Completed [Fletcher's Corner] Hitting the Mark (Elna)

[Kovac]

Perhaps bringing up apprenticeship was a bad idea. The girl had taken his advice well, already seeing an improvement with a few minor adjustments in her stance and attitude. But when the archer mentioned apprenticing, Kovac could see Elna tense up all over again. He understood her apprehension. Yasi that were not apprenticed were pretty much doomed to become a Drudge. It was a shame that this girl had not found her niche yet, he hoped she found something soon.

He watched with a scowl as she made only a half-hearted attempt at he next shot. Had another student pulled the lousy shot the inartan teen had fired off, Kovac would have lambasted them. But he cut her some slack, this time. Also, he would hold of on any mention of her lack of apprenticeship until she settled down.

"Alright, that was hideous and you know it. Don't draw that string back unless you mean to put your heart behind it." The instructor scolded, then placed an uncustomary hand of encouragement on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Now get yourself straightened up and relax. Your time is not up yet Elna."

"While you aim, envision the arrow hitting the target where you intend it to, and remember follow-through, keep that bow up until the arrow impacts." Kovac pointed down lane towards the target, then released her shoulder.

[Elna]

He hadn't given up on her, that was a good sign. She did know it was hideous shot, hopefully one she could put behind her quickly. The heart comment seemed rather poetic, but she liked it. It made sense, she was weak emotionally and her shot was equally weak. She had it stay strong, there would be no room for emotional break downs in the middle of a hunting trip. Kovac seemed quite empathetic and patient, which really helped her to find her peace again. His words seemed to hit her just right. "Your right, I can do this," she proclaimed while forcing herself into a confident mindset.

She stared down the lane straight towards the center of the target. She calmly brought her bow back into position. She kept her body straight but not stiff, making sure her stance was good and ready before doing anything else. When the stance felt right, she looked right at the bull's eye dot, imagining the her arrow smacking right into to it. She thought of it not as an imaginary success, but a vision of the future. Her shot was going to be perfect, no doubt about it.

She released the arrow and watched it zip towards the target, keeping her hand up the entire time. It hit right inside the lower half of the fourth ring, the best shoot she had ever taken! She couldn't help but raise her hands in victory. "Ahhhhhhhh! Yes! Did you see that?" she screamed with excitement, turning to Kovac and finding herself unable to keep form jumping for joy a few times. It was a small achievement, bet it meant the world to Elna. It was a simple thing that just absolutely filled her happiness and hope.

[Kovac]

Kovac could see, even as Elna readied herself for her next shot, that the girl had gotten her mind right again. One thing he had learned when teaching teenagers was that nature was playing with their hormones. Being a Yasi could be stressful enough, especially as close to the 'end' as Elna was, and they easily fell into a chasm of depression or angst...both of which aggravated the half'-breed Inarta to no end. This one was managing to get a hold of herself. The ability to overcome failure may end up saving her from a life as a Dek.

The redhead remembered almost all of the things he had shown her, this time taking her time and keeping her stance steady until she saw the arrow hit the target. Elna's diligence rewarded her with an acceptable mark, and even the snarky Kovac could not deny the girl her celebration.

"Yes, I did see it! Good work Elna!" He allowed her a generous smile and a three-clap applaud, though the jumping for joy Kovac left to the teen. He did celebrate a little inside. After all, he taught her almost everything she knew!

"Okay, Okay....don't get cocky kid. Lets see if you can do it again." Kovac held up his finger, gesturing to her to wait. He jogged over to a basket next to the fletcher's table, pulling out a red scarf. Returning to Elna, he instructed her to get another arrow and put it to her string, but to keep it lowered and not draw. Once the Yasi had complied, Kovac stood behind her and blindfolded her with the scarf.

"Now, go ahead and raise your bow and draw. The point of this is for you to concentrate on your stance, without the distraction of aiming. Don't worry about aiming, just feel your stance, loosen your knees and settle into it, make it comfortable. Remember what I have shown you. Go ahead."

Kovac stepped back, watching the blindfolded girl lift the bow and draw, observing how she set herself up. When she seemed ready, he stepped forward. "Now don't move." He carefully removed the blindfold. "Now...aim and shoot."

[Elna]

It felt great to be validated for a change. Elna was rather use to having any compliment she received being mired with apathy and reluctance, if anything. But Kovac seem genuine, like he really cared if whether she succeeded or failed. He asked for a repeat performance and Elna planned on delivering, except this time it was going to be a bullseye. That kind of cheaply gained bravado worked last time and if she kept that confidence as much as possible she would be better off for it.

She was just about to ready her bow for the next shot before Kovac motioned for her to stop. She watched as he pulled out the scarf. She readied her arrow as instructed as he returned. Just as she was taking her customary pre-shot deep breath, he suddenly threw on the blindfold. She raised her shoulders in surprise, barely keeping self form raising her hands before remembering she was still carrying a dangerous weapon. It jerked her head back a bit as he tied it tightly onto her head.

This was ridiculous, she wasn't going to make a repeat performance blindfolded! But she decided to stay clam, there was no pressure. She couldn't be treated too harshly if she couldn't even see. Still she was had just learned that whole "visualize the arrow hitting the target" trick, it seemed like a waist stop that so soon by throwing on a blind fold. But when she stopped to think about it, the blindfold really wasn't stopping her from visualizing anything. She had an imagination, she could handle just closing her eyes and pretending that she saw the target. She let it take form in her mind. Thinking as if the blind fold wasn't even there, just a target in front of her.

Elna positioned herself back into her stance, straight but relaxed like before. Elbow raised, legs parallel to where she was pointed, not slouching, and every other note on the proper stance she could remember. If this was a stance exercise she might as well get it as right as possible. However right as she was ready to shoot blind, Kovac stopped and removed the blindfold. Now that she could actually see the target, she could see the arrow hitting the target even clearer in her mind. She saw it happen, now she was going to make it happen she thought to herself.

She released the sting and the arrow launched forward hitting and the left hand side of the nine ring. It wasn't as bad as it seemed though, the arrow was only slightly below her previous shot height-wise. She figured she must have gotten her self turned around slightly when the blind fold went on, then failed to fix it when she was so concentrated on holding the stance. Considering the handicap, she couldn't feel disappointed about that shot.

[Kovac]

Kovac sensed Elna's concerns. She was not one to easily accept doing things that were not according to the rules she had been told. But the Yasi was a trooper, and she settled into her shooting stance without the aid of sight. Once the blindfold was removed, Kovac quickly stood back and let the girl take her shot. Small, slender fingers loosed the taut bowstring, and her arrow flew true to the target. The hit was a good one, for this particular student, and much improved over what he saw from her in the open ranges.

"Not bad Elna, not bad at all." The archer offered in praise. " Do you feel the differences? You have already improved incredibly. Now, keep up the practice, and don't let the others discourage you. You know what you are capable of now. I will be watching you, and if you need my help, I am here."

It was an offer Kovac did not make to most of the Yasi. But Elna was impressive, in demeanor and in her ability to take instruction. To survive Wind Reach though, she would have to learn to be more aggressive.
"And every once in a while, break the rules." The half-breed instructor gave her a wink.

[Elna]

Elna smiled bashfully, looking down and away for a moment. "Thank you Kovac, this really was a huge help." She proclaimed with gratitude. "And I will keep at it, I won't let your teaching go to waist." Being told to break the rules by a teacher was rather surprising for her to hear. The irony of it caused her to giggle a bit, "Ok, l'll try that." His wink even caused her to blush a bit, it was quite a cute little addition.

Elna picked up her belongings and give her new instructor a friendly wave good bye. She was truly proud of the work she had done that day, it was like she was finally going somewhere in the world. On top of that she felt like she had made a rare human connection. She had an adult who she could depend on. It honestly surprised her that he had such a bad reputation among the other Yasi. She could recognize that she was a special case here, no longer the one who has to be constantly over-looked. It was just the confidence booster that she needed, hopefully one she could carry with her as long as possible. Like envisioning the arrow hitting the target, she decided to envision her life just getting better form here on out.

[Whimsy]

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Experience Award

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Kovac

Exp
+4 Teaching
+1 Weapon: Shortbow

Lores
Spotting Those with Potential in Shortbow
Elna: Without an Apprenticeship
The Importance of Tact
Shooting Exercises: Blindfolded Shooting

Elna

Exp
+1 Observation
+4 Weapon: Shortbow

Lores
The Rules of the Fletcher’s Corner
The Correct Stance for Shooting
The Importance of Follow-through in Shooting
Shooting Exercises: Blindfolded Shooting

Comments
This was a really heart-warming thread to read. I really truly hope Elna gets an apprenticeship, and soon. Kovac is such a kind hearted teacher, even if he doesn't want other people to know it! PM me if you have any questions about the grade.