𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 ➪ «𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛»

ch. XV - 《the softest of men》

oOo

After teaching Diana a proper stance when shooting immobile targets, they worked on her draw. Diana's arms were sore from that morning's training and she told Daryl that, since she didn't want him thinking she was a weak little weakling.

He advised that she should let her back muscles do most of the work, and put his hand flat between her shoulder blades, telling her to focus on those muscles as she drew the bowstring.

Then, he lowered her elbow, raised her bow arm and told her to focus on her breathing. It was incredibly hard to breathe normally once you're made aware of it and specially when someone was scrutinizing your every move from up close. At one point she deviated from her stance and Daryl rotated her gently by the hips to face him again.

Diana wasn't very keen on having people close to her face, it made her feel observed and judged, every flaw on her skin for the other person to see, it made her anxious. But after some time, when she realized he wasn't looking at her, but rather concentrating on the task at hand, the weight on her chest lifted and it became easier to breathe and focus.

Daryl supported her bow arm with one hand and with the other brought her draw arm down an inch, so that her hand rested under her jaw and the string sat comfortably against the tip of her nose.

"Better. When you breathe out, let go and don't move until the arrow's hit the target, get it?"

Diana nodded with a short glance at him. There was a nuance of nervousness in her that made her stomach turn, but she did as was told.

The arrow flew straight into the target she'd envisioned, imbedding itself in the tree trunk with a quiet sound inaudible over the noises of the forest itself. It disappeared exactly one second after, Diana counted, and she dropped her arm.

She jumped in place once and whooped and pumped her fist in the air with an excited "Fuck yeah!" And turned to Daryl, who had stepped back at her outburst, and held her hand high, a grin on her lips that was less smile and more a beam of sunshine.

"High five, oh gimme a high five!"

Daryl raised his hand to her, which Diana slapped repeatedly and forcefully in her joy.

She stopped once she noticed how obnoxiously loud she had been and cleared her throat, apologizing. She felt a flush on her cheeks and hoped it wasn't dark enough to be noticeable. She couldn't help it; she'd done it! Correctly and very professional-looking, might she add. The arrow had hit the exact spot she'd been aiming at, unlike the times she'd tried before, which goes to show that it had indeed been better to ask Daryl instead of 'just going for it' as Felix had suggested.

She took some deep breaths to slow her heartrate and will the blush away.

"Yeah, don't break your arm pattin' yourself on the back, I wanna see it again."

Diana saluted mockingly and dropped to her stance, mentally checking all the steps. She aimed, breathed out and let go of the string. That time, it was a bit off the intended target, but she was still satisfied.

Daryl nodded and pointed at a higher branch with a nest on it. "There, faster, under the nest."

She shot and missed, the arrow whizzed by its target and disappeared into the canopy. She let out a frustrated huff and frowned at Daryl, who shrugged.

"Can't hit 'em all. That pronged branch."

Shoot and miss.

"Fast, c'mon, that tree right there."

Shoot and miss.

"Ughh, what's wrong? Why am I messing everything up?" Diana wanted to curse at the bow and its almost taunting humming, at the risk of looking like a moron. Instead she crossed her arms and pursed her lips like a child throwing a tantrum.