Rafferty swiped over Sheridan's head as her opponent easily ducked the attack. She managed to twist and catch Sheridan's counter with her elbow, but only just barely. Sheridan hadn't landed anything clean yet, but the intense, bony brunette was backing Rafferty up consistently, and that wasn't good.

Rafferty was aware that not a single person in the room was doing anything but watching this. Even Katrin, the icy queen herself, seemed to have taken an interest.

So it's not like there's a risk of being totally embarrassed in front of everyone if I get my butt kicked or anything.

Sheridan stepped forward and threw an uppercut, her glove glowing bright blue. It was an aggressive, non-textbook move from the unofficial leader of J Hall, who must have sensed Rafferty wasn't at her best.

Don't tell her it's unofficial.

Rafferty stepped back from the punch, and tried to take advantage. She intended to draw her dull practice sword and swing it all in one motion. At worst, Rafferty should have caught Sheridan's arm, hard, before she could pull it back.

Rafferty pulled on the sword's handle. She hated this thing. It held the Blue well enough, but they hadn't gotten the balance right. As she pulled, her bruised hip growled angrily, and put a hitch in the whole move. The too-light weapon missed wildly over Sheridan's head, a bright blue comet trailing behind it.

The force of the Blue pulled the unsteady Rafferty off balance, and suddenly Sheridan was rising in front of her. Rafferty saw the glowing blue knee guard just before she knew what was about to happen. This piece of gear allowed Sheridan to strike with her knee, and then pull back and strike a second time too quickly for you to react, or even really see, when she lined you up just right.

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The successive blows flipped Rafferty over backward, and she landed roughly on the floor.

She looked up in time to see Sheridan pulling her bow out of its holster. Sheridan's practice arrows were blunt, and wouldn't have any of her nastiest tricks, but a direct hit could still knock you unconscious.

Rafferty managed to roll just enough to her right that the arrow caught more floor than her, but the blue blast still forced her all the way to the wall, a group of girls scattering in front of her.

Everything hurt.

See, Trevor. I'm totally taking it easy, just like you said. I'm lying on the floor doing absolutely nothing.

As Rafferty struggled to get at least halfway upright, she saw Sheridan leaping her way, her damn cattle prod now in hand, its tip buzzing blue. Even on its lowest setting, that thing hurt like hell.

Rafferty knew three things.

First, the cattle prod was totally unfair. Just because it wasn't sharp, they let Sheridan use it in the training room. Most of the other girls didn't get to use their actual weapons in here. It wouldn't do any good against a God, anyhow. Why did she even have it?

Second, she knew Sheridan would take the perfect textbook angle, which meant she knew which angle Sheridan was going to take.

Third, she knew that Sheridan wouldn't leave herself an out. She'd go all-in to deliver the blow. Sheridan just didn't have it in her to do things half-assed.

Which meant she'd be a little too close to the wall.

The first kick, barely a tap, knocked Sheridan off course. The second, as hard as Rafferty could manage, forced her into the wall.

Rafferty hurried to her feet through her hip's objections, and pushed the small of Sheridan's back with both hands. Sheridan's arm slipped, trapping the cattle prod against her chest, and she spasmed at the jolt from her own weapon, unable to let go and stop the flow of the Blue.

Rafferty stepped back. Sheridan dropped the cattle prod, but was still disoriented. Rafferty delivered a strike to Sheridan's kidney, the bracelets on her arm shimmering, and the fight pretty much left her opponent.

Of course, that didn't mean she couldn't make a show of it, just a little. Rafferty flicked her sword through the air, releasing a tiny blue arc, and touched Sheridan just hard to enough to cause her to somersault backwards in the air, and land on the floor with a satisfying thunk.

The match was over, and Rafferty heard the murmurs scuttle through the crowd.

Don't celebrate. Don't celebrate. Don't celebrate. She'll never forgive you if you celebrate.

Rafferty put out her hand. Sheridan looked up at her, eyes still glassy, and took it. Rafferty pulled her friend to her feet. Sheridan looked at her, gave a little nod, and staggered away, Lena hovering next to her.

Rafferty walked to the door as quickly as she could manage, trying to at least get out of the room before her legs gave out completely.

As she did, she heard one of the probationary Hunters say to another.

"She just took out a top rated hunter. With a limp."