Training Cherie (solo unless invited)

[Cherie]

35th day of Winter, 512 AV

Cherie opened her eyes and was blinded by the sunlight streaming from her open window. Yesterday’s storm clouds had gone and the ground was blanketed by a thick layer of snow. Once her eyes adjusted to the light she threw the heavy blanket off of her body and slid out of her bunk. The hard, wooden floor numbed Cherie’s feet as she slid her coat on over her thin cotton shirt. Today she would train with her new archery mentor. Her boots stood near the hearth alongside her backpack, her father’s Recurve bow and quiver of arrows. While Cherie put them on she grabbed a small piece of bread from the table that she would eat on her way to the clearing where she was meant to meet her mentor.

While Cherie walked she observed the bow she held in her hands. The wooden body was handsomely curved and had fine patterns carved into it. She moved lithely through the snow until she reached the edge of the forest trees. She didn’t stop there. Cherie followed a well-worn path through the forest to the clearing that she would train at. While she walked her keen eyes observed the forest floor for any game that she might be able to shoot and bring back home for dinner.

The trees soon opened up to reveal a large clearing covered with knee high snow. On the opposite side of the clearing Cherie spotted a hare foraging next to its burrow. She drew out a wooden arrow from the leather quiver on her hip and stalked slowly towards the hare. When Cherie was in shooting range of her prey she knocked the arrow and drew her slender hand back towards her cheek. Before she let go of the bow string a bird flew overhead and she glanced towards it. Cherie’s attention was diverted and her arrow landed a few feet away from the hare in the snow with a thump. The hare looked up from its meal and, spotting Cherie, quickly hopped into its burrow.

Cherie swore and walked forward to retrieve her arrow. The red feathers of it contrasted greatly with the surrounding snow. As she straightened up Cherie marveled at the beauty of her home forest. The snow sparkled like a million diamonds and the bare trees looked like statues that were observing her every move. In fact she often wondered if the forest was alive.

[Cherie]

Cherie walked along the path many times, trying to find some small game she could take home. But being unlucky Cherie did not find anything. She awaited her master patiently, either sitting quietly in the snow or carving some animal drawings into the trees, she managed to draw out the shape of a butterfly resting on a leaf. The sky soon got brighter and mid day came, Cherie looked up towards the sky, not a single bird was in sight, she stood up and walked back towards the town. She stood at the path waiting for her teacher but they did not arrive.

When the sky darkened Cherie made her way home, a whole day wasted and I didn't catch anything for dinner. She approached the old wooden door of her cottage, she looked up to find a note pinned to the door with a nail.

It read, Dear Cherie, I will not be able to coach you in archery as I am getting old and weak. You should look for a new trainer or try learning by yourself. You have to calm yourself as well as believe that you can do it. Those are the worlds my master passed down to me. If you do succeed please come and visit me, for lunch or dinner, but you are providing the food.
Yours faithfully,

Simon Grefle

Cherie, reading the note twice put it in her back pocket and walked into her cottage. She started a fire in her hearth and took off her boots and cloak. She put the back pack down on a chair and sat down on her bed. She thought about the last bit- If you do succeed please come and visit me, for lunch or dinner, but you are providing the food.- and chuckled lightly to herself.

She smiled at the thought and then walked over to her table. Cherie grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and bit into it. Once finished she put the core in a small paper bag-her bin. After sitting for a while pondering what she would do tomorrow, she climbed up to her bunk and fell asleep.

[Cherie]

Waking up early was something Cherie did often and today was no different. Her previous mentors words had sparked an idea, she was going to try to teach herself. She got dressed warmly and grabbed her bow and quiver. She headed towards the door and once outside started walking towards the clearing in the woods.

The walk went quickly and Cherie emerged into the clearing way before midday. She pulled an arrow from the quiver in her belt and stood approximately 20 metres from a tree. She knocked the arrow,aimed and released. The arrow flew towards the tree and hit it, slightly off the centre. She walked towards the tree and pulled out the arrow. She went back to her previous position and repeated the process. When she approached the tree she say that the arrow was, again, slightly off the middle. She blamed the wind and walked backwards 30 metres.

She continued to shoot arrows into the tree until midday. She sat down in the thin layer of snow and pulled out a small piece of bread from the day before and carefully split it in half. If the lack of animals continued she would have to save every last piece of food she had. Suddenly a hare hopped into the clearing, 30 metres away. She quietly put the bread into her pocket and picked up her bow. She wished she could come closer for more accuracy but afraid to scare the animal away she stayed where she was.

She pulled out an arrow and cursed as the other arrows hit against it. She looked up but to her relief saw that the hare was still sitting there. She knocked her arrow and carefully aimed. If she was slightly off target she could end up missing and when you're starving and food is so close it could be very bad to miss, for all you know that could have been the meal that saved your life.

She carefully took aim, held her breath and let go of the arrow. Time seemed to slow as the arrow headed toward the hare. She saw the hare look up half a second before the arrow hit it right in the heart. Success! She walked towards the rabbit and picked it up. It was medium size but the was enough meat for at least a couple of days. Maybe she should skin the rabbit here? Nope, she didn't want to attract unwanted visitors.

She grabbed the rabbit by its paws and lifted it over her shoulder. She started walking towards the edge of the clearing and to her house. And as she walked she imagined the smell of the hare. She walked at a brisk pace and soon reached her cottage.

She walked in and placed her bow and quiver close to the door she also took out the small piece of bread from her pocket and placed it on the table. She took out her knife and walked outside towards the back of her cottage. She dug a small pit to put the guts into. Sitting down she cut the rabbit along the stomach and pulled out its guts. She put them into the pit and buried them. Then she carefully tried to skin the animal. Her attempt had somewhat worked although there was room for improvement.

After she finished outside she went back into her house and cut the rabbit into smaller pieces. She put them into a boiling pot and waited. The smell that filled her house was wonderful! When the rabbit was thoroughly cooked she took it out of the pot and tore into the wonderful meat. Today was definitely a good day for her.