12th of Zi'da, 717
Foster's Landing.
“Don’t be afraid of the string Sweetie.” The bearded man instructed calmly to the small girl aiming the bow below him. “It won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not afraid!” The girl protested as she awkwardly held the bow as far away from her body as possible.
“Of course you aren’t pumpkin but you need to pull the bow to your face” The man chuckled warmly. “-and use three fingers, that pinkie doesn’t need to be there.”
“Oh okay Papa.” The girl replied as she adjusted her posture accordingly.
——
Niv watched the pair from a branch in a nearby tree, she had her own tiny bow in her hands and was taking note of everything the father said. She pulled the bow to her cheek and was mindful of her pinkie. Her index finger rested on the top of her arrow with her other two fingers resting on the bottom as she drew the string back. She was ready to begin aiming when her arrow fell form its resting place and Niv had to stop and adjust it. The tunawa began to grind her teeth in frustration when it happened again.
——
“Papa it keeps falling!” The girl cried.
“No need to yell, I think your just pressing your fingers on the arrow to hard.” The bearded man moved into to get a closer look at what his daughter was doing. “yup just as a thought.” he nodded. “loosen up those fingers.”
—-
Niv drew her string again as she did before and realized that her fingers were pressing against the arrow quite a bit. She loosened her fingers around the arrow and was surprised to find it easier to control. The tunawa focused on her target, which happened to be a thick portion of bark.
—-
“Alita Lower your bow” The man said as he watched the girl aim her bow along with her line of sight.
The girl lowered her bow a fraction of an inch. “Like that?”
“No lower.” He replied as he pushed her bow down.
——
Niv could only smile as her experience with a sling had helped her know not to trust her eyes too much. The tunawa focused on the angle of her arms and did her best to make them even with her intended target. She wanted the shot to be perfect and fought through the shakiness of her tiring arms and fingers to make it so.
Thunk.
The arrow flew and sunk into the tree trunk..but to the left of where she wanted it to be. She tried again, this time talking even longer to line up the shot.
Thunk.
Even worse then before, how could her aim be so bad. She didn’t have this problem with a sling.
Trust yourself
The words of her own father entered her mind and with a determined face she let the arrow fly.
Thunk.
A single tear of golden sap dipped down her face as the arrow hit in the target perfectly.
___
“Don’t worry dear you’ll get it, it just takes practice.” The man patted his discouraged daughter as she threw her bow down in frustration.
“Can I play with my Tunawa now?” The girl groaned.
“Yes Sweetie, I can teach you more tomorrow.” The man smiled and walked back to his house.
The little girl smiled and lifted a wooden cage from behind a nearby tree stump. There was a tunawa with a blank expression wearing some kind of frilly dress inside the cage.
“Time to play Daisy.” The little girl giggled.
___
Niv looked down with a determined frown. By Ashan’s will that Tunawa in the stupid dress would be freed from its oppressor and Niv would be the one to do it.
“Let dat Tunawa go!” Niv called from above.
Art credit to koyamori
Foster's Landing.
“Don’t be afraid of the string Sweetie.” The bearded man instructed calmly to the small girl aiming the bow below him. “It won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not afraid!” The girl protested as she awkwardly held the bow as far away from her body as possible.
“Of course you aren’t pumpkin but you need to pull the bow to your face” The man chuckled warmly. “-and use three fingers, that pinkie doesn’t need to be there.”
“Oh okay Papa.” The girl replied as she adjusted her posture accordingly.
——
Niv watched the pair from a branch in a nearby tree, she had her own tiny bow in her hands and was taking note of everything the father said. She pulled the bow to her cheek and was mindful of her pinkie. Her index finger rested on the top of her arrow with her other two fingers resting on the bottom as she drew the string back. She was ready to begin aiming when her arrow fell form its resting place and Niv had to stop and adjust it. The tunawa began to grind her teeth in frustration when it happened again.
——
“Papa it keeps falling!” The girl cried.
“No need to yell, I think your just pressing your fingers on the arrow to hard.” The bearded man moved into to get a closer look at what his daughter was doing. “yup just as a thought.” he nodded. “loosen up those fingers.”
—-
Niv drew her string again as she did before and realized that her fingers were pressing against the arrow quite a bit. She loosened her fingers around the arrow and was surprised to find it easier to control. The tunawa focused on her target, which happened to be a thick portion of bark.
—-
“Alita Lower your bow” The man said as he watched the girl aim her bow along with her line of sight.
The girl lowered her bow a fraction of an inch. “Like that?”
“No lower.” He replied as he pushed her bow down.
——
Niv could only smile as her experience with a sling had helped her know not to trust her eyes too much. The tunawa focused on the angle of her arms and did her best to make them even with her intended target. She wanted the shot to be perfect and fought through the shakiness of her tiring arms and fingers to make it so.
Thunk.
The arrow flew and sunk into the tree trunk..but to the left of where she wanted it to be. She tried again, this time talking even longer to line up the shot.
Thunk.
Even worse then before, how could her aim be so bad. She didn’t have this problem with a sling.
Trust yourself
The words of her own father entered her mind and with a determined face she let the arrow fly.
Thunk.
A single tear of golden sap dipped down her face as the arrow hit in the target perfectly.
___
“Don’t worry dear you’ll get it, it just takes practice.” The man patted his discouraged daughter as she threw her bow down in frustration.
“Can I play with my Tunawa now?” The girl groaned.
“Yes Sweetie, I can teach you more tomorrow.” The man smiled and walked back to his house.
The little girl smiled and lifted a wooden cage from behind a nearby tree stump. There was a tunawa with a blank expression wearing some kind of frilly dress inside the cage.
“Time to play Daisy.” The little girl giggled.
___
Niv looked down with a determined frown. By Ashan’s will that Tunawa in the stupid dress would be freed from its oppressor and Niv would be the one to do it.
“Let dat Tunawa go!” Niv called from above.
Art credit to koyamori
