This is a prompt response I wrote for a Livejournal community (http://community.livejournal.com/100originalfics). I don't really like this response a whole lot, but it's still very rough, and I also don't know much about the world/characters I'm dealing with. It's one of my first attempts at playing around with the main character, Archer, so...yeah. ETA: I should also note that Thalia is the temporary place that Archer lives in at the moment. I have no clue if I'm going to stick to that or not yet.
Title: Beginnings
Universe/characters: Er. No specific universe at the moment. Archer and Erabus are the main characters in it.
Prompt: 1- Beginnings
Word Count: 891
Rating: G
Notes: I feel like this is kind of "blah," but it's at least a very...rough prompt response and will probably be fleshed out in the future. As far as critiques go, I'm not really looking for anything specific. This is a very rough scene that, if I use in the future, will obviously be rewritten.
Beginnings- Prompt One
The small Thalian courtyard was more crowded than usual. Standing around three figures was a crowd of at least ten other children of various ages and sizes, watching intensely as they waited for the small archery competition that was being held.
The shortest of the figures that was being watched stood as still as possible, green eyes staring at the target about fifteen feet away. Curling locks of red hair fell to the middle of the fourteen-year-old’s back, resting against a green sleeveless cloak. One hand held the bow string of her weapon tightly while the other held the bow itself. Over one shoulder on a strap was a full quiver of arrows.
Standing next to her was a boy not more than three years older than the girl, arms folded across his chest as his deep blue eyes watched. From a distance. it was possible that he could pass for being older than he really was.
“You can do this, Archer,” a voice said from behind her.
The target was a boy about a year older than her, standing straight and tall, completely still. An apple balanced on top of his head.
On the girl’s other side was a boy around her age, holding a bow with an arrow knocked and held ready like hers.
“Remember, whoever loses owes ten shillings to the winner,” the boy said.
“Ten shillings,” the girl replied with a nod.
“Go!” someone yelled.
The two sent their arrows flying toward the target. The arrows sped quickly, one gaining speed against the other. The arrow in the lead was the first to hit the apple, splitting it in two. The other arrow barely missed the apple and fell to the ground with the pieces of apple.
A member of the crowd walked to the tree that the first arrow had lodged itself in to. On one side was a marking in the shape of an A, indicating the winner.
“Archer wins!”
Most of the crowd began cheering as the girl relaxed and lowered her bow. She smiled happily as the crowd continued cheering, daring to flash a grin at her opponent.
With a growl, the boy dug some coins out of his pocket and shoved them in to Archer’s hand.
“Here, take your money,” he growled, then stormed off, a few of his friends following behind.
Archer looked at the other boy who had stood beside her. He returned her gaze, and after a moment a grin came to his features as he reached out to rustle her hair.
“I knew you could do it, Arch. You concentrated and did everything I taught you,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Erabus. I couldn’t do it without…”
“Kaiana!” a deep voice suddenly boomed.
Everyone whirled around to see a man standing tall at about six feet on the steps that led to the courtyard from inside the surrounding building. His face was hidden by shadows from the towers hovering over him, but his dark green glowed within them.
“Father, I . . .” Archer started to reply, moving to stand closer to Erabus.
The man Archer acknowledged as her father stepped out of the shadows and moved quickly toward her, standing a few feet from her.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I . . . I was challenged by one of the other kids to play a shooting game,” Archer stuttered. The other children ran away and disappeared out of the courtyard, leaving Archer, her father, and Erabus alone. Cowards, she thought.
Her father turned her head to one side, his eyes looking to Erabus, who stood silently by Archer’s side.
“I thought I told you I didn’t want you teaching her these things,” he said.
“You did, Father. I didn’t teach her anything more. She used her own skills, and won,” Erabus replied, a grin playing at his lips.
“Kaiana, give me the bow,” her father ordered. When Kaiana didn’t comply right away, he turned his head to look back at her. “Now!” he bellowed.
With a sigh, Kaiana hung her head as she handed over her bow. She then moved the strap of the quiver on her shoulder off of it and handed it over to her father.
“I don’t want to see you using these again. Am I understood?” her father said.
Kaiana nodded slowly, “Yes, Father.”
With that he stormed off, leaving Kaiana and Erabus alone in the courtyard.
“I’m sorry he took them away, Erabus. I should’ve been more careful and stuck to using the bow in the forest where he couldn’t see me,” Kaiana said once he had left.
Erabus ran a hand through his short trimmed hair, shaking his head, “It’s not your fault, Archer. Father just…” He let out a frustrated sigh. “He doesn’t seem to trust your skills, despite what he’s seen with his own eyes. It’s a shame . . . with practice, you could be great.”
“I can still be great, Erabus,” she replied. “I’m only fourteen. He’s not going to hold me back forever. I won’t let him.”
Erabus placed an arm over Kaiana’s shoulder, nodding slightly, “I know, Kai. This is only a beginning for the two of us, though. As soon as we’re both old enough to be out of Father’s grip, we’ll leave this place. I promise.”
