Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

4- Start of something new

Aha'ri's breath hitched. This was it. She was finally going to officially learn how to hunt. Finally be able to consistently care for her little sister—protect her little sister.

Her feet quickly carried her to her tent, which Lurei was still fast asleep inside, and back to the ikrans. Neytiri was waiting there for her with a smile.

Aha'ri's bow was nothing compared to Neytiri's ceremonial bow. Those who haven't completed uniltaron yet were only allowed to have generic wooden bows. Only after you complete the dream hunt can you make your bow from the wood of Hometree.

They tucked their bows into the ikran's harnesses and took off.

Aha'ri had no idea where Neytiri was taking her. The morning views, however, were very successful in distracting her from the countless worries that ran through her head.

Fog still gathered just beneath the greenery and the air was crisp and moist, wetting Aha'ri's skin as they flew.

Before she knew it, they were diving down below the trees. As her eyes adjusted to the shade beneath the canopy, she found a calm stream, perfect for fishing.

Without a word, Neytiri dismounted and walked over to a tree near the riverbed. Aha'ri nervously followed.

"We will go over form first. You must know you bow before you attempt to shoot. Now, stand here," she pointed to the ground next to her, "and aim at that tree. Show me how you do it."

Aha'ri hesitantly stood in the spot and stumbled with nocking her arrow. Off to a great start.

She pulled the arrow back, feeling each muscle in her back contract.

Neytiri circled her, watching her every move. She began to adjust her form; moving her right elbow up, straightening her back, fixing her stance, making sure her core was braced.

With each passing second that Aha'ri held the arrow back, her muscles screamed out in pain. With each adjustment, a new muscle she had never used began working.

By the end of it, all of her muscles, weak and strong, were about to give out. Pain was all Aha'ri felt, but she couldn't move, couldn't relax her arrow. She was soaking in the feeling of this new correct form so that she would be able to replicate it again and again until she got it right the first time, every time.

Her palms began to sweat and the bow was shifting in her left hand. The string of the bow was digging into her fingers, threatening to break skin.

It wasn't until Neytiri gave the word that she relaxed.

She had only just stood there but she was still panting like she had just run from across the forest.

Not even five seconds later did Neytiri say, "Good. Again."

This is going to be fun, Aha'ri thought. Today was going to be pain, and so will tomorrow but a week from now, she will feel the improvement. She just needed to push through.

Aha'ri pulled back the arrow again, trying to snap back to the form she had been in just seconds ago.

Neytiri circled her again, making the same adjustments once more. But this time, the adjustments were smaller, despite Aha'ri's muscles barely working.

"Do you think you will hit that tree, if you let go of the arrow?" Neytiri asked, nodding to the tree in front of them.

"Uhm, I think so." Everything looked like it would line up to Aha'ri. She looked down the arrow and thought there was no chance she was missing the tree.

Neytiri gave no indication of what she thought would happen. She only said, "Go ahead," and stepped back.

Aha'ri took in a deep breath, steadying her hands, and released the arrow. It went wide, missing the tree. She stared at tree with furrowed brows.