Leaves crackled beneath young Tenna Wilwarin's soft-booted feet as she crept along the ground. She was still getting the hang of being light on her feet, and hadn't yet learned the art of utter silence when walking.
She tucked her waved dark hair behind an elegantly pointed ear to reveal piercing, silver-blue eyes and stood as her master approached her, a scowl on his stern face. Her master was, in fact, her father. He wasn't at all angry, as much as he would've liked Tenna to think, and his expression softened as he looked down at his young daughter, who was no more than twelve, a small smile creeping onto his rough, weather worn features.
"You've been doing well, Tenna," he rumbled, brushing his hood away from his shadowed face. "I'm very proud of you, you know."
Tenna's father was a practiced ranger, tracker, and hunter. She loved learning as much as she could from him, and spent time trailing after him as he hunted, watching every move he made and making a mental note of it.
She rubbed the back of her neck and blushed subtly at the praise, looking down at the ground.
She looked back up into his eyes, which mirrored her own. "Thank you, father," she answered quietly, chewing on her lip nervously. "I just don't think I'm getting it."
Her father's mouth curved into a lighter smile as he chuckled softly and gently gripped her shoulder. "You'll get it," he said. "It took me a long time, too, believe me."
"You?" Tenna's jaw dropped. "It took
you as long as
me to get as good as you are at this stuff?"
Her father laughed merrily and turned, guiding Tenna back to their horses, both of which were grazing peacefully, as he began telling her of his struggles with his skills.
~.~.~
Four years later...
~.~.~
Tenna crouched, watching a jackrabbit from behind a shrub. She sat in silence as she readied herself without a sound. She fixed an arrow to the string of her bow and put just a bit of pressure on it. As she stood slowly, careful not to be seen, she saw her mare, Belle, grazing nearby. Tenna's stomach slowly developed an irritated knot as she released the pressure on the string slowly and slipped the arrow back into the quiver strapped securely to her back. Belle had wandered over to stand near the rabbit as she grazed, and could've gotten shot, had Tenna gone through with capturing her prey.
The rabbit was gone by the time Tenna reached Belle, patting her on the nose.
She sighed. "Honestly, Belle, you're nothing but trouble when I want to hunt," she said softly, slinging her bow over her neck and one shoulder. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm almost out of food."
She gestured toward her leather satchel, as if the mare could understand every word she spoke. Deciding this was a waste of time, she swung lightly into the saddle and gathered the reins, urging her mare onward to find something else to hunt.
As they rode on through the wood in silence, Tenna tensed instinctively as the sound of soft squelching of damp leaves under foot, not far behind them. She readied her bow, urging Belle on, guiding the black mare with her legs.
Tenna hadn't seen a stranger for miles, so it was quite a surprise that she would meet up with one now.
...
(Anyone can join. ^^ Tenna's profile is currently in construction, and will be along shortly. *points up* I left an opening, if anyone wants to put there charrie in there... enjoy, I hope.
)
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A banner by Itarille Ellie. Much love to you, m'dear!
<center>I am the light in the darkness
I am the shadow flourishing in the sunlight
I am the rain on a chilled winter's day
And I am the flame, dancing in your eyes.</center>
)