While Cosaria fiddled with her pants, Tilda gestured to the extra supplies Felux had been arranging earlier.
Tilda said, "These are all the extra bows and daggers. You're welcome to choose anything."
As Cosaria looked through the weapons, Tilda thought, Well, so long as we stay in the green safe area I think it'll be okay.
Tilda had spent the last half hour collecting information while Cosaria changed into a more flexible outfit. Cosaria looked good in her riding uniform, although, Cosaria looked good in anything so that wasn't saying much.
As for Tilda, she had found the location and boundaries of the green area and asked about anything to be wary of. The bigger beasts and monsters stayed out of the green area but there was a nearby cliff to watch out for. Avoiding that wouldn't be hard but Tilda still had a bad feeling in her gut. She tried to ignore it. She didn't want to deny Cosaria life experiences just because of a bad feeling. If Cosaria wanted to try and do something, it was worth the effort to make it happen. Not like what her terrible family had done. Cosaria deserved to experience life, not be shut away from it.
Cosaria picked up a small bow and tested the spring.
Tilda said, "Milady, since when did you know how to use a bow?"
"My mother taught me. She was an excellent markswoman."
Tilda thought, That's unironically convenient, isn't it? I wonder how many other skills she will randomly pull out of the excuse 'her mother taught her.'
Finally, Tilda asked, "Are you sure you want to go? It could be dangerous…" She had to at least try.
Cosaria smiled happily, her blinding light shining through, "Of course I want to go!" In her heart she was picturing Lady Dorsey and Bluewether, with their thick muscles and big game bag.
Cosaria pulled back the string, saying, "It's perfect!"
Tilda sighed. It would be up to her to make sure nothing bad happened. And who knew, maybe nothing bad would happen.
༻✧༺
Tilda stood next to Cosaria with an empty game bag slung over her shoulder.
Cosaria pulled the bow back and let the arrow fly, missing the rabbit by at least five feet. The rabbit hopped off.
Cosaria pouted, "I missed."
Tilda said, "Milady, you were nowhere even close. Are you sure your mother taught you?"
"It's been so long. Maybe I've forgotten."
"Maybe…"
A voice called out, "Oh Lady Cosaria!"
It was Lady Selinda and her posse; Lady Loris and the other one who Tilda had learned was Lady Ulteo.
Cosaria bowed, saying, "Greetings, have you come to hunt as well?"
"Oh never," Selinda said, "I would never let my dainty hands try such vulgar tasks. Rather, I wanted to come and see how you do it." She hid her wicked smile behind her fan. "I hope you don't mind if we come watch."
Cosaria smiled, as innocent as always, saying, "Not at all."
Sneaking their way through the wild bushes, Tilda pointed at a small squirrel resting on a branch. She turned to Cosaria and whispers, "There!"
Selinda and her group laughed loudly, which startled the squirrel just enough for it to scurry away as Cosaria's arrow missed, again, by a large margin.
Tilda went over and picked up the arrow thinking, Between dealing with these loud mouths and Cosaria's bad aim, I doubt we'll catch anything.
Cosaria came near Selinda and said, "Excuse me, I don't mind you watching at all, but would you please be a bit quieter. You'll scare away all the animals."
Tilda appreciated that that took a lot of bravery from Cosaria. Selinda, however, did not appreciate it.
Selida said, in her fake way, "Oh my, we didn't know. We're so sorry."
Cosaria smiled, feeling successful, she said, "That's alright."
Moments later, Tilda handed Cosaria another arrow, as she took aim at a sparrow.
"I think there's a rabbit over there!" Selinda called out.
Cosaria's arrow landed short as all the birds flew away at the sound of Selinda's voice. Cosaria turned around with a look of pleading.
Selinda said, "Oh, did we mess up your shot? We're so sorry."
The three ladies laughed as Tilda rolled her eyes, thinking, It's a good thing I'm not the one with the bow. I'd consider shooting one of them.
Cosaria, the pure nature she was, approached the ladies, asking, "Where did you say the rabbit went?" She didn't want Selinda's help to go to vain, of course.
Selinda pointed half-heartedly, saying, "Oh, that way I think. Near that cliff over there. I think I saw it jump off. I'd love to see you go after it."
The ladies laughed again as Tilda's blood boiled and the tally moved:
Tilda: 1 Selinda: 1
Cosaria said, "I'm sure it didn't jump off. I'll go see if I can find it."
Clenching her fists, Tilda thought, Lady Cosaria is so bad at reading social situations, she has no idea these ladies are making fun of her.
As Cosaria and Tilda made their way towards the clearing, near the cliff, the three ladies followed.
Tilda said, "We have to be careful here, we're nearing the end of the green area."
Cosaria nodded as they spotted a rabbit near the cliff. With ears perked, it bounced away hurriedly. Cosaria launched off a shot but it missed.
Maybe this was for the best anyway.
Tilda was starting to worry more about what would happen if Cosaria did shoot something. She'd probably be in bed for the next week with remorse for having killed an animal.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Tilda and Cosaria spun around to see a demon beast enter the clearing. It was black and big as a bear, the demon beast sniffed the air. Through its misty eyes, it could see a glowing Cosaria.
Meanwhile, Delrik and Felux had heard the scream, having tracked the beast. They looked at each other with tense, wide eyes. In a hurried alarm, they launched their horses into action and bolted towards the clearing.
Meanwhile, Selinda ran towards Cosaria as the demon beast chased her. She screamed and knocked into Cosaria. Together they tumbled onto the ground, just in front of the cliff's edge.
As the beast was merely feet away from Cosaria, it roared as it was shot from behind.
In the distance, Delrik and Felux entered the clearing, armed with bows.
The demon beast clawed at the air, swatting away arrows, before it stomped down hard on the ground.
The ground under Cosaria began to give way just as Tilda grabbed her hand and flung Cosaria towards safe land. Tilda however, had traded places with Cosaria just as the cliff crumbled.
Tilda, the beast, and Selinda, fell off the cliff. Tilda reached her hand out to Felux as she fell but he was still so far away. In a futile response, he reached back, but it was too late.
Tilda was freefalling towards the rushing water below.