The bow was heavy in her hand as she held the string back, trying to find her target on the large beast. She was in perfect position. The woman dare not move a muscle until she was sure she had the best target on the over sized buffalo. This kill would feed her people for months. Winter was coming and food was already scarce in this remote part of the world.
Steady now, she thought to herself as she closed one eye and locked onto the buffalo's head. Gently she let go of the string and the arrow buzzed through the air. It soared true and struck right into the eye of the beast. A loud thud came about as the large animal fell and the dust came up into the air. Rayna never had to worry about her arrows, they always seemed to land where she intended. Hunting was one of the natural talents she had and she was not sure why. That's why the village people relied on her. Rayna was also strange in that she hunted alone and in the middle of the night.
The woman did not know why she was more alive and alert at night when the moon was high in the blackened sky. She just felt a natural pull to the night and usually found comfort in her midnight strolls through the forest. Being awake during the day was draining for her. But at night she flourished. She liked to see the shadow side of things. The underbelly of reality that most creatures never saw. This was pure happiness for her.
Rayna marked the tree near where the dead buffalo lay. She would inform the other villagers where to retrieve the kill. That's usually how it worked. She would slay prey in the middle of the night and the others would come and collect. It was a wonderfully symbiotic relationship. Rayna did not have to come into contact with the people and she still earned her place in the village that had never fully accepted her.
Her night ended by the giant lake with an ancient oak overseeing the land. Rayna always felt a natural pull to the water. This was where she came to release her troubles from the day. Rayna walked waist deep into the water, gentle ripples spilling out from her disturbing the peaceful water. She raised her hands and the water came to life, flowing to where she willed it. It was not that she had water magic, it was more like she could influence and control water as the moon does the tides. She never understood this natural ability, but was thankful to have it.
She guided the water over the scrapes on her upper right arm. Rayna remembered the failed sparring match from the day. She was not good with fighting. Her strength was with emotional warfare , not physical. She hoped one day she would be strong enough to take on her enemies. For now she settled with healing her physical wounds and bruised ego.
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