Tris POV
"Right!" I called out to the room. "Today we're going to learn how to fight, and then tomorrow you'll start fighting each other. Fights against others will be ranked, and at the end of this stage, we lose four initiates from both groups, so that could be one from here and three from Dauntless born, or all from here!" I say, trying to stress the fact that they have to do well.
"Six and I will have a practice fight against each other to show you the different kicks and punches just before lunch. Until then, we'll show you everything you need on the punch bags," Tobias took over from me, nodding towards the bags.
We walk over to them together, and he stands in front of one. "The first thing you need to do is get is the stance, if your stance is wrong your balance will be off, and then you'll fall over, and the floor is the last place you want to be when you're in the middle of a fight." I say, Tobias and I both get into the stance, legs shoulder width apart, knees bent, arms up. "When you fight, you want to use all of your vantage points, so to put it. Some people may be stronger at kicking and punching, others at elbows and knees. That's something that you have to work out for yourselves."
"If you watch us now, we'll do some of the punches, kicks and other things that you can do while in a fight." We both turn to the punch bags, and reel off a load of kicks, knees, elbows and punches, going through them several times.
"Go and practice. In two hours, Six and I will have our fight." Tobias says. I step back, away from the bags, and let others take my place, watching them carefully to see where they're good and where they need improvement.
After an hour I notice that Becca is one of the strongest, which surprises me after what Alex did to her in their dorm, although Alex was, unfortunately, also very strong. Whereas Grace is one of the weakest. I head over to her, giving her the same tip Tobias gave me a year ago when we were doing this.
Time passes quickly today, and before I realise, Tobias calls time on the fights, and I step up to the ring.
"We won't fight all out, because it'd be stupid of us to critically injure each other." I said, mainly because I didn't want to end up in the Dauntless hospital again.
"When will we see a proper fight?" Jay calls out.
"Tomorrow, when you're in one." I reply, rolling my eyes as if it were obvious.
"Ready Six?" Tobias grinned at me, drawing my attention back to him.
"Whenever you are, Four," I replied, and he advanced forward on me. I immediately raised my arms to block the punch I knew was coming. He didn't realise this, but Tobias always started his attacks with a punch. I ducked under his arm when he went to punch me again, and elbowed his back as I slipped past.
He turned quickly to face me, bringing his foot up in front of him, and kicking my stomach, forcing me to take a few steps back. He took advantage of that and punched the side of my jaw, all be it lightly, so I lunged forward, pushing my elbow towards his throat. He grabbed my elbow and spun me round, and I used the momentum to kick his side, causing him to release me. Both of us were grinning now, as his arm swept out and I ducked out of the way again. Standing straight I swung my foot at him, and he caught it, flipping me over so that I landed harshly on my back. I quickly tried to scramble to my feet, but Tobias placed his foot on my back, to say 'don't get up, I've won.'
I lie down, breathing for a minute, before rolling over and taking Tobias' hand to help me stand.
"That is what a fight will be like, however you will be doing it all at a much faster pace." Tobias said once I was standing. "You will get bruises, and your families will see them, if they come on visiting day, so you have to embrace it," he paused, and then said after a minute "Lunch!" and the initiates all walked out.
"I knew you'd do that," I said as I walked up to Tobias, shaking my head at him. He grinned back.
"Then why did you let me?" he asked, I shrugged.
"They needed to know it could happen." He tugged my arm, pulling me into his arms, and brought his lips down to mine.
There was a quiet cough behind us, and we broke apart. I blushed brightly as I turned to see Grace and Becca behind us.
"What's up girls?" Tobias asked, his voice slightly deeper than normal.
"We were wondering, because I'm okay at this, and Grace needs help, would it be alright to get some extra practice in?" Becca asked. She'd gone slightly red too, as had Grace.
"Sure," I replied as Tobias nodded at them. They smiled their thanks and headed towards the punch bags. "One thing girls," I said, and they turned to face me. "Don't tell anyone else what you saw," I ask. They nod, both grinning.
Lunch had been quiet, so Tobias and I headed back to the training room quickly afterwards, seeing Becca tutoring Grace on how to punch. I smiled, they almost reminded me of Christina and I, only Becca was more of a Christina.
We watched them until the doors opened, and the other initiates started returning, and then asked the two girls to join them. They grinned at us, but did as we asked.
"Before we continue fighting," Tobias started, "We're going to go for a run. As a Dauntless soldier, it's important that you can run, and run quickly, otherwise you'll end up getting yourself killed, or others killed because you weren't in the right place quick enough. This is why you often see the Dauntless members running about in the Pit or corridors." Everyone nodded. "If you follow me, Six will bring up the rear." I laughed at Tobias' choice of words, and see Grace and Becca hide their laughs too, and he just rolled his eyes at me.
We set off at a slow pace, I was tempted to overtake, but refrained myself, as I'd been asked to be at the back for a reason. I was surprised to see Emily fall to the back quickly, almost walking.
"Initiate!" I shout, though I'm only a few feet away. A few of the others look round, but continue running. When Emily turns to look at me, I stare at her, "Why aren't you running!" I ask. She looks at me like I'm mad.
"Why should I, it's not like this'll help me with anything." I can't help but laugh.
"Fitness, stamina and speed are all very important in fights. Now get running, or you'll be Factionless by the end of the week." She shot me a death glare, which I stared her out of, before she ran to catch up to the others. She wasn't particularly fast, so I kept pace with her easily, without even running out of breath, however when she got back to the training room she was panting.
"What happened?" Tobias asked as Emily went off to a punch bag.
"She started walking, didn't understand why she had to run. I told her to start running or she'd end up Factionless at the end of the week." He nodded, and we went to watch them again. The run had taken about an hour, leaving them four more hours to practice. I watched the girls while Tobias watched the boys, as we figured it'd be easier that way.
"Did you want a proper fight with someone?" Tobias slid over to me. I look up at him, confused, so he continued, "to show them what a real fight would be like. We'll have same rules for finish, but it'll just be faster paced." I shrugged.
"Who against?" I asked, and his eyes brightened.
"Who would you like to go against?"
"I'd say Eric, but that's a death wish," I said, and he laughed.
"Maybe, but I beat Eric every time."
"Perhaps you should be fighting then." We both laugh this time, and he shakes his head.
"No, they don't believe you're strong enough, so I figured, you fight, win and they'll look up to you better." I nod in understanding.
"How about my brother?" Tobias looks at me confused, and I laugh, "You know Uriah's like my brother, right?"
"Oh," Tobias responded, and I couldn't help but laugh more at him. "I'll go tell him to be in here in an hour, yeah? Shall I tell him why?"
"Yeah, I would, 'cause he'll want to know. Tease him first though," I grin, and Tobias nods, leaving the room. Immediately Emily turns to me.
"Where's he gone?" her eyes were wide, and filled with something I didn't like the look of.
"None of your business initiate." I reply, "Now get back to work." She glowered at me, but returned to her punching bag. Although it was selfish, it made me happy to see that she was actually one of the weaker ones in the group, and almost all the other girls were stronger.
Tobias returned five minutes later and gave me a thumbs up. I grinned. "Do we tell them?" he shakes his head.
"Makes it more interesting if it's a surprise," I nod as he speaks, and we return our focus to the initiates.
Tobias goes around correcting a few people in their stances, kicking and punching. I laugh as I see Emily blush when he's near her, and he just keeps straight faced. It's nice to be able to trust my boyfriend.
I hear a knock behind me, and Uriah enters. I grin at him.
"Since when did you knock?"
"Since today? I figured it might be safer." He laughs, giving me a hug. "So, who's going to win?"
"It's not going to be rigged," I laugh at his expression. "It has to be proper, or they'll never realise what a fight looks like till they're knocked out."
"Fine," he glowers at me, "But you realise hurting you won't be good, and Four will yell at me if I win." I laugh.
"Not scared of him, are you?" he nods silently. "Don't worry. I chose you for a reason. If you do win, don't knock me out, and then I'll stop him from doing anything. And remember, if you say anything while they're around, I'm Six." He nods obediently at me.
"Yes miss." I hit the side of his head gently, and he pouts.
"You're as bad as Four," I laugh, jumping down from the table I was sat at and walking to Tobias. "Whenever you're ready," I said simply too him. He nodded in understanding.
"Stop!" He called out to the group. "Everyone stand around the ring." They all do as they're told, and Tobias stands around to the only side which is empty.
"Right, you guys remember Uriah, right?" he asks, they nod. "He's Dauntless born, passed Initiation last year. He and Six are going to show you what a proper fight will look like, with the one exception of the fact that neither of them will knock the other unconscious. In your fights over the next week you will all be expected to knock your opponent out." They nod again, and just before Uriah and I start, he speaks once more, "Bets on who will win. Uriah?" They all raise their hands. "Or Six?" No one raises their hand, and I laugh.
"No pressure Uriah, but you have to win, going on them." I taunt.
"No pressure Six, but you have to win to show them that you're best." He replies, we laugh at each other before becoming serious and getting into stance. We walk around each other in a small circle until Uriah swings his arm out at me. I step to the side and grab his wrist, twisting it around, so he brings his leg up and kicks my side. I release him, taking a step back.
His arms fly towards me, jaw height, and I duck out of the way, spinning around so he's behind me, then kick his back. He stumbles forward, but doesn't fall, spinning on his foot. I throw another kick at him as he turns, catching him in the side, but he grabs my leg and flips me over. I duck away from him as throws me on the floor. He kneels over me, his legs either side of my hips, a triumphant look on his face, but I reach up and punch his jaw. He stares at me, almost wide eyed before aiming to hit me again, but this time I grab his head and fling him to the side. Neither of us wanted to lose.
We both kneel, I was slightly faster, so I grabbed his head, holding it down, and punched his ribs several times. He fell back onto the mat, and I knelt on him this time, ready to punch him, but didn't.
"Finish!" Tobias called. I grinned and stood, offering my hand to Uriah.
"Good fight, Uri," I grinned at him. He rolled his eyes, glaring at me.
"Marlene's going to have a go at me for all these bruises," I laughed and gave him a friendly hug.
"Go let her clean you up."
He nodded and left the room while the initiates just gaped at us.
"How did you win? He's bigger than you!" I rolled my eyes as Alex spoke.
"Size isn't everything in a battle. Yes it helps, but there are ways around it." I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, the point of that wasn't actually to see that I could beat someone up, it was to show you what a real fight will look like, so tomorrow, you'll be able to do the same while we're watching.
I walk over to Uriah at dinner, and grin slightly at him. He shakes his head at me. "You could've warned me Four's been training you," he laughs.
"Why? Would you have given in earlier?" I reply, and noticing the ice pack he's holding to his jaw, I flinch. "Sorry."
"It's alright. I think we showed them though, right?" we both laugh, and I slip into the seat next to him, so Tobias has to sit opposite me, he pouts a little, but doesn't complain too much.
"Well fought."