Golden Magic Slingshot [Iounn]

[Yula Perl]

Midvinter​

Averlorn​

Yula and [member="Vik Velkarson"] dotted their travels across the galaxy, but it was always nice to return to a semblance of home. After a harrowing ordeal on Nar Kaaga, the pair decided that a bit of respite was in order, and so they decided to journey once again to the native home of the Aelvar.

Drawing back the string of the bow, Yula squinted at the painted target in the distance, stained a deep red for ease of sight. It was one of the ‘beginner’ targets, for the Aelvar had keen eyesight and a talent for archery. She discovered quite quickly that the more advanced archers practiced on marks that were not quite as glaringly visible. It made sense, given that everything in the forest seemed to blend together in a swirl of earthy tones to the Zeltron. Usually your target wouldn’t be so…pink.

They’d arrived about a week ago, spending time with Lady Eva and the rest of Vik’s friends and family. This was the first time they’d come to Averlorn as lovers, the last time having been on the precise of a romantic relationship. The Queen’s rangers had invited Vik for a scouting expedition, to which she readily urged him. It would only be for a short while, and she encouraged him to spend time with his brethren given that she had so often spirited him away to other worlds. Similarly, Yula was not shy and felt comfortable enough in Averlorn to manage herself. It also gave her the advantage of spending time with Vik’s mother, and getting to know her better. So far, Eva had threatened Yula 100% less than Joza had threatened poor Vik.

Maybe she held that stance for too long in trying to find the perfect aim, but Yula’s arm began to ache so she made the decision to loose the arrow. It went wide, missing the target and lodging itself into the dirt beside a tree several meters away. She exhaled in a huff, a mixture of amused and unsurprised at the outcome. Yula’s skill with a bow and arrow left much to be desired. Vik had begun to teach her, but a lot of touching was involved in him adjusting her form and it often lead to…very short archery lessons.

Plucking another arrow from the quiver, she nocked it onto the bow and raised it to aim at the damned target again. She was good at aiming with a blaster, but this was so different!

[member="Ióunn Ar-Olwa"]

 

[Ióunn Ar-Olwa]

The wayward arrow hissed passed her only a meter from where she was crouching and stuck hard in the dirt. Ióunn had been watching her, this stranger girl from the stars who was staying with them for a while. Not many people do, save for her own love Thrand for the Aelvar are still wary of strangers to the forest years of isolation are not broken down to easily. She was very curious however, for as long as she remembered, she had dreams of what lay beyond the stars and wanted nothing more than to see them for herself, Thrand had promised to take her one day and she longed for that day. But for now, it was right here in front of her in the form of a girl pink of skin and strange features of face. She is pretty and young about Ióunn age, although the difference would be that she would stay this way for hundreds of years before age would finally catch her.

Ióunn stood up, the sudden movement now visible to the girl and she approached her feet not making a sound as she did. There was nothing about her that would give away her station, looking all the part of a ranger which Ióunn preferred. "You are thinking too much", she said as she moved to stand close by with her own bow and quiver. Although it seemed that Vik had taught her the technique and her form was good she lacked touch which only comes with practice and time and Aelvar have plenty of that.

What was more interesting however, was the presence of the Frostvatn around this girl, Thrand had called it the force and Ióunn was puzzled as to why the girl did not use it. Drawing an arrow from her quiver, she nooked it, drew back and released in a single movement and as natural as breathing, the arrow hit the mark center. The only thing to move was her head, turning back toward the young girl, "Don't you feel it?", she asked as her eyes flitted around the forest before finding her eyes once more.

"Can you not 'see'?". Ióunn always attuned to not only the Frostvatn, but the forest in which they live, a part of it as nature and pure as Midvinter. The fact was that Ióunn would much prefer to ask the girl question of the stars and beyond and maybe they will have some time to do just that.

​

[member="Yula Perl"]​

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula’s heart froze the moment a lone figure popped up from the brush where her arrow had gone. Then it started again as she came into the realization that the Aelvar were naturally light of foot and had mastered the art of blending into their forested surroundings. She was simultaneously amused and embarrassed at the thought of a thousand concealed Aelvar watching her failure from the treetops, unlikely as it was.

As she approached, Yula couldn’t help but watch the young Aelvar woman draw back her bow, fire a shot and hit the target dead center with one fluid movement. Such a display was born out of skill and dedication crafted over time. She let out a small, genuinely impressed noise.

“Feel it?” Echoing the girl’s question, Yula took the time to study her features. To her, all Aelvar had a somewhat noble appearance, and she was no exception. Pretty and young, with red hair similar to that of her mother’s own. It made her smile. “The target? I can see it just fine.” It was plain as day, even if you didn’t have keen Aelvan eyesight. But then she realized that the Aelvar was speaking of something else.

“Oh? Oh.” Her lips pursed for a moment in thought. “I’ve never learned to use the Force that way. I know it can be done, but it was never something that I needed to learn.” Now that she thought about it, perhaps Force sight could have been useful to her in certain situations. She paused. “Ah, the Frostvatn, I mean. Sorry, I’m still getting used to the different terminology.” The smile spread into a grin.

[member="Ióunn Ar-Olwa"]

 

[Ióunn Ar-Olwa]

A smile on her lips showed that she had heard the term before today, "Force, Frostvatn it is the same .. no doubt you have see it", she said with quiet authority, not to much escapes the Queen of the Aelvar. "Now try again, this time do think too much about the target", she neared and stood behind the young girl and placed her hands on her hips to square them up and place her side ways to the target. A gentle tap with her boot on hers encouraged her to shift her feet to shoulders width.

"Now bring your bow up, arm straight, relax your grip on the bow, don't strangle it", she leaned in close to her ear. "Go on", she insisted while waiting for the young girl to get into her position. Silently moving away to give her space and out of eye line as a distraction, Ióunn stood sensing the girl through the Frostvatn, taking in all her being and her presence there, strong and alive with the living force of life. A strong heart beating in her chest and around her the sense of thought and wariness about her own abilities and beliefs.

"Trust your ability, even if you miss", there is nothing in world better than the ability to trust yourself, in everything in life. The ability to look through the force is something that is learned over time, but small steps are what being the journey. As is a voice sang on the wind, Ióunn spoke in a whisper, "Seek the force and you will see".

Ióunn opened her eyes and watched with keen sight the girl try again, her eyes seeing all and the forest and it's creatures watched as well draw to this place in which they stood by their very presences.

​

[member="Yula Perl"]​

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula had never been formally trained by a spiritual master, and so the more esoteric ways of the Force were often lost on her. Empathy was the one use that had come naturally to her, partially attributed to her heritage. Even so, her mother had helped her hone that particular skill since the beginning, to the point where sensing emotional changes had become second nature.

It dawned on her that it likely worked the same was with every species capable of manipulating the Force. Naturally Force sensitive, the Aelvar were warden of the forest and used their sight, seen and unseen to protect their land.

The next arrow flew with more purpose, striking the edge of the round target. Yula lowered both arms down to her side and smiled at the helpful stranger. A native child could likely hit the target dead center without even trying, but the Zeltron was pleased as long as the arrow had embedded itself in the wood.

“Well, that was different.” She commented, breath lingering for a few moments in the chilly air. “I’ve never thought of using it like that.” As with all things, Yula would still be more comfortable with something more familiar. The grip on her blaster and the hilt of her saber were far more reassuring.

With that, she turned to the girl. Her features were youthful, but she could be well into her hundreds for all the visitor knew. At the very least, she was able to recognize the clothing. “How long have you been a ranger for?”

[member="Ióunn Ar-Olwa"]