However adroit it may have looked from Buso's perspective, Alyssa knows her last dodge was as much luck as skill- if the cat warrior had been a split second faster, or chosen to focus on her rather than dividing his attention, his near miss could have been a staggering hit. While she's safe for the time being, her quick start in this encounter has cost her her focus, an ever-increasing price as the conflict grows longer. She doubts she could avoid another kick from Buso with such ease. Worse still, every second spent here delays her ability to aid the other group against their ambush... for her sake and Jess's, she needs to finish this fight quickly.<br/><br/>When Buso makes his grab for Auralia's blade, Alyssa sees her chance and takes it. She aims a punch at his exposed back...<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Flurry of blows#1: 1d20 (7) + 11 +2 (flanking) -2  (flurry) = 18, miss</div></div></div><br/>...only to have Buso kick her hand aside at the last moment. She strikes again, hoping to catch him before he can recover...<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Flurry #2: 1d20 (2) + 11 = 13, miss</div></div></div><br/>... but the agile feline is ready, and easily swings to one side. She narrowly avoids striking Auralia instead.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Flurry #3: 1d20 (18) + 6 = 24, hit<br/>     Damage: (1d8 + 1, and keep the top1): 7 + 1 = 8 nonlethal</div></div></div><br/>Despite her lack of success so far, Alyssa's efforts are far from wasted: her mind is as hard at work as her body, turning every missed strike into a test of Buso's defenses. Now, she's certain she's found an opening: with Auralia preventing a withdrawal and no obvious means of flight, Buso's evasive actions are reduced to the horizontal plane, an option the catfolk has just expended with his last dodge. Now, leaning to one side with his arms wrapped around Auralia's weapon, the cat warrior has no defenses to raise when Alyssa delivers her next strike, a hard chop just below the ribcage. She feels the attack connect, and twists her hand so that it digs painfully into Buso's lower rib.