The Bow: Chapter 1 (Lacyra) Memories

The bow fit perfectly in my strong hands. The quiver slung gently across my back. I notched an arrow and took aim. I breathed in deeply through my mouth, feeling the power course through my veins. I smiled and released. In an instant it was over. The stag tensed and then fell, limp. The rest of the pack scattered, but it didn’t matter, I had him.
I slid my bow onto my back with the quiver and leaped on silent feet from branch to branch before landing effortlessly beside tonight’s dinner. My stomach growled loudly, approving of my choice.
I sighed and heaved him up onto my shoulders, bearing all the weight I had to carry on my back. I took off at a steady jog, winding my way through the forest towards home, towards my captivity. I was tiring by the time I got to Wall. I snuck up to a small door to the side of the main gate. I knocked three times and waited.
“Who is it?” A voice questioned through the seeing hole.
“Lacyra.” Was the reply from my mouth.
The door opened gently. “You shouldn’t be here, not today. If She had seen you...” The guard trailed off.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s coming here today, this morning in fact. I was told last night but couldn’t find you so told Cory. You need to be more careful.” The fear was evident in his brown eyes.
“You worry too much, Arry, you’ll get wrinkles.” I joked at him.
He didn’t laugh. “I’m serious, you’ll get killed one of these days.” He said.
“You know me; I’m the ninja of Wall.” I said bitterly.
“That won’t save you from everything. Just because She likes you, does not mean that you can get away with this if She catches you.”
“I know, Arry, there’s no need to talk to me like that. I can handle myself.” I snapped and turned on my heel, a difficult feat when you have a 100kg deer on your shoulders.
I walked out into the early morning sun and snuck down an alley to the back of my house. The door opened before I got there and Cory came out.
“Oh, thank the stars, you’re alright.” He said.
“Come and help me carry this or I won’t be.” I laughed quietly down the deserted street to him.
He rushed to me and gently took the stag from me. “Why didn’t you wait for me today?” He asked, voice full of concern.
“She had a mission for me last night, so I thought I’d go hunting early, less risk. I didn’t realise She was coming here today though, Arry just told me.”
“Yeah, I hadn’t realised either, but we still have our usual hiding place for food. Whoa, this one’s bigger than usual, isn’t he?” He asked surprised by the weight of it.
“Yes, I err, took down the pack leader.”
He looked at me, green eyes shocked. “You took down the leader? But how did you get close enough?”
I pointed at myself and said simply “Ninja.”
“I shouldn’t have asked, should I?” He asked, sarcastically.
A cheeky grin crept up my face as I skipped through the open doorway. I quickly hung up my bow and arrows next to my katana and pressed the notch on the wall to open up the food larder. Cory walked straight through the door and down into the small room and dumped the stag down.
“Have some care, that’s our food.” I said with a smile.
“Well sorry, little missy, you can carry it on your own next time.” He said, returning my smile. “Come here,” He pulled me into a big bear hug, enveloping me.
I breathed in his familiar smell, relaxing slightly. After a few moments I murmured against his chest “You know I really need to get washed before She turns up here and wonders where I got dirty when it was a simple task that was surrounded by sand.”
He chuckled; the sound filling the ear pressed against his chest, but let me go.
“Make us some breakfast as well, I’m famished.” I called over my shoulder as I ran up the stairs, laughing.
I heard muttering from him and laughed again. In my room I breathed deeply and tried to focus on clearing my thoughts but failed. As I washed, my thoughts wandered away from me and back to last night.