Take a Shot

Mentors

"Emerald," the three men said in unison. She didn't speak, tightening her ponytail. Her eyes stayed stable on the middle of the Triad.

"Please forgive me," she said in the language of her youth. The three ninjas snarled.

"You've not become so much better as to defeat all three of us at once."

"I have no intentions of killing all three at once." She stamped on the floor and tendrils of shadow grasped onto the outer two triplets, grasping their bodies quickly. Kage's body was whipped to the leftmost wall, nearly in the corner, and Shadow's was sucked to the back wall, almost directly in the middle. It left Hije standing alone in the center of the room, facing his protegee. She reached deliberately for her belt, pulling out a knife. He snarled, readying his own weapons.

"Shame," said the youngest triplet before dashing towards Emerald. His body collided with hers. He knocked her back, and she jumped back twice, escaping his fury.

He said nothing, grey eyes smoldering as his hands went for her throat. She ducked down, knocking his arms away with one of hers. Her face was a solid mask, eyes coming to his face only to move away. He'd taught her that.

"Predictable!" barked Hije, ducking her blows. She snarled, sending a full fist towards his face. He dodged, and her fist collided with his shoulder instead. He grinned.

He dodged as a fist struck out powerfully towards his midsection. But his eyes stayed with that fist too long. When he looked up to see her next blow, he found a fist in his temple. He stumbled to the side, ears ringing, vision shifting. He brought his arms up, protecting his head and taking the brunt of her blows.

This perseverance was what made her great. Her blows were relentless. He took them steadily. She was only human. He was supernatural, the strongest of Lord Geechis's genetic experiments. There was no world where she could overpower him.

Still, he'd seen many men die for underestimating her. He wouldn't make the same mistake.

Why wasn't she talking?

"Maybe we should call you Jibber-Jabber instead of Jaguar?" Kage laughed as Hije flipped backwards, avoiding her ever-approaching form.

"Don't be ridiculous!" she yelled from her gut, striking out. Hije dodged to the side, swinging out with a kick. It connected to her knee, knocking her legs together and sending her off balance. She howled in pain as he dove in towards her stomach. "You three named me Jaguar for my ferocity and speed!" She let loose with a string of curses as Hije battered away at her.

"We'll call you something else for that mouth," Hije growled, yanking on her hair and sending her flying to the ground.

She finally backed off, hopping a few steps back. Her breath was coming heavy, ragged in the confined space. He could use this time to leave and get back up, but she would quickly dispose of Kage and Shadow if he left now. This was his game to end.

Emerald shrugged, hands up in front of her face, shifting her body weight side to side as she tried to get her breath back. He dove towards her. She hated when her hips and her head were hit, so he'd do both. Her head first; she didn't do well when she couldn't see. He would take that advantage.

He swung out towards her head, and she put an arm up to block it. She thrusted towards his stomach, shining knife in hand. He jaunted backwards, sucking his stomach in. She was quick, but that was where her name came from. He knew she was fast. Her defense had always been her weakness. He just had to be able to hit her. He swung out again, and she ducked this time, backing away.

Hije scowled. He had to aim lower. He would have to start with her hips; that was harder to dodge. He dropped down into a martial block, eyes moving between hers. She slowly and purposefully tucked her knife back into its sheath, mouth set grimly. He frowned. Something seemed different somehow. He could sense no bloodlust, no sadism. That was odd for her.