Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint

didn’t know was there. I suddenly stopped seeing her as student and started seeing her as a dangerous competitor.
    “Oh, shit,” said Paci. “I’ve seen that look before.” Some others laughed around him, but I paid them no mind. “You better run, Winky!” he yelled.
    Winky didn’t give a crap what they were saying. Her eyes narrowed at me and she waved a little. “Come on then. Bring it.”
    “You bring it, twerp,” I responded. “And you’d better keep your nails to yourself or I’ll fucking rip them out.”
    She charged me, but I was ready for her. She was planning to use those nails on me like she had on the guys, but I knew it as soon as I saw her fingers bending, before she even started moving her feet.
    I ended her plans with a side block across her forearms and then the heel of my hand into her chin.
    Her head snapped back, causing her step to falter.
    I didn’t stop. I kept coming, delivering blow after punishing blow to her face and chest, pulling back only enough to make sure I didn’t break anything.
    I’d seen fighters go into frenzies like Winky before. It was rare and usually came along as a result of some other external trigger, but when it happened, the only way to shut it off was to power it down. I hated to hurt her, but she had it coming. Not only had she lost it, but she’s lost it on Bodo.
    She tripped after my fifth blow to her upper body, landing in the dirt. I kicked dirt in her face and then used the bottom of my foot to smash her upper arms a couple times.
    “I give! I give!” she yelled, in between choking and gasping for air in the cloud of dirt and dust that surrounded her.
    “You’re friggin right, you do,” I said, backing off, bouncing on the balls of my feet, shaking my head a little to get the emotions under control. I had felt myself slipping away a little, getting into machine attack mode. That was never a good place to be, especially when unevenly matched with a weaker opponent. It’s how people got hurt, and I didn’t want that for anyone here; it was completely contrary to our purposes and the things I was trying to create with my training - mainly establish camaraderie and esprit de corps.
    Everyone around the clearing was hollering. Some of them were hooting like they were at a football game and others were just telling people to shut up or get out of the way.
    Kowi came over to me to put his hand on my shoulder, in what seemed to be a mark of approval over my actions. Winky probably had some friends and family in the crowd that needed to see that, so I was glad for it. I didn’t need any vendetta on my butt, especially if any of her relatives were half as bloodthirsty as she was.
    The other girls who hadn’t made the cut today, approached Winky cautiously. They looked like they wanted to help her but were afraid they were going to be her next victims.
    “Get her up,” I said hoarsely. The dust had worked its way into my throat and dried it out along with the exertion. “Winky, lay one finger on anyone and I’ll kick your ass.”
    She shook her head, taking the hand of the nearest girl to stand. She got on her feet, thanking the one who helped her up. The rest of them surrounded her and walked her away from the center, one of them handing her a cloth to wipe her eyes with. They had to be stinging with all the dirt I had kicked into her face.
    “Well, that was a hell of a show,” said Kowi, a smile in his voice.
    “How’s Trip?” I asked. I could see Bodo was okay, standing off to the side with some guys, a bemused smile on his face. I wasn’t going to worry about him until later, since he was on his feet and seemed fine.
    “He’s okay. Nursing his sore rocks somewhere.”
    “Poor guy.”
    “Got what he deserved. Seems he’s always underestimating people.”
    “Fatal flaw,” I said, smiling.
    Coli came out of the trees with Peter behind her, walking over to join us. “Looks like I missed all the fun,” said Coli, standing directly in front of her boyfriend, ignoring me.
    Kowi dropped his hand from my shoulder. “Yeah. Trip got his ass kicked by Bodo and his little friend over there, Winky.”
    My heart squeezed a little at his characterization of Winky. Why can’t she be his little friend without it making me feel ill? What is my problem? I had chastised Bodo for being jealous earlier, and now here I was being just as stupid. I shook my head and looked down at the ground, disappointed in myself.
    Peter came over and rubbed my