Party 1 Beginning: Lost Woods to Clock Town

"Not too bad. Better then some others I've seen. Often at some point in the first morning work out people collapse in the middle and we have to beat em back up," she said as she slid cut up food through the mask. Not long after they sat down Chaos walked over to them. " I'm going to try and find a smith. My sword could use some sharpening among other things. Good luck with the training." He then continued outside and out to the markets.

"You're not going to eat any breakfast?" Reina asked. "Be careful out there, this town is a death trap."

"Don't I know it?" Chaos said as he walked out the door. Fist laughed. "So more has happened to you recently? I saw that the bomb shop, among other buildings, is no longer standing. Know anything about that?"

"Well I had a front row seat." Reina started, "Got a few ribs I'm pretty sure are broken from that. Chaos is pretty sure he knows who did it and that they were under orders but that's about all i know myself." She took another bite of her oatmeal. "Also in the woods we were attacked by something really weird. It's pretty hard to describe."

"So you've been busy then. If anything this work will help make these situations a little less troubling to deal with." Fist got up. "Well then, next I want you to do some more laps. Same rules apply. Head outside when you're done eating." Finishing her food, Fist walked back out the door.

Reina finished her food quickly 'better than more push-ups.' she thought and she began running again, pacing herself a little better this time.

"Pick up the pace! You have to work off that food you just ate." Fist said. She picked up some pebbles and tossed them one at a time at Reina's feet to get her to move quicker.

Reina tried to avoid the pebbles, but she found the best way was to run faster. When the pebbles did manage to catch her legs though they stung like crazy making Reina run even faster to try and avoid getting hit. She felt like she was going to throw up everything she just ate,

after a little while longer Fist decided to call it again, simply saying, "Enough."

Reina didn't hesitate to stop. She leaned against the wall in the alley and threw up. After she finished and was catching her breath she looked over at Fist. She wiped the sweat from her forehead "What's...next?" she panted.

Fist saw the determination in Reina's eyes. She kneeled down and turned around, signaling for Reina to hop on her back.

Reina wondered what this had to do with training but she attached herself to Fist preparing for the next part of the training.

As soon as she got on, Fist ran towards a building with a flat roof and quickly climbed up the side. When she reached the top she put reina down. "Alright, if we're going to continue I want to see where you're coming from and how you fight already. She moved to the other side of the roof. " I want you to try and hit me. In any way you see fit."

Reina hesitated. Sure she had a little bit of fighting skill but most of it was with the knives she had lost three days ago. She didn't know much about hand-to-hand combat and was afraid of getting crushed by Fist, or worse, being perceived as weak. She clenched her hand into a fist and tried to imagine one of her knives was there as she ran at Fist.

With such a straightforward strike Fist easily sidestepped it, lightly tapping the back of Reina's leg with her foot. " A frontal charge will only get you so far. If you're going for a tactic like that you'd better be sure you're opponent doesn't have the room to move out of the way."

Reina wasn't quite sure what Fist meant. How was she supposed to come at her from an unexpected angle. "Can you show me?" She asked.

"Well in a situation like this where it comes down to melee combat, there isn't exactly a variety of positions to attack from. Someone will have to charge eventually, but you also need to have your next move ready in your head. No doubt when two people clash more often then not they'll end up preventing the others blow, in that case you have to be ready with a counter attack. If someone sidestepped me like I just did to you I would spin around and bring the swing right back at them with the added momentum." Fist demonstrated by running from one side to the other and then spinning around on one foot, extending her fist at the end of the turn.

"Oh I get it!" Reina said, "Now how would I block that?"

Fist put a hand on her chin as she thought about all the ways. "Well there's a couple things one could do. Timing is also important. If the one swinging had acted quick enough you might just have to take the blow and try to block the hit with your arms, or if you saw what they were doing and acted fast you could grab their fist and force their arm to submit to your own and from then you could twist it around, throw them provided you have the strength, or you could pull them towards you and use your free hand to deliver a strong blow to their dangling body, preferably their face.
It'll be different in your case though due to your stature. Out here where there's not many kids like you itching to fight like this so most people you'll face will no doubt be taller. This is both an advantage and a weakness since you're tougher to hit and can dart around more, but it'll be easier to knock you down and you're unable to really grapple or throw someone. One useful thing you can do though is easily hit the groin. I can't tell you how many times that doing that has helped turn the tables and win a fight."

Reina smiled. "I think I'm ready to try again."

"Alright then, round two." She jetted backwards and took position. "Begin."

Reina came at Fist, this time trying to keep in mind a rebound attack when Fist dodged. She spun and swung just like Fist had showed her.

Using her left hand, Fist brushed Reina's aside and moved her knee upwards in a fast movement, stopping it right before making contact with her chest. "You did good at the spin, but you'll also have to keep in mind that your enemy has legs too. Unfortunately with your angle and positioning it'd be hard to counter a jab like this especially with one fist in full swing. Your best option would probably be to dodge to the side and stop trying to land that hit altogether. Perhaps moving back a bit and then plotting another path to hitting your opponent , or you could try a more risky move by sticking close after dodging and using your other hand to get in a quick hit."

Reina sighed, she clearly had a lot to learn. 'It's a wonder I've stayed alive this long.' She had Chaos to thank for that. "Alright, I think I'm getting it. I'll try again."

Fist got into position for a third time. "Ready when you are."