Lost Girl

Chapter 12-Know Your Opponent

Days later Pan woke you up and said he'd start sword training as soon as you were ready. After a long hike trekking behind Peter, he finally stopped in a small clear area surrounded by trees. Unlike the area Devon and Carter trained you in, this place was fairly flat with few rocks and tree roots to trip over.

Peter had been holding both swords throughout the hike to lighten your load and allow your hands to be free so that climbing the foreign landscape was easier. He slid out the swords from the sleaths on his back. Both he held at the hilt until he turned one the opposite direction and held it out to you.

"You're already a better teacher than Devon; he threw the sword at me." You said while examing the freshly sharpened blade.

"He shouldn't have done that. I'll have to have a word with him."

"No, it's not really a concern anymore. It's in the past." Then you accidently cut your hand while touching the blade, but quickly concealed the blood from Peter. "This is really sharp."

Peter sighed. "You're cut, let me help."

"No it's nothing."

"No, it's not." Peter firmly said while putting your hand up to his face to examine the damage.

"So now you're going to be a gentleman?"

"You need to get used to the harm a blade can inflict, and I'm always a gentleman." He added slyly as he tore a piece of clothe from his scarf and started wrapping your hand.

You looked down at his sword that he had dropped when he noticed your cut. "Why does your blade look so dull?"

"I didn't want to risk hurting you while practicing."

"You don't mind if you get hurt?"

"I already know you have no intentions of hurting me."

"I might. Depends on how annoying you are." That caused him to raise an eyebrow.

"Big talk, however I don't think it's a wise move to use with me. You should know I'm not the most well-behaved boy on the island."

"And I suppose I'm not the most well-behaved girl on the island as long as Felix is here right?"

Peter laughed at your jab at Felix. "Alright Jess, let's play." He asserted picking his sword up and pointing towards you.

"On guard Peter Pan."

The metal of your swords clashed as you immediately jumped towards Peter, and he met your challenge. Peter was much stronger and quicker with his footwork. You tried some of the moves you could faintly recall from Devon, but Peter knew all of them, after all he's the one that taught them.

"Keep your movements smooth but strong when  you strike." Peter advised.

You tried your best to follow the instructions and felt as if you got in a few decent swings. Peter encouraged you throughout and offered construction critisim, which helped much more as opposed the verbal and physical beat down Devon offered.

"Now loosen your grip. You're holding the sword like a street fighter."

You followed his instruction and continued taking calculated swings. Your footwork was getting smoother through continued practice. Another swing from Peter was quickly blocked.

"Amazing. Have you always been such a quick study?"

"I like to think I'm good at surviving and that requires learning fast." At the last word you striked, but Peter was faster and grabbed your wrist causing you to drop your weapon.

"Hey!" You joked. Peter then kicked up the sword to his hand and pointed both blades at you. "What do I do now?"

"Be creative." He grinned slamming the blade into the tree when you tried to run, and with his dull blade, placed it near your neck.

"That's hard to do when your opponent is unusually creative too."

"Then the trick is to always be smarter, and that means you have to know you opponent." Then Peter leaned in just a little bit more. "So Jess...how well do you know me?"

"Fairly well, I think." You took a deep breath and lowered your gaze to his lips then flickered up to his dark green eyes. His face reflected a bit of confusion but then it completely softened. His grip on the swords also loosened leaving a window open for you. Just as you started leaning in, you snatched the swords from his hands and slammed him against the tree he had you previously pinned to.

"Gotcha." You grinned and pressed the flat part of the blade against his neck careful not to cut him. Peter's face had gone back to one of confusion until he quickly wiped it off and covered with his notorious smirk and eyebrow raise. "I suppose you're at my mercy now."

"It might seem that way. Unfortunately we need to get back to camp."

"Already?" You questioned stepping back from him.

"Yes. I've been gone too long. I'm probably needed." He said brushing past you and continuing towards camp.

"Just because I bested you Peter doesn't mean you have to quit."

"I respect your fighting skills; they're not why we're leaving."

"Then why?" You persisted.

Peter walked back and took the swords from your hands and then shealthed them behind his back. "I told you."

A part of you wanted to keep asking, but then the other part quieted that urge. Something upset him and you cared enough about him to give him space.

   

Comment Please!

Vote?