Solo Practice Makes... Passable

[Khara]

.

35th of Fall, 514av

It was colder than Khara had expected it to be that day. A stubborn cloud cover had wrapped itself around Skyinarta, blocking out Syna's warmth from reaching those who ventured outside. The Chiet girl could only guess that it was the lack of threat of rain that allowed for the Bent Arrow to open that day. Despite the far from perfect weather the archery range was quite crowded, many Inarta had chosen to take advantage of the range while it was still active, before it closed down for the colder Season ahead.

Khara had done her usual routine that morning, despite it being a day she didn't have to work. Early rise, a quick breakfast, a check over her gear to make sure it was ready, and then the obligatory waiting of just a few bells until she felt it was safe to assume that Azira wouldn't come calling on her. It was always a mixed feeling when she realized she wasn't wanted that day, it meant she'd actually get to enjoy the few precious bells she could do as she wanted, but it also meant no hunting. More than that, it meant facing the reality that her free days were stubbornly refusing to match up with the person she actually wanted to spend time with. Even a quick stop by the Skyhigh Stables hadn't turned up much. Hansi had glowered at the Chiet, a gruff "He's off doing what he should be doing. Don't you go looking to bother him." had been more than enough from dissuading her from going out in search of the Avora horse trainer boy. It seemed more and more than Lhex was determined to keep Zhol and her separate, even their evening meals had become rarer and rarer until they had almost reached a point of nonexistence.

Maybe it's for the best, Khara couldn't help but think dejectedly. She had considered drifting back towards The Enclave, maybe to try and find a book on something helpful but would probably end up in another vain search for something to help her learn more of the outsider's language. A group of Yasi had ran past her on her way, bows in hand as they hurried to their morning lesson, and that was more than enough to redirect the Chiet's thoughts back to things she really ought to be doing with her free time. Besides, if part of her head was determined to continually pine over the boy, the least she could do was find something productive to help try and take her mind off the situation.

So she had come to the Bent Arrow, regretting leaving her katinu behind as goosebumps formed along her bare arms. Her quiver had been left as well, knowing the range would supply her with arrows to use that day. Maybe not the best arrows, not nearly the quality of if she'd brought her own, but she figured it couldn't help to learn to how and try to still maintain some level of accuracy with lower quality equipment. Especially if there was no real promise in her leaving the Chiet caste any time soon and the colder days ahead would once again delegate her to Fletcher’s Corner if she wanted to practice. It wasn't a bad range, but it could get rather noisy with the overenthusiastic Yasi making up the majority of the patrons.

Khara found a space among other Chiet that had decided to make use of the range that day, the Dek being busy with the higher castes meant she had to get her own bundle of arrows. The worst of which she began sorting through as she cast a glance towards where the Avora were gathered, hoping somewhat futility to spot a familiar face.

Her heart stopped in her chest as she briefly locked eyes with one of the Avora. He certainly was familiar, but not in the way she wanted. A far cry from the boy from Cyphrus, the Avora she noticed was far broader in the shoulders, more muscled, not nearly as tall as Zhol was but really not many were around Wind Reach. All physical differences aside, it was the way he looked at her that struck her as the most different from her friend as absolute possible. The amused and slightly cruel smirk that formed on his lips in their brief moment of looking at one another wasn't entirely unusual, but it still unnerved her enough to snap her head back around to the bundle of arrows before her. Khara knew she had seen him before, though. But where? Her mind worked over it before her stomach knotted up once more. The Second Quiver, she realized. When Turrin took you. Dread followed in the wake of the epiphany and she already could remember the taunting laughs that had come with her visit, even if they hadn't lasted that long.

Try as hard as she could to return her attention back to the bundle of arrows in front of her, the girl couldn't help but cast a quick glance out of the corner of her eye just in time to watch, if not hear, the same laugh leave the Avora before he turned away from her and back to his companions at the range. She considered leaving then, quickly retreating and cursing herself for ever deciding to come that day. Determination grudgingly won out, though. If she fled, it would only make things worse.

Petch my life, she thought with a sigh before unslinging her bow from her shoulder. She could have gone the whole day without ever noticing that someone had been watching her but her wandering eyes had betrayed her. Khara could handle the cost though, she would have to. Distractions were good in their own way, after all. Just another way to test yourself. The Chiet only hoped she was up for the challenge despite the overall discomfort she felt at having to face it.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Khara]

It took every ounce of willpower to keep her eyes from glancing back to the side as she finally selected an arrow to use. She knew that the straighter the arrow was the better it flew, but there was all sorts of other things involving fletching that were a complete loss to her. The Chiet knew she could try and watch the others around her for what they would pick, but most Chiet simply used what they were given and the Avora… Well, that would require her looking back over at them, wouldn’t it?

As if her subconscious fully knew she was hesitant about taking the first shot and secretly hoped the uncomfortably familiar Avora might choose to leave, Khara began to inspect her bow. The wood was far more worn than she would have liked, dinged and scratched in places from events such as an unexpected meeting with someone’s jaw last Winter, accidental tumbles when she occasionally lost her footing when she wasn’t being careful, and other mishaps that seemed to plague the girl during her scouting. They certainly weren’t from when her mother had owned it. No, every fault, every flaw was all her own doing since it had come into her possession. Despite that knowledge Khara knew she wouldn’t ever replace the silly thing unless it honestly was no good anymore.

The bowstring was inspected next and Khara couldn’t help but let a small sigh escape her. It too had seen better days, but unlike the small bits of damage to the actual bow that maybe could be said to give it character, the string looked woefully overdue for replacement. Something else to pick up at Market Day, she mused. It was only five days away, thankfully, and Khara was mostly sure it would hold out until then.

With no further reason to delay her entire reason for being there available, the Chiet finally readied herself at the firing line. Bow lightly gripped in her left hand, her right took up the arrow she had settled on. She knew she was far too nervous for entirely no decent reason, could feel the way her body protested and willingly ignored every bit of advice she had ever been given and learned.. Khara felt the movements come far too rushed as she nocked the arrow and drew back. The girl knew her form was sloppy, her aim poor and hurried, and yet the arrow was loosed anyway.

The resounding smack of the string against the inside of her arm was only slightly less mortifying than the small yelp of pain that had left her. It was horrible, she hadn't done that since... well, before she was a Yasi, even! The snickers from the Chiet directly by her instantly were processed, but it the lack of any sort of expected response from the Avora was somewhat shocking in its absence. The girl rubbed her arm and risked a glance in their direction only to find they weren’t even remotely paying attention to her rather pitiful display. Really sparrow? That implies you’re worth their attention. Even the bad kind. As conflicting as the thought was in terms of her own self-worth, it was somewhat comforting to know that her earlier worries of being mocked seemed entirely unfounded.

The weight she had imposed upon herself wasn’t entirely lifted, but Khara felt the nervous tension that had tried to overtake her begin to fade, at least. A sidelong glance was given and the woman beside her only shook her head in amusement after their eyes met briefly.Okay so, operation not look like a total chick failed miserably. Time to try save a little face among your own, then. That seemed a far easier task, as as made evident by the arrow she had fired entirely missing the target and implanted into the backstop, it wasn't exactly like she could do any worse.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Khara]

What are you doing, sparrow? Her mother's voice echoed in her head, a small memory playing out as Khara prepped for her next shot. I'm practicing! The small girl had replied to her parent, oblivious to the fact she had shoved her mother's target against the wall and had decided to work on her form in the middle of the night. Just like you said to.

Thought of those around her fled with the recollection. Khara's mother had only laughed and shook her head before telling her small daughter that practicing in the room at night wasn't such a good idea and had taken the arrow out of the girl's hand. She'd left the girl with the bow alone in the room for a chime and had returned with another arrow whose head had been removed and replaced with a tightly wound bit of fabric. The girl had looked up at the woman questioningly and had at first received no reply from her as her mother had had eased herself to the floor just a bit behind the girl. Khara had been confused at first until her mother had waved her on and told her to continue, but instructed her not to actually release the arrow. The girl had continued for at least a bell, setting up a fake shot time and time again, her mother patiently making small corrections but had stressed one thing that night that Khara never forgot. Become consistent, she stressed. Keep your anchor point the same, take your time. You'll know when it's right.

The the small chill wind than blew through the range tugged at her hair and the scarlet colored scarf at her neck. A small sigh left the girl as she did her usual routine; made sure her feet were parallel to the shooting line, shoulder length apart. She'd seen other stances used but it was the one she had been taught and nothing else ever felt right. The next arrow was nocked and as she raised her bow and pulled back on the string with the same three fingers as always, one above the arrow and two below, drawn back just to the edge of her lips.

You have to visualize where you want the arrow to go, the voice persisted within. Another lesson from her mother before Khara had become a Yasi. If you can't see it hitting the target in your mind, it will never get there in reality. The teen aimed towards the nearest target, shrugging off the need to try and impress anyone that day. That wasn't why she had come in the first place, after all. This was about practice, this was about... Patience, her mind added in the same deeper, more respectable tone of the huntress that had given birth to her.

Khara held herself in place, watching the arrow's tip waver from where she aimed it every so slightly. That was what she needed to work on. Another long breath was taken as she forced her bow arm to relax more. As tension left, the small movements became less and less. Khara wasn't sure they would entirely go away, not today at least, but for the moment she felt like she was doing okay.

The arrow was released and for a tick she held her position, allowing another breath before her arms lowered. The arrow had at least hit the target this time, bottom of the outer most ring, but it stuck. Okay, a little higher next time, maybe.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Khara]

It seemed somewhat funny that all the lessons she had as a Yasi couldn't be remembered. Khara could distinctly recall that she liked those days, loved the sights and sounds of Fletcher’s Corner. Her instructors hadn't been bad by any means, they taught almost all of Wind Reach, after all. It wasn't that she had been ignored, every Yasi seemed to get as much attention whether they were naturally gifted or struggled endlessly. She could even recall one of them lamenting something about a waste of talent at one point, though Khara never really thought they meant it, more that it was some sort of motivation used for those who could do better. That was the problem though, she couldn't do better, she wasn't amazing and she wasn't awful she just... was; sadly what Khara was , however, was someone who seemed to have a hard time following instructions from anyone during that time in her life. In one ear and out the other as the saying went. She had wanted to learn, though; desperately so.

It had always seemed like the more instruction she was given, however, the worse the girl did. Critique was met with over thinking and advice blurred into one giant tangled mess of nonsense within her head. It was like her own mind rebelled against her getting better at times. Maybe there was a thing as wanting something too badly.

Khara felt the small sigh escape from her lips, half expecting to see the air fog in front of her as it had begun to do the past few mornings. Her head lowered to select another arrow, her eyes catching the flare of red around her neck and a small smile came in its wake. She wished more than anything that the one who had gifted the scarf to her had been able to come to the range with her. Maybe then her aim would be better as it had been on the day he gave it to her. Good luck she had called him, but it hadn't really been that. In trying to share what little knowledge she had, Khara had taken her time with every small bit, focused all she could on making everything right so that Zhol could watch and hopefully he would only see what she wanted him to and not all the small little bad habits she was certain she had developed over the years.

She wanted to be fast though, wanted to draw, aim, and release like she watched the others at the range do sometimes. They made it look effortless in their precision. You'll get there. I'm sure you'll be just as good if you keep trying. The fact the thought came in Common rather than Nari was startling. It wasn't an entirely difference voice than her usual inner running commentary but the way it sounded in her head...

Khara brushed off the thought and returned her attention back to the target down range. Okay, slow this time. Like you're showing someone, then. Arrow nocked, bow raised and string was pulled back as Khara sighted the target again. Draw arm parallel with the arrow, she corrected herself, raising where it had fallen just a bit below. Shoulders relaxed. That wasn't quite as easy to correct and it took several breaths to force herself into doing it, letting the feeling drain down through the rest of her out to her left arm. A small smile came to her as her fingers briefly lifted from where they rested around the grip, just to prove to herself that she was mostly cradling the bow in her hand like she'd continually tried to teach her friend.

Another few long breaths were taken as she tried to really see the target in relation to the arrow. With each inhale in she tried to steady herself and remembered her little correction about aiming higher. The small adjustment was made and she waited for the long slow exhale before her hand let the string slip from the grip of her fingers. The bow lurched forward into her hand a touch as the arrow soared towards the target and it wasn't until impact that she finally lowered her arms.

Khara couldn't help but smile as the arrow jutted out from the middle ring, still to the right of center like it always seemed to be, but not as low this time around. She spun to look behind her, to where her mind had suddenly expected to see the waiting amused features of her unofficial student. The empty space where she had placed him standing was searched for a moment, as if there was some sort of mistake in that fact despite knowing far better. Another sigh left as she turned back towards the target again, a decision forming that she wasn't entirely sure how well she would hold up to. Okay, from now on, no more shooting by yourself.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Khara]

There had to be something she was missing. Some step or a multitude of small tricks to make a shot more accurate. Khara took a moment to watch the other targets, seeing where arrows made their mark to try and find out who was getting closest to center. It didn't take a long while to figure out where the best archers were. Khara glanced to her left towards the Avora gathered there, eyes trying to bypass the group of men who seemed more interested in talking than practicing. Another fleeting moment of panic happened as she made eye contact with the same uncomfortably familiar one in the bunch. He seemed to scoff at her before turning back to his friends. No longer frozen in his piercing glare she managed to actually find the individual she had been looking for. Beyond the clustered group of - Khara guessed - craftsmen stood a lone figure deeply focused on the targets downrange. With skin slightly darker than the others, though perhaps more color from the multitude of freckles he had than anything else, the confidence in holding the bow, the intense stare at his imaginary prey, Khara could only guess it was one of the hunters.

She watched him for a chime or two, trying to figure out what he was doing different from her. It felt awkward to be having her attention so fixed on one of the upper castes considering she did everything she could normally to avoid their attention. Each arrow the hunter sent to the target was managed in such a fluid, natural way that Khara couldn't help but be envious. Aside from the bow seeming as if it was actually just another part of the hunter's body, Khara couldn't immediately pick out what was different. She couldn't exactly fix that level of familiarity overnight, that would have to come with practice. Her head mentally ticked off each step as she watched him, even if it seemed to go far faster than she ever figured she would manage and each piece transitioned so smoothly to the next she was having trouble deciding where one ended and the next began: nock, set, draw, anchor, release… nock, draw, release… draw, release… Wait. It was so obvious Khara could have hit herself.

The ending. That was what was different. The way the hunter released, more importantly what he did after. Khara had felt the way the bow naturally wanted to fall forward after a shot and was glad to see that the hunter didn't immediately lower his bow until after the arrow hit, something she'd already adopted. But the draw hand, that was where the difference was. She always thought that just releasing the arrow was enough, which usually left her hand against her cheek, but in watching the hunter she noticed that he continued the motion of drawing back. Not a great deal, and granted he wasn't exactly pausing like she did, but the movement was there. All in all it looked like, in a way, the motions started before he released simply continued. The thought of trying to draw and release without pausing to take aim was rather intimidating, though. She wasn't that good, but maybe there was something she could still take away from it. If it didn't work… Well, it wasn't like she couldn't just go back to doing what she always did.

Khara turned back to her own target and readied another arrow. Okay, smooth and relaxed, just like you saw. It seemed a tall order despite the unfamiliar reassuring way her thoughts came to her. A slight smile came to her, flashing for just an instant as she remembered something Turrin had said to her: If she got better, she could petition the Valintar to become a hunter. It wouldn't be the only thing she would need to improve on, but with her tracking skills it certainly gave more hope that she probably had any right to feel.

She adjusted her grip on the bow before raising it once more, drawing the string back and holding, the same as always, to make sure she had proper stance and aim. It felt a little better than the last few rounds, corrections to her form needed less and she felt ready to take the shot quite a bit quicker than previous attempts. Okay, good. Now came the hard part though. Khara had stopped moving, so she wasn't entirely sure how to continue a motion or best approximate one. Really wish there was someone I could ask, she silently mused. The Chiet supposed that maybe, if she was lucky, and the hunter left before her, she might be able to ask him. Of course, that would require her to interrupt an Avora leaving the range and actually getting up the nerve to speak to him. Maybe later she could head to Fletcher's Corner and see if the archery teachers were around and see if they'd be willing to answer the questions of an over inquisitive Chiet who hadn't apparently paid enough attention as a Yasi to know the answers she sought. Or not.

Maybe… Khara eased off the shot a bit, letting her draw arm move forward just a touch before pulling it back once more. As she felt her hand reach her cheek she let her fingers slip back and off the string as she pulled her hand back further. She tried her best to not move her bow to see where the arrow had gone, instead letting it gently move down from the release of the string rather than forcing her own movement on it. It was a poor release, she knew that right away. Rolling the string off your fingers was definitely not the right way to do it and as she finally let her arms drop she saw immediately that the result had suffered for it; outer ring, right and just a little above center. Well that didn't work. No, she'd have to give it another try.

A cease fire was called down the line so that arrows could be collected and Khara quickly sprinted off seeing as how the Dek that worked at the range were busy making sure the Avora and Endal didn't have to do such a thing. As she pulled out the last arrow she had shot she glared at it somewhat, as if it was at fault for the poor hit. "Let's give you another chance, shall we?" As she headed back to the line, Khara didn't bother to look to see if anyone had given her any strange looks for talking to the object.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Khara]

As all the archers returned to the firing line, Khara tried desperately to not look like she was looking as the hunter she had been watching immediately began to work through his bundle of arrows again once the all-clear was given. Just what had she done wrong? As she tried to break down each piece of his technique she noticed that he wasn't exactly as fluid from draw to release as she had first believed. There was hesitation there as he aimed, the same as everyone else, it just didn't nearly take him as long to find his mark.

Maybe I should try just continuing the motion as if I hadn't stopped, the thought came to her. It certainly seemed to be working well enough for the hunter. Khara turned her attention to the single arrow that lingered in her hand after she had placed the others at the ready for her to grasp them. She thought of where the arrow had ended up the last time she had shot it and gave it a silent promise to do better this time.

A quick deep exhale left the girl as she nocked the arrow once more. A few quick shuffled steps were taken to place her feet where they needed to go, likewise a handful of muscles were flexed or relaxed as needed to make everything feel like she had her stance about as correct as it was going to be before she raised her bow and drew the string back again. Her breathing was as steady as she could manage as she first mentally, then physically, made her draw arm settle where it should and took aim towards the center of the target once more. Right, do just like he did, only slower.

One more breath was taken, held for half a tick, and then released slowly as her fingertips' grip on the string and arrow did the same in one gentle fluid movement. Rather than let her hand linger as she was used to doing, she pictured herself having just drawn the bow back and did her best approximation of letting her arm continue until it fell back into what strangely felt like a natural ending point.

This time her efforts were rewarded, surprisingly so, as Khara finally lowered her bow and saw that the arrow had found it's mark at the very edge of the center circle of the target. A bit low, for sure, but she still couldn't hide the absolute glee in the improvement.

Foolishly she turned towards the hunter, some part of her brain already envisioning him having seen, somehow, and that he would notice and nod approvingly at her. The truth was so much worse. Rather than the hunter, it was the other Avora that was looking at her, a weird mixture of amusement and dismissal on his face. He didn't laugh thankfully, not like when she had been taken to the Avora's range by Turrin, but that cruel streak was still plain in his eyes. She found it just as unnerving as the first time she had noticed him. Maybe that's enough for today... Quit while I'm ahead. The audible scoff she heard before she caught a glance of the Avora turning away from her and back towards his associates and the targets solidified the idea in her head.

One of the Dek would have to retrieve the evidence of her fleeting success. As for Khara, she did her best to make a relatively quick exit from the range while trying to keep what she had hopefully learned, rather than the constant reminder that it still wasn't good enough, in her head.

"Nari" | "Common" | "Pavi"

[Caela Dorin]

Grade Awarded Khara Experience Skill XP Earned Endurance 2 Meditation 1 Observation 4 Weapon: Shortbow 5 Lores • Lore Earned • Yasi Mistake: Letting a Bow String Strike Your Arm • Chiet Aren’t Worth the Attention of Avora • Shortbow: Correct Shooting Stance • My Anchor Point is My Lips • Shortbow: Tension in the Arms Affects Aim • Using Measured Breathing to Relax the Body • Shooting Practice Shouldn’t Be Done Alone • Observation: Learning By Example • Complete the Drawing Movement After Releasing an Arrow Consequences : Bruising on the arm from where the bowstring hurt- Healed in 7 days Additional Comments A good training thread, which wasn’t solely focused on training. It can be difficult not to lapse into a pure training mindset in a solo but you managed to tap into other things as well, which was good. If I had to offer any advice, I’d suggest some show of the difficulty of actually using the bow, e.g. drawing, holding a draw while aiming, etc. Other than that I’d say good job and keep up the good work! Please edit or delete your grade request and PM me if you have any questions or concerns about your grade. x