So this one is [u]very[/u] late, this time I don't have excuses. I was just caught up doing other things, sadly. I'll post another chapter by the end of today to make up for it. ==================== V. An Aria ==================== "You look like you already learned how to use a rifle!" Dax complimented me for the umpteenth time today. I actually felt really good about myself now, granted I had indeed learned how to shoot a rifle from the previous Guardians. They claimed I would make a good Hunter, and one said I should join the Apothecracy when I turn of age. All in all, I felt happy. I looked through the scope again, it was a simple three to nine times scope obviously meant for right eyed users. The crosshairs of the scope had lines beneath the crosshair, obviously meant for range finding. The outside had two knobs for windage and gravitational adjustments and a ring to increase or decrease the magnification. Obviously, this was a very dated scope. I breathed steadily, counting my breaths. I was in an awkward position, taking cover behind the roots of a tree and laying the forward handguard on the root itself. One breath. Two. I began exhaling my third one, then stopped midway. It steadied my hands, lowered my heart rate, made me deadly. I had it adjusted to a three times zoom, we were in a forest and therefore I would need as much peripheral vision as possible. I slowly squeeze the trigger, using only the top part of my index finger to make sure my rifle didn't move. I let off the shot, straight and true. I see a spark from the target eight hundred yards away, confirming my accuracy. My scope was now zoomed in and my aiming has been honed for forest conditions. I hear from my mentor with binoculars behind me, "Nice shot!" I still shoulder the rifle, but point it upwards. He tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around to look, obviously he had something to say. "Now all you need to do," I listened with undivided attention, "is name it." Name [i]it[/i]? I was utterly befuddled, "Name what?" He pointed to the gun I held, burnt on one side. "The gun. Every gun has a name." I looked at the rifle I held, now grown accustom to its weight and size. What would I name it? Something personal and unique. "I'll think about it." We turned around and shared a glance at each other, one of camaraderie and understanding. But most of all, we shared a bond. A bond where we were able to entrust each other with our lives, I'm simply afraid I won't live up to my part. As these thoughts weighed me down, I began to walk absent mindedly. "This world is after me." I mutter beneath my breath, but Dax hears it and responds, "Not only this one, but all the others too. This world is after me, and after you." I stop in my tracks and look to the figure, "Now we can run away, like you were doing a few days ago; [i]or[/i] we can stand our ground." "Is this our destiny?" I asked, curious to know his answer. He shrugged and just continued walking as if not a thing was wrong. "I'm doing this to protect humanity," he stopped and said over his shoulder, "what are [i]you[/i] fighting for?" He then continued walking back to the camp. It was a difficult question to answer. Was I fighting for survival? No, I think I was fighting for something else, something greedy. It wasn't material wealth, nor was it recognition from hundreds of people. But perhaps in memory of just one. Perhaps I was doing this to make myself feel better about this, about leaving all those people to die in the cold mountains. I decided to think about this later in the night, right now we had other matters to attend to. We made it back to camp with little to no activity along the way. The camp was very nicely camouflaged, we chose two trees with large gaps beneath them; kind of like the ones you'd see in the swamps of Chicago. However, these were dry and quite comfortable. However, it was not the time for sleep yet. "While you're preparing..." I look at the mysterious meat he pulled out of the pack and decided to finish the rest of my sentence, "whatever that is. I'm going to practice more." Without breaking concentration no his task, he waved the back of his hand to me and I made my way back to my "spot". I looked through the scope and slowly zoomed in to nine times, to check my target mainly. However, as I'm trying to concentrate on zooming my scope for this new magnification, something flapping catches my eye. It was more an annoyance to me because it constantly moved in the background of the target. "Fine." I begrudgingly arise from my location and walk to the target. The target is an old and rusted metal sign from ages past. I count all the bullet holes and note my grouping on the makeshift target. I turn slightly to the right and try finding that flapping object in the wind. Another breeze comes and I immediately notice it. It had an earthy colour and appeared to be a piece of fabric. I lift it from the branch and noted how truly light the garb was. It looked like a cloak truthfully, but it had sleeves. The cloak wasn't terribly long either, if you compare it to an adult. It looked as if it would go to approximately the back of the knee. For me, however, the sleeves continued for a good bit past my hands, and the cloak dragged on the floor. I wrapped it around the stock of my precision rifle and tied it tight. Satisfied with that, I sprinted back to camp. Not only to show my new discovery, but also to test my stamina and evasion skills. I ran in a random pattern, taking turns when none was needed and slid under fallen logs. By the time I arrived back at the camp, I was out of breath and ready to dine upon whatever was served in front of me. Except there was no fire, no food, and Dax was no where to be found. I peered around cautiously, and shouldered my rifle for good measure. I crouch and take cover behind the roots of the large tree I was next to. I keep peering around, attempting to find a glimpse of my partner. I eventually find him, hidden within the tree opposite of mine. He lifts his finger to where his mouth would be, then points it opposite of the direction I ran in from. In that direction, figures began to arise from the shadows. Each had a weapon, each of them had killing intent worthy of alien creatures. Eight of them were walking forward, determined to eliminate us. My first true test. I put the rifle on top of the roots, slowly and carefully. I take aim just like in practice. One breath. Two breaths. I hold my breath and aim for the first one, center of his chest. I continue my practiced motion, to the point where it becomes like fluid. I squeeze the trigger ever so slowly. The familiar shock of the rifle fills me with excitement, and for this single moment everything is a standstill. In that moment, my rifle sang an Aria which echoed through the night. =================== Looking back on this chapter, I feel like I rushed this one. It just feels a bit off to me, oh well. Same thing as always, if you have suggestions, feedback, criticism, or requests; feel free to ask them!