FIRE AND BLADE: ZUKO'S LOVE

The Best Place: Bloody Night of Healing

Unfortunately, she couldn't help but get hit again that night.

After classes, she followed a few dampire novices to the training mats in the gymnasium sectioned off for training. It was a small space, but then again, fighting strigori tended to be up close and personal.  The novices were paired off  by their gender. Mai ended up fighting the shy girl with glasses, Amanda, but couldn't somehow bring herself to let loose her full potential on the younger girl. She ended up flipping the girl onto the mat with an arm under Amanda's back for support on the way down instead of actual jabs or kicks.

With a blush, Amanda grabbed the hand Mai offered her, and rose unsteadily to her feet. 

"You don't have to keep on.... well.... using kiddie gloves with me... I know I don't look like much, but I like the fair chance to get my ass handed to me like everyone else. Besides, strigori aren't going to go easy on me."

This was the most Mai had heard the girl talk, and she couldn't help but feel the warrior's spirit in her, despite her physical appearance being on the short, chubby side.

"Sorry, I will not do so again."

Amanda eyed Mai and nodded in approval with a small smile as they both took up stances again....

Mai really tried to hold back only a fraction of her exceptional training but found herself gaping at how quickly the girl fell back, and at how much blood her nose was gushing.  Mai knelt beside Amanda and asked if she was fine. Amanda's dark green eyes were open, but very unfocused as she looked for the source of the question. Her mouth moved for a few moments without sound.

"I can't ...believe... how did you do that?

"Sorry, but you ran into my strike. All I did was punch forward..." Mai's voice went up only one octave above bored concern.

"You did it so fast!"

Mai looked over at a brunette male and the same blonde at lunch. They were sparing beside them and stood by looking both impressed and confused. 

"Your fist, it was a complete blur." This came from the blonde.

Mai helped Amanda rise and kept an arm around her until they got to the bleachers. Amanda had her head turned up with a handkerchief offered by Mai to her blue/black nose. Mai disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a wad of paper towels. 

Instructor Sud, a dark skinned dampire that spent more time combing through his beard with his hand then actually evaluating his students, finally came over.

"You two know that if you get any blood on the floor, you both have to clean it up...after she sees the nurse."

"Yes sir!" 

Amanda looked back at Mai with wide eyes that looked slightly creepy with the state of her nose.

"You have GOT to show me how to be that fast!"

Mai blinked twice at this. She had expected the girl to be angry, say she never wanted to so much as look at her again much less clean the gym floor together. This... was interesting. 

"Do they not teach such things here?"

"Not like that! No where nearly like that!"

She had wondered what was taught here, but now she was kind of disappointed. Most of her skills were honed into her by Professor Rozery. Despite teaching how to throw knives, Rozery's teachings had kicked in when she had extended her arm for a punch.

"Again, I am sorry. Do you want me to take you to the Nurse? You still look unsteady and very pale."

"Well that's what happens when someone punches most of your blood out of ya'" Amanda paused a moment and tried to stand but shook with the effort.