On A World Called Horizon

Getting The Measure Of You

Aloy's up first in the morning, and is sorting firewood to cook the first meal of the day when Rey stirs. She looks over to the Jedi and smiles.

"Did you sleep well, Rey?" She makes an apologetic smile. "I forget sometimes that sleeping on cave floors isn't normal for most people. I was nearly in my third decade before I slept in a proper bed."

"Fine, thanks." Rey returns the smile. "I'm no stranger to uncomfortable nights either. I had a thought though, in case we run into more machines today. We should spar before we set out."

Aloy nods. "That's smart. What do you want to use?"

"Not our real weapons," Rey says quickly. "Not a question of whether I'd beat you, but I don't know if your spear can withstand my lightsaber. Wouldn't want to mar your weapon. But," she says, getting up. "There are some promising branches on the trees outside. Shall we try those?"

Curiosity has Aloy easily persuaded. Before she knows it, they've both found branches they like and stripped them of twigs. They square off inside the cave, dressed in vests and leggings.

"Do you go up against many swordswomen?" Rey asks, giving hers an experimental twirl.

"A few." Aloy smiles, bringing her spear into a defensive position. "How are you with spear carriers?"

"Ah, well." Rey's grin is a little brittle for a moment. "There were these guys with spears who nearly killed me a few times in about five minutes, once."

"Just as well we're sticking to sticks then?"

"Oh, you're asking for a spanking now." A look of panic flits across Rey's face. "Not like that!"
Aloy decides to spare Rey's blushes and goes in for the first swing. It gets a quick riposte, then she's on the defensive as Rey reverses her grip and strikes back.

It's playful, but the competitive side of Aloy, the one which sent her sprinting along a half-fallen track during the proving, soon comes to the fore. The Jedi responds in kind and the cave echoes to their sticks clacking against one another and their shouts and grunts.

It's not all that far from the few dances the Seeker has taken part in. If anything, it feels like the sort she's never quite dared to get involved in. The sort that gets sweat flowing, hearts pounding and the dancers breathing hard.

Rey gets the first "kill", ducking a swing and putting her weapon to Aloy's throat. "Gotcha."

Aloy lunges the second Rey pulls away, spinning around her and jabbing the end of her stick into Rey's thigh. It drops the Jedi to the ground, and she rolls over to find Aloy's "spear" over her heart. "Don't get cocky."

Her opponent frowns for a moment before she springs upright.

Despite Rey's technique, Aloy realises she has an edge on her in one regard: footwork.

Probably the difference between a life spent dodging and finding room to shoot, and one spent getting in close to fight. Either way, it evens the odds.

She's more of a fighter than Rey, she thinks. Hunter's instincts, which let her seize on the openings and have her always on the offensive where Rey waits and watches. And if Rey's swordsmanship doesn't betray a weakness... footwork.

Her ankle snags Rey's, just enough to unbalance her, and with a bark of effort she pulls away to catch her behind the knee. The Jedi rolls as she hits the cave floor, but Aloy's too quick. She pins Rey's arms with her knees, sitting on her chest with the end of the stick at Rey's throat.
It's only after a moment or so that she realises the suggestiveness of the position. Rey's face is just inches away from...