The Tiger Within 450 Troubled Arrows Part 1

Whoosh… Thud. Another arrow flew and embedded itself into the target, several inches from the center of the target. A rather unladylike curse escaped Kyera's lips as she lowered the long bow to her side. The trainees and teachers alike watched her rather surprised to see her struggling so much with what was a easy task.

The target moved back and forth in a hypnotic pace, controlled by two men pulling levers. In all honesty, it was a fairly easy shot, and yet the Princess was struggling to land a perfect shot. They knew they could never defeat her in hand to hand, but they hadn't expected her to be a bad shot with a arrow. So many challengers would have chosen arrows if they knew she was not sharp with them.

"Kyera, why don't you just guide the arrow? I don't understand why you are doing this to yourself." Talis sighed, leaned against the tree as he watched her shoot yet another arrow, only to miss the target entirely. "The shadows would be more than happy to make sure you never miss." he replied with a bit of a teasing laugh. Kyera turned, hurling a arrow at his chest, it stopped inches from him and fell to the ground.

"That isn't the point of this exercise, Knight Ranger Talis. I swear If you suggest that one more time I will use the shadows to pin you to a tree." Kyera growled her aura was swirling and sharp. Talis stared at her with his eyes wide, completely shocked as he picked up the arrow that had flown at his chest rather suddenly. There were several rather unnerving feelings floating around in the air. He was fairly sure she was rather unbalanced.

She turned back to the target and notched another arrow. He watched as she let it fly again, striking the edge of the target. "Your getting better." Talis praised and Kyera looked down at the ground, her eye twitching.

"I was aiming for the second target, not the first." She replied and notched another arrow, shooting several in a row, each came close to their intended target but not actually struck it. She was clearly letting out her anger while becoming even more frustrated with each strike. Talis sighed, and walked forward, taking hold of the bow and disarming her. In the process Kyera flipped around and he had to block as they fell into a sparring match. He was careful not to hit her, and kept her balanced. There were tears in her eyes by the time she stopped.

"I'm so sorry, Talis. What the f.u.c.k am I doing?" She asked pulling back. He frowned and grabbed her arms, making her look at him.

"Kyera what's going on? This isn't just the archery. What's wrong up here." He asked gently tapping his fingers against her forehead. She felt his fingers tapping that smooth skin, and her eyes slowly closed. The truth was she was being torn in two by the pressures within. Her fears, her confusion, the things she was trying so hard to conceal would never allow her to aim a arrow true.

"Talis, please, let it be." She replied her eyes filled with the pleading she felt deep within. He stared deep into her for several moments, his sister… well then again she wasn't. A thought sparked and he nodded, realizing he knew part of the puzzle.

"Alright. I will let it be." He picked up the bow and offered it to her, horizontally, so she would have to turn it straight before she could use it. He met her eyes, not releasing the bow. "When your ready to talk, come find me. I am your knight since the one who should have been true betrayed you. Keep that in mind, Princess Kyera." He replied carefully before letting go and stepping back.

She took the bow in trembling hands. Turning she pulled the arrow from her quiver and knocked it again. After nearly a hour of near misses and carefully planned strikes, her frustration was growing again. He sighed.

"You never answered me. Why is it so important that you strike true without the aid of the shadows?" Talis asked frowning softly as he tried to puzzle it out on his own. Kyera waved the men controlling the pulleys away. They left, letting her and Talis alone, all the other trainees having already left for the day.

"I have to be able to do this myself. Talis I am not asking you to understand, I am simply asking you let me do this my way." Kyera replied and he sighed deeply.