Reunite

Chapter 8

I stumbled flights as my foot his the root of a tree, nearly falling into Connor's back, but was able to regain my balance before I could. "Stupid root." I grumbled under my breath, turning my head to glare at the tree root. I then look back at Connor's back, wondering what we were doing in the forest, and what my lesson would be with him. I couldn't help but look up in wonder at all the different colored leaves, my eyes seeming to give off a sparkle as the sun almost seemed to make the leaves give off a glow.

"(Y/N)." I felt an arm wrap around my waist before pulling me to their chest causing me to tense up slightly, not knowing what was going on. I looked down seeing a foot sized hold, most likely a badger den by the size of it. I look over, seeing Connor looking down at me with a raised brow.

I smiled sheepishly, "Sorry ... was too busy looking at the leaves. Enjoying nature ... you know." I say, gesturing to the colorful canopy above my head before looking back over at him.

A soft smile played on his lips as he unwrapped his arm from around my waist, looking up towards the canopy himself. "It is beautiful, autumn is one of my favorite seasons." He spoke, before taking my hand. "Come, this way, I already have the lesson prepared."

"What are we doing?" I asked, letting him lead me in the direction to a small clearing where the sun's rays danced across the light green grass. A bow and a quiver of arrows rested along a trunk of a pine tree that laid on the edge of the clearing. "Archery?" I asked which Connor nodded.

"Along with tracking but we can do that a little later." He answered, letting go of my hand to pick up a bow and arrow. He handed me the bow as I took it with my left hand, while Connor walked around to stand behind me, handing me an arrow along the way. I place the flat end of the arrow onto the string, adjusting my stance slightly before turning my head to look at Connor, waiting for further instructions.

Connor nodded ahead, "Hit that tree straight ahead, the one with red paint on it." He said, as I looked straight ahead, a few feet away there was a tree with a red streak across its bark. I took a deep breath in and out, before lifting the bow, pulling back the string to my jawline, taking my aim before letting go of the string. The arrow spiralled in the air before whizzing past the tree hitting a rock behind it, breaking the arrow.

"Whoops." I say, wincing slightly before turning my head, looking up Connor. He let out a small sigh before taking another arrow out from the quiver, before handing it to me. I took it, smiling at him nervously, before placing it against the string, pulling the bow back, aiming for the tree once more. Connor then stepped forward, his chest brushing against my back as his hand clasped over my own, pulling the string a little bit more back closer to the end of my jaw.

"You need to steady your hand as well as your breathing. As soon as you breath out, fire your shot." He instructed, whispering close to my ear causing me to blush lightly. However I pushed the feeling down and focused on the mark ahead. I took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly, before letting go of the string, the arrow this time nicked the side of the tree.

I smiled brightly, as I turned my head to look up at Connor, "I did it! Or uh ... hit the tree at least." I say, watching as a warm smile decorated Connor's lips.

"Do you want to keep going?" Connor asked as he moved the quiver closer to him, leaning it up against his leg before meeting my gaze.

"Of course!" I answered, practically jumping in excitement as I grabbed another arrow, placing it onto the string. "I will get an arrow in this tree." I say with a determined look, pulling back the bowstring once more. I fired at least five arrows, each one of them either nicking the side of the tree or flying right past it. I let out an agitated sigh, as Connor took the bow out of my hands.

"How about we move on to tracking?" He questioned, resting the bow up against the tree. "Come." He stated before walking across the clearing as I trailed behind him. He then stopped on the other side of the forest, coming to a stop besides a bush covered in edible berries. "What do you see?" Connor asked, gesturing to the area around him.

I looked around the area, unsure what I was supposed to be looking for until I noticed an orange tuft of fur on one of the bushes' branches. I crouch down before noticing a small dog-like paw print by the bush, concluding my hypothesis. "A fox was here." I stated, looking over at Connor who held a look of pride.

"Correct, now which way did the fox go?" He questioned, nodding in approval. My brows contorted in confusion as I began to look around forward, looking at the area around the bush. Trying to notice any signs on which way the fox went. I walked around the clearing, struggling to find signs where the fox went or any sign it had left at all.

I let out an agitated sigh, looking at him while saying with a shrug, "I don't know." Connor chuckled before pointing towards the other side of the bush.

"It went that way." He stated, walking over to stand by my side.

"How do you know?" I questioned, genuinely curious and wanting to learn. He gestured for me to follow him as he led me towards the side of the bush, gesturing a small tuft of orange fur as well as a stick being snapped in two while the grass seemed to be pushed apart. "That path right there means this fox and other animals takes that path often to get to this berry bush as well as the ground between the grass being dirt." He explained as my eyes gave of a sparkle.

"Cool! I would have never noticed it." I say with a smile, looking up at Connor who wore a soft smile.

"Ah there you are." I look past Connor to see Haytham walking up to the two of us. A frown decorated Connor's lips as he turned his head to look at his father with a cold stare. "I believe it is my time to take over." Haytham stated, clasping his hands behind his back.

I took my phone out of my back pocket, looking down at the time, realizing it has been an hour. "Oh, he's right." I mumbled, before turning off the device and slipping it back into my pocket. I walk towards Haytham, giving Connor a small wave saying, "See you later."

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Haytham handed me a pistol, from this century, before nodding towards a table with glass bottles sitting on top of them. We were in the barn currently, just in case a stray bullet hits one of my horses or the dogs. Shay was in the barn with us as well, leaning up against the wall with a rifle leaned up against the wall next to him. 

I held the small pistol with both hands, looking down the barrel with my eyes towards the bottles. I flinch lightly, nearly pulling the trigger as I felt hands being placed onto my shoulders. "Don't tense too much, relax your shoulders a bit but not too much." Haytham commented, before backing away. I lowered the gun to the floor, rolling my shoulders out before taking aim once more, pointing the gun to the bottle in the middle.

I then pulled the trigger firing a single shot breaking the top of the bottle, before moving on to the one on the left then the right, doing the same thing. Haytham looked at me in shock as I turned around. "What? I was in the army for a bit, they taught me the basics on how to fire a gun." I stated, putting the safety on just in case my finger slipped ... which had happened before. The guy had to go to the hospital for his foot, he deserved it for talking down to me but I still felt bad.

"How about the long range weapons lass?" Shay questioned, picking up the rifle before tossing it over to me. I caught the rifle, before looking at it confused causing Shay to laugh. "I take it you never held a rifle before?"

I shook my head, "Nope ... how do you hold it?" I questioned as Shay walked over, Haytham stepping aside, giving Shay room. Shay then adjusted my grip on the gun, placing the butt of it where the inside of my elbow while my other hand held the front. Shay took a few steps back, giving me room as I closed one eye, looking down the barrel of the gun, before pulling the trigger. Hitting the bottle, but it almost missed.

After some time, I heard footsteps enter the barn, turning my head to see Edward with his usual cocky grin on his face. "I think it's my turn lads."