Getting to Know You Even Better

Continued from here...

Valley was not at all confident in her ability to spar in jeans, especially not against someone like the 'Scar Queen' Kara Kane. Even if she was new, the budding young wrestlerette was built like a walking, living tower of pure muscle. Fortunately for Valley, she didn't have to travel back home just to get what she needed, since she had an extra pack with workout clothes in the locker room. Perfect for just this sort of occasion.

When the Slamazon returned to the gym a few minutes later, she was dressed to go, wear her pink gym shorts and a white workout bra. She waved to Kara with an eager smile as she made her way back over to the ring and grabbed some sparring gear on the way

"So," She started to fit her helmet on, making sure it was on snug. Kara looked like she could hit hard, and even though Valley wasn't planning on getting smacked, it never hurt to be cautious.  "You said this is your first time wrestling, but doV you have the basics down, at least? Rope running, Irish Whips, stuff like that?"

One thing about Kara that becomes readily apparent is that she dresses in convenience for exercise. Valley would already be gone for a little while to change, but the Scar Queen wouldn't have to, despite not expecting a spar on her first day. Already wearing her comfortable black sport shorts, Kara unzips her sleeveless hoodie and strips it off, revealing a navy blue sports bra worn underneath. She exhales deeply in anticipation, doing some quick limb stretching exercises while idly waiting for Valerie's return. A moment after shaking her arms out to loosen up, Valley returns. The veteran greets the hulking newbie with a grin, and Kara returns the eager expression, following Valley to the ring, grabbing and equipping herself with the readily available sparring equipment.

Once in the ring, Kara checks her equipment, making sure her gloves were fitted nice and tight as she watched Valley do the same with her helmet. "Yeah," Kara confirms with a nod, "Made sure I knew my stuff before joining. Dunno if my tech's anything noteworthy though."

It was a good thing that Kara at least had the basics down - Valley knew a lot, sure, but that didn't automatically mean she was good at imparting what she knew. A lot of her skills were so ingrained that it was hard to imagine someone not knowing them, and explaining things to people without bathing her tone in condescension could be a bit  of a trick.

'Don't worry so much about your 'tech', that'll come with time." Valley snapped her gloves and boots on, making sure they were snug and tight before she went in. Both for her safety and for Kara's. "You're tall, you're tough, and you've got a good combat background. That'll get you by far enough to start, I bet."

Valley hopped on top of the apron, grabbed the ropes, and leaped inside the ring with a single bound, bouncing a bit from the impact. She hopped from foot to foot, establishing her rhythm, then brought her hands up and moved into her grappling stance. She stayed light, moved with practiced grace as she glided over the mat, never stayed in one spot for more than a second.

"We'll keep it simple to start, okay?" She gave Kara a quick tap with her fist, then hopped away to the center of the ring. "Pins. Just focus on trying to pin me, for now. Use any move you like, but that's the objective."

Kara had quite the challenge on her hands, though it being the part of a non-competitive spar. To see what she was capable off, Valley suggests that they start off training focusing on pins. That seemed simple enough, sure, but not to Kara when she sees just how light on her feet her veteran opponent was. Getting a hold of her would surely prove difficult, let alone pinning her. Nevertheless, Kara raises her powerful arms in a stance, ready to make the attempt.

First things first, Kara had planned to test just how agile Valley ways. When she was sure they were both ready, Kara advances forward as quickly as she could, arms placed in a position where her left would slip between Valley's legs to be scooped up and caught by her right arm, to which she would promptly slam onto the mat for a pin attempt. She doubted very seriously that this maneuver would work right off the bat, but if and when its dodged, she can gauge how quickly Valley could move at any given moment; useful information for future attempts.

Valley’s blood was pumping as she began to dance, but she knew she had to tone it down a little with this spar. She was used to going all out in a spar...with Silver Ace. Or Alaina. Both of them had logged countless hours in wrestling rings across the world. Not so with Kara. Here, she'd have to take it one step at a time and adjust accordingly. This was a learning experience.

When she came in and went for the basic powerslam, Valley didn't fight it - instead, she held Kara along, jumping with the lift to get higher than her younger opponent intended. Valley swung her legs over Kara’s shoulder and dropped down behind her, nimbly landing in a squat. Without a single pause, she reached through the Scar Queen’s legs with one arm and pulled her over her chest while she flopped on her back, trying to put her young opponent’s shoulder on the mat with a quick schoolboy pin.

She had expected Valley to evade her entirely. But that is not at all with Kara had gotten in return. Valley seemed lighter than air as she hoists her off of the ground, and by the time Kara realized that, it was too late. Her opponent had flipped herself over Kara, warning of her presence behind her only by the thud of her landing. The counter action was quick, eyes widening as Kara finds herself being pulled back and off of her feet with a feat of strength she didn't think the Slamazon had. Kara is toppled onto her back, but displays her strength when Valley goes for the pin, quickly moving to roll off of her shoulders to throw Valley out of her maneuver and pick herself up if she's successful.

Valley didn't expect the pin would keep Kara down for long, and sure enough, it didn't. That sort of thing rarely worked in the ring, but she wanted to make sure the fresh talent appreciated just how fast you could get put on the floor. No better way to show it than with a demonstration.

”Good lift.” Valley rolled back to her feet and moved away to the other side of the ring, giving them some space before they went at it again. ”Might want to wear me down a little bit before you try to slam me all over the place, though. That’s where your kickboxing can come in.”

Valley fell back into her rhythm and started to circle around the ring, closing in fast on Kara.

It was surprising how quickly Kara had found herself floored by a smaller, albeit much more experienced opponent. Surprising, perhaps, but it taught her a valuable lesson she would have to remember about fighting in the ring, and that's how much you'd always be in danger of being knocked prone onto the mat. Good thing she learned it now so she could be more careful in future matches.

Now that she knew how nimble Valley was and how quickly she could find herself pinned, Kara planned to make good use of her kickboxing training as her experienced sparring partner approaches. With a step forward and nearly full turn of her body, the Scar Queen attempts to counter with a hard back fist strike, though it may hit harder than she initially intends to if it successfully connects.

Valley was keenly aware that they were picking up a little crowd, as a couple of their fellow wrestlers moved in and stood around the ring. Kara's looks probably had something to do with it - not exactly the typical look of an AFW wrestler. But they were likely taking some notes, too. It never hurt to learn more about a future opponent.

Like, for instance, Valley was learning that Kara had an absolutely brutal backfist. She managed to get her hands up in time to block it with her forearm, but the impact was still enough to make her stumble away, almost into the ropes.

"Wow." Valley whistled and shook her head, not afraid to show she was a little impressed. She regained her footing before she could get pushed too far, and came back towards her younger opponent with a quick hop. Valley landed and swung her leg low with a deft shin kick, looking to strike the side of Kara's knee.

Kara herself hadn't noticed the crowd immediately, not as quickly as Valley did. She kept herself focused, and it wasn't until she performed her backfist was she tipped off into knowing that a small audience had gathered. It felt a little distracting at first, but she was confident it wouldn't take much to regain full focus. After all, it was a small crowd, surely. Not nearly as distracting as a full stadium of screaming people would be.

She might hit hard, but it's soon made clear that Kara may not be quick enough to follow an effective blow with another. Kara seemed ready to launch another move, but Valley was quicker. A sting to the side of the knee causes Kara to stagger, wincing as she bends one way towards the direction the leg had came. With Kara's powerful stature, however, it was made possible to keep her balance, though she will admit that Valley's kicks were much more forceful than she had realized.