Ch. 1: The Hunters

Caliana could hear her brothers chatting in the main room of the house, excited. The Hunters yearly search for an apprentice had begun a few weeks ago, but so far no one had been chosen. They heard the King and Queen of Asteria had chosen to pass on having one of their children enter the Hunters Competition, so the Hunters had skipped going through their kingdom, and was instead heading north, towards their village.

"They're due to arrive by nightfall Father! I'm sure I'll be the one they pick. After all, I am the best of our family." Her eldest brother Seth's voice was clearly heard as she worked in the kitchen with her mother and younger sister Cerise. Carrying three plates into the dining room, she placed them down, one in front of her father, the other two in front of Seth and second oldest brother, Sebastian. Her mother and Cerise came out with the rest of the plates, one for themselves, one for her, and one for her younger brother Alexio.

Ignoring her, her brothers and father began to eat as her sister and mother sat down. Excusing herself quietly, she carried her meal to the kitchen, eating hastily. She heard her brothers chairs scrape against the floor as they finished eating, then leaving and laughing rambunctiously as they left the house, headed to the fields.

Her mother and sister came in with the dirty dishes, and her sister began washing. "Mother, I'm going to go find some more berries in the forest today, so we can make some of your famous pies. I'll be back in a few hours alright?" Her mother nodded and smiled, handing her the basket for the berries.

Caliana took it and grabbed her cloak, leaving the house and taking the back way through the trees to the forest. When she was sure no one was following or around, she went to an old fallen tree, pulling out a long curved stick, with the ends curving the opposite direction. Reaching back inside she pulled out a thick string of fibers and a quiver of dove feather fletched arrows.

Looping the string over the notch on one end of the stick, she bent the stick a bit and connected the string at the other end as well. When she finished, she smiled fondly at the weapon in her hands. Holding it close to her, she made sure no one was around before slinging the handmade quiver over her shoulder. Gripping the recurve bow in her hands tightly, she took off into the forest, following the hidden trail to the clearing she had made into her training grounds.

Caliana knew her family would disown her rather than her know how to use the bow she had in her hands. But it didn't stop her. Taking a deep breath, she slid the quiver off and pulled out 4 arrows.  She took a stance, legs shoulder width apart, back straight, balancing on her toes. Placing three arrows tip down in the dirt, she notched the first and took a breath.

Drawing her arm back as she inhaled, she closed her eyes, sighing her target in her mind. Listening to the surrounds around her, she felt the wind brush her hair across her cheeks, the birds chirping in the air, and the squirrels running across the trees. Turning her body 60 degrees, she opened her eyes. At the same moment she released her breath, the arrow released from her fingers, flying true and straight into the tree trunk.

Looking closely at where the arrow embedded itself, one could see where a small, arms width branch had been cut off to make a subtle target. And dead center of the target, the arrow rested. All around the clearing, of varying sizes, were similarly made targets. All of branches that had been cut off. Some no bigger than a persons wrist, and others as big as a mans chest. There were arrows buried deep in some, and others had the marks and scrapes of arrows that had been removed or missed their mark.

Without blinking, Caliana drew another arrow from the ones on the ground, spun, sighted and fired in one smooth motion. She did this multiple times until she ran out of arrows. Then she went back, collected them, and did the process over again. For hours, Caliana practiced the one thing she loved doing.

Before she knew it, hours had passed and the sun was beginning to set. Caliana gathered her arrows and put them in the quiver. Still carrying the bow, she put the quiver over her back and grabbed the basket for berries. Walking deeper into the forest, she started to gather them for the pies.

Her basket was about half full when she heard them. The sound of men traveling along the path. Silently and stealthily, she snuck towards the edge of the road. Ten men, all on horses. At the front, was a man who radiated power. His hair was black, an unusual color for men because they were in the sun all day, while his eyes were a piercing light blue. She couldn't see much from her vantage point, but she could tell he was tall. Much taller than her 5'2 frame. He rode a jet black horse, and the impressive long bow on his back did nothing but add to his powerful aura.

Caliana heard something moving in the trees, looking up for a moment. She heard the low growl and swore. A mountain lion had spotted the party and thought it would make a quick meal. The party wouldn't have time to draw their bows. Quickly drawing and sighting an arrow, she released it. The deep thrum of the recurve bow was heard before the soft whistle them thunk as the arrow imbedded itself into the tree, right in front of the leader of the party.

His head jerked back, his nose having been an inch away from the sharpened stone tip. The mountain lion yowled angrily and jumped down from the tree, stalking towards the party and the spooked horses. Before it had a chance to attack, however, two arrows appeared. One in its side, having pierced its heart, and other, in the back of its head.

The creature died instantly, and likely didn't even feel the pain of the arrows. Startled, all eyes went towards the direction the arrows came. But no one had seen the archer who fired them. None had seen as Caliana fired confidently and calmly, then fled the scene before she could be caught.

None had seen the shadow flit through the woods, expect the black haired man. Stroking his chin, he hid a smile behind his hand. One of the other men, having dismounted and grabbed the dead mountain lion, noticed his look. "You've found the one, haven't you Liam?"

Liam nodded. "I think I have. But I am not certain." Pulling the two arrows, he studied the handiwork and the design on the fletching. Looking carefully, he noticed a name carved into the wood under the fletching. Caliana.