She felt the blade catch on her fabric. It interrupted her momentum. It wasn't hard to figure out what the woman was trying to do, and it wasn't hard to figure out what to do next.
The close proximity only meant that the other blade was not far behind the first, which she managed to catch with her own, but not before turning it so that one of the outer would sink into the back of the woman's hand. It wasn't good to be this close to herself. That's why she was also so stealthy. It was why she was constantly touching people when in their presence. It bred unease.