Snippet #1474104

As Talae had expected, Caine was able to block, but only awkwardly and over his shoulder. It was certain to be a disadvantageous position in the long run, and the mud slick that was developing beneath their feet at a rather alarming rate (their feet tearing at the damp ground only making it worse) didn't help anything.

He might have been pushed back, but her footing was nowhere near as solid as she would have liked either. Though she had balance in spades, even the considerable ability of her species to stay firmly where they wished to be- including hanging from things- did not really apply when there was nothing to grip onto. Her boots raked in the wet earth, leaving two obvious skid marks where she fought not to be pushed back and to the ground.

In the end, the leverage afforded by her relative positioning was enough to keep her on her feet, and it was Caine who moved, apparently with the intent of increasing distance and perhaps buying himself time enough to recover and start the exchange anew. Accustomed to using this tactic herself, she recognized it for what it was and knew that the best thing to do was press the advantage it gave her.

"Are you going to tell your next move?" His humor was as dry as her own at the moment, and the corner of her mouth twitched into a half-smile.

Without warning, she took off, mindful that running breakneck was likely to end badly. So it was not at full speed but quickly enough that she made her next approach, angling for his right side. "Mmm... I don't think so. It's hard for an assassin to be honest twice in the same day, you know." That in itself was a warning, albeit a subtle one, and at the last moment, Talae, who had looked highly dedicated to attacking the right, dove sideways and rolled, springing to her feet in enough time to level a double-handed blow to his left, which she knew to be his off-hand side.

She skidded slightly in the mud, and almost went down herself. As it was, the blow would not land exactly where she had aimed it (his ribcage), but rather slice at the side of his leg. Assuming, of course, that it managed to hit anything at all. "You know," she remarked, "I do think this would be rather more difficult if you swung at me every now and then." She knew that thus far he had been much more defensive than usual, and she understood the reason for it- frankly, she didn't stand much of a chance at besting him in such straightforward combat. She was without poison or terrain advantage, after all. But all the same... the Children weren't going to let up just because she was new at this. she might need more practice dodging and blocking than anything, really, at least if she planned to stay alive.