Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2022 12:17:53 GMT -5
A whir rang through the air.
Then came the sharp rip and muffled catch, dislodged splinters flaying into the wind from the impact. The sound of the soft applause soon filled the air. Camellia lowered her bow with a silence worthy of a true hunter, the remnants of her breath like a whisper before her brow would furrow. The gathered crowd stood in awe of the marksmanship, chattering amongst themselves, yet the blond konatsian stood the only one with a lingering disappointment. Several hairs off the red paint of the mark, left and up. Would have been a perfect bullseye if she had kept her focus; all she could offer was a native swear in thought over the shot.
”Impressive,” called out another voice – the off-worlder would grant a smug smile. ”For an amateur. Maybe it’s you who are full of hot air, knife ear.”
Some of the konatsians present would be quick to anger and insult over the term, several shakes of the head by some, or threats to harm the alien buzzed about the spectators. The cocky sharpshooter would give a shrug to their protests, before he made aim to step forward for his turn. Camellia gave no indication she heard the intended insult, hardly giving a bat of an eye her opponent’s direction. Instead, she remained elsewhere, lost in thought over what she might do to improve her chances here.
Cam once more went down her checklist in silence, accounting for every variable like habitual math before she would let fly. Curve by decent ratio, wind direction and speed, angle of her aim, the amount of pull on her drawstring; the list went on and she swore it had all been noted, just as her father’s training had once instructed. By all accounts her aim should have been true, so it seemed reasonable the problem might’ve been psychological. The leather of her gloves would creak against the tighter coil of her fingers around the weapon. A deep breath taken when the alien drew up his tech enhanced composite, the tech gyrating with noise, as the unusual quiver would load the next arrow to the draw like a bullet in a gun.
The shot surged forward, piercing the top of the bullseye directly to the right of Cam’s last attempt. To the crowd’s surprise the bolt would give off a static pulse, causing the konatsian’s arrow to suddenly burst into flames. A triumphant laugh as the alien threw his arms up, then turned to the crowd to bask in miniscule adoration. There was clear dissent over that last one. Some would ask if the odds were against the girl now, if the bully which had been harassing the local watering hole with his boasting might turn out the winner. That would mean the bothersome sap wouldn’t leave, and they’d be forced to endure his presence and unruly company evermore.
Camellia made to step forward again, retrieving another arrow from the quiver at her hip, notched quietly as she would ignore the taunts from the competition. She would take one breath before taking her draw, sights training on where to place her shot, before the string was drawn back slowly. A slow exhale, then the release.
A whir rang through the air.PL: 8,000 | Restrained Might: Active
TWC: 543