of stuff like that,"[/color]  she shrugged. [color=f26522]"Keep your wrist straight, thumb outside of your fist. Punch through your target."[/color] She demonstrated each step, throwing an air punch. [color=f26522]"Oh! And put your hips into it. [/color]

Salem nodded as Cassandra spoke. [Color=82ca9d]"Thanks. Alright so like this?"[/color] Salem stood, legs spread shoulder width apart, hips squared as he eyed her posture. He made a fist with his thumb out and punched straight towards  her, keeping his wrist straight and seeing himself going through the target.

Cassandra swatted the fist, turning her body as she did so. The fist sailed past her shoulder, and she put a hand out to stop Salem from falling into her. 
[color=f26522]"Yeah, that's pretty good. Now practice that a couple thousand times. Though, don't start with your body facing me square on. Keep one foot back, and the shoulder too. You show a smaller target, and the twist of your hips puts some umph in your punch."[/color]

The fight had kind of petered out, and Cassandra felt a little weird trying to hit him again. [color=f26522]"I think that's enough?"[/color]

[Color=82ca9d]"Smaller target, got it."[/color] Salem straightened himself out again, extending his hand for her to shake. [Color=82ca9d]"Thanks for all the pointers. I really appreciate it."[/color]

She took his hand again. [color=f26522]"No problem! Hit me up if you need to spar."[/color]