Fireheart

I am silent.

I am patient.

I am calm.

I am focused.

Cecily Mallory recited her mantra, taking small silent breaths as she drew her bow. Never losing focus on her target, she crouched within the tree branches, completely camouflaged and hidden from view. No distractions would make her lose focus, for focus was control, and in control there is victory.

So at just the right moment, Cecily exhaled, letting the arrow fly freely until it hit her mark, her aim so precise and exact that it was not off by a single hair.

The deer crumpled to the ground almost instantaneously, the pierced arrow in its heart making death practically painless. Cecily only hoped for death like that.

Finally able to steady her racing heartbeat and trembling hands, she leaped, weightlessness washing over her if only for a few seconds. In a flawless tumbling maneuver she landed seemingly effortlessly.

Standing tall and proud she strided over to her prey, her worn out hiking boots crunching the twigs and leaves beneath her feet. She had no need for silence and secrecy now that her victim had been defeated.

Beaming like the overgrown child she was, she knelt in front of her kill, whispering her thankful prayers for yet another meal. Using small pieces of rope from her hunting bag she rapidly tied its hands and feet together before slinging it over her shoulder, not getting a single drop of blood on her forest green tunic. Less washing for her to do later.

Quite content with her success, Cecily drew back her hood revealing the fiery red hair underneath, and started to hum a tune as she sauntered back to camp.

Minutes later she reached the paved trail leading to the entrance of Miralilith and happily started walking in the opposite direction, using the trail as a guide back to where they were camped.

Dreaming of the mini-feast that she was to have later she continued her small journey, practically skipping with contentment. That is, until she was suddenly jerked out of her haze by the thumping of horse hooves and shouting of men off in the distance.

She froze for a split second before her years of training and instincts kicked in and she immediately went into high alert.

In a lightning quick flash of movement she let the deer tumble down to the ground, the arrow still lodged into its heart, and dashed into the woods just as the silhouettes of the men and horses loomed over the hill.

Her movements swift and fast like lightning, Cecily yanked the hood over her head to conceal the bright red that was bound catch someone's eye.

Gripping a loose tree branch before swinging herself on top of it she rapidly scurried up the sturdy tree. Pushing herself against the aged bark to better camouflage herself, the green of her tunic making that much easier.

Clutching her bow to her chest she tried her best not to make a single sound as she watched the small legion of soldiers-easily identifiable by the striking red and gold crests that laced their uniforms-loudly trek back to the heart of the city before suddenly coming to a screeching halt.

A wave of dread and anxiety washed over Cecily. She involuntarily held her breath as one of the leading men-most likely a commander of some sort based on the overwhelming amount of medals and badges that covered his chest-hopped off his horse, shouting out commands to the soldiers behind him.

With eyes like a hawk, Cecily followed his every move until he stopped in front of the deer that she had so foolishly left there. Her heart couldn't help but skip a beat, mentally scolding herself for her carelessness.