Arrows' Flight (Dymphna, Arand)

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

10th Fall, 510 A.V. Outside Endrykas The sun was shining brightly in the early autumn sky, and it was a perfect day to be out and about. Of course, living in Endrykas, one spent more time than not out of doors. There were so few doors in a tent city, after all. Sam had suggested they go do some target practice for several reasons: first, he enjoyed spending time with Dymphna; second, he thought any amount of practice might make her feel a bit more comfortable to be traveling out where life was more dangerous; third, it was just nice to get out. He was riding his Windrunner today because he wasn't planning any terribly desperate flights from predators. They weren't going to stray all that far from Endrykas. Horse needed his share of attention now that Sam had his Strider mare, Dohaina, and she didn't seem to mind keeping an eye on his camp with Aiken and the wolf cubs they had picked up during the terrible storm on their journey from Syliras to the traveling city of the Drykas people. "Copper for your thoughts," he ventured, casting a sidelong glance at Dymphna. He hoped she wasn't going to get scared when they were still so safe or else things would get bad when the time came for the Fall Hunt.

[Dymphna]

She didn't seem horribly scared. Perhaps the slightest bit uneasy. Truth be told her siblings sometimes talked her into venturing a little outside of the city from time-to-time. The girl had to gather herbs somehow, after all. The lure of plants seemed to do it for her. Of course when Sam had suggested the outing, plants hadn't even jumped into her thoughts. She was supposed to help with dinner at her pavilion. Of course, Sam was invited if he wanted to eat with everyone. But despite the fact that she seemed to be spending every extra chime she had around him, her pavilion duties came first. If Dymphna was hesitant about being out of Endrykas, Dara, her strider, was lavishing in the freedom. It honestly made her feel a little guilty to keep her beloved friend from something she clearly loved so much. Well, Sam was helping remedy that, wasn't he? She turned her head towards her riding partner, flashing him a blindingly bright smile before looking away. Bending a little, she moved to grab onto a tall piece of grass that had at some point flowered. It's tip had turned into a little tuft of bristly seed in a strange shade of orange. "The Oriel Grass has gone to seed faster this season than most. That likely means I've lost a chance at a harvest for the year."

[Arand]

There was not a cloud in the sky above the sea of grass and Arand had decided that it was a perfect day to take to the target field. It had been about a week since he had been to the fields and he didn't like to not practice for long amounts of time, a long time being a few days. Arand had arrived at the field that morning and he intended to stay throughout the day, in order to make up for his absence throughout the week. He had been out in the Sea of Grass, teaching himself how to survive off the land, and bonding with his Strider. He often found himself venturing away from Endrykas, occasionally he found another Drykas also braving the wilds. But usually it was only he and his Strider.

Arand approached an open target and set up his quiver and got his bow ready. He drew an arrow and strung it on his bow and took aim. He fired. It wasn't as good as Arand had hoped, he was a bit rusty from his absence. He strung another arrow and took aim again. This time it was better but not good enough. He strung another one and fired once again. This time it was better than his first shot but worse than his last one. He sighed and took aim again, this time he took a deep breath, and then fired. This was a huge improvement over his previous shots, although not a bullseye. Arand had never been able to hit the center of the target, however every time he practiced he seemed to get just a little bit closer.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam knew a thing or two about herbs, but not nearly so much as Dymphna did. He smiled, appreciative of her skill, and respectful. Looking at the indicated oriel grass, he remembered seeing it many times as a child, though he could not remember what it was for. Likely he would have harvested it to sell were he on his own. "Is it... Can you make any use of this?" he asked. They weren't so far out, after all, and when Dymphna's direct gaze became a little too much to bear, he looked away and saw that they were near an area used for target practice. He was still getting used to the layout of Endrykas himself. There was just the one man practicing, for which he was both grateful and unhappy. Of course he wanted to spend time alone with Dymphna, but it was so maddeningly difficult! Once they saw to the oriel grass, they would have to go over and greet the man. He only hoped Dymphna didn't decide she liked him better.

[Dymphna]

She gave a little shake of her head, moving to gently break free the seeds so that they’d fall to the ground. This was a good place for them – The soil ideal and the proximity to the city an added bonus. She knew that many of the birds had a tendency to carry off the seeds. And while the plant was far from rare, it wasn’t the most reliable in regards to reproduction when left to its own devices. “The best time to harvest it is when its flowers are just starting to wilt… Once the energy goes into the final ripening of the seeds, the plant pushes most of its attention to that. It makes its medicinal properties weaker.” She sighed a little, adding, “Unfortunately it’s one of the best contraceptives we have… So I suppose if I’m not the only person to have missed the harvest then we’re all to be blessed with more children in our pavilions.” She chuckled. Given the circumstances, she didn’t have to worry. She wasn’t about to throw herself at Sam, though the thought had crossed her mind a time or two. And he was… Well, she was starting to suspect he might have taken a shine to her, but he’d not made any advances. Though there had been a few points where she had worried that maybe she’d just… Her own attention went to where Sam was looking, eyes lighting up at the sight of someone else. It made things less… Challenging. “Oh look! Someone I don’t know!” And with that, she led Dara off towards the lone man, motioning for Sam to follow her.

[Arand]

Arand had fired a few more arrows but none of them had hit the center of the target. The closer Arand got to the center, the harder it was to make an improvement and the easier it was to do worse than before. Despite his frustrations with his progress, he was still enjoying his time alone in the training field. He didn't hate other people by any means, he just liked his alone time like any other individual. However, his lonesomeness soon came to a halt when he heard the sounds of a horse, or was it two? Arand glanced up to see a female and male riding together toward the target field. Arand raised his bow and fired another arrow, striking way outside of his desired spot. It was the worst shot of the day.

Arand assumed that the two were a couple and were likely to be married soon, if not already. For that, part of him hoped that they would simply walk on by without exchanging as much as a hello. Arand didn't hate marriage, he was just bitter about it. He didn't believe he was fit for it so he has always remained rather cynical when it came to the subject. Arand noticed that the couple was turning toward the target field and it looked like Arand would have some company. Arand fired another arrow which was even worse then his previous shot. Arand sighed before hearing a girl yell something.

Arand turned to find the couple coming toward him. Arand awkwardly waved to them not knowing what to do, as he had never met the couple, but he figured that he could at least try to be polite.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam tucked that bit of lore into his memory for possible later use. One never knew, after all. Despite the fact that two of his best friends in Endrykas were healers from the Opal Clan, he couldn't take it for granted that they would always be there. Nobody would always be there, sadly. But he wasn't sad. He waved back to the man. "Ho, stranger! Would you mind us doing a bit of target practice as well?"

[Dymphna]

The young redhead also waved back at the lone man they were approaching. She hadn’t much been paying attention to his bow skills, since she was still attempting to secure a situation where nothing she’d deem inappropriate would happen between Sam and herself – Mainly because if something did happen, she wouldn’t have stopped it. And then later it would amount to a lot of heartbreak she didn’t really feel the need to have. She smiled brightly at Arand, moving to lean back on Dara’s back. The Strider took one look at the situation and decided that grazing was best. Dymphna didn’t seem to pay much mind to it, instead she added to what Sam had just said by saying, “It’ll be funny. I haven’t held a bow in a very, very long time.”

[Arand]

In reality Arand did mind but not enough to make something of it. Arand felt no need to make enemies when he didn't even have many friends. His only true friend was his Strider and that was just about every Drykas true friend so there was nothing different there. Arand returned the smile back at the couple. Who new maybe he would enjoy their company...or maybe not, only time would tell.

"No, don't mind at all...by the way, my names Arand, Arand Shadowsky, of the Amethyst Clan." Arand answered as he swung his purple sash around. Arand figured he mine as well get the name exchange over with. He knew they would all have to exchange names at some point so why not now?

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Sam," he replied with a respectful salute. "Sapphire Clan." And that was all. He had not yet reclaimed the name of Sama'el, nor linked his name to a dead pavilion. He had not yet decided if he would renew the name of his childhood pavilion or rename it... but those were weighty thoughts for the campfire or a lonesome ride on his Strider, not among new friends and old. If it was odd that he would so identify himself, he certainly made no note of it. His Strider was at camp, and his windmark was covered by a leather cuff about his left wrist. He was yet the anti-Drykas, but that would eventually change. "Well met, Arand Shadowsky," he said with a friendly smile. He wondered if he might not eventually pick the man's brain regarding horse breeding, because Dohaina was a particularly beautiful representation of the breed and he would need a herd eventually.