We spent the night with an early dinner and quick goodbyes.
All in all the trip should end in 2 days. Hori village was about a day's ride, but we were confident we could do better.
We decided to sleep with Anna that night since she was reluctant to let us go. A few promises of gifts from her father eventually helped her go to sleep.
" .. You been suspiciously quite my love. " He whispered in the dark.
I smiled and reached over Anna to caress his hair. " I'm a little nervous, I guess. "
The butterflies in my stomach refused to leave me alone and kept me wide awake.
Now he went silent .. so I poked his face to illicit some reaction.
" I'm here.. here .. " He sighed and pulled himself up, I could see his outline in the moonlight. " .. being nervous is normal. But now I'm thinking we should've started with something smaller ... human. "
I had chuckled to myself hearing him.
" .. You're be there. It makes no difference. "
I had absolute confidence in his abilities and meant every word. Sincerely.. there was no safer place in this world than right beside him.
I could feel more than see him smile than I felt my head massaged. " Slowly get up and follow me. "
I perked up and checked on Anna, who was sound asleep, and I was admittedly curious about what his plan was now, so I slowly climbed over her with the grace of the cat.
We tried our best not to make a commotion going down the stairs, but it was unnecessary since we weren't the only ones unable to rest.
" .. I guess no one can sleep? "
I sat beside Nifa, who, with her wife, shared some tea with Demelza and Alexander.
" Sleep alluded us .. and we found these two here already. " Cintia pointed at the Jartok family.
" I'm way too nervous to sleep. " Alexander kept shining his brand new armour, looking into the distance. " .. How do you feel little brother? "
Zephyr shrugged, shaking his head, indicating his lack of excitement or nervousness, which in return made Alexander take deep calming breaths. Demelza did her best to calm her husband even though she must've felt just as excited and nervous as I felt.
" Actually, I came out with something specific in mind, and now that Demelza is here as well, maybe she wants to join us. "
Since he didn't want anything to me about his plans, I was just as confused as the others.
" Well, I was having an idea that might help a little with those nervous, and maybe give you some idea about the true nature of archery. "
I narrowed my eyes because I knew his smile. " Spit it out already. " I said, losing my patience.
" Well .. "
———
The essence of hunting anything was .. apparently patience.
My husband idea was some good old fashion hunting in the nearby woods to give us a sample of shooting live targets. Track down and kill something in an hour.
" .. it's unbelievable. The twins never took you guys out at least once. " He whispered.
" Shush, you .. "
We were hiding in the underbrush surrounded by trees and listening, waiting for our prey to arrive.
Demelza and Alexander gone there separate ways not to obstruct each other.
Silently, I completely agreed with my husband. Shooting at dummies or manually moved targets could be considered the first step .. except we took the second one.
Which could be contributed to our ever complicated and fast paced lifes.
( RUSTLE .. SNAP )
I felt my muscles tense as the sounds of an animal making their way through the woods were heard. I looked back at Zephyr and mouthed silently.
" A deer? "
He shrugged, indicating he had no idea but nudged me a little to slowly getting up.
After a minute or so, we watched as something black made its way towards a tree .. and a second more sounds, it told us what we were looking at.
A Boar.
The little monster was busy pushing the earth with his nose around a birch tree 20 or feet from us.
We exchanged a look, and he gave me a confident nod.
I smiled and turned around, nocking my arrow.
Felt my breathing calming and started counting down .. 3 .. 2 .. loosened my hold ..
( TWACK .. THUD .. )
I ran out our cover, caring little about the surroundings and .. I killed it.
My arrow struck him in the neck, leaving no chance for escape.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. " How do you feel? "
I .. felt a little guilty looking at its corpse, unmoving, but I quickly shook those useless feelings away and ... I felt ..
" Lighter .. I feel lighter, my love. Does that make any sense? " I said a little out of breath for some reason.
He nodded with understanding and closed his arms around me. We stood there silently for a while.
I was finally able to feel the fatigue and drowsiness that was kept at bay by adrenaline.
I let go of my bow and made myself comfortable on his chest. The sounds of the forest from time to time kept me from falling asleep as I was standing.
After I didn't even know how long we heard sounds of footsteps but I still kept my eyes closed since I had a good idea the owners of those feet.
" .. You hunted a boar, Lylly? .. Ahh, all I managed is these squirrels. "
Demelza voice and statement made me finally take a look and saw her holding two recognizable little squirrels in hand.
" Hey, that's pretty, I told you. They are small and fast, plus .. you shoot them at night. " Alexander was quick to praise her skills, and rightfully so.
" You both done what I was hoping for .. do you feel better, sister? " Zephyr asked, looking at Dem.
She nodded and rested on her husband's shoulder. " I feel more relaxed and a little more confident, thank you. "
I gave my husband a kiss and walked towards Demelza and took her loot, and handed it to her husband.
" Be nice and bring our prey home. We are going to sleep. Thank you. "
We smiled at each other, looking back at the boys poking the Boar with sticks before they touched him.
The night was beautiful, and the forest that felt creepy and unsettling as long as I remembered now felt like a magical and enchanted forest, and we walked through it with brand new confidence.
The butterflies subsided in my stomach, and maybe we could grab some sleep before we wake with the rising sun to hunt legendary beasts.