For a moment Blade wondered if he shouldn't drop into fighting stance.

The man dropped into fighting stance and tried to bring his gun around.

Blade dropped into fighting stance and got ready to grab the sword of the first soldier who came at him.

Blade rose from fighting stance and spread out both hands in the traditional gesture of peace.

She mirrored the gesture, then shifted smoothly to fighting stance as they began to circle.

Then he sprang up, dropping into fighting stance as the visitor pulled the door shut and turned to look at him.

Blade stepped back until he had the railing and the sea behind him, then dropped into fighting stance.

She set the candle down and assumed fighting stance.

Blade turned back to the Master, dropped into fighting stance, and stepped forward onto the bridge.

They were twenty feet apart when Blade's opponent dropped into fighting stance.