Solo You Want me to What!?

[Sira]

Sira went with Clyde to find one of the dek working the range and had them escort the boy to the infirmary before she went back to giving her lesson. When she walked back over she could see the concern in the eyes of all the children. They were afraid that what happened to Clyde might happen to them, and it very well could if they weren't careful. Sira didn't want to sugar coat what happened, either. If she pretended like it was not a big deal, then the lesson wouldn't be learned.

"Clyde hurt himself because he wasn't careful. He broke one of the rules of the range, and dry fired his bow. It might have been an accident, but it shows you why the rule is in place. Not only can you damage the bow by doing that, but if the string catches you it can really hurt you. Clyde was lucky he didn't get it worse. Always be careful, and never let your arm or any other part of your body get in the way of the string when it is popping back."

"Is he going to be okay," Lacey asked.

"He will be fine, but he's going to be sore for a while. That tore him up good. But don't let that scare you away from archery. Anything you do is going to have its dangers, and as long as you are safe, you won’t get hurt. Do you think glass blowers never get burnt? Do you think gardeners never get lost in the caves? Or trappers never get caught in their own traps? Everything is dangerous, but as long as you are careful and remember the rules, you should be safe. Now... who wants to go next."

After a bit of hesitation, Michael stepped up to go next. He was another one of the ones who claimed to have had practice before the current lesson, though Sira wasn't sure if she believed him. The boy had no form, had trouble with every step, and his accuracy was almost as bad as Clydes.

"So, Michael. Who was it who taught you to shoot, anyway?"

"Oh, my dad did. He's a blacksmith, but he likes to shoot in his spare time."

"I see.. well, let’s pretend that he didn't teach you anything yet, okay? I want to go back over all the basics with you, just to make sure you know them all, alright?"

"Okay, endal Sira."

"Good. Alright, now, take it slow, and go ahead and get started."

The yasi did as he was told, and he did much better than the previous time, but Sira attributed it to having watched the other two receive their instructions. He did everything well enough, though as with all of them, it was far below perfect and wouldn't hold up on a hunt at all. Still, there was some improvement, which meant that she must have been doing something right in teaching them. Sira watched as he gripped the string, copying her style and gripping it with one finger above the arrow, two below. Slowly he drew it back and managed to hold it at his anchor point for three ticks before releasing it. Sira suspected he might have even been able to hold it longer, he wasn't shaking too badly, but he still released it on three. He even managed to knick the very edge of the target, sending the arrow flipping through the air behind it. Even though it was technically a miss, Sira and the other yasi all cheered for the boy. He was the second one that day to actually hit the target, and that made him awesome.

"Great job! I guess last time you just needed to get warmed up. Okay.. so, let's talk about how you're standing. You aren't too far off, but during practice, you want to make sure that your form is perfect. Spread your feet a little more, you want them shoulder width apart, and you want your body to be facing me. Good. This gives you better balance.. I think, and also it's supposed to make it to where your back aligns better and basically lets you shoot better. The whole point of having proper form is to get the perfect shot. Once you can do that, you can start working on different positions. For now though, I want to see all of you standing just like this, okay?

"Yes, endal Sira."

"Good.. good. Next!?"

[Sira]

Next in line was Lacey, the one of the yasi with the most natural born talent. Sira was excited to see what the girl could do with a bit of instruction. When she stepped up it took her a few ticks to get the arrow aligned right, just as it had with everyone else, but Sira wasn't worried about that. It took a long time before one was able to get the arrow just right on the first try, and sometimes Sira still didn't get it perfect. What she did notice that was important was that Lacey was no longer as nervous as she had been before. Her success on her last try gave her the confidence boost she needed to do well on the second one, and even though it did take her a bit, she was the quickest of the four yasi to move on to the next step and prepare to draw. Sira double checked her grip and alignment, but everything looked good enough to shoot, and Sira was ready to see how she would do next. Of the four, and even compared to Natalie, she was the most petite and didn't have the muscles that the boys did, or that Natalie possessed from flying, and it would be hardest for her to hold it back like Sira wanted.

"Okay, go ahead and draw. Remember, reach your lip and then hold it for five ticks if you can."

The girl nodded and started to draw, but then stopped when she remembered that Sira had wanted them to use proper form. After adjusting her footing and stance, much to Sira's delight, the girl began to pull back. Once she reached her anchor Sira knew she wouldn't be able to hold it for the full five ticks, she was shaking already, but she lasted two before releasing and once again hitting the target, though it was near the edge. The hit still drew a cheer from her peers, and the girl beamed happily at Sira who also joined in the applause.

"Great job. Okay, now before Natalie goes, I just thought of something else when I noticed you shooting. One thing you want to do is pick out the smallest target you can, and then don't stop looking at it until the arrow hits home. That's why the center has the smallest circle, because it's a small target. But the key is not to take your eyes off of it. Don't even move after you shoot, just hold your pose and watch until the arrow hits. Don't watch the arrow though, don't even look at it. Watch the target. I know it sounds weird, but it helps. Always aim small, and don't take your eyes off the target."

Next up was Natalie. She hadn't done very well on her last attempt and allowed her frustration to get the better of her. Really, it reminded Sira of herself.. and Aidara, for that matter. Both the women were easily frustrated, and it had clearly rubbed off on Natalie. Unfortunately, that frustration was something she was going to have to overcome if she wanted to get better. Sira could think back to when she was first learning and recall her own frustration. Hunting had come naturally to her, it was in her blood, but archery was not and it was something she had to learn through painstaking trial and error. Sira was determined though, just like her daughter, and eventually she learned. Sira knew Natalie could do it, because she had done it, and she had every faith that her daughter would one day excel at it.

[Sira]

When Natalie stepped up Sira could tell that she was still nervous. After her failure the last time, Sira didn't blame her, but there wasn't really anything the mother could do other than offer her silent support. Natalie wouldn't accept anything else, not until she proved herself. She was a determined little girl, just like her mothers, and she was going to prove to herself and everyone else that she could do it.

Sira watched closely as Natalie positioned her arrow on the string. Getting it just right was both easy and difficult at the same time. The hardest part was getting quick at it, and none of the yasi were anywhere near that, but Natalie did eventually get her arrow aligned just right. She held it up for her mother to see, and Sira nodded her approval, and then Natalie gripped the string in the same fashion that Sira did.

"Okay, good, now get into the right stance and then see how long you can hold the draw. Five ticks, then release, if you can make it. Let go early if you have to."

Natalie nodded and did as she was told, placing her feet shoulder width apart, her body facing to the side as she drew back on the string. This part Sira expected Natalie to do a little better in. Sira and Natalie both had strong shoulder and back muscles because of the strain put on them by flying, and while holding back an arrow was much different that flight, it still gave them a bit of an advantage. Natalie took a deep breath and then drew. After two ticks she began to shake, but she drew in another breath and steadied herself. Three ticks and she was still holding on fine, but the fourth she started to shake somewhat again. Right on five she released and the arrow flew out over the range. Her aim was still off, but she still managed to hit the target right on the edge. Once again all the yasi cheered, and Sira did as well. Hitting the target was more than Sira could have hoped for, but Natalie had proven herself, and Sira was proud.

"Great job, Natalie! I am so proud of you. Great job all of you!"

Natalie was beaming with pride. She had doubted herself before, but the little girl had proven she had what it took, and the other yasi were suddenly accepting of her. Where they hadn't really talked to her before, they were suddenly converged around her cheering her on. Sira almost cried watching it, she was so happy. It was a shame that Addy couldn't have been there to see it, but now Natalie would have something to brag about when she got home and Sira knew how much Natalie liked to brag to her mothers. The other yasi had done good as well, and Sira was surprised to find she was proud of them too. Normally she could care less about other people's children, but she had taught these, and all of them had tried their best. Even Clyde, who managed to royally screw up, had tried his best and Sira couldn't fault him for that, though she thought maybe he was more suited to another profession.. if only for the safety of the other hunters.

"Okay, guys. I think that's enough for today. I'm sure you've got other things to study, I can't keep you all day."

The children complained, but Sira was ready to end the lesson on a high note, and they really did have other things they had to do. She couldn't keep them all day even if she had wanted to, but the children wouldn't relent.

"Give us a bulls eye before you go, endal Sira," one of the yasi shouted.

"Yeah, mom. Show us a bulls eye!"

Sira sighed, unable to suppress her grin and her desire to show off. "Alright, alright. I'll try, but I'm not making any promises, okay. If I miss, that's it. I'm only trying once, okay?"

"Yes, endal Sira."

"Just do it, mom! You know you can, so stop pretending!"

Sira laughed, and stepped up to draw.

[Sira]

Sira took her time, enjoying the buildup of anticipation from the yasi and her daughter. In truth, she did not know if she could hit the bulls eye or not. It was one thing to brag, but another thing entirely to do. Sira was not yet an expert with her bow, still far from it, and though she had hit the bulls eye many times before it wasn’t as if she could do it consistently every single time and whenever she wanted to. Most of those shots were luck. She could always hit near the center, but to guarantee a bulls eye was not something she could do. Still, they yasi wanted her to try, and Sira had promised that she would try.

She did take her time though, checking her bow, checking the resistance on the string and listening closely to the twang as she plucked it as if it were some secret that only she knew about. Sira was picky about the arrow she would choose, searching through her quiver for the one that was the least frayed. The arrows at the Fletcher’s Corner were not the best in Wind Reach, and Sira would have preferred to use an endal grade arrow when attempting such a shot, but the yasi arrows would have to do. She certainly did not feel like running all the way to the Top Notch to get a quality arrow. She would just have to make do with what she had. After a chime or so of carefully studying the fletching on each of her arrows, Sira selected the best one of them all.

”You guys make sure to watch me while I do this. Watch how I stand, and how I release. Watch for my follow through, and how I never take my eyes off the target. Watch for all the stuff I taught you today, okay?”

”Yes, endal Sira,” they all intoned in unison.

Sira smiled and went back to what she was doing. She had wasted enough time. She wasn’t going to take a fast shot, she wanted to actually try to hit the target dead on. And it wasn’t like she was aiming at a deer on the run or anything. In the wild one did not always have the luxury of lining up the perfect shot, but on the range there was no reason Sira couldn’t take all the time she needed.

Sira made sure she was in perfect form, that way the yasi could see how it was supposed to look and emulate it themselves later on. Her back was straight, her feet were shoulder width apart, and she was facing to the side. Sira kept her breathing even, knowing that it was necessary to be absolutely steady if she wanted to make sure her aim was perfect. She had no trouble focusing on the smallest speck within the smallest circle of the center of the target, her eyes were far superior to any Inartan’s and among the yasi present only Natalie could have matched her. She really did not know how good Natalie’s eyesight was, but as a bird of prey, it was almost certainly better than that of any human. All birds had keen eyes, but birds of prey like Sira and Natalie had the keenest of the keen.

Her breath even, her body relaxed yet in proper form, Sira drew back on the string until it reached her anchor point, her finger touching the edge of her lip. Sira stared down the range at her target and held the arrow back. Normally she would have released immediately, but Sira was making a point. One tick went by, and Sira didn’t move. Two went by, and still she didn’t shake. Three, four, five, she waited fifteen full ticks remaining almost perfectly motionless before she finally released the string and let the arrow fly. From what she could tell her aim was true. Her follow through was perfect, something that was actually rare for her, but again she was trying to make a point to the yasi watching. Holding completely still for the full fifteen chimes had actually been somewhat difficult, it wasn’t something she usually did, but Sira toughed it out for the sake of demonstration. It was all for the sake of demonstration, and if she managed to hit the bulls eye it would only help her lessons to sink in all that much deeper.

Though it took less than a tick for the arrow to go from Sira’s bow to the target where it would thud home, a lot ran through her mind in that instant. She reviewed the entire lesson for the day. Each of the students seemed to have their own strengths and their own weaknesses. Korin was confident, which helped with his nerves, but he was also cocky which could make him reckless. Michael was a quick learner, but he was inexperienced. Lacey had natural born talent, but her petite build hindered her somewhat. Natalie was determined, but refused to accept help. And Clyde.. well.. um.. she really couldn’t think of Clyde’s strength during such a short amount of time. The arrow was already thudding home.

It hit dead center, right in the middle of the bulls eye. All the yasi erupted in cheers, and Sira herself was a bit surprised. She didn’t really expect a perfect shot, especially after holding the draw back that long, but somehow she had done it. Of course the cheers only served to boost the endal’s already inflated ego, and Sira couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips nor could she stop herself as she held up her bow in triumph! Still, she tried to get in one last lesson for the day.

”You see, that is what good technique will get you!”

The yasi completely ignored her last words, but Sira didn’t care. She was too busy enjoying the sight of the children jumping about in good cheer, her own daughter among them. At the beginning of the day she had been afraid for Natalie, afraid that her childhood would end up just like Sira’s and she wouldn’t have any friends. But as she watched her playing and goofing off with the other yasi, Sira knew she would be okay. And when Natalie came up to her mother with her next question, Sira couldn’t hold back the tear of joy that trickled down her cheek.

”Mom, Lacey wants to know if I can come with her for her next bendi. She’s going to go help out in the gardens. Can I go, can I go? Pweease?”

Sira laughed and wiped the tear from her face, kneeling so that she could give Natalie a big hug. She was so proud of her daughter already, and now that she had made a friend that pride swelled tenfold. Sira had no friends as a child, just boys that wanted to use her for things no real friend would use someone for, but Sira could tell that Natalie had made a friend in Lacey. And Sira liked the girl, too, and thought she would be a good influence on her daughter. Really, it was perfet.

”Of course you can go, darling. Just make sure you are home in time for dinner.”

”I will mom, don’t worry!”

Sira watched as all the yasi ran off, Natalie going with Lacey down to the hydroponic gardens to learn about the plants. Sira remembered her own bendi tasks, as short as they were, and was glad to see Natalie getting an earlier start than she had. Technically, she might have been too young, even for a kelvic, but Sira wasn’t worried about it. She didn’t really think Natalie was going to become a gardener anyway, the girl enjoyed hunt far too much. But if she did like it, Sira would support her.

With her tasks with the yasi complete, Sira spent the rest of the day just wandering around Wind Reach until she found herself outside the infirmary. Sira considered going in and saying hello to Aidara, but she knew the healer was likely busy, and didn’t want to disturb her. That, and the fact that they had not been talking much, kept Sira from going in and instead the kelvic just watched from a distance as her love meandered about from patient to patient. Addy was so good at being a healer, sometimes Sira felt bad for the extra strain she had put on the woman’s life choosing her as her endal. But Aidara didn’t complain, not about that, and Sira was glad for it. Sira didn’t really understand how the wind eagles chose those they did, but Sira had never once doubted her decision to choose Aidara. Even throughout the troubles they were having now, there was no doubt in her mind that Aidara was the right endal for her. She didn’t know if the yasi she had taught today would become endals or not, but Sira knew that if they did, there was no advice she could give them that would help them in that endeavor. It was all up to random chance.

Sira didn’t stay at the infirmary long, she didn’t want Aidara to notice her, but as she left she decided then and there that she was going to try harder to figure things out. They were having problems, and neither of them were sleeping well. But Sira did not want that to come between the two women, or their daughter. When they went out to hunt next, Sira was going to try to make a difference. Even if Addy didn’t respond to it, Sira still wanted her to know that she cared.

~End

[Invictus]

Experience Award! Sira Skill XP Earned Lore Earned Teaching +5 They Grow Up So Fast Leadership +5 Ordering Yasi Around Weapon: Shortbow +4 Teaching Techniques (Youth) Observation +3 An Eye For Technique (Archery) Organization +2 Motherly Patience Embarrassing Your Child Showing Favoritism Pride In One's Work Comments Another lovely thread to read. I especially liked the heartfelt bonding between mother and daughter. Sira seems to have a knack for teaching, and I think you touched upon her motherly instincts with the other children. Overall very well done. If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, I'd be happy to receive them. Congratulations!