Tarentek had almost had the breath knocked out of him when he hit the ground, but he had expected it, and pushed through to hasten his response. Onyx had released her grip on his arm, but he still had a hold of hers. As he rolled onto his side and started to get up, he saw that she was in a crouching position, paused for a brief moment. In an instant reaction, he seized the opportunity, pouncing on her in order to hold her down with his weight. He kept a hold of the one arm while quickly grabbing the other near the elbow. Finally, he tried to reposition himself so he could hold her torso down with his knee. It was possible this would force her to give, though she could always have more tricks.
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Onyx did focus herself on keeping upright, but that only briefly delayed her retaliation. She managed to turn and put her back to him, then grab his arms. If one of his arms was still free, he could have used the position to get a tight hold around her, but as it stood, she had his arms and was clawing at his wrists. Certainly, it did hurt, but Tarentek's scales were thick, perhaps more-so than Onyx expected. Against a forceful stab or slash from a knife or other blade, his scales could not hold up, but his natural armor was reasonably effective in hand-to-hand combat. When she slammed into him to knock him down, he did indeed start to fall, but he had managed to keep his grip on her arm, so he was pulling her down with him.
Tarentek prepared for the impact. If Onyx was thrown off enough by the fall, then he had a good chance of getting his arms around her and forcing her into a situation where he had much more control. Grappling on the ground was where his strength would really shine. If she came up with something creative, however, he could lose control, and likely wouldn't gain it back. He did not currently have the endurance to sustain an extended fight.
Tarentek prepared for the impact. If Onyx was thrown off enough by the fall, then he had a good chance of getting his arms around her and forcing her into a situation where he had much more control. Grappling on the ground was where his strength would really shine. If she came up with something creative, however, he could lose control, and likely wouldn't gain it back. He did not currently have the endurance to sustain an extended fight.
Tarentek's effort had some success, but the situation was not ideal. Thanks to his training, he was able to move with her to keep his arm from being twisted excessively as she brought herself to her feet, but there was still the matter of her free hand. As she started to jab at his shoulder, he tried to use his own free hand to grab hers, but her strikes were fast, and he couldn't get a secure grip. With each jab, Tarentek felt his grip on her arm weaken, so he had to make a decision.
Instead of trying to grab Onyx's free arm, Tarentek tightly grasped the arm he had already grabbed with both hands. This secured his hold on Onyx, but left him open to strikes from her other hand. To combat this, Tarentek decided to try and use his size to his advantage. He quickly moved one of his sizable feet behind hers, then pushed against her with his shoulder in an attempt to trip her up and force her to the ground. His hope was that she would be too focused on her footwork to be able to do much damage with her free hand, but if not, he had to hope he could endure the pain of her retaliation long enough to secure his advantage.
Instead of trying to grab Onyx's free arm, Tarentek tightly grasped the arm he had already grabbed with both hands. This secured his hold on Onyx, but left him open to strikes from her other hand. To combat this, Tarentek decided to try and use his size to his advantage. He quickly moved one of his sizable feet behind hers, then pushed against her with his shoulder in an attempt to trip her up and force her to the ground. His hope was that she would be too focused on her footwork to be able to do much damage with her free hand, but if not, he had to hope he could endure the pain of her retaliation long enough to secure his advantage.
Tarentek's assessment of Onyx seemed to be accurate, as her attacks were following the strategy he predicted. Unfortunately, it was also a difficult strategy for him to fight. She could use her agility to dart around him, getting in quick blows and backing off. His ribs and a few other points were already starting to ache, and the strikes he had managed to deliver in return were not direct enough to do much harm. Something needed to change if he was going to recover; he needed an opportunity.
Onyx had managed to get off quite a few successful jabs, but eventually, Tarentek was able to accurately predict one of her attacks. As she dashed behind him and went for another strike, he spun around and slapped her with is tail in the process. Not wanting to let go of a potential way of gaining the upper hand, Tarentek took the chance to retaliate and attempt to grab her. He would prefer to control her arms, but he would grab anything he could get a hold of as long as it could bring them into a grapple. He had his training in some grappling techniques to use to his advantage, he just hoped the strike from his tail threw her off-balance enough that he could get a hold on her.
Onyx had managed to get off quite a few successful jabs, but eventually, Tarentek was able to accurately predict one of her attacks. As she dashed behind him and went for another strike, he spun around and slapped her with is tail in the process. Not wanting to let go of a potential way of gaining the upper hand, Tarentek took the chance to retaliate and attempt to grab her. He would prefer to control her arms, but he would grab anything he could get a hold of as long as it could bring them into a grapple. He had his training in some grappling techniques to use to his advantage, he just hoped the strike from his tail threw her off-balance enough that he could get a hold on her.
"Okay, so not much different from what I'm used to, then." Tarentek responded, moving himself to a spot the right distance from Onyx to start the fight. "There usually aren't any special rules in our matches either, and we often set up signals as well. I will say, there is a good chance of me surrendering during this. I want to have the exercise, but I need to be careful not to put my body through too much, else my recovery might be slowed. Well, anyway, I guess we should begin."
Tarentek took on a combat stance and brought his hands up into a guard. He already knew what his likely advantages and disadvantages would be, but he still ended up sizing her up out of habit. He watched her stance and movements to try and get a sense of how she might fight. He expected her to be more agile than himself, while he had strength and reach. He supposed this meant she would probably stick to fast, well-aimed strikes to his weak points. If he could get her into a grapple, he would be able to gain the upper hand by leveraging his strength against her, so she would likely be getting in and out quickly with strikes that would wear him down, something he would have to put a stop to quickly. With her speed, it would not do any good to rush her, so Tarentek stood his ground in a defensive stance, waiting for her to make the first move.
Tarentek took on a combat stance and brought his hands up into a guard. He already knew what his likely advantages and disadvantages would be, but he still ended up sizing her up out of habit. He watched her stance and movements to try and get a sense of how she might fight. He expected her to be more agile than himself, while he had strength and reach. He supposed this meant she would probably stick to fast, well-aimed strikes to his weak points. If he could get her into a grapple, he would be able to gain the upper hand by leveraging his strength against her, so she would likely be getting in and out quickly with strikes that would wear him down, something he would have to put a stop to quickly. With her speed, it would not do any good to rush her, so Tarentek stood his ground in a defensive stance, waiting for her to make the first move.
Tarentek gave a nod to Onyx. "Okay, one moment." He said as he walked over to the nearby training dummy. He propped his rifle up against the dummy, then removed his robe and draped it over the top of it. He then untied his machete's sheath from around his waist and set it down at the base of the dummy.
As he walked back to Onyx, it was immediately noticeable that he was in much better health than before. He actually looked to be well fed, and his scars were much fainter than before. The major ones were still prominent, but others had faded as as the scales regrew over them, and most of the ones that had been light to begin with were gone entirely. It was a testament to the Karisskan's strong regenerative capabilities, as many other races would have had those marks for life. His strength had not returned entirely, but he looked good enough to fight. Tarentek was not the strongest among his people, but just looking at him, it was easy to tell he was a trained fighter.
"Alright, is there anything I should know beforehand? Obviously we don't want to seriously injure each other, but are there any other specific rules that sparring matches follow among your people?" He asked.
As he walked back to Onyx, it was immediately noticeable that he was in much better health than before. He actually looked to be well fed, and his scars were much fainter than before. The major ones were still prominent, but others had faded as as the scales regrew over them, and most of the ones that had been light to begin with were gone entirely. It was a testament to the Karisskan's strong regenerative capabilities, as many other races would have had those marks for life. His strength had not returned entirely, but he looked good enough to fight. Tarentek was not the strongest among his people, but just looking at him, it was easy to tell he was a trained fighter.
"Alright, is there anything I should know beforehand? Obviously we don't want to seriously injure each other, but are there any other specific rules that sparring matches follow among your people?" He asked.
Tarentek cocked his head to the side, looking at Onyx with genuine confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't under-ohhh, I think I get it. I think I remember hearing similar things from some visitors to Amman. From what I remember, mammals like you have you...reproductive parts on the outside of your bodies, so you always make sure to cover them with clothes. The same isn't true for us. I don't know if you saw before, but all of those parts are completely inside my body, so we don't really have a reason to cover them. Our scales do that for us. Visitors sometimes found it odd, but once they learned that, it usually wasn't an issue. Our clothing is entirely practical in purpose. For instance, my robe is meant to protect me from sand and wind. It's just...not that great to fight in, given how bulky and loose it is. Our combat armor is usually thick leather and layered cloth, which conforms much more closely to our bodies. I would have been wearing it in Amman, but the attack came by surprise." He explained. It was becoming difficult to keep track of how many differences there were between his people and the Elissics.
"That...might be a good idea, actually. I am feeling better than before, but I definitely won't be fighting at my best. It might even things out for you not to fly." Tarentek answered as the pair started to walk towards the sparring area. "We tend to be physically stronger than a lot of the races we come across, so we use that to our advantage. I don't think I can even pretend to be as agile as you, though. Personally, I'm a marksman by trade, but all soldiers, especially scouts, receive their hand-to-hand training. We have to be trained to be able to survive in harsh conditions, and without normal equipment."
Once they reached the sparring area, Tarentek glanced around the open area. "Is there anywhere I can put my robe?" He asked, completely casually.
Once they reached the sparring area, Tarentek glanced around the open area. "Is there anywhere I can put my robe?" He asked, completely casually.
Meesei maintained a neutral demeanor through Harriet's explanation. She did not want to intrude upon Harriet's attempts to build her defense, so she decided it would be best to remain an observer as much as possible. Only once Harriet spoke to her directly did she become involved. "Harriet, you are going to have access to everything I know. I will have all of my notes pertaining to the investigation translated for you to review as you please. I will take whatever time is needed to clarify and answer your questions on them, and the investigation as a whole. I will not have an upper hand because you will have access to all evidence I have gathered. Just the same, nothing should be withheld from me. I want there to be no surprises during this trial, does that sound fair? My interest is not in finding someone to blame, it is to find the truth. If you can find evidence that exonerates you, there will be no need to even put you through a trial to begin with."
There was much Meesei could say if she wanted to explain the situation, and why Harriet was a suspect, to Harriet's alphas, but she elected to allow her to give that explanation herself. Meesei did not want to be seen as trying to influence the alphas away from Harriet, so she would only speak up if she saw that Harriet was misleading them on the facts of the case.
There was much Meesei could say if she wanted to explain the situation, and why Harriet was a suspect, to Harriet's alphas, but she elected to allow her to give that explanation herself. Meesei did not want to be seen as trying to influence the alphas away from Harriet, so she would only speak up if she saw that Harriet was misleading them on the facts of the case.
"You had a few hits, at least. I think you'll do well with more practice. Though, at the very least, your threats with that thing will have a lot more bite in the future. Just remember to pick up some ammo for it before you go out next time." Tarentek suggested. Pausing a moment, he removed his earplugs and put them away before continuing.
"It has been a while since I've had target practice, but unfortunately I don't have the ammo to spare. However, I...think I might be able to handle a good sparring match. I'm still not fully recovered, but I'm doing better than before, and I'd like the exercise. As long as it isn't too intense, I should be fine. I'll admit, I've never sparred against someone who could fly before, so that should be interesting. You ever gone hand-to-hand with someone like me before?" He asked curiously.
"It has been a while since I've had target practice, but unfortunately I don't have the ammo to spare. However, I...think I might be able to handle a good sparring match. I'm still not fully recovered, but I'm doing better than before, and I'd like the exercise. As long as it isn't too intense, I should be fine. I'll admit, I've never sparred against someone who could fly before, so that should be interesting. You ever gone hand-to-hand with someone like me before?" He asked curiously.
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