Mauriz and I stepped into the inner courtyard, and my spirits lightened as soon as I stepped onto the grass. Looking around, I saw Kore waiting with a few guards around him to make sure he didn’t run. Our eyes met and I gave him a smirk. He frowned even more in return.
“Okay, when you guys feel like it, begin please.” Mauriz gestured for the guards to move away, and pushed me forward softly.
I smiled, walking up to Kore, and he bristled, baring his teeth at me.
“This is stupid.” he muttered.
“No. This is great.” I said, sidling up to him. “I get to beat you up and not get in trouble.”
The dark grey cat lashed out at me and I dodged easily, jumping up, my left leg kicking out and hitting him in the face.
He grunted and fell onto his back in the grass, narrowing his eyes as he looked up at me.
“Is that all you got?” I taunted. “I know you’re better than that.”
Kore leaped up to his feet and we walked up to each other, growling. He threw his fist at my face for a punch, but my hands flicked up and I caught his arm, twisting it behind his back. He gritted his teeth, trying to swing his leg around and kick the back of my legs, but I jumped a little, and he missed me.
I twisted his arm a little more and he snarled. I let go. He spun around, leaping for me. I stood still and let him come, grabbing his outstretched hands and throwing him to the side with his own momentum. He landed hard on his right shoulder, hissing. He was shaking a little as he got up.
“Do you give up yet?” My smile must have irritated him, because he came after me again. I slowly started to run toward him, my face twisting into a snarl. When we were almost on top of each other, I dodged to the side, letting him pass me, and before he could turn around, I kicked him hard in the back of his legs, making him fall to the ground once more.
“Urrrrgh....OKAY OKAY. I give up.” He hissed, groaning as he tried to stand, shaking.
Mauriz nodded at me as I looked at him, and there was the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. “Okay, here’s what’s wrong.” He turned to Kore. “Whitefire is quick, uses strategy, she’s nimble, and she hardly has to move at all. You do none of that.”
Kore frowned, his green eyes darkening as he gave me a glare. I stuck my tongue out and winked at him. He stiffened, his eyes narrowing.
Mauriz saw what was going on between us and he sighed. “I see we’re going to have to keep you two apart for now...” He called for the guards to come and take Kore back to his room and the dark grey cat was soon gone.
