Training Stiff[Solo]

[Hoa]

Walking to The Archery Ranges was a dreaded journey for the Inartan female. That morning she had awoken tired, wanting to just sleep the rest of the day away. The previous night, she had laid awake in bed, trying to sleep. Her eyes were closed, her body was wrapped up tightly in a ball, the way she usually slept. And yet, her mind was buzzing. With her lack of speaking, she had a lot going through her head to make up for it. Maybe I'll go and make friends soon. Instead of just sitting around, walking, silent. Isolated. Lonely. but then, on the inside instead of the outside, she'll laugh at herself. She would always think, what a funny thought that is. Something that will never happen. The only person that wasn't Lane that she had ever opened up to, was her mentor Yule. Who, she was going to meet at that moment. She would be late, yes. He had wanted her there at the 7th Bell, so that they could get in a lot of practice. But now it was about 5 chimes after, and although she wasn't far off, she knew she would get a very thorough lecture about being prompt and time she's wasted. Things such as that was very predictable about Yule, and so as she neared, she mentally prepared herself for every word that would come out of Yule's mouth. She would possibly get called arrogant, ignorant, naive, a disappointment... She rolled her shoulders, her shortbow in her left hand, her bows in the other.
Walking into the Second Quiver, she was welcomed by the groaning of a familiar voice. Oh Yule, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes, a hint of a smile playing on the corners of her lips. You impatient man.
"Where could that girl possibly be?!" his voice slightly ecoed, being quite... deep for his size and build. Which, as she walked over to him, she noticed was slightly thinner. He had dark auburn hair, light freckles along the bridge of his nose, and an auburn beard which wasn't long but...puffy, in a sort of manner. He was 5'10 with a thin body, almost lanky. His pale skin was a large contrast against his fiery hair. And as soon as he saw her, his eyes narrowed, and yet brightened. Like he was forcing a furious look on his face. It wasn't but a moment later when he ran up to Hoa, grabbing her shoulders fiercy, and affectionately kissing her forehead like a father would do his daughter. "Hoa, dear. Where have you been? You're late. Hoa chuckled, and wagged her head at the older archer.
"I hardly got a wink of rest, Yule. I left early enough to get here on time, but I just couldn't seem to pick up my feet and get my-" she cut herself off, careful not to curse around the older Inartan- "butt over here in time." she smiled, raising her bow in the air and waving it slightly. "But I'm here now. Want to practice, old man?" this caused light laughter from the male, and he slapped her back only ever so slightly in a playful manner. With a fingertip at the base of her neck and at the top of her spine, he directed her over to her target. It was a glider target, obviously not real, but one of the animal target practices.
Since it was a small target, it would be harder to hit. She stood in a comfortable position, feet shoulderlength apart. Her weight, though, was slightly more on the right than left. She nocked her arrow, and then drew the bow back. Though, she didn't let go. She looked at Yule, from the corner of her eye. He didn't nod, or shake his head. His face was expressionless, and she realized he didn't even lecture her. The way he was acting was so out of character, her arms faltered a second, but she regained her position immediately. She breathed in, then out, slowly, letting her whole body relax but keep a good posture. Then when she felt it was ready, she let loose. She held her breath, almost gasping, but she didn't have to for long. She barely missed her target, and she cursed beneath her breath. She looked over at Yule, furious.
"There was something wrong with my posture, wasn't there?" she almost growled, eyes narrowed at Yule. She shoved him, frustrated at what she wasn't sure. Herself, for having wrong posture, or Yule, for not pointing it out. "You would usually give me a lecture, for being late. You usually nod, or shake your head. You usually walk me through the steps to practically perfect position. You usually talk me through it. You would point out my flaws. Give me good, helpful critisism. But I had nothing to work with. Absolutely nothing, Yule. You know that?" after allowing her to rant at him, to scream and shove and push and growl and spit, he sighed. All at once, Hoa felt guilt and embarrassment wash over her in waves. She looked down at her shoes, ashamed. "I'm sorry..." she mumbled.
It's alright, you hardly ever speak that much anyway. Good to get some words out, amirite?" Yule had spoken still confidently, as if nothing that had just occured effected him in any way. He said the words, "am I right" altogether, as if they were one word. He ruffled her hair slightly, and smiled faintly. "But you will have to control that temper, Hoa. You will not always make your target, and when this does occur, raging like that will scare away any chances you have at scoring anything else. Which is why I'm quite happy you did, right now. That may or may not confuse you that I'm saying this, but listen. It makes sense... Out in the forest, when you're hunting on your own, I won't be there. I won't be there to tell you how to stand, to correct you when your posture is wrong. I won't be able to walk you through the whole process, and I most certainly will not be able to draw that bow for you. Do you understand, my little huntress? You must quite the independent little girl you have always been, more when you are hunting alone. Depending on your own instincts and on yourself if what will get your much more kills, my dear. Do you understand me?" he spoke as though he had lived milleniums- or, that's how he sounded to Hoa. She nodded her head. She understood.
"Yes," she told him. "I do understand. Thank you for explaining it to me."
"Now, stand back in the same stance you were previously. I will now evaluate and tell you what was done wrong." Relieved for the most welcomed support from her mentor, Hoa retraced her steps she had previously done. She placed her weight as she had before, and raised her bow, then drew back her arrow. She looked over to Yule out of the corners of her eyes, once again. She watched him shake his head.
"Hoa, you must distribute your weight evenly. I can see it, clear as day that you have much more weight on your right leg. You're not trying to impress a suitor. You are not trying to jut out your hips and say, 'look at me, look at my figure'. You are trying to hunt, so you can live and survive. Adjust yourself." As she did this, she moved slowly, eyes closed, focussed on what felt more even. If she looked down, she knew that she would get snapped at. She had to trust what she felt, not what she saw. Yule had said it once before, and it made sense. How would you know if your weight was distributed right if you looked down at yourself? Usually no matter how you stood it looked similar. Only someone that wasn't yourself could really tell and point it out. And, that it why Yule was there. To tell, and point it out so it didn't happen again.
Hoa placed her weight evenly on either leg, and once she felt that everything was right and perfect, she once again let go of her bow. Watching it makke her target, she could hardly contain her joy. This, Yule could tell, and he patted her back with a warm smile that showed his approval.