Sabu was not one for introspection. His inner monologues were normally the length of "What shall I have for dinner?" or "I hope Tzul Droon will like these licorice plants I found!"

Still, what happened yesterday night in the Mud Huts was odd enough to make him think. As soon as he got back home from the night of telling stories, he had laid in his bed, unable to sleep because of the thoughts that flew around in his head.

It was an omen most certainly, but what did it mean? He was sure that Anhau would not fall anytime soon, at least not as long as he and his tribe still stood at the ridge to defend it. But still, it begged the question. Was something coming to the valley? More importantly, was something bad coming to the valley?

Having woke up after his troubled sleep, he knew that he needed to do something to clear his head. So here he was at the Ku Kar, stretching in the middle of the ring, and hopefully looking around for a challenger to arrive.

Matsi arrived at the ring feeling invigorated. The cold wet air was sharp in her lungs, bit her skin, and invited a warm blush on her cheeks and nose. She'd need more action to keep warm (though her usual dash up to Roek territory was rather warming in itself), and soon. Unstrapping her tonfa from her back, she gave Ruha a scritch before holding her arm out to a post to which he scampered with ease.

It was early, but it was just the kind of morning she needed. The air, more than briskly cool and misty, gave a sharp rap to her senses, making her focus more intently. After the Candlelit Night, she needed process time. And nothing helped her ease her mind more than a good fight. There weren't many here yet this early, but she traveled toward the center of the ring where another stretched.

Swinging her tonfa experimentally, she went through some warm-ups, her breathy Ha! and Umph! exclamations filling some space in the air. She glanced at the Roek. Taking the courtesy to bow, she asked, "If you should feel so inclined, might I beg of you a spar this fine morning?"

Sabu saw the young lady warming up and stopped to watch with rather distracted interest. She was quite pretty, it was true, but it wasn't just her looks that had him distracted. Looking at her, he couldn't recognize her amongst any of the Roeks he knew. To make matters more confusing, she seemed familiar. The lack of sensible clothes especially seemed to ring some bell in his head. He'd heard of this girl, but-

"Matsi Dzara!" The name came out at once, and then he remembered. He had seen this girl spar numerous times at the battalon. He returned the bow with a deep bow of his own and grinned wide at the invitation. "I would be an honor to spar with you! I myself have been looking for a fight!" He noticed the tonfa that she hefted with confidence and ease. "I hope you won't mind if I fight bare handed though." He grinned and held up his large hands. "I can't handle tools more complex than these normally."

Matsi laughed at the response, somewhat surprised that someone she did not know knowing her. She recognized the man, of course, but she did not know his name. She supposed it had something to do with the fact that he actually was Roek, and not just using their facilities. He probably socialized with the other fighters outside the ring. Her sole connection was Aronel, who wasn't exactly accepted, either.

"I do not mind at all, and if you wish, I will set aside my own weapons, though I had hoped to use them today," she replied, "Though it seems that you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I have not been made aware of your own."

"Sabu Imani! I am of the Imani family, though I am not well equipped to carry the name! You see, we of the Imani family are known for being rather odd looking and having much talent in wood working! With my luck, I was born looking like my father yet with none of his cunning with hammer and carving knife!" With a laugh at his own silly joke, he brought a hand out in front of his new sparring partner as she put down her tonfa. "And please, don't let my proficiencies inconvenience you! I have had to fight things in the forest that weren't so polite, and I'm used to fighting better armed foes! As long as you don't have fangs or razor tusks, I think I can manage!"

Matsi laughed at his light-heartedness. It was encouraging, though, she warned herself, disarming. Some used kindness and humor as a distraction.

"Then if you will, I shall continue with them," she said, settling her hands on the wooden grips. She grinned at him in proof of her statement, "As I have no tusks or fangs. I am pleased to meet you, Sabu Imani."

She bowed to him, as was tradition, and settled into an athletic stance, arms raised and guarded by her parallel tonfa, smiling as she waited for his move.

Sabu bowed back and assumed an aggressive wrestling stance, with his strong foot slightly further forward. The girl was using a defensive stance, she was probably a more reactive fighter. This suited Sabu just fine, as he was more comfortable as the aggressor.

Then as soon as he had gotten himself ready to take her down from the legs, he realized something. This was a young and rather attractive girl. He knew what would happen if he tried his usual tactics. He would try for the quick take down, get embarrassed by the rather awkward position his preferred holds and locks put him in, and then the female opponent would easily best him. It happened far too often in his younger days when he would go against his sisters friends. The fact that he knew they used it to their advantage did not stop him from feeling awkward in such a situation. He would have to change his tactics here.

Switching to a stronger, more upright stance, he quickly dashed toward his opponent, his arms tucked into his chest with the hands out and ready. If he couldn't take her down at the legs, clinching her arms would keep her from being able to use her weapons. It wasn't a perfect strategy, but it would do until he saw more of her style.

Matsi watched carefully as Sabu prepared to attack, taking a moment to ease her breathing and balance herself. When he made a shift, all her senses turned inward to the fight.

He was taking an aggressive charge, but she was ready and quick on her feet. As he drew closer, she attempted to duck and dodge right, toward his (supposedly) weak side, ready to jab her right tonfa backwards into his ribcage.

(( Dice rolling for you two. Sabu 5, Matsi 18 ))

Sabu's decision to change strategies was not immediately as successful as he'd hoped. He charged forward, stance lowered as he reached for Matsi's arms. The witch was indeed quick, slipping to his side, leaving his fingers to graze the skin of her opposite wrist as she twisted her body in preparation for her jab.

As Sabu recovered his footing from his miss, his motion was painfully interrupted by a sharp blow from Matsi's tonfa, a well-executed strike into his now-exposed side while she passed him. It wasn't as hard as it could've been, however, perhaps because of both wick's momentum in different directions.

Sabu grimaced as he felt the sharp jab in his side, no different from a branch whipping into him as he ran through the forest. It hurt and would leave a mark, but that would be the worst of it.

Sliding his feet back into his agressive charging stance. He brought his big right hand forward as quickly as he could, aiming for an open handed strike at the girl's face. This was, of course, only a feint to block her view. While he did this, he charged again, his body crouched and his head bowed. Sabu was aiming to shoot under her left arm while wrapping his left arm around her waist in hopes of scoring a takedown. Hopefully by staying under her arm, he could be safe from her weapons.

Matsi grinned as her tonfa connected solidly with his side. It was a good start, in her opinion.

She let herself get carried around by her momentum, whipping around just in time to see his hand flying toward her face. She reacted as quickly as she could, throwing her head backwards, raising her right arm defensively, intending to knock his arm out of its collision course with her face. The other tonfa remained low and left until she could spot a point of attack.

(( Hey, Jade and I have decided to self moderate the fight. ))

The palm strike had seemed to work, and Sabu wasn't giving his opponent a chance to defend herself. She'd already shown her speed, and he knew that he'd have to strike hard and quick himself.

He crouched low and aimed his head straight for her midriff, and dug his feet into the ground as he made two pounding steps towards her, trying to transmit his momentum straight through her body as he aimed for his strike. His arms shot out from in front of him, in an attempt to wrap the tonfa wielding girl in an iron clad hold.

(( Self-modding-- now predetermined. ))

He collided solidly with her, trapping her left arm curled between him and her chest. She let out an oof! of lost breath, but quickly regained it, trying to make her feet get a purchase on the ground.

She wound up in a low crouch, his weight bearing down on her. She pushed with her left arm, rotating it just so, trying to push the hardwood tonfa against his collarbone. With her weaker upper-body strength, she couldn't hope to simply push him off, but with some creative pressure, she hoped to make him loosen his grip.

As she did this, she flung her right arm outward, whipping the tonfa low along the ground, intending to strike his ankle with a sharp blow.