“Keep your bow up, back straight, space your legs apart an equal distance.” Oakheart stared down at Alicia as she aimed her weapon at the makeshift training dummy. He moved a massive limb to her shoulder, the Kurnoth Hunter gently pushing the Aelf-girl’s arm up to steady her shaking. He smiled, roots crinkling his worn features, “easy little sparrow, breathe slow. Remember what we practised.” Slowly the girls shaking stifled, he felt her shoulder tense, the arrow braced. Scant seconds passed of nothing but the sound of her breath; and with a loud crack, she let fly. The air seemed to whistle as the projectile sliced through the small clearing, burrowing dead centre into the Dummy’s straw head almost faster than the eye could follow. No sooner had the target stopped moving Alicia giggled and whooped with glee, causing Oakheart to give a broad smile, and an affectionate rub of her tangled mop of blonde hair. He pulled his hand away as he stood from his knelt position, such was the Sylvaneth’s size, the Aelf barely reached up to his knee. Staring down at her still celebrating from, the Kurnoth remarked on how far she had come, ‘a fine Sister of the Watch she will make’ the thought bringing him no small amount of joy.
Alicia flew, her feet leaping from one branch to the next, each second in the air her bow was firing, each arrow loosed struck its target with pinpoint precision. Her hair whipped about her face, eyes flashing sapphire as she nimbly landed, barely disturbing a leaf despite her speed. Her lithe form collected itself instantly, standing straight before suddenly bowing towards her Guardian. She brushed an errant strand of gold out of her face and gave a grin to Oakheart, the Kurnoth Hunter smiling in turn. Merrily the Aelf slung her bow over one shoulder, the weapon crackling with blue fire as she walked over to the Sylvaneth. Even after all these years, her head still only drew up to his chest. “You have progressed well little sparrow,” Oakheart’s voice deep and rumbling.
She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, “you don’t have to call me that now you know, I’m not a child anymore.”
The Kurnoth gave a small chuckle, the movement making the many branches on his back shake in mirth, “old habits I suppose.” He paused before continuing, smile still cresting his face, “now come, it is time to begin our patrol route.” Heavy strides broke their quiet conversation, and Alicia laughed as she hopped up onto his arm, oaken limbs hoisting her gently onto his shoulders as they set off into the forest.
“On your left!” Her mentor’s voice making her body react faster than her ears could even register his words, she twisted sideways in an instant, a rotted blade flying past her vision. The foul Daemon behind the Aelf snarled and swept back around towards her, weapon glinting. But the element of surprise was already lost for the wretched thing. Alicia effortlessly parried, blue eyes flashing in fury as she struck simultaneously with her twin blades, the silver steel ripping through the flesh of her enemy like a hot knife through butter. The Daemon howled as it fell, its grotesque stomach contents spilling outwards with an acid stench.
“To me Alicia! As fast as leaves on the wind!” The tried-and-true technique they had practiced years before coming into effect in a split second. She backed up swiftly, feet nimbly moving this way and that as she skipped backwards over the ground towards Oakheart. All around them the glade was being overrun by the foul warriors of Chaos. The Sylvaneth’s vast frame dwarfed hers instantly, a massive hand protectively outstretched to make sure she was safe behind him. As one their bows aimed upwards, their shared bond causing the weapons to spark white hot with blue fire. Alicia slowed her breathing, and for a moment all was calm, the only sound the rising tension in her bowstring and the low hum of her towering protector. She closed her eyes, picturing the training Dummy in place of the Nurgle forces advancing upon them. She smiled.
Hold it.
Hold…
Now.
And with a thunderous crack their twin arrows let fly, and the slaughter began.