JUST ANOTHER ARCHERY PRACTICE

16 FEBRUARY, TUESDAY, ARCHERY PRACTICE

Our coaches were late today, something to do with being held up outside the school gate. Mr Yarde was less than pleased with their lack of professionalism. The rest of us had to run "extra warm ups" so we were all glad when Coach Emerson and Coach Roberts stepped into the hall.

"Good afternoon Coach Emerson! Good Afternoon Coach Roberts!" We gathered around in the usual way for their first instructions.

Now that our coaches were present and accounted for, Mr Yarde nodded, satisfied that his job as the teacher in charge was done. He hurried out of the hall, checking his watch as he went.

"Ah, good, you're all warmed up." Coach Emerson said as the smell of sweat and the heat of bodies gathered around him, but he sounded more like he was talking to himself, "Why does your school have a Night Leaf Security check point outside?"

I guess he didn't follow the Muunies' news. But the kids who did turned to give me a pointed look.

He caught sight of me and face palmed, "Ah right, Alpha Princess."

Because he followed the Lycan News.

But Coach Emerson wasn't done. It was like he had a bone to pick with me, "Blue! Since when did Night Leaf warriors get so strong?" Coach grumbled in a low growl, "Those guys outside were monsters."

Thank you? What was I supposed to say to that?

"Coach Emerson, maybe we should start the training first?" Coach Roberts tried to remind him, but Coach Emerson was not to be deterred, "And why didn't you warn- I mean, tell me that your Dad's Alpha Kingsley?"

{I nearly shat in my pants!}

Eh? I quickly pulled away mentally. Coach Em was upset enough to blare his thoughts too loudly.

Now the kids were all looking at me. Even the ones who didn't follow Muunie or Lycan news.

"I've been away from home too long." Coach Emerson continued grumbling. I'm no idea what got his goat, but Coach Emerson was going to grow into one of those old grouchy wolves like Mr Greene from Morning Light, if he kept this up.

I wished he'd just tell me straight. Was he mad because my warriors stopped him outside the school? Did he look too much like a reporter? Maybe a dodgy paparazzi one. Hahaha. Or was it because my Dad freaked him out over the phone - he did give me his name card for Dad to call him. Or maybe he was just surprised by the strength of Night Leaf warriors... the guys outside the school were actually from the Underground though. Haha.

But as long as he didn't ask me straight, how could I answer him straight? What did he want me to say?

"Alright, alright, enough with that, Lawrence." Coach Roberts tried to placate her grouchy co-coach, "Let's start the training. Time and tide waits for no man."

She clapped her hands, "Beginner archers come with me. Today we practice our form."

We always practiced our form. But I didn't mind, in fact, I WANTED to shoot arrows. Maybe archery was addictive like that. I really wanted to pull on the bow and just enjoy the arrow's flight. I didn't feel like dealing with all the other messy things

Coach Emerson snapped out of whatever internal storm was brewing for him, "Senior team, set up..."

"Done coach!" Priya piped.

"Warm up..." Coach Emerson tried again.

"Done!" Priya grinned. The seniors laughed.

"The what are you waiting for? Get your gear and move it!" Coach Emerson yelled at them. The seniors laughed and left for their training grounds.

I didn't envy them. The hall wasn't large enough for them to set up their range, so they always had to shoot outdoors. Today was a nice day, the air was a little nippy but it wasn't snowing or hailing. I heard it was always windy at Winderhill though, so the Winderhill archery team always did best at outdoor competitions, especially during inclement weather days.

We also won the open 3D tournament in the Gold Packlands for the last 4 years. It wasn't a proper interhigh competition though, but the trophies displayed in the school's trophy cabinet were pretty cool.

"Today I want to check your form and record your progress." Coach Roberts informed us, "Then we'll have our own mini competition. Everyone go to your targets in the same groups as last week. When I come over to your group, I want you to take turns and show me one shot each. In the meanwhile, you may take turns to practice. Two shots at a time. Take your time, find your form. Remember to look at the target, not your bow. Use the second shot to improve on your first one. Alright, go!"

"Yes, coach!"

I immediately went to the same target board as last week. A mini competition! So fun!

Ralph (aka Shortstuff) and I took turns, Ralph first, as usual. He shot one and then another. Ralph's first shot landed in the red ring, but his second shot was smack on the gold.

My turn. I got them both on the gold. I was so going to win the mini competition!

Ralph and I kept going. I liked shooting with Ralph because he didn't talk, but he didn't need to be told to wait till I retrieved my arrows before hookin his or anything like that either. He was the sensible and quiet kind of partner.

After a while, my wolf was getting the feel of the bow and arrow. Normally, wolves fought bare handed, or with fangs and claws. But with a little practice, like with the short sword, my body could get used to the extension and movement and run with it.

Unlike with the short sword, I didn't feel any frustration with only one bow or one arrow... I just really liked everything about the bow and arrow.

It was perfect. The way the bow fit in my grip, the way the arrow hooked on, the way it felt just right when I pulled, and at the release, the movement of air just next to my face as the arrow shoots forward with that perfect sound which mostly came from my bow now that I was noticing it more carefully. The arrow itself was almost perfectly silent as it cuts though the air and sails, and then thuck, sticks right into the target board, right on the gold.

It was very quick and very, very, perfect!

I'm not sure I've ever felt an even more perfect feeling.

"Looks like the both of you have been practicing at home." Coach Roberts approved, "Especially you, Sam. You're in good form, and I think you can see the results for yourself."

Actually no, I hadn't practiced. But I didn't want to say anything in case they start chalking it up to my incredible talent and decide to do more to hone it. Let's just say I was getting luckier with each shot.

Ralph gave me a pointed look before taking his shot. That dude was competitive! I had long stopped tracking his hits, but he would keep checking out mine and then trying to "beat it".

It's not like I hit anything less than the gold this practice, but Ralph was checking the black lines dividing the colored rings into narrower rings. Was he counting score?  Omo

"Ralph, can you show me show me your position again?" Coach Roberts said.

Ralph went over to the line to take his position. I let my eyes wander over to the other groups and watched them take turns to shoot. Every now and then, one of them would shout something like, "Yes!" Or "Gold!"

"Sam! Sam!" I quickly turned my attention back to Coach Roberts. Opps.

Coach Roberts sighed, "Alright, I'm going to say this again. Next week, I want the both of you to move on to the advance team. The practice will be on Friday. Your goal is just to meet the year two students and get used to the new target board and range distance. No pressure. I'll only start seriously training you next term. You will be eligible for competition in the fall."

Cool.

"Of course, Sam, you'd be continuing your advance training with the Lorent Girl's Team under Coach Emerson. Do your best. I'll look forward to seeing you at the meets." Coach Roberts said.

"Thank you, Coach." I nodded quickly. Was that what Dad and Coach Emerson decided? Dad hadn't said anything about the phone call to me... Actually, I didn't even know when the name card was passed to him. I only told Harvey. Beta magic.

Now that Coach Roberts was satisfied, she regrouped us in pairs for the competition. My partner was River.

"Hahaha" Horio laughed at that, "Coach must be pairing the best and worst shooter together to make the game fair!"

"Horio, you're with Ralph." Coach Roberts read off her clipboard.

"Talk about a pot calling the kettle black." Keanu pointed out in his usual friendly way. Haha.

"Ah, sorry, Sam." River told me weakly, "I'm really bad at this."

I shook my head, "You got in the club, didn't you?"

"That was just a lucky shot." River admitted.

"Luck is also a skill." I blurted out.

Okay, I know, I felt it was bs when Harvey said it, but for River, it felt apt. I mean, I've always suspected his luck was unusual, but today I had bulldozed straight into him and he had gotten up unscathed.

I'm not sure how our bodies had broken each others run and neither of us came up with even a bruise to show for it. But River was the kind of guy who could trip and fall a hundred times (which he seemed to do a lot), but in such a way that no one would be hurt. That kind of luck was ungodly.

If only he could channel it into his arrows. They'd always land in the safe (that is gold).

"Hey, River. The gold circle is the only space on the board that is safe." I told him, "If your arrow lands anywhere else, I'll hit you."

River caught my bluff immediately, "No you won't." He laughed a little, "Why would you say that?"

"If your arrow doesn't land in the gold, I'll tell Alpha Gunter you lost your key again." Keanu decided to help.

"Oh no, don't, Keanu." River was immediately alarmed, "I'll find it before we go home, I promise!"

"I'm seriously tired to spending every day looking for your lost key." Keanu complained.

"I don't lose it everyday!" River protested.

"Close enough. Hit the gold or I will tell your Dad." Keanu gave his ultimatum with a friendly smile and winked at me before walking over to his own partner.

"Oh no, oh no..." River fretted.

I felt really bad to see River so stressed out, but I had to be tough if I wanted to test my theory.

"Oh no, oh no. I think Keanu really means it this time." River worried some more.

"Just hit the gold and you'd be safe." I told River.

"I NEVER hit the gold." River told me.