Daggers are not for Vantha storytellers ( Solo )

[Nehsmay]

Day 62 of Winter As Nehsmay made her way towards the target trees as she had got used to naming them,she wondered once again why in Morwen's name would she want to learn to use a dagger. She was first and foremost a storyteller. That was what she did best, she told stories. Storytelling being cast aside, she was able to use a bow and her arrows pretty efficiently. If she was lucky she was even able to hit a target while riding on Shade's back. Why did she need to learn how to use a dagger? And why should she not look for someone to teach her instead or trying it on her own. She knew Alistair was able to use a dagger... why had she not asked him? The truth was that she did not like having to rely on other people. Ever since she had met Shade, she had started liking learning to do things on her own. She had learned to ride Myra first and then Shade by herself. She had learned to weave beautiful stories by herself. She had even taught herself how to use the bow and shoot arrows. She had learned how to hunt anc catch her game. Now she was bent on learning how to use a dagger by herself. She was small and agile, not at all efficient in one to one combat. However, she was good at shooting things from a distance therefore she wanted to learn how to throw daggers. Once she had reached the target trees, she stopped and started pondering. The likelihood that she was able to hit a tree from the first shot was close to none. Moreover she could even end up blunting the blade of her only dagger. As a result, Nehsmay started drawing circles on the ground. One, near the tree... the second, closer to herself and the third a few paces from her own feet. Taking was she perceived to be a good stance, she eyed the first target and threw the dagger. The blade fell horizontally outside the circle. Unperturbed the Vantha picked it up and tried again. This time she managed to hit the margin of the target, but once again it fell flat on its blade and did not get stuck in the ground like it was supposed to do. For two more hours the Vantha tried again and again until she finally managed to get the blade get stuck obligally in the ground inside the target, near its margin. She sighed, deciding she could continue doing this another day.

[Nehsmay]

Day 63 of Winter A day had passed since Nehsmay had tried her luck with the double bladed dagger she held in her position. The weapon felt foreign to her, its blade did not sing like the strings of her bow did every time she released an arrow. Though she was far from being a master of the bow, Nehsmay had grown accustomed to the weapon and could not see herself without it. But, she knew that if she wanted to remain alive until she reached Avanthal once more, she had to learn how to use another weapon as well. However, first things came first and Nehsmay wanted to try and get a hand back on riding and using her bow from on top of her horse. In the distance, the Vantha could see her target trees. Without sparing a second glance at them, Nehsmay turned to her Frostmarch, Shade, and mounted swiftly. The horse neighed happily and started leading his small mistress in circles at a soft pace, allowing her to get accustomed again to the saddle. Once Nehsmay's grip on the reigns tightened, she led to horse to a slow canter and started running him in circles. Soon, though her patience started thinning and she nudged him in a faster paced trot. Shade neighed happily, turning his head towards his mistress and made larger and larger circles. The Vantha allowed him freedom of choice, therefore when the horse got bored, he started trotting in patters. He zig-zagged at the outskirts of Endrykas and even rode in patterns of eight. However, both horse and rider were happy when the trot turned into a gallop and Shade started running free, careful not to stray from the outskirts of the city. When she became sure her horse had enough fun, Nehsmay led him back to the target tree at a slower pace. Taking out her bow and arrows, she set one with care and aimed at the tree. The arrow flew and missed the bark of the tree by half an inch. Cursing loudly, the Vantha turned Shade around and tried again at the same pace. A second arrow flew after the first, this time grazing the tree before it became embedded in the grass. Shade neighed in amusement as if laughing at his Vantha mistress. He had been there when Nehsmay had first started picking up the habit of hunting and had seen her fail many times. He was used to her annoyed curses and her discouraged whines. He also knew that no matter what his mistress said, she did not give up until she managed to reach her goal. Therefore, without warning, completely attuned to his mistress' desires, Shade turned around and let her once more in a soft run around the tree. Another arrow flew and a second both, flying near the tree without actually hitting it. However, when he started circling the tree again he noticed something about his mistress. She was tenser and her posture straighter, more focused... her eyes were sharp and her bow was once more familiar in her hands. The arrow flew and hit the target far from the center, but inside its margins. Nehsmay whopped in glee and led Shade in another run to celebrate, before returning to pick up her arrows and train some more.