Star Beings: Dawn

Ballroom full of traitors

"No, you're doing it wrong." Kit states, staring at me from her seat five feet away from the mat. I groan.
We've been practicing all week and getting absolutely nowhere.
"Well can you show me how to do it right, Miss perfectionist?" Kit grunts as they stand, leaning on their cane. His leg is injured, though I don't know how it happened. He refuses to tell me.
"Well for one," they whack the back of my leg with their cane. I yelp in surprise. "Your stance is way off. Legs apart, shoulders squared, arms up and ready to block." "ready to block what?" "This."
Kit swings at me once more with their cane. I block it this time. "Stop doing that! Aren't you supposed to be teaching me basic shapeshifting?" "Yes. But considering how the last gala for the Star Beings went, you need to be ready for anything." I tilt my head with curiosity.
"What happened the last time?" "Somebody died!" Kit says cheerfully.
I stare at her with concern.
"That's a joke." Kit says, sitting back down in his chair. "Now get into position, and think about what you want to change. Whether it's hair color, eye color, or even smaller features like birthmarks.Now, take a deep breath, and focus."
I squeeze my eyes shut, and breathe deeply. Why don't I try my eyes? That should be easy enough.
Silver. That's different.
I open my eyes and glance over at Kit.
"Did it work?" Kit studies me with an amazed expression. "Well?" I ask, getting excited. "Nope." they smirk.
"Are you aware that you're an asshole? Because if not I figured I should let you know." "I've been informed of that many times, by many people, Anai. I actually revel in that fact. DJ would tell you that seeing as I've broken into her apartment multiple times. At least before this happened." Kit says, gesturing to his bad leg. "But I'll be able to start that again soon. Hopefully."
There's an edge to her voice. They don't believe their own words.
"Hey, I'm sure it'll get better. Now let's keep practicing. We only have a week to go. And I want to get out of this damned apartment complex."

"Alright, we're gonna try something different. The body reacts differently when it's in danger. So... I'd dodge."
A dagger whistles by me and embeds itself into the wall. "Kit, what in creation's name-" "You dodged it. Now do it again, or try to enhance your body to block it." Kit throws yet another knife. I leap out of the way.
"Kit, you are going to end up impaling me-" "Nah. Just keep dodging." Kit tosses another knife.
It barely misses me. "Kit-" "Will you just shut up about it already? You'll be fine!" The next knife slices through the air straight towards me. Without thinking, I raise my arms to shield myself.
The knife never hits me.
When I open my eyes, I see two large leathery wings shielding my arms, and I'm suddenly fully aware of the large holes that have been ripped in my shirt.
I lower my arms and the wings shift back into place.
Kit is grinning at me.
"Told ya."

"You could've killed me." I huff, the wings shrinking into my back. Kit laughs at this. "Please. You would have been grazed, at worst. Now go pickup the knives." She states. "Why?" "Oh, you thought we were done? Hell no! You need to be able to do more than just wrap yourself up in bat wings."
I pick up two of the daggers Kit threw at me, grumbling profanities as I do so.
"Alright, now what?" "Now, get into a fighting stance."
I spread my legs, raise the two knives, and hunch my back slightly. I'm ready to move if needed. "Perfect. Seems like some things truly are muscle memory. Now think fast." Kit is in my face in the blink of an eye. I leap out of the way of their cane as he swings.
"How the hell did you-" "Shapeshifting is useful! Some creatures move faster than others. You can seemingly teleport without ever actually doing so." She says, cutting me off. They swing at me again, this time aiming for my shins.
I jump over the cane and swipe at Kit with the knives.
"Sorry! Instinct." "No, that's good! It means you know some of what you're doing. Now think fast."
Kit draws a whole sword from their cane, because of course she has one stashed in there. I parry his attack to the best of my ability, shoving them back a little as I do so.
And, because of their bad leg and no cane to lean on, Kit topples over.
"Oh creation! Are you alright?" I ask, tossing away the knives and reaching out to help Kit up.
But she just laughs. "I'm fine, Anai! It feels good to be in a fight again, even if I'm losing." Kit says as I help them up and they dust themselves off. "Though I think that's quite enough for today. Meet me back here tomorrow for more training. Shapeshifting will get easier now that you've done it once. Now, we train with the knives."