Timestamp: Day 37, spring, 507 AV
Location: Kalea Wilds, Just outside Kalinor
Purpose: To teach Viridae Proper form and technique in order to fire a longbow
Demeril was walking unusually fast, and speaking much more than he usual. In their youth, Demeril had more often than not ignored Viridae all together, preferring to focus on his own hunting lessons and studying tanning. But things changed after Viri had killed the ghost bear. It was almost as if he and his older brother had a bond now, solid and tangible, a shared love for the hunt and lust for wild blood. Demeril was going on endlessly about tanning, emphasizing the importance of properly remoriving hair and fat from Rawhide. It didn't matter much to Viri. While Demeril hunted mainly for the goods produced from the beasts, Viri hunted for much more. It gave him a feeling of aspiration he had never experienced in his youth, like he was capable of slaying any beast, almost as if he were employed by the gods themselves for this task, ridding the world of beautifully dangerous monsters.
"Are you listening, Viri?" Demeril inquired, raising his brow. Viri nodded to him with a half smirk.
"So why have you brought me so far from the caves, Dem?" Viri asked, pausing a moment to gaze upon the mountainside. The sun had just risen and was burning true in a bright turquois sky, Searing reflections of itself off of the mantis green moss and grass. Tall Pines stood like sentinels, spaced widely apart, as if inviting new life to take root.
"Well, I know you've killed with a bow once before, and father said you shot true, far above the skill level of a novice bowman. But since, I've noticed your aim has grown very shaky. I thought you could use some proper instruction, and figured we could gather some honey comb in the process." Demeril paused and gestured to the pines ahead. Between the tress where vast bundles of white fireweed, full and alive with honey bees. Upon closer inspection of the trees themselves, Viri could see large Tawny colored hives, at least a dozen, swarming with the insects. Demeril drew his father's bow and handed it carefully to Viri, along with an overstuffed quiver full of arrows. Viri took bow in hand and awaited Demeril's instruction.
"Right then. There are ten fundamentals to firing a bow. The first is stance. The more solid your stance, the more steady your aim. Stand cantered sideways from your target and spread your feet to shoulder width. Take special care to distribute the weight between your heels and toes evenly so you do not rock while firing."
Viri imitated Demeril's firing stance, taking special care to spread his feet, before raising the bow level to the hive, testing his point of aim, and ensuring he wasn't twisting in order to aim.
"Now Nock an arrow. Be sure the Nock of the arrow is aligned straight onto the bowstring and is scooted back onto it completely, and place your topmost finger on your bow hand over the arrow's shaft."
He drew an arrow clumsily from the quiver and nocked it in accordance with his brother's instruction, noticing how much harder it was than it sounded. The nock on the thin bone arrow was fragile and slightly larger than the bowstring.
"The hand you will pull the bowstring with is called your draw hand. The proper way to draw your bow is to use your index finger, second finger, and third finger. Place your index finger above the arrow, and the second and third fingers below the nock, ensuring that they only curve around the bowstring at the first knuckle."
Viri followed his instructions, feeling the natural control given by only using the three fingers. He noted the slight bite into his tender knuckles and made sure to leave plenty of space between his fingers and the nock, so as to prevent displacing the arrow. His index finger on his bow hand relaxed over the arrow and acted as a guide. He applied a small amount of tension to the string and felt the power build behind the arrow's nock.
"Very good Viridae. Now shrug your back muscles to pull the elbow of your draw arm straight to the rear, until the arrow's nock is level with your cheek. Take care not to move your head or body at all, just your arms. Apply equal pressure in your draw between your bow arm and draw arm."
Viri Drew the bow, surprised at first at its immense tension. After all, this bow had been used to kill many beasts, some with incredibly thick hides. Once drawn he felt like he got a second sight, and understood now what his father meant by "The hunter's eye." The arrow created a straight and gleaning path towards the beehive, tip of the arrow clear and crisp in his vision. With both eyes open he placed the arrow's tip over the distance blurred hive, taking care to ensure the arrow was his focus.
"You feel your thumb against your jaw now, do you not? Be sure too keep it tucked tightly against your palm and touching your jawline. This ensures that every time you fire your aim with be true and exact. I will go over the next few steps now, because there will not be time to explain them to you while you fire. The first thing you need to do is relax your fingers and let the bow string slip off of all three of them. After firing, do not move until you have landed your arrow in the target. This prevents your after movements from displacing your arrow while it is in flight. After the arrow has sunk, Try and relax the muscles in your back for at least twenty chimes, giving the muscles sufficient time for recovery. If this is not done, you will tire too quickly. Multiple shots can be fired, say for instance, if three needed to be fired in rapid succession, but afterwards a longer break must be taken. Without relaxing the muscles, ones aim grows shaky and unstable."
Viridae took in a deep, steady breath and let it go easily. After all the air had escaped his lungs, and he was still, firm, standing as a statue, He relaxed his fingers. The bow string slipped over them lightly and snapped forward with a thunk. The arrow spun slightly and hit the tree, just left of the nest. Viri rolled his shoulders and drew another arrow, Repeating the process. This arrow soared true and hit the hive in its bottom half, shattering it as the bugs swarmed angrily.
Demeril smirked and clapped Viri's back, his face beaming with satisfaction. "Now you simply need to remember to fire like that every time. Whilst on the hunt, You have time to place your first shot, but I advise rapid firing a few others for good measure. Remember these fundamentals of firing and you'll do fine. Stance, Nocking, Position, Draw, Sight picture, Hold, Fire, Follow through, and Relax."
Viri nodded and strung the bow again. After all, there where a dozen more hives to knock down, and the honey comb still had to be collected. Still, He thoroughly enjoyed the practice. And he knew if he continued, he would be a fair marksman in no time.
