[Wind Reach] The Pointy End Goes That Way (Aidara & Sairque)

[Kovac]

Timestamp: 10th Day of Winter, 510AV Location: Wind Reach Purpose: Archery training Status: Closed, Tag Aidara and Sairque Kovac had finally agreed to instruct the twins in archery. The archer had been focusing his attention on Shayth, and had put the sisters off. Not that he did not want to see them, it just didnt seem...wise. As an Endal, Sairque could have demanded it of him, though Shayth would surely have something to say about that. But the archer and the sisters had gone through a harrowing experience during the long hunt last season, and they had forged a form of...friendship. So when they asked again, Kovac figured he owed them something. After all, they saved his life. The benefit of training Endals was access to the finer archery ranges within Wind Reach, set aside for the Riders. Kovac had instructed Aidara and Sairque to meet him at a particular range that was small, his intent to discourage others from using it while the three of them worked. He had obtained a quiver of practice arrows and brought his bow. Sairque did not have a bow, and had insisted he find one for her to use. With much chagrin, Kovac went to visit his estranged father, a bowyer, to borrow one. Sairque was trained in the long bow, and it took some humbling on the cynical Avora's part to talk his father into letting one of the rarer longbows go. He hoped the fiery little Rider appreciated it. So Kovac set a cluster of arrows in a wooden holder at each lane in preparation for the girls' arrival. The hunter professed to himself that the slight nervous churn in his gut had nothing to do with the training session, or Aidara. To distract himself, he hummed a tune he had been composing, always stopping at the same place, having reached a creative impasse at a bridge in the song.

[Aidara]

"Alright Sai, I'm ready are you? Have you seen my bow? How do I look? Delectable, amazing? Gimme some feedback here!" After their return from the traumatizing hunt, Aidara had steered clear of Kovac. The hunter confused her and made her look like a complete idiot. But this was a good excuse! Archery! They had practiced with Fen a bit, but it felt like so long ago....And of course they practiced with each other. However, it was different when you had a real instructor. Excited for more than one reason, Addy had jumped on this chance for the three of them to rendezvous together. So her day had started like any other, when she woke up expecting to get somewhere important. First, she lounged in bed. Then, she lounged some more before eventually gravitating towards where ever her sister was, snagging some of the food she always had, without fail, before moving off to her favorite chair and whatever book she was studying. "Next time get wildberry, kay?" The pastry had been waved about as exhibit A before it was quickly consumed, the green apple balanced on her knee the next target. Munching and flipping pages, Addy easily lost track of time. Before she knew it, her sister was striding about, having put on her Flight Leader airs, all dressed, straightened and merely presentable. Oh, how she loved Sai. Green eyes watched the younger twin proudly march around and get done what was needed. The healer would have given anything to have that kind of second-skin-confidence, that no one could shake. A rather envious sigh, and Addy carefully placed the book back on the shelf, straightened the cushions of the couch and moved into the wash room. This was the important part. Everything else up until her entrance into the washroom was just preparation! The bath was warmed, filled and then lounged in. Bubbles were added, and her hair was scrubbed- twice. Dunking completely below the tepid water, Addy finally emerged by the time her sister was starting to get anxious. Poor Sai, as the process was only just starting. Toweling her hair dry, she moved about to the mirror, taking the time to wrap her wet locks up in the towel to keep it from her face. Different products were applied to her face, a bit of color for her eyelids to top it off. Scrutinizing herself closely in the looking glass, Addy finally gave her reflection a nod of satisfaction. Taking down her hair, she slowly carefully brushed out the red locks until they were dry and shone with a healthy glow, hanging straight as a pin down to her lower back. A single braid, just to the left of the natural part in her hair, was woven with a green ribbon. A matching green vanati and a brown set of bryda and her knee high leather winter boots. A final look in the mirror, and nodding her satisfaction once more. Now she was waiting outside the bathroom, her winter coat slung over one arm, posing for her sisters inspection. Hardly ever did Addy take the time to wear her hair straight let alone loose, not to mention that the entire ensemble was completely wrong for an archery lesson. This didn't seem to bother the healer though, and she waited proudly for her sisters approval. Moving on their way, Addy darted into her room to grab her pack of things, allowing time for Sai to do the same if she hadn't already. Quiver and arrows first, and then the bow was slung on top of that. Gloves, leather arm brace and her extra string were in a small pack clasped in her other hand. Opening the door wide and bowing the Flightleader through first, Addy thrilled slightly when she saw her breath cloud as it left her lips. "Ahhhh, perfect Kovac...I mean..." Stopping dead in her tracks, she gave a little, awkward laugh hoping her sister didn't notice the slip, but knowing before she completed the thought that she had. A sigh and the woman lengthened her stride to make up the distance Sai had covered without her, correcting herself in a rather defeated tone. "Perfect day for a lesson...don'cha'think?'

[Sairque]

Look at Sai go, mending bridges between estranged family members with every haughty demand.

Sai growled, a deep menacing sound she had picked up from all the jungle cat Kelvics running around Wind Reach, as her strawberry-yum-yum pastry was snatched from her plate and carted off. "I'll get you some missing-a-hand-berry next time you neglect to ask for some of my food," she almost managed it with a straight face, and anyone but Addy would have thought she were serious. However, the healer would catch the small bits of tension in her face that indicated she was holding back a smile. In fact, Sai had counted on needing to feed her sister, as the woman probably wouldn't get out of bed early enough to go get her own breakfast.

While she tidied up their room, getting dressed piece-meal in between tasks, the healer did some light reading and annihilated the pastry and apple. On the small table in the center of the room was deposited one sontav that needed mending, and the sewing kit that would do the fixing. Then she reviewed some of the notes on the younger, newer Endals, making her own suggestions for their deployment. Addy finally got her butt off the couch and headed to get dressed. Sai had already gotten dressed and even braided her hair into a plethora of little tails. Her boots were on tight and tied. Her blue bryda pulled on. Two scarves knotted at her right hip, slashing across her hips in swarths of orange and blue. Her white vinati, the one with the blue embroidery and no straps was settled up square.

Addy was scrubbing her hair.

Sai dispatched a Dek to retrieve a new Endal and bring him to her chambers for a little chat. She commented on his reckless antics, showing off for his young Eagle and causing another to break several bones in it's foot. He thumped his chest. She made fun of his stupidity. He thumped his chest. She thumped his chest. He stared. She told him she had recommended him for watch duty for the foreseeable future. He sniffled. She asked if he was going to cry. He told her that his rage and shame manifested itself in tears. She made fun of him. He cried. She dismissed him.

Addy was painted her face.

Sai took her boots off and put them back on.

Addy had finally decided on a green scarf.

Sai did twenty push-ups, one hundred sit ups, another twenty push ups, and ran a mile.

Addy was braiding her hair.

Sai changed clothes and freshened up. Now she was wearing white bryda and a white strapless vinati, both hemmed with delicate blue beads.

Addy came out of the bathroom. Sai studied her appearance thoughtfully, fingers tapping gently against her lips as she scrutinized. "You look glamorous." Addy squealed happily. Sai snatched her small money pouch and hooked it into her sash. Addy made a lovesick girl out of herself. Sai shook her head, wrapping an arm around the elder twin's shoulders and grinning affectionetly. "Kovac is risking the ire of his patron Endal to give you this lesson," she sweetened the pot for her sister as they strode down the corridors. Sai's natural method of mobility was striding, Addy's was more like swaying and meanderingly at that, but Sai forced her to hurry today.

When Kovac finally came into view, in the small range, Sai lifted a hand to greet the surly man. She recognized his bow from the hunt, so grabbed up the other one and got straight to business. The weight was tested a bit before the woman took a stable stance and slowly drew the string back to her ear. Out of habit, her forearm rotated out of the way, and her core tightened up. Satisfied by the strain in her arm, not overwhelming but still a bit of work, she carefully let the string down again, knowing not to dry-fire a bow.

"It's good," she informed the man before abruptly handing the bow to her sister and throwing her arms around his neck. "It's also good to see that Shayth has finally let you out to frolic with others. It's not healthy to spend that much time locked up," she ribbed him, feeling comfortable in it after their narrowly-death-defying ordeal out on Renol's hunt.

[Kovac]

Kovac stood leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed when he saw the twins enter the range. Pushing off, he moved to meet them where the bows rested, watching the sisters as they approached. They were twins, if only in appearance. Both were attractive, there was no doubt. But they were very different people. The Endal sister strode with authority directly towards him, her array of crimson braids swinging in time with her measured steps. Behind her was Aidara, the appearance of the girl causing the archer's brows to raise. The Healer was adorned more for a night at the Inclement Weather than an afternoon on the range. Hair down, her face touched with subtle colors, she was quite beautiful. Kovac felt a brief thrill and an unconscious grin crept across his face at the sight of Aidara. Sairque breezed by him to the bows, reaching for the longbow. Kovac had selected one that was not quite full length, sized to provide power in spite of the shorter length of the petite Rider's arms. She assumed her stance and drew back the bowstring. Kovac could tell already she had good form, seeing the muscles in her abdomen tighten as she held the string at the ready. The woman seemed satisfied with the weapon, and after unceremoniously passing the bow to Aidara, the fiery Endal threw her arms around his neck. The gesture surprised Kovac, knowing that Sairque was as apt to strike you as hug you. His grin expanded to a laugh at her jibe, and he put his arms around her to return her embrace. "Well, She keeps me busy, I have to earn my keep you know!" He replied. "Hello again Sairque." His arms fell from her waist and his gaze shifted to Aidara. "Hey." He offered, lacking any semblance of suave. His broad smile had faded to a lopsided grin. "Its good to see you again, Addy." He cringed inside, cursing the excitement his body defiantly felt once again in the presence of the deep-redheaded girl. He took a step towards her, painstakingly casual, and moved in to embrace her. Aidara proved a double dilemma. There could be no mistaking the attraction between them, but there was also the fact that he would not be standing there, holding her, if she had not saved his life. That little twist gummed up Kovac's usually easy -to-assume cynical, snarky attitude. Kovac had never told Shayth all that had happened on Renol's hunt, though he did tell her about the snake bite. Given the tenuous, unclear nature of their relationship, and hints at her possessiveness, the archer thought it better to keep the detals of that trip to himself. "Ah, good, you brought your bow." Dumb, of course she would, it was archery training! It was probably safe to let her go now, he told himself, yet he lingered like a dolt with his arms on her waist.

[Aidara]

"Kovac... You look good." A grin flashed and there was laughter in those green eyes. After their traumatic experience on the hunt, Addy no longer felt painstakingly awkward around the Archer. In fact, she secretly delighted in the crimp she put in his stride whenever she was around. Knowing that, the gleam in her eye was rather wicked as she threw herself into Kovacs extended embrace, which he had meant to keep light and distant. Instead, the woman wove her arms around his neck, having to go up onto her tiptoes to do so. With a serious face, she studied Kovacs eyes for just a moment before leaning in and crushing her lips against his. They were only there for a moment before Addy let go, stepping away from the man and turning her back. The wicked sparkle was still in her eye, and she made a point of catching her sisters gaze. "Yes, I do have my bow. Where do we start?" With a grin that only she knew was there, since she was faced away from Sai and Kovac, Addy bent to snatch up the pack she had let fall to the ground in anticipation of her man-pounce. Curling her fingers around the top of her bow and working to bend and string it, the woman studiously ignored Kovac now, letting her greeting fester a bit, or maybe allowing him compose himself first before spinning back around with that grin back on her face. "Alright, so where do we start? I know how to draw, aim and shoot. Technique is what I'm worried about. I don't know about Sai.." Green's shifted to her sister, and the grin brightened just a bit. There was more than met the eye passing between the two. Addy had opened the floodgates on their bond, letting her twin clearly feel the smug sense of accomplishment that practically radiated from the woman. Searching out Sai's own yellow gaze, Addy looked, and mentally felt for, the reaction the Endal had to her ludicrous display of affection. Expecting either amusement or tightly controlled disdain, the small woman braced herself for both. Raising a brow, she silently indicated that she left the sentence hanging so that Sai could jump in with her two cents. Picking up the bow and giving a few test stretches of the string, regarding Kovac out of the corner of her eye. The situation with Sira was complicated. Addy didn't know what exactly they were, so she ignored it for the moment. The healer had found out the Kovac was living with the bitchy Endal Shyath, irritated that Kovac would have conveniently forgotten to mention that little...detail. The thought was like a thorn under her skin, and Addy felt it was her job to properly remind Kovac exactly what he was missing..Whether or not her sister respected this decision was irrelevant. Sai would be able to sense the twinge of hurt feeling, the dent in her pride and perhaps understand Addy enough to know she needed to do this. Just to be a distraction and a brat Addy moved back over to Kovac, keeping her face and body language as normal, giving him no indication of what was going on between the sisters minds. Gluing herself to his side, She slipped an arm around his waist, and handed him her bow to hold. "So, teacher Sir, what's going to go down, hm?"

[Sairque]

Expressionless, Sai watched the enthusiastic kiss the healer laid on their instructor-for-the-day. And she enthusiastically met the healer's eyes afterwards, cocking a brow in return and giving a short-lived smirk. Not exactly unexpected, and with her features schooled to casual friendliness, Sai turned her gaze back to the archer to take in his reaction.

For her part, there were worst choices for Addy to set her semi-serious sights on. So it was full amusement that she got when she opened up their bond. Sai was fairly fond of the Avora, despite his dark attitude. The twins had managed to break that nicely, she thought, having watched his off-balance reactions up to the point where Addy kissed him.

"I'd just like some basic tips and then to learn some more advanced techniques. Perhaps firing quicker successive shots or something like that," she suggested with a shrug, picking up where Aidara had left off and eyes shifting between her and Kovac.

She knew full well what trouble Aidara was trying to stir, but Kovac didn't need her to step in and protect him. He was a full grown man; he should be able to hold his own against one small redhead that barely topped five feet. Sai retrieved her bow from the healer's arms and snagged an arrow from the rack. Keeping most of her attention on the pair with her, she knocked the arrow and hefted the weight of the bow in her hands, pulling the string back a bit to put strain on her arms and shoulders. After she felt that she had acclimated enough, it was drawn and her attention focused on the target down the range. Forearm rotated out of the way, core tightened, feet spread in a solid stance. Fingers curled near her ear, the string biting into the callused flesh, she gazed down the shaft. Breathing out and then holding with no air in her lungs, the flight leader released. The string snapped forward, her fingers remained hovering near her ear and she didn't drop the bow until the arrow had been gone for a few seconds.

[Kovac]

Aidara caught Kovac off-guard as she drew herself against him in a more intimate embrace, her green eyes locking on his. The glance sent an unexpected thrill down his spine, followed by electricity as she pressed her lips against his. The Avora did not recoil, either out of shock or a secret indulgence. The healer withdrew and in an instant she was off, turning away from him. Kovac hovered in a semi-trance, lips still parted slightly, gaze following Aidara. He shook his head slightly to gather his senses, a bit irritated that the woman's actions would render him speechless for even a moment. The archer's eyes followed Addy as she strung her bow, his glance darting to Sairque to gauge her reaction to her sister's display. He listened to each of the twins and what they had hoped to achieve during the training session. As Aidara returned to his side, slipping an arm around him, Kovac suspected she had more planned that just practicing shooting a few arrows. What she was up to, he was not quite sure. But the Avora knew the game well, for he played it with Shayth. There was no harm in having a little fun, he unwisely surmised. And he would not make it easy. He would see how persistent Aidara would be. Looking down at the dark red-head, Kovac regained his roguish grin. He pushed Aidara's bow back towards her, slipping out of her arm. "Why don't you do some warming up, while I work on your sister's technique." His grin widened, almost challenging. The Avora turned to watch the flight leader release her arrow, following it as it sank into the target at the end of the range. "Not bad Sai, your accuracy is not bad at all." He approached her, coming up to stand close behind her. Reaching around her and placing a hand on each arm, he coaxed her to raise the bow again. "Pull back the string." His gaze flitted to Aidara, a sly grin curling up one side of his lips. His eyes remained on Addy as he spoke into her sister's ear. As Sairque held the string back, Kovac place a hand gently on the elbow of the arm holding the string. He pushed down on the joint. "Your elbow is a bit high, keep it parallel with the ground." His eyes shifted back to look at the Rider's form, then he stepped back. "Get an arrow and try again." The archer's eyes again darted to Aidara.

[Aidara]

Oh, so that's what he was going to play. Knowing right well that Kovac had no interest in her sister and vice versa, Addy had to fight to keep the smirk from sliding over her lips. Clearing her throat, the small woman rearranged her facial features into something she hoped made her look believably put off. An artful scuff of her toe coupled with a mournful sigh. Oh, maybe that was overdoing it. Sai, play along. He deserves this now... Maybe if we're lucky, we'll both get laid. Goddess knows you need it. Her sister couldn't hear the specific words, but Addy knew right well that Sai would be feeling the surge of excited amusement and slight malicious glee across the tenuous bonds of their mind. Turning her body ever so slightly, the healer stood parallel to where Kovac stood wrapping himself around her sister. She made sure that she could see the both of them from her peripheral, to be able to respond correctly to the mans taunts, and to also read Sai's reactions better. Addy was surprised that the Flightleader hadn't thrown Kovac bodily across the range by now. It was rare for Sai to allow anyone but her twin that close without warning. Hmmm, perhaps there was something there after all. A month ago, Aidara would have turned green with envy, eyes flashing in anger, every muscle in her body rigid with her feelings. Wearing her heart on her sleeve was not something that the woman had ever learned to control. But recently she'd found more than a fling. The image of bright red hair, and a shy yet brilliant smile flashed through her mind, as a shiver worked down her spine. "It's okay, I'll figure this out by myself. There are bushes over there, if you kiddies are feeling frisky. Make us some pretty babies. Remember, Sai's sold her first born to some nameless faceless thing that came to us in the middle of the night, in return for all the knowledge in the world. Or something." As she spoke, Addy strode over to the pair. Keeping with her offended act, a hand shot out and snagged the arrows that Kovac had carefully placed in front of himself, spinning on her heel with a very rigid set of her shoulders and stomping back to her spot. Maybe still a little overdone. Greens flickered over her shoulder as she stuck each arrow into the grass, gauging the reactions of the pair once more as she finally finished her spiel. Aidara knew that Sai wouldn't believe a single moment of it, but Kovac's eyes were easier to pull the wool over. And ever since Aidara found Sira, and found out about Shayth, Kovac didn't make her weak at the knees and completely idiotic any longer. Running her fingers along the fletching over the first arrow in her lineup, Addy took a deep breath before plucking and placing, pulling the string and raising the bow up to her ear. Exhaling, the woman closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Putting her companions in the back of her mind, Addy opened her eyes and gazed along the shaft of the bow. Here, she tried to readjust her footing. With feet shoulder width apart, she adjusted her front foot so that it faced the target, while her back foot was settled perpendicular to the first. Gripping the arrow with her forefinger, middle, and ring finger Addy knocked the arrow and pulled back on the strong. "Damn." The arrow thunked head first into the ground, quivering. Having failed to properly clear her mind, Addy had noticed Sai pull her string back and fire from the corner of her mind. Whether it was healing or shooting, Addy needed a clear mind. As Sai released her string, and so had she. Habit of copying ones twin for years upon years. Her sister had retained a full draw on her bow, while Addy had barely even pulled back the string. Bending to scoop up the rogue shaft, the healer took a deep breath, repositioned her feet and raised the bow once more. Elbow level to her ear, and she drew. But again, she failed. Well, slightly. Pulling the string back past her ear and holding it, weighing the tension and trying to predict the flight of the arrow, Addy had loosed too soon. Up up...and down. Half way to the target, the arrow skidded along the grass, tearing up a few good chunks before studdering to a pathetic halt. With a sigh, the woman turned to Sai and Kovac, balancing the bow on her boot. Her hands propped on her hips, Addy fixed her green eyes on the pair, watching not in jealousy, but to actually pick up tips while Kovac tried to make her jealous. "Is it my turn yet?"

[Sairque]

Sai followed the instructor’s directions, lifting the bow and catching the string on two stiffly curled fingers to draw. Under the lightly guiding touch, she watched out of the corner of her eye as her elbow dropped to parallel the ground. That felt better, taking a bit of twisted tension off her shoulder. After he gave his approval, she held the position for a few more seconds, letting the new positioning sink in further before carefully letting the bow uncurl and string return to its place of rest. The games Aidara and Kovac played couldn’t have been further from mind.

Twisting, muscles shifting under creamy skin, she retrieved another arrow and knocked it. Squaring up, she took a deep breath and eyed the target. Feeling her body in proper alignment, the bow lifted and she smoothly pulled the string back. Without thought, her forearm rotated out of the way in the stiff arm extended before her. Consciously, her other elbow lowered to the newly found position of comfort. Fingers curled tightly near her ear, the muscles of her chest, arm and shoulder pulled deliciously tight, she sighted down the shaft with one yellow eye. On the exhale, she released. Understanding repetition was key to learning, she didn’t hesitate in grabbing another arrow and repeating the motions. She was careful to time things with her twin, knowing that until they got in the zone, at which time they would move at the same speed anyway, they were both easily distracted by the other.

Kovac…and Addy’s games…Sai couldn’t figure out how to extract herself from the game, squash it, or play along. So she glanced over at Kovac after releasing another two arrows.

“What am I doing wrong?” The arrows were not accurate but they were precise as far as they all dotted the left half of the target.

[Kovac]

Kovac had stepped away from Sairque as she loosed her arrows, apparently to allow her space to shoot, but no less because he realized he may have overstepped some of the strict Rider's boundaries in his attempt to goad Aidara. The foil seemed to have failed, the sister unflapped by his intimate contact with her twin. Instead she retorted with her own barbed reply. The Avora could not help but laugh at Addy's comments, sharp and snarky and worthy of praise. He allowed her a flash of a grin acknowledging a score on her part. Even as Sai took several practice shots, Kovac covertly studied Aidara. Something was different, she did not come off as the shy, giddy girl she had seemed on the hunt, even after performing a task as monumental as saving his life. He wondered if her affections for him had cooled, and now was just having fun with him. He had heard tell of Addy's affiliation with the eccentric kelvic eagle, one rumored to be more than platonic. Some had said that anyone who could bond with the beautiful Sira could very well be elevated to status of Endal, though Kovac had no idea if that was true. An unwarranted sting of jealously rose up but was quickly squelched. Addy was never his to be jealous over, which probably saved both of them from trouble at the hands of two very fiery female Endals. A poorly stifled chuckled echoed as the Avora's arrow dropped from the bow. Her second falling shot compelled him to turn back to Sairque and her target to keep from laughing out loud. Kovac did wonder, however, why Aidara was fumbling. He had seen her shoot on the hunt, and was nearly at her sister's level of skill. The archer did not notice that Addy's premature shots coincided with the release of her twin's bowstring. Sairque voiced her concern over the accuracy of her own arrows. "Look, you have a good grouping, which means at least that you are shooting consistently. Try this, go ahead and raise your elbow up just a bit again, that will pull more of your back muscles into the draw. Make sure your front shoulder is not rolling up or back. Try a few more shots while I attempt to make an archer out of your sister." As Kovac spoke, he pointed to the parts of her body he mentioned, but did so more professionally in an effort not to earn the wrath of the Endal, though he would never admit to her that he rather enjoyed wrapping his arms around her. Besides, flirting with Sairque did not seem to be working on Addy. Turning from Sairque and approaching Aidara, Kovac donned a friendly smile. He crossed his arms as he looked down at her. She was very attractive, even more so with the extra effort she had put into presenting herself for training that day. An internal debate began within the archer, whether to fully engage in the game, letting his libido run loose again, or restrain himself and avoid inevitable consequences. As he left his mind and his gut mull over the dilemma, Kovac turned to the task of teaching. "Alright Healer, let me see you shoot a few that make it to the target so we can see what you are doing wrong." His grin widened at the obvious jab, anxious to see if and how the clever girl responded.