The three of us ran for a few miles to a small opening that showed torn-up ground and tree stumps that looked splintered. Jasper placed my backpack in an out-of-the-way place and spoke,
"We come out here because Esme gets a mite bit upset if me and Emmett get too worked up."
Emmett laughed, "That time I tore your leg off, she got so mad that she kept at me for the next 2 years."
Jasper gave a chuckle. "I tried to convince her you were just learning the extent of your strength and how to hold back, but she wasn't having it."
All I could do was look between the two and shake my head. Tearing someone's leg off and then laughing about it. Guess that story the Quileutes have about Vampires being able to reattach limbs was true after all.
Emmett gave me a smile, "Don't worry, I'll go easy on ya, kid." He then walked over to a tree trunk that was lying in the clearing, picked it up, and tossed it into the woods where it landed with a great crash. The tree had been about four feet thick at the broken base, and well over fifty feet long. My whole body shuddered, he tossed that like it was a stick in the back yard.
Jasper broke me out of my introspection, "I'll sit it out for the first bit, I want to see what you can do."
I nodded and turned all my attention to Emmet who was kicking up dirt with his right foot like a bull getting ready to charge. I stepped farther away from Jasper and found a good even spot. I centered myself and then pawed at the ground, throwing dirt like Emmett to signal my readiness.
With no hesitation, Emmett charged at me. I could tell he was moving very fast, but from the little I remembered from my last fight, he could move faster, so I stayed ready for an increase to surprise me at some point. One look at his charge with his outstretched arms showed me he planned to get his arms around me and use his strength to overpower me.
I was waiting for his speed to increase and nearly missed that he was very close to me, so I waited until he was almost on me before I jumped sideways and struck out with my paw. My plan was just to push him off balance, but I underestimated my strength and his speed. Emmet took my blow to his side and suddenly shot off into the woods knocking a coupled trees over in the process.
It must have been comical to see a tiger suddenly sit down and stare at his paw in surprise, because Jasper started laughing uproariously. Just a moment later, Emmett came trotting back into the clearing, brushing himself off and trying to fix his hair. "I'm okay!!! Boy, that surprised me."
Jasper, still laughing, asked, "How far before you could stop yourself?"
"A bit over 100 yards into the woods. Would have been more, but I hit a tree that could support me." Emmett laughed.
I shook my head. That was supposed to be just a shove, I must not have controlled it enough. Also had to have been his speed added that sent him so far. I stood up and asked if Emmett was ready to continue. It came out as a questioning growl that Emmett couldn't respond to. So, like we had done earlier, I pawed at some dirt to signal my readiness.
Emmett just gave a laugh and did the same. Then he charged me.
This time, he was coming slower and had his arms closer to his body for defense, I figured. When he got in range, I struck at his chest with better strength control than I used before, and he was stopped in place. All his forward momentum was stopped with my blow, but he didn't get pushed back much. I went up on both hind legs and struck down with one paw, but the other I struck out behind him at waist level and pulled his leg out from under him.
Emmet was now pinned to the ground under my left paw. He had protected his chest with his arms, but now they were both being pressed to his chest as he was trapped under my strength. He struggled to free an arm so he could grab my leg and exert his strength to free himself. As he was struggling, I brought my head close to his face and snapped my teeth a couple of times, and then gave a chuckle.
I backed off again, letting Emmett get back to his feet. I was very pleased with myself so far.
"God's that was scary, you're a monster, Thomas." He was still laughing like a kid at the circus, having the time of his life. This time, he placed one arm in front of himself and let his other hang free, then he started kicking at the ground some more.
Changing it up, I kicked at the dirt and charged him myself. When he saw me coming, he braced himself and watched me closely. When I got close to him, I dug my back claws into the ground and pushed off towards his right side. He was protecting with that arm, and if he wanted to get me with his free hand, he would have to reach across his body first.
What I didn't count on was that instead of reaching across his body, he spun his body and landed a swinging backfist on my chest. Because I was still in the air, this caused me to flip a few times before I hit the ground in a tangle of four legs. I let out a roar of surprise and checked myself for injury.
I started to stand up and checked for any obvious pain, but just felt a dull ache in my chest. I shook myself as I stood. But then, before I knew it, I felt another impact from the side. Emmett had charged me and managed to get me on my back, using both hands to hold me there. Each of my paws gripped in his vicelike grip.
Laughing loudly, "Too obvious that time, Thomas. How's it feel to be pinned?"
I gave him a flat stare and a light growl, but then I remembered. What happens when you pin your cat to his back with your hand, and he can't reach you with his front paws?
I gave him my best tiger smile and then tightened my stomach muscles, bringing my two back feet between us, and then kicked up and out with all the strength in my hind legs. Emmett was suddenly shot into he air over a hundred feet up before he paused a second, and gravity brought him back to the ground.
By the time he landed, I was back on my feet, and I bowled over his bouncing body, pinning him face-first to the ground yet again. Just to drive the point home, my breath was tickling the back of his neck.
Clap Clap Clap. Jasper drew my attention, and I released Emmett.
Emmett grumbled, "I could have gotten out of that one. I was about to push myself off the ground and clobber him again." He was standing and brushing dirt off himself as he finished talking.
"You may well have been able to, Emm, but in a real confrontation, he wouldn't have been just breathing on your neck waiting for you to gather your thoughts. He would have popped your head off with those teeth."
Emmett shrugged, then he laughed. "Flying was fun. I could see forever up there." HA HA HA.
Jasper laughed with him, "Yeah, that one surprised me. I forgot how flexible cats are and just how powerful their back legs can be. If he had been using his claws, it could have been much worse. Even if you did use your true strength. What did you use, about 3/4?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to hurt the guy just before the dance. Rose would kill me. You think his claws can do anything to us, Jaz?"
Jasper turned to me, "Can I see your claws, Thomas?"
I held out my right paw, pads up, and tensed it so the claws were out. It was a sight, even to my eyes. My pads were black, but the claws were a pearl white. They were hooked for pulling and sharp enough to cause Emmett to give a slow whistle.
Jasper pulled his sleeve up and ran his forearm softly across my index claw. It sounded like a nail on a chalkboard and left a line on Jasper's skin. "That was just sliding my arm over the claw, no pressure at all. Yeah, Emm, his claws will work on us."
"WICKED!!!" Emmett responded.