The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 10 -

The leaves under Yeseul's feet rustled as she walked through the forest. Bow and a quiver full of arrows were strapped on her back. It was a nice day. The sun casted sunspots on the ground and there was as good as no wind. Yeseul took her bow and put in an arrow. Her father had sent her out to shoot rabbits or pheasants. She would bring them to the butcher in their neighbourhood, the mad butcher, well, the mad butcher's son. He was called this as his old father had episodes in which scream at people rudly without any reason and without his words making any sense. But since the son had taken over the business the father rarely ran the shop. Yeseul had been so lucky to never encounter him or one of his tirades. It woud've definitly scared her. As exchange for the meat she would bring Yeseul would get something comparable in weight of meat to bring to her family. Her father was also the one that came up with this tactic. It has saved them a lot of money over the years.

Suddenly Yeseul heard the sound of hooves. She was near a path and got closer to take a look. The sound of the hooves had stopped. The officials were hunting again probably, that was what went through her head first. No wonder she wasn't able to shoot anything up until now. As she came closer, she saw two horses. But instead of officials two Hwarang dressed in their red and black robes sat on the horses. More exactly Yeowool and Hanseong. Yeseul smiled as she realised that and got out of the forest to them.

»Hello«, she said loudly and got the attention of both of them. Both Hwarang seemed to be content to about her sudden appearance.

»Hello«, Hanseong greeted back with his usual carefree smile waving his hand.

»Hello«, Yeowool said smiling as well, »What are you doing? Hunting?« Her eyes got stuck on Yeowool for a moment as she thought about what she had realized recently. She felt her cheeks growing warmer. 

»Yes. My father sent me hunting.«

»Did you get anything?«, Hanseong asked curious.

»No.« Yeseul shook her head and spread her arms to show that she didn't have any prey on her. Yeowool looked at her for a moment before jumping of his horse.

»The Hwarang are hunting today so the animals fled further away«, he said, took the rabbit that hung from the back of his saddle and came towards her, »Here take it. I don't want you to go back without anything.«

»But Yeowool!«, contradicted Hanseong, »What about winning?«

»You only win when you shoot a deer, Hanseong. Didn't you listen?«, the Hwarang countered.

»Right«, Hanseong mumbled to himself, »You only win when you shoot a deer.« Then he talked to Yeowool again: »Alright, then you can give it to Yeseul, Yeowool. I'm sure she'll be happy!«

»I am«, Yeseul said smiling at the young Hwarang. Yeowool handed her the rabbit. »Thank you for the gift. But don't come to think I wouldn't be able to shoot myself.«

»No, I wouldn't think that way. I know you can shoot a pheasant from the sky.« Yeseul and Yeowool locked eyes with each other for a moment. Yeseul's heart started beating faster. They smiled. Their thoughts wandering back to that snowy field one and a half years ago.

»Anyway«, Yeseul ended that moment fearing that the eye contact would be too long, »Why are you hunting?«

»Ah, Princess Sookmyung came up with that. They also said it's the best way to train mounted shooting«, Hanseong explained.

»Princess Sookmyung?«

»Oh, I haven't told you about that«, Yeowool said, »Princess Sookmyung moved into the Hwarang House and watches over the training. She is pretty, but she's a little annoying.« Yeowool thought she was pretty? Something about this statement annoyed Yeseul.