Shot in the Dark (Solo)

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

15th Spring, Night Fall 511 AV OOCI am going to try to keep every post within 1500 words His body had finally stopped aching from the beach runs that Ildin had him doing on a daily basis. He had finally surpassed the oar and not passed out afterward. He hadn’t seen her in a few days he only got to the pavilion and there sat the backpack with a note. Letting him know that he was indeed progressing but still had work to be done; that was the theme with her. He was constantly pushing himself past and beyond what he was even capable or comfortable with. He noticed that the sun was starting to sink and it was time to see what Ildin had in store for him. He got to the pavilion and looked. There was no backpack, no weights then? It was possible he assumed. He had felt his body changing while he pushed it. Muscle built forming a strong fortified core of which she planned to build on. Ildin watched Serrif approach from the second floor. A smile on her face; here was her pupil. He readily pushed himself and she respected that. He was ready to do as she asked and this brought a smile to her face. She didn’t plan a beach run for him tonight. No she had something much more important. She planned to hone in what little skills he had with the bow. Maybe this would be a little advanced for him; but you never learned by simply staying at your current level. You learned by pushing onward and upward; past where you stood now to where you never thought your skills could bring you. She dressed in a long black skirt and a flowing black top that was actually complimenting to her wonderful frame. Her hair up in a bun as always and she picked up her bow and a set of arrows along with two canvas bags. She met Serrif and handed him the two canvas bags. “You’ll need these; no beach run tonight. We have much more important things to tend to.” She then began the walk out to the beach. Serrif followed not asking a single question the entire time. If she wanted to talk he assumed she would indeed do so. They walked in silence the night was on them and closing. He noted she had a quiver on her back and a bow in her hand. Whatever she had in mind likely involved that bow. But as to what was going to happen was beyond him. He walked and he noted the serenity of the night. The wind was blowing decently hard, causing the ocean to turn and waves to violently crash on the shore. He looked out as they got to the beach and that was when she stopped and seemed to stretch as she then pointed to the ground. “There, unpack it.” Serrif did as he was told and found what appeared to be a ship buoy and a target. He pondered just what she had planned then it came to him as she spoke. "Fix the target on the top of the buoy and then attach the anchor using the rope on the bottom of it. Go out about 20 feet into the surf. Then set the anchor in the bottom and come back. You have much to learn tonight." She instructed.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif did just as he was asked. He didn’t know what all tonight’s lesson would entail but it involved this target. He fixed the medium sized round target to the top of the buoy. There was a hole where the pet slipped into the buoy. He tied the rope to the bottom of the buoy target and then carried the entire thing out into the ocean. The waves were high at times but they came and left as they pleased. As was everything else here. He walked out into the cool waters, the only real light now was the pearlescent moonlight shimmering off the surface of the water. He reached what he believed to be twenty feet out and he dropped the anchor into the water; making sure not to hit his feet. It splashed and sunk just as one would expect it to. He then pushed it into the sand and set it with his feet making sure it wouldn’t come undone. Ildin wouldn’t be pleased about that in the least. He stepped back and watched the target move almost wildly as the waves rocked it. Since the target was on a pole attached to the top of the buoy every slight movement the buoy made in the water moved the target a substantial amount. That made for an interesting challenge. He observed making sure again that everything was set and well once he was sure of his work he moved back to shore. Once he laid foot on dry land he turned around and there the target was. In the moonlight you could hardly see it. But the surfaces of it were slightly reflective. So what little light there was glinted on the surface every now and again. “Good, now tonight you will learn several things.” Ildin instructed as she handed him a bow and quiver. “I trust you haven’t lost anything since our last encounter.” That was supposed to be a question but it sounded more like a demand. As if her wording should’ve been ‘being that you still remember what I taught you last time.’ Serrif nodded and took his marksman stance. Ildin nodded in approval and then spoke again. “Hitting a target that doesn’t move is easy. Requires almost no skill and just about anyone can do it with enough tries. What you will learn now is anticipation. The target not only moves as you can plainly see but it is also night…when the true hunters come out. You will learn this outside Mura; the real monsters come out in darkness to prey on the weak. Don’t ever allow yourself to be caught off guard at night.” She said as she then pointed out at the buoy. “Watch it move, there is a pattern to the madness believe it or not. Really watch it…then look at the environment around it. Watch the waves, how they make the target buckle. Again another pattern there as well. Then anticipate the movement, after enough watching you will understand what I mean. You should be able to anticipate where it will end up. Hence where your arrow needs to be. It takes time even for an arrow to travel twenty feet. That time is precious, gauge it.” She instructed. Serrif watched the buoy and the target on it. The waves moved the target up and down, but every now and then a wave would come in at a slant. These waves would cause the target to roll left and right as well as forward and backward; changing the angle of the target in relation to where he was viewing it. The target also rotated causing a smaller target are to be exposed to him sometimes and other times the entire target surface was wide open to him. He watched the waves. Some hit with greater force; which was important because that decided how fast the target would move as well as how fast the buoy would bob around. He slowly picked the chaos away from the seemingly random actions of the target. He started to understand how and why the target moved like it did. And with that knowledge he started predicting. He acted like he was going to shoot in his mind and marked out where he would aim. Then waited to see what the target actually did. This exercise helped him fine tune what he was going to do. He noticed that after a large wave especially the target stayed lower on the horizon for a longer time then after a few short waves. But that it’s movement was also more chaotic right after the wave. He watched and made a few more predictions. All of them near correct. It was time…. He drew an arrow all the time not taking his eyes off of the target. He knocked the arrow by memory alone then drew the bow up he watched still the target. He drew the bowstring back and then started his mental predictions. Every moment he watched everything around him. A medium sized sideways wave came in. The buoy then rotated some exposing most of the target area to him. But the force of the wave pushed the target toward the water’s surface with the wave. He then predicted that the buoy would spring backwards and expose the surface of the round target to him again. He thought and believed that it would be in relatively the same position as well. He watched and just as the target started to roll backwards he let loose his arrow to his predicted spot. The suspense as the arrow sailed was enormous. The target came up from its bow to the ocean and just as it started to even out again the arrow met it. The target clasped onto the arrow and kept it tight…a solid hit. Not in the center of the target, but a solid hit nevertheless. The arrow had marked the upper left corner of the second ring in. “Well, what a show. Now how many more times can you do that without missing?” Ildin said as she challenged his abilities.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif accepted Ildin’s challenge and quickly brushed his hand over the arrows in the quiver; counting them as he did. There were about 15 arrows in the quiver; give or take a few. He figured he could likely place all of them on target. Just as he reached to pull an arrow Ildin spoke again. “But that would be no fun, you’ve already demonstrated you can hit it.” She then dug into the bag and pulled out two rather thick leather belts. She pulled on his arm extending it and then put the belt around his arm about 3 inches below his shoulder. She pulled hard tightening it down on his arm. She then repeated the procedure again on this other arm. She nodded and then pointed out at the target. “Don’t stop until the quiver is gone.” With that she crossed her arms and watched. She knew what would happen to him. But he didn’t. He would eventually feel his joints start to burn. It would start in his elbow, then travel down to his wrist. Then continue even farther into his digits. It would take mind over matter to even simply draw back the bowstring. Much less focus on where to place arrows and guess where the target was going to end up. She was more interested to find out if he would rush things to get the pain over with; or if he would stick it out and make accurate hits. Only time would tell now. She watched and waited. Serrif interested her because he had potential, and she wanted to find his breaking point. Where his mind stopped making logical decisions and went into survival mode. But so far all her efforts had been in vain. And she wasn’t even sure if she could ethically push him that far. She had gotten an idea of where his boundaries were. One didn’t tone up as fast as Serrif had without really pushing limits. Serrif drew an arrow and then watched the target. His elbow started aching a little. He thought nothing of it and then pulled up drawing the bowstring back. He watched as the target came down off a wave. He judged distance and the movement of the target and let loose the arrow based on his best guess. The arrow flew closing the 20 feet in almost a heartbeat. It struck slightly to the right of the previous arrow, more toward the center of the target. It was then that his arm started to go a little numb. But his elbow joint still burned…well just started to burn now. His wrists actually ached a little…doubtlessly due to the belts Ildin had tightened on his arms. He drew another arrow and watched the target. He found this increasingly difficult to do as the pain crept down his arms and settled into his fingers. That made holding the bow somewhat painful. But again he pushed it aside. Focus was keenly on the target. He gathered himself and watched the target buckle as a somewhat large wave started to come in. He judged by the size and direction that it would be a direct hit. And afterwards the target would remain on level for a decent amount of time. He watched and the target cleared the wave and then as the wave rolled past the target he drew the string back and watched. The target was on level and he loosed the arrow. It sailed and dug itself into the target. It landed a little higher than the last arrow forming a sort of triangle formation with the previous two arrows in the target. So far Ildin was a little impressed. But what would really prove his determination was the last few arrows. When the pain was the highest and he may start rushing to get it all over with. But how did he know that this was the end? She could have him dig out the arrows that hit…or maybe swim and get the arrows that missed. That would be an interesting training exercise. She would have to remember that one. But to have him do it with the belts on his arms…now that would just be cruel. Even she knew where these boundaries laid. Satisfied he reached to grip another arrow. This time the pain was much greater than before. Seemed the more he strained the worse the pain got and the more concentrated it became in his joints. It wasn’t unbearable right now but it was very concentrated. And every movement seemed to just burn intensely. He took a few deep breaths and started to put back up his defenses. He pushed the pain away and this time he could feel a little tingle of the pain as he looked out at the target. A series of small waves…all evenly spaced and straight on. The target would bounce in a pattern. After the first two he could likely land an arrow on it accurately. He watched while he pulled up the bow. The first wave hit and he drew the string back, his elbow burning like fire as he did so. He watched and anticipated while the second wave hit, it was exactly the same as the first. He extrapolated and then let loose the arrow. It was a clean release and the arrow sailed. This time he wasn’t in the same grouping as he had been in. He actually misjudged and the arrow hit somewhat low on the right side of the target the outmost ring. An oddity in all of this.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif focused and he was finding it difficult as time progressed to focus past the pain. He could see where this was going to go. He didn’t want to miss the target; but he wanted the pain to stop as well…that was only natural. He was taking slightly deeper breaths now. Ildin noticed that he was getting increasingly uncomfortable. Good; it was time to see how he functioned under pain; if she could make him squirm and mess up…or if he would push past and surpass what she was putting him through. She noticed all the body language was there. His movements were a little slower as he felt out how bad the pain was; his breathing was a little deeper and drawn out as if he was pushing himself a little harder than he thought. He exhaled and watched the target again. It bobbed and moved again not erratically but there was indeed a pattern to all of it. He had already mapped it out in his head to an extent. It wasn’t muscle memory for him; but it was indeed not new. Which helped him push through the pain and null it out of the equation. His motions became fluid as to cause the least amount of pain possible. This again noticed by Ildin as an interesting side effect of this little exercise. Maybe she could do this more often to him; it could eventually force his movements to become fluid. He pulled the arrow and knocked it the bow horizontal to his body as he watched. He looked out forecasted and then raised the bow vertical to his body. He looked out and then continued to forecast. His arm pulled back on the bowstring and he brought the arrow back. Again he looked out and then let the arrow loose. It flew and made target tracking a little farther in. So he was making progress. It was about now that his joints were really screaming in pain. Every moment with his arms sent nearly spine crippling waves of pain through him. He focused, let the sounds of the ocean soothe him. He focused, the waves washing away his pain as he let it just go. He accepted it for what it was. It was his situation; he couldn’t help it. It just was. Pain was passing…pain was teaching…pain separated the strong from the weak…the achievers from the failures….He pushed the pain farther away. Let it dull as he focused again on the single target. HIS GOAL the one thing right now he had to focus on. Nothing else mattered…nothing else meant anything…Not his pain…not any of his pain. Another arrow found itself knocked on his bow again he looked out watching…waiting. He was patient; despite the pain. It wouldn’t get better now. But at the same time it didn’t seem to be getting any worse. Maybe that was because his adrenaline had kicked in finally. But that meant it could and likely would get worse once the edge had been taken off. He focused…the target moved and bobbed. The bow was raised, the string pulled back to its mark. He forecasted and then as the times before he let it loose. It flew…straight as intended. And hit bottom center. Seemed he was getting a little sloppy. But Ildin wasn’t correcting him… Ildin was actually more concerned with him hitting the target at this point. Yes he could give up, but she would lose respect for him that he had spent so long trying to build up. He wouldn’t let that happen. The pain was passing. Again he focused another arrow finding its way to the bow. His emerald eyes focused outward to the target. He never thought something so seemingly easy could be so hard and torturous. The pain was beginning to buzz at the edge of his mind. He had kept it at bay pretty well…but he could feel it breaking through. It was going to push into him full force before he knew it. Best to get as many of these into the target before that happened. The bow was lifted, the string pulled back and he marked the target. Watched it and forecasted. The arrow was again released and it bit in the left side of the target with the other arrows. Seemed this moving target thing had him a little nipped. But again Ildin just seemed interested more in what he would push himself to do, and as long as he hit the target he seemed to be in good waters. He felt the quiver. There were still nine arrows to go; nine arrows that he wasn’t sure if he could place on the target….No he would do this. He would accomplish this. It was an easy task if you eliminated the pain from the equation. Well not easy; but doable. He could manage this. He WOULD do this. Again focusing on the waves and the ocean he let the ocean carry away his pain. Gently washing it away as he brought his hand to another arrow. He felt it and then gently brought it to the string. Hid head lifted and his eyes opened…the target was just where it had been. He watched it move and he raised the bow up and pulled back the string. Watching….waiting. The perfect time came and again he released. The arrow shot across the distance and met the target in the center but almost off target high. He was getting sloppy and Ildin noticed. “Beginning to feel it are we?” She prodded. “Yes mistress.” His simple answer came easier than the thought. “Well? There are still arrows to go yes?” She challenged as she watched him. It was apparent he was in a good deal of pain. He didn’t hide it well. “Yes mistress.” He answered as he then straightened himself out and readied himself for the next few shots.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

As he continued to focus he noticed he could indeed push the pain away. Really segregate it from his body almost. Like he was pushing it away, detaching the pain from himself. He focused on what he was to do. There were nine arrows left. All he had to do was place them on the target. A seemingly simple task. But the pain was unbelievable. With every motion it was like thousands of pin like daggers were pushing into his joints. Like they were grinding painfully against each other. But he continued to press on. The pain was good…the pain told him he was still alive. Still here, still…. He focused watching the target bob up and down with the waves. It was good he had gotten his readings earlier. Because if not he would surely be missing the target time and time again. That would likely just make Ildin cross with him…and that was something he was not interested in seeing. The target moved and tossed; mostly just as he had expected it would. He took a couple of deep breaths and then pulled up the bow; still not completely ready for the pain that shot through his body. Simply lifting the bow seemed to take a tremendous amount of energy and willpower. He knocked the arrow, and then watched the target move. He forecasted and pulled the string back. Actually having to grit his teeth because the pain was so great. He pushed it away and then let loose the arrow. It flew but hardly stuck into the target. It hit the target but the amount of force it hit with was barely enough to stick it into the target. “I didn’t tell you to plink the target I told you to hit it. Mark it, really sink the arrow in.” Ildin chastised seeing that he was letting the pain start to get the better of him. “Do I really need to start putting you in pain just to get you to start to fail miserably at things? Pain is inevitable. If you find anything worth dedicating yourself to in your life there will be pain. And you will have to push through it. This is only minor compared to what could be. Now push through.” She said as she then pointed back out to the target and nodded. “Don’t keep me waiting.” “Yes mistress.” He said as he straightened his posture and squared his shooting stance. He took a deep breath and centered himself eight more to go. Only eight more arrows and he could be through this nightmare. He brought his concentration a little more. He was going to get through this. Serrif knew what Ildin spoke of more than she thought. He had pushed through hell for so many years that everything previous was just erased. Like it didn’t even exist. Maybe something had happened that his mind had a need to forget the past? It was possible but it was just as likely that he had forgotten simply from all the poisoning that had happened to him. Again the pain stabbed at his arms and fingers. This exercise was getting very painful for Serrif. He found himself having to literally step himself through every part of the process; something he hadn’t had to really do until now. He chose his arrow carefully. Gripped it between two of his fingers then knocked it gently to his bow. He looked out to the target tracking it, watching the waves around it move and buck the target about. Forecasting and picking a time to act he watched. He saw a spot coming when the sea was supposed to get relatively calm. He would use this opportunity to his full advantage. But he would need to make swift motions; which in his current state would mean a considerable amount of pain as well. He pulled up his bow and watched seconds before the flat spot came he pulled the string back…all the way back this time. The flat spot came and he released the arrow, sending it straight to the target. It buried itself in the target; but Serrif didn’t throw a party. No he quickly knocked another arrow; pushing through the intense pain that shot through his body while he did so. He knocked, pulled the string back and forecasted. Still flat. He let the arrow loose and it hit as well. He sighed in relief and gritted his teeth. Only six left now. But six was so many. No, he would keep going. He would prevail here. Again he forecasted watching waiting while he knocked another arrow. He could feel his fingers start to tremble with pain. As were his arms as well. He would have to take that into account when he shot. That could really throw his aim off. He brought himself to focus only on the target. The shaking subsided some but didn’t totally go away. Yet he had to do it, he WOULD do this. He continued to follow the target. He forecasted some more and then brought his bow up. He just wanted to drop it and walk away. But a part of him wouldn’t let him do that. No he was going to push. He brought the bowstring back and could feel the intensive burning full force now. It was almost crippling. He held for only a few seconds and then released another arrow. It flew and nearly missed. He looked down to his hands and they were shaking intensely. He didn’t know why and he felt like his arms were going to fall off. “That’s enough.” Came Ildin’s voice. She then moved over to him and started to remove the belts. “No Mistress. I am going to place all the arrows.” He said defiantly. This little exercise was indeed devilish in its intents. She had honestly only expected him to place 4 arrows. He had done far more than that. But she wasn’t about to let him know that. No this exercise was meant to frustrate. Hell she wasn’t even sure she could’ve done many more than he had before she would knock out or miss the target. But again that was something she wouldn’t tell him. No she wanted him to believe it was indeed possible to place all the arrows in the target. “Don’t be foolish you have had enough. Come here.” She said demanding. “Yes Mistress.” He said as he moved so she could undo the belts. She did so somewhat quickly and he could immediately feel the warm blood fill his arms. The pain got worse for a few seconds; then it was lifted and his arms were no longer cold or in as much pain as they had been. He breathed in relief while Ildin then spoke to him again. “Retrieve the target when you are ready and break it back down into the bag.” Her instructions were exact and Serrif nodded complying.

[Alice]

Serrif Von Chatlyn

Experience: 2 Observation, 5 Longbow
Lores: Anticipating the Target’s Movement, Shooting in the Dark, Shooting With Weights, Developing Stamina

Comments

Interesting thread. I always enjoy seeing Serrif pushing himself past the pain and accomplishing something. I wonder what he’ll do with all his strength though.