Graceling Academy discussion

This is and archery range and a weapon throwing ground for graced fighters, archers, strength etc. to practice.

Jayd slunk around the edges of the archery range, watching the other Graced fighters shoot with astonishing skill, their arrows embedding themselves deep in the targer.

Katsa walked in to the weapon range. She was glad that her grouch of a librarian found a better hobby by helping someone. She watched the students intently. Fixing mistakes here and there. Katsa looked up and saw a girl only watching. She casually made her way over to her. "Why watch when you can learn?" she asked her.

Jayd narrowed her eyes slightly at the girl who had spoken to her. She surveyed her a moment before relenting.
"Alright then." She answered tentatively.

Katsa takes a bow and hands one to the girl. "Ready?"

Arella was at the archery range just before dawn. there was no one else here, she observed. Why would anyone else be here?! she then though, It's dawn?! Any sane person would still be in bed! She felt great from her run and was ready for anything that Giddon had planned for her.

Giddon walked onto the archery range. He ha his own bow and quiver on his back. He picked up one on the rack and threw it to Arella. "Shoot that target" he said pointing to the farthest target away from them.

Arella caught the bow with grace. She drew and arrow and aimed at the target. She slowed her breathing and concentrated. She let the arrow fly and it landed on the target. Not quite dead centre, but still close.

Giddon drew back his own bow. He knew its every curve and bend. Every time he drew back the pliable string he felt in time with it. He shot two arrows. One landed in the center and the other split Arella's in half. "I know you can do better" he said.

"Sounds like a challenge." she said before drawing another arrow. This time, she felt the bow. She took a breath then released the arrow. It soared through the air and landed right next Giddon's. She drew two more arrows and shot then in the same exact place.

"Better" he said. He slung his bow over his back again. "Come with me" he said walking towards the forest

She slung hers over onto her back and followed. Arella stayed alert, observing everything around her. Giddon was leading her deeper and deeper into the forest and she was anxious to see what he was planning.

He slowed, touching the trees as he went by. Feeling the branches. He took out his knife and cut a branch. It was about a meter in length and thinner but not a stick. It had a natural curve to it and was thicker in the middle. "Watch carefully" he says as he takes out his knife and started carving the wood. Making knotches at the ends for the string. He then takes out a string from his pocket. Giddon intricately ties the string at the ends of the bow. He then takes arrows and threads the bow. It feels like it was made only for him. "Your turn"

She takes a minute to find a branch that suites her needs. She finds the one and cuts it from the tree and begins to carve it into a bow. She takes her time making sure its right. She creates knotches at both at both ends, then takes the string. She carefully ties the string so it's the right strength for her. When Arella has finished, she is holding a beautifully carved bow, that felt perfect for her. She looks up at Giddon expectingly.

"Good, now let's go back to the range an you will bullseye the target" he says and starts back to the archery range. "The right now makes a difference. You will feel more in sync with the arrow, the target and the bow if you made yourself to fit that I your demeanor"

Jayd looks at the bow in her hands, before carefully eyeing the target.

(Sorry Pay, I was away from the computer for a few days.)

(( s'all good taryn! Hope ur summers been good!))

Katsa examined the girl. "Ok, let's see what you can do. Impress me" she said smiling. She had a feeling that she would be very impressed.

(( Yeah, it's been great! Hope yours has been good too!))

Jayd pulled the bowstring taut and aimed at the furthest target. She breathed out, released the arrow, sending it flying into the middle of the target. She lowered the bow and looked at the girl.

"Are you impressed?" She challenged.

"Yes. Can you do that again and split your last arrow?" she inquired. Katsa herself could do it and it was one thing that only a highly skilled archer could master. This girl would learn it regardless because Katsa wanted to teach her. If she didn't know it already

Jayd hooked another arrow onto the bowstring and took aim. She let the arrow fly, and watched it soar through the air and land a half-inch above her other arrow. She cursed loudly.

"You need to feel it. Feel and visualize where you want the arrow to land. Make sure to breathe before you let it loose. Don't let any of your muscles shake or give do that your form is perfect. You will get it"

Jayd took aim again, her vision focused on the target. With a ping and a whoosh, the arrow soared through the air before cleanly splitting her first arrow. Jayd permitted herself a smirking grin.

((Sorry, Payton, I have to go. I'll try and be on again sometime later this week.))

Payton wrote: ""Good, now let's go back to the range an you will bullseye the target" he says and starts back to the archery range. "The right now makes a difference. You will feel more in sync with the arrow, th..."

Arella nods, "Yes sir." She said in a determined tone and followed Giddon back to the range.

She stood with her eyes closed, breathing deeply and feeling her bow. Arella opened her eyes and drew an arrow. She pulled back the drawstring and slowed her breathing. Arella aimed at the farthest target in the range. She focused on being one with her bow, the arrow and the target. She felt more confident this time as she let go of her breath and her arrow. It flew through the air and embedded itself deep in the dead centre of the far target. She smilled to herself and drew another arrow. It split her previous arrow clean in half. She shoot two more targets, dead centre at the far end of the arena. Arella turned to Giddon.

Taryn wrote: "Jayd took aim again, her vision focused on the target. With a ping and a whoosh, the arrow soared through the air before cleanly splitting her first arrow. Jayd permitted herself a smirking grin.

..."

Katsa smiled. "I told you. Try again to make sure I've actually made a breakthrough and that wasn't a coincidence" she said. "Forgive me, what is your name?"

Justece wrote: "Payton wrote: ""Good, now let's go back to the range an you will bullseye the target" he says and starts back to the archery range. "The right now makes a difference. You will feel more in sync wit..."

"Ahhh there you go! See the right bow can do anything! Very good Arella! Oh and, dont call me sir, makes me feel old! Giddon will do just fine"

She smiled and chuckled. "Yes... Giddon." It felt good getting his approval. "So, if I may ask, are we finished this lesson or is there more to do? I hope that doesn't sound rude or impatient..."

"One should never ask when the lesson ends. Only when the next one starts"he said smiling. "But yes, we are done. Same time tomorrow"

"Got it. And thank you, Giddon." she said with a smile before turning to leave.
Sh quickly stopped at the dorm to change before going to meet Phina for breakfast.

Arella came to the archery range. It was quiet and there where no people to agitate her. She walked into the forest on the side of the range and sat on the ground, her back against a tree. She broke a branch from a tree and peeled the bark off of it. Then she took out the knife she had with hr and shaved off parts of the top until it was pointed. She threw it like a javelin and it landed underneath a rock. Arella closed her eyes and lay her head back, listening to the sounds of the forest.

"Oh, I'm Ryan." As he got to the weapons field, he sat down in the grass with a small dagger.

"Nice to meet you Ryan." Adam said as he picked up a spear and threw it lightly into the target still succsesfully getting it to travel 50 yards and sink deep into the target.

"Wow? So...What's your grace? Anything to do with the way your just threw your spear?" Ryan stood up and threw the dagger into the center of the target 25yards away. He may not be as strong as Adam, but he had a good aim.

"Yeah its strength. Thats why i dont touch anybody. I cant control it and thats why im here." Adam threw another spear strait through the tatget and lodged it into a near by tree to show how he could throw.

Adam practiced for a while longer and eventually he had destroyed a target and sweat through his shirt. Adam was still plunging spears into the target when his hands started to get tired.

Cat saw the archery field and gasped in suprise it was huge. Rows upon rows of targets and weapons. Cat walked up to a rack of swords and daggers.

Adam saw the blonde come out of the academy doors and walk over to the weapons area of the field. Adam threw another spear into the target and shot it all the way through the target again.

Cat watched the boy pick up a spear and chuck it through the target and have it go all the waay through. Cat rolled her eyes. 'Childish, showoff.' Cat thought to her self but looked back over at him.

Adam made sure she was looking when he pulled off his shirt and flung it on the ground. He flexed his arm muscules once then his torso once. He flicked his hair out of his eyes. Then Adam picked up another spear and shot it at the target. Bullseye.

Cat gave an involintay choking sound again but for a different reason entierly.
His chest was a perfect bronze color and had a glossy shine to it. It was probably just sweat but it made him look like he was glowing. His hair fell in front of his eyes even though he flicked it away and he was the most muscular man Cat had ever seen.
She couldnt handle herself Cat was not supposed to fall dor anybody so theonly senceable thing to dowas hide her face and run. And thats what she did.

Adam was happy that he got her attention he wanted to talk to her like normal people did. He had been obsessed with her for four days and he doesnt even know her name. Then she ran, hands over her face, back into the building Adam tryed to follow her, he thought she had started to cry, Adam didnt want her to cry.' Girls are a mistery.' Adam thought. How was he supposed to know what she was thinking. Adam couldnt catch her she was a fast runner he had to give her that. So Adam decided to just go to bed he was half way there any way.

Arella woke up to find herself still sitting up against the tree. She saw morning light shine through the trees. "I slept here?" she said aloud to herself. It didn't really surprise here that she had slept there but that she had fallen asleep. "Apearenlty I was tired." she said then got up. She walked out into the range and the huge guy and the blonde girl she didn't like from the kitchen. The guy was shirtless and the girl was running away with her head down. This girl just keeps getting weirder everytime I see her... Arella thought. She still hadn't seen Phina since yesterday and was curious as to where she was. She started walking away from the range ignoring the two others.

Red ran onto the archery field, but it was obviously to late. Cat was gone, and so was the guy she...hated. Red silently snickered. She looked around and saw Ryan laying down in the grass. He seemed to be staring at the clouds.

He heard her walk over, but didn't say anything. Ryan pondered everything. He thought about he might have a crush on Red. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Red grab and bow. She aimed at the target, and hit the target dead on. "How did you do that?" He asked her while sitting up.

"My parents tought me. I liked to practice in the woods near our home with my sister." Red toyed with her sisters ring on her finger. She knocked another arrow, aimed, and shot it deep into the target. All of a sudden, she felt very exauhsted. Red looked at Ryan. With a muffled yawn, she said "S-Stop that..." She collapsed next to him, and looked up into the slowly darkening night.

"Where are they now?" Ryan asked hesitantly. He didn't know if he was heading into uncharted territory, or where ever this conversation was going. He laid back down and started at the becoming stars.

Red realized that she was craning her neck to look at him, so she turned to read his lips. "Oh, um...They died when I was eight." She couldn't beleive she was telling Ryan this. Red had had a hard time telling Cat. Why would telling Ryan make her feel any better? "My sister is...I think she's somewhere in Estil. We got separated..." She laid down and silently cried. He must have heard her since she started to feel better.

"Oh..." 'How does someone respond to this?' He thought to himself. Ryan heard her start to cry and began easing her pain. "I guess you haven't quite gotten over it yet." Ryan couldn't even ponder not having his parents around.

"Thank you." Red sighed as she was enveloped in calmness. She looked up at Ryan, and he was staring at her like he was expecting her to speak. "Did you say something?" She asked slightly embarassed.

"Yeah...Do you have hearing issues or something?" He laughed at his joke. Red didn't seem like someone who was hearing impared.

Red just stared at him. She got up and started to walk away, but Ryan caught her hand. She shivered from his touch, and couldn't help but notice his strong hand that was now pulling her back down. Complying, Red sat back down. "I'm deaf." She said not looking him in the eyes. "That's why I'm always staring at people." She looked up at the now black sky. "It's late, I'm going to bed."