Flashback [Fletcher's Corner] Archery 101 (Aela)

[Niro]

20th of Summer, 503 AV Bendi. Bendi. Bendi. Bendi. Gods, was that all they would do? Niro was annoyed with how frequently they changed, too. Never long enough to really get used to any one thing, but on and on they went. It was time for another change, and this would be his first time at the archery ranges working with a hunter. Their class was set to go to the Fletcher's Corner and be instructed by an oh so talented archer. Niro had complained about it from the moment he'd heard of it. It was ridiculous to gather up this many Yasi and herd them over to that location. "Whyyyyyy!?" He groaned as they made their way to the stone bridge along their path. As it was told to him, the Fletcher's Corner was across the feat of reimancy. The lake was called the Yasan and was quite close to the Yasiry. "Stupid names. Mocking us. Damn it." The young Inarta boy muttered the entire time they traveled the expanse. He had better things to do. Planning, for one. His major ideas had all failed miserably this year, but nothing would deter him from his ascent. Niro looked around to see who was on this bendi task with him. Most of them were no names, annoying brats, dek-lickers, or worse. Such wastes of time. "All of them to the drudges, I'm sure.." One of them was vaguely familiar, though. She'd be there during his nap time crusade. Somewhat supportive even. The type the Yasi boy needed in his corner. She couldn't be that bad. "Hey. You." So it couldn't be said Niro was polite. "What do you think? Isn't this dumb? Why do they change up our bendi so often?" The boy was half pouting as he walked, scuffling his feet along the smooth stone of the walkway. Arms crossed, it wasn't an uncommon look for the boy. His arrogance knew no bounds, and he scoffed at nearly everyone. So it was almost polite, for Niro. "We never get good at anything. It's stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." He nodded for emphasis. Very little was anything but stupid to him.

[Alori Sai]

The Bendi had been pretty boring for the most part. Full of mundane task that the little Aela would rather not be doing. Cooking wasn't for her, and she barely ate much as it was. Her tiny frame held and even tinier stomach which was easily filled after even half a meal. The gardening wasn't for her either, the Yasi was far too reckless to ever carefully handle a plant. The Wind Eagles she liked, but she didn't want to spend her time cleaning up after them, she wanted to ride them.

Many task had been put before her and none seemed to click as of yet, save for glassblowing. For some reason Aela seemed to catch on to the working of the instruments and fared well, especially compared to her other task. But now they were at the Fletcher's Corner where they were to learn the proper way to arm and shoot a bow. Finally they had gotten onto something that she liked. It made sense after all, the Endal were all hunters, archers in fact. Learning to use a bow was one of the most important things that she would have to learn before joining their ranks.

The little Yasi was more than excited and ready to begin. All of the time that she had spent before on those meaningless task meant absolutely nothing now that she had made it this far. If she had her way, she'd prove her worth here and now and take on a position as a archer, never to return to those other boring and useless task ever again. She headed inside the cave-like structure along with the rest of her class. Her emerald green eyes were forced, confidence beamed from her tiny form as she walked along, the fluffy ponytail at the back of her head swaying back and forth somewhat emphasizing the bounce in her steps.

She had been completely lost in her thoughts when Niro called out to her, and didn't hear anything he said. She remembered him though, the boy who was obsessed with naps, and wanted to overthrow the adults to win it back. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but so did a lot of things. Standing alone somewhat, her gaze wandered off to the fall walls, noticing the different targets set up, some were located higher and further back, while others were closer and lower to the ground. "I'm going to be the best.." she suddenly said aloud, only realizing then that there was another standing next to her. "Hey Niro.."

[Niro]

"Hey Niro.." The child's face flushed red as she greeted him. The girl hadn't heard a word Niro had said. He'd spoken to her expecting her full attention, and this is what he got? How annoying. What nerve? "Hey, Niro!!? What the heck does that mean?" Niro instantly began to pout, turning away from his classmate, arms crossed. She was supposed to be one of the okay ones. Even though she back talked him a little during their nap time failure, she was generally supportive of the idea, and supporting Niro in his foolish efforts was the best way to win his affection. So to have her so simply ignore his words. "Whatever! Never mind you." It wasn't all bad. He needn't be bothered to remember her name now. He'd not taken the time to learn most of his classmates names. 'Hey you' was a common term, quickly followed by 'idiot' and 'stupid'. He would claim them names of affection. Others would take offense. Their Bendi instructor led them into the archery range, directing them to go and get a bow and quiver for the practice. They had been prearranged for the class with a variety of appropriately sized bows for the Yasi. Prior to attending the bendi the children had been given the choice on whether they would initially learn on a short or a long bow. "Just a reminder, Yasi," the instructor began. "Pick up only the bow type you requested. Short bows are lighter, more compact, easier to use while mounted, but have limited range and power. Your long bows , on the other hand , are much bigger, and due to their size, harder to use should you be up on a Wind Eagle some day. The range and power they offer are a huge advantage over it's short bow brethren." Niro had requested a short bow. Since he was going to be King Endal some day, he figured it appropriate to use the correct size bow for that job. "Once you have your bows picked up and quivers slipped on, join me at the center range." The center range of the Fletcher's Corner was a larger open range for group practice and instruction. Further down were the more individualized sections, but for now they would learn the basic use at the center area. Niro, bow in hand, waited impatiently for the lesson to get underway. He was going to get bulls eye first time, anyways. Why were they even here? "What bow are you using?" He would give that annoying girl a chance at redemption. Maybe she was an entertaining conversation partern.

[Alori Sai]

Aela's eyes widen, and she jumped a bit when Niro started to yell at her. "What are you getting so mad about?" The tiny girl was completely confused, she had been off in her thoughts, preparing herself mentally to take on the task of learning archery when the boy suddenly appeared beside her. If she had really meant to be rude, or whatever he was yelling about, she could have just ignored him, which she wished that she had.

"Hey talk to me." Aela demanded. "Why do you always act like such a dek-wad, huh?" she was becoming irritated with him, like many in their class already were. She hadn't minded the hot-headed boy's attitude mostly, but if he was going to yell at her then she was going to yell back. The tiny redhead pouted, deciding to turn away from him as he had done with her.

When the Bendi instructor directed the Yasi to take up bows, Aela did as the rest and found the one that she had wanted to use. She had chosen a long bow and saw the mastery of the weapon a challenge. She wanted to become an Endal, but she didn't want to use the tiny bow that the others had. Aela wanted range, she wanted power behind every shot. She gained a few odd looks, being the only girl who chose a long bow and looking a bit silly standing with a bow almost as big as she was.

She picked up a quiver then and slung it over her shoulder, before joining the others at the center range. She was ready, and holding onto her bow empowered her even more than she had thought. The tiny Yasi stood with the rest, one arm over her shoulder as her fingers toyed with the feather tips of the arrows in the quiver. The girl knew that she would have to practice, and she would do so until she master her weapon. It wouldn't take her long she hoped, perhaps a season or two at best.

Ticks later the boy decided to speak to her again, and Aela turned her head slightly, her fiery bangs falling and swaying against her face as she did. "Seriously?" she asked after he questioned what bow she had chosen. Was the boy half blind, she had to wonder. How did he not see the huge bow hanging over her tiny shoulder. Aela shook her head and drew the bow from her shoulder and shook it in front of him making sure that he couldn't miss it. "This bow."

[Niro]

"Why do you think I'm yelling? Why do you think I'm mad?" The young Avora shook his head, loose bangs whipping back and forth as he did so. "You never listen to me and I'm pretty sure that there's nothing more important than what I say." The pouting would only continue as she protested his attitude. "Psht. You're the dek-wad. I'm gonna be ruler of this place some day." He truly believed so, too. It was impossible for him to believe he could be anything less. He'd only been half paying attention to Aela as she'd picked her bow, and she took no time in making him look the fool. Niro's face turned beat red in a combination of embarrassment and anger as she held up her long bow like he was addled in the brain. "Whatever! You didn't have it last time I talked to you! How was I supposed to know you picked up! Think I should watch you all the time or something? Get over yourself!" He stormed off towards the firing area, quiver and bow in tow. What a stupid girl. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl. What did she know? Nothing! Nothing at all. Their Bendi instructor had begun his instruction by the time the two arguing Yasi caught up. "After you've taken the correct stance, remove an arrow from your quiver, and nock it in the bow string." He demonstrated by positioning his feet shoulder width apart, facing down range towards the targets. An arrow was grabbed and placed against the string. "Once that's ready, draw the string back, like so," he said, fingers bringing back right around his cheek. "Find a place that's comfortable on your jawline, keep your shoulder and elbow low, and keep your eyes down on your target." The arrow went sailing through the air, striking the center of one of the circular targets. "And there you have it. Simple, right? It's basic, but it'll give you all a good starting point. You need to experiment and find what release point works best for you, what stance works best for you, so on and so forth. Now line up, and take a shot you all." Niro smirked, an arrogant expression budding on his face. "This is going to be so easy." He spread his feet apart like the instructor, though in reality they were too far apart which gave him a poor base to fire from. He notched the arrow, pulled back, leaving his elbow sticking out high. The bow string lay against his cheek, and he didn't bother to even look down range as he released the shaft towards the targets. Sort of. The arrow skidded across the ground, only going a dozen feet in front of him before it met the earth. Even worse, his incorrect hold on the bowstring caused it to rake against his face, almost peeling his skin off, leaving a bloody mark in it's wake. "OUUCH!" A few seconds after the arrow sailed, there went a short bow twisting through the air. Niro flailed his arms angrily for a moment, staring down at where he'd thrown the bow. "This is dumb! Why do I need to learn this!?" He rubbed at the mark on his cheek, turning away from the instructor as he nursed his pride.

[Alori Sai]

"I listen to you all the time!"Aela raged back. She hated when people said that and in that moment Niro sounded more like her instructors. The tiny girl did her best to listen always but it wasn't so easy when people were rambling on about things she had already heard several times over. "No you're being a dek-wad I said it first. And anyway how are you going to rule this place? The Valintar is like a thousand years old, he's never gonna die."

She wanted to giggle now, Niro was over the top, but he had to know that the old bird was never going to let go of his perch at the top of the city. He was king to them all, and as hard as it was to become an Endal, she could only imagine how hard it would be to become leader. But Niro wouldn't listen and Aela didn't have half the knowledge to convince him and so she gave up. "Yea..right..ok."

Once they moved into the group with the rest of their class. Aela watched as the instructor showed them the correct way to notch, aim, and fire their arrows. It looked easy enough and the girl quickly started to attempt the process herself. Notching the arrow to the bow had been easy work. That was, until she raised it and had to fight to keep it steady between her hand and the string. It took her more tries to get it right and hold it steady enough so that she could raise her bow.

Aela pulled back the string as the man had told her to, and she could already feel the arrow falling loose again. But she held onto it, focused her aim and fired. The arrow was launched from the bow in a snap-like sound as it dashed across the floor and slid somewhere under the target that she was attempting to hit. Moving her hand away, there was a sharp sting across her hand where her thumb and finger were closest. Looking down, Aela noticed a skinny red mark from where the feathers of the arrow had rubbed against her skin.

"Ouch..."

The tiny yasi rubbed her hand against her exposed belly as she glanced out at the target again. Suddenly the full weight of how hard her task was fell upon her and she was not happy. Aela pouted, almost wanting to cry from the disappointment plus the sting on her hand. But she wasn't about to give up, this was only the start.

[Niro]

"No way. You just stand there and then say 'what?' when I get done talking! Like every time! I've got more important things to say than anyone else, so I don't see what the problem is!" Niro of course failed to realize that he was the common denominator in any of those conversations. He was the one that was the unimportant words came from. "And forget about him. What if I kill him? But one of these arrows right in his forehead. Then I'll take is spot and I can can live a thousand years! How does that sound?" He pouted as he always did, annoyed that the stupid girl wouldn't take him seriously. Why does no one take me serious.. It was likely because he just threw temper tantrums and accomplished nothing. No one had told him that, or at least he wasn't one to remember them saying so. Like throwing a bow because he got hurt? That wasn't childish. That was emotion. Emotion was everything with Niro. He felt nothing minimally. There were only extremes with him, for better or worse. Feelings defined him in everything. And what he felt now was a burning that pissed him off. He stomped around a bit more before their Bendi instructor addressed him. "Little bird, pick up that bow and keep practicing." Niro wanted to argue and fight back, but he knew it didn't get anything accomplished. He'd kick and scream and they'd bop him one, and then he'd end up firing anyways. "...Fine. Whatever. Stupid adults. I'll make you a Dek someday." Niro stormed over and picked up the the bow and made his way back to the firing line, dragging his feet the entire way. If he was going to do it, he was going to be defiant the entire way. His cheek still burned and everyone would know it if he had anything to stay with it. "Maybe if you taught me better.." "Stop it Niro." "Fine!! Gods!!!" He grabbed another arrow and notched it, pulling back the sinewy string, taking quick aim and releasing the projectile. Of course, he made no adjustments from his last shot, and the string rubbed right on top of the previous scrape, causing the teen to fall to the ground, throwing the bow into the air above him as he did so. "AAAARGGH! THIS IS THE BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME!" "Nice shot, Niro." "....What?" He blinked a few times, getting the tears from his eyes as the bow crashed down just beside him. "Take a look." Yellow-green eyes turned down range to see an arrow sticking just left of the bullseye. A smug smirk spread across his lips, seeing the nearly spot on shot as a sign of his amazing skills. Of course he was awesome. "Check that out, Aela! You jealous?" He flashed a full, toothy, grin at the young girl, dripping with an extreme confidence. The injury was all but forgotten, that much was easy to see. "Some day you'll be as good as me. I'll let you sit by me when I'm in charge." He laughed loudly and rubbed his cheek, energized by his success.

[Alori Sai]

Aela was becoming irritated with Niro's whining and the thought crossed her mind to let him feel the thick side of the bow that she carried. It was really a show he put on and the boy cried and complained even more than the girls. But he was funny, she had to admit and some of the things that he said were beyond shocking. His threat to kill the Valintar was possibly his biggest joke yet. "You?....Right ok..sure Niro. That old goat has been an Endal for hundreds of years. He must know all the tricks and probably could even catch your arrow before it touched him."

She really wanted to pelt him with something, that or just point and laugh, but she didn't. With his way of thinking, he would surly end up a Dek one day if not killed off before he was old even to join a their caste. Aela was about to say more when their instructor stepped in to speak with the boy. "He can be such a baby..dek-wad.."

Whatever frustrations she had slowly dissolved as she noticed Niro having yet another fit. Maybe she wasn't making the best shots, but at least she wasn't acting out as he was. "Oh yea..totally a dek." she thought to herself and turned back to face her own target. She now knew what practice this would take, but the tiny redhead didn't plan on giving up.

"I'll do it slower this time.."

Pulling another arrow from her quiver, Aela lifted up one of her legs to help her to steady the long bow and notch the arrow to it. Once she was ready, she lifted up the long bow, bent her arm and aimed at her target. The Avora to be sucked in a breath and released the arrow. It soared through the air and disappeared just over the target that she wasn't aiming for.

"Aww...."

That's when she heard it, a voice of authority giving Niro a compliment. "What the petch?" the girl asked a bit too loudly. And there he was, bouncing up and down, celebrating his almost perfect shot, she couldn't believe it. "Wha..how?" Aela turned a hard glare at the boy when he continued to boast about his lucky shot. A bit of red warmed the girl's cheeks and she turned away from him even snatching an arrow from her quiver.

"Okay, if he can do it, so can I."

Aela worked fast, fumbling through the process and notching another arrow to her bow. She raised the bow, one eye open as she found her target with the arrowhead pointed at it's center. She pulled the string back until she heard a strain in the string before she released it. The were a whip and a crack as the arrow slammed into the lower part of the target just outside of the red circle...."Petch..."