Tal was balanced on the balls of his feet, a little bit of a bounce betraying his impatience to be moving but otherwise staying still and watching Deimos for the first sign of the impending attack.
First it came with words. Important words, but ones that Tal more or less knew. He scowled and nodded, not liking to remember the fear that had coursed through him on that hunt and the recent ursur kill but unable to argue with the cold, hard logic in what Deimos said. But how--?
He was so focused on memorizing the words of the lecture that he almost missed the instruction on his stance. It took a few seconds, but Tal hurriedly reshuffled his feet to close the gap - and a flash of surprise crossed his face at how much easier it already felt to move.
"Uh, well--ack!" Action spoke louder then words, and Tal realized the incoming blow was physical, not verbal, almost too late. An easy enough strike towards his forward shoulder, warming up into the lesson, and he pulled the shield up at the angle he'd been learning on his own, attempting to deflect to the side rather than try to brace his scrawny arm against the General's muscular strength.
And perhaps he could be taught, as he also stepped forward at an angle almost without thought, in towards Deimos and away from the sword; that recently-mentioned muscle memory from their spear training making the footwork smooth even if his shield was a little wobbly. "Like... that?" he asked hopefully.
First it came with words. Important words, but ones that Tal more or less knew. He scowled and nodded, not liking to remember the fear that had coursed through him on that hunt and the recent ursur kill but unable to argue with the cold, hard logic in what Deimos said. But how--?
He was so focused on memorizing the words of the lecture that he almost missed the instruction on his stance. It took a few seconds, but Tal hurriedly reshuffled his feet to close the gap - and a flash of surprise crossed his face at how much easier it already felt to move.
"Uh, well--ack!" Action spoke louder then words, and Tal realized the incoming blow was physical, not verbal, almost too late. An easy enough strike towards his forward shoulder, warming up into the lesson, and he pulled the shield up at the angle he'd been learning on his own, attempting to deflect to the side rather than try to brace his scrawny arm against the General's muscular strength.
And perhaps he could be taught, as he also stepped forward at an angle almost without thought, in towards Deimos and away from the sword; that recently-mentioned muscle memory from their spear training making the footwork smooth even if his shield was a little wobbly. "Like... that?" he asked hopefully.
