//------------------------------//
// Prologue  
// Story: Words of power 
// by Sugar Moon 
//------------------------------//

She could see out into the forest. This range was the closest to her farm that Archer could do any hunting in. The rest of the land was turned into fields by the practical folk that lived hereabouts. Archer loved this forest, the freedom and the sense of the wild, untameable growth that sprung all around her, called to her like a siren song. She was never happier than right in this moment, just her, the trees and her prey.  

Carefully she side stepped across the forest floor, the dry crunchy leaves crackled softly underfoot. Her father hadn't quite taught her everything about woodcraft yet, she was only thirteen, much too young to be out here alone. As silently as she could she stalked deeper into the forest, the trees here grew thick and closely packed together, often-times over one another in a strange unfettered cacophony of life. There she thought as she peered around the trunk of a large oak, its bark slick with moss and dew, there was what she was after. 

In the middle of the clearing was a dummy. 

Its construct was basic, the shape vaguely resembled a large deer though not quite so impressive. Quietly she reached down into her quiver and brought up two thick arrows, the shafts a dark blue and the fletching even more so. She had made them herself, her own signature colour. Her father had said that part was important, to know which was yours and to make it with your own hands. She didn't know why and her father never explained, hoping as he always did that she would discover why for herself. Shaking her head to dispel the thoughts she once again peeked around the oak to set her sights on her prey. Releasing a breath she did not know she was holding, Archer sprang from her hiding place and quickly let off a flight of arrows, aiming for the dummy's neck. 

THWIP THWIP 

The arrows sang and thudded deep into its neck. 

Squealing with delight Archer ran over to “the spoils” and retrieved her arrows.  They had done their job, the heads had sunk a good four or five inches; if it had been a real deer they would have brought the beast down quickly and quietly, without causing much pain, damaging the meat or pelt her father had said. She sighed a little at that, she wasn't ready to kill a real deer yet. They were so majestic and strong. Part of the nature she so truly loved. Why did she need to kill them? 

'You've done well little one' a strong, sonorous voice said. 

Her father. How had he sneaked up on her like that. 

'Your stalking needs a little work but you're already my equal with the bow,' Archer flushed a little at that. 'I think we'll go home, eh? It's almost time for the feast down by the village.' 

Her father, Star Hunter, always doled out his lessons in small doses, never going too fast so to not miss anything. Each thing learnt was taught patiently and Archer, being young, was absolutely sick of it. 

'But I'm ready to learn now,' she moaned.

'Patience, Archer' he began 'this is the first thing you have to learn about hunting. If you rush into it you'll scare off everything you are looking for. Just charging in after something will never get you what you want. You're young, child, do not wish it to be over before you can enjoy it.' Lifting her up to put her on his shoulder and walking back through the clearing, he continued, eyes sparkling with humour, 'Besides Archie, who else is going to help me filch some of Mrs Cake's pies?' 

'Pies?' Archer asked feigning disinterest and failing. ' There's going to be pies there?'

'Oh yes,' he said holding back a grin, ' Pies, cakes, buttered bread and roast pig, hot potatoes with lashings of butter and gravy. Maybe even some pheasant and goose if your old man managed to grab a few this morning.' 

'And did you, papa? Manage to catch a few geese, I mean?' she gave up the charade, her belly was far too hungry to be toyed with when it came to the prospect of hot food. The roast geese was always the highlight of the feast day, and was served alongside a cornucopia of other meats like hog, beef and venison....

The thought of the venison stiffened her a little. 

'Something wrong, Archie?' her father asked, his stride through the forest wavered slightly as he had felt her tense up. ' I thought you loved feast day.' 

'I do it's just that...' Archer worried a little at how to begin without sounding foolish.'Those animals, papa; the ducks, the geese, the hogs and venison. You killed them, didn't you?' 

'Yes,' he said, simply. 

'But how, I just...' she trailed off unable to convey her thoughts. 

'You want to know why I could do such a thing, how I could kill them?' he looked up at his daughter who nodded. Sighing he continued, 'That's a rather tough question Archie,one I didn't think you'd ask for a while. I suppose because it's in my nature. I love animals but I love you more, so to survive we have to hunt them. I respect them though, that's part of what I've been trying to show you. Each animal I hunt let's us live another day, puts clothes on us and our friends backs. None of what we hunt is wasted, each part goes for something important. The sacrifice they make is an important one and I won't dishonour their memory with wastefulness or with carelessness. Each hunt I end the lives cleanly, with as little pain as possible. It's not a perfect solution but this isn't a perfect world, Archie.' 

They walked a bit longer in silence, Archer thinking over his words in her head. What he did was killing pure and simple, yet he was the kindest person she had ever met. He would kill an animal but she could tell that she loved them. Maybe he was right she thought. Right for him at least. 

The silence lasted a little longer as the only sound was his soft footfalls stepping over the wet grass before she decided to speak. 

'I don't think I want to hunt any more, papa,' it was barely a whisper but Star Hunter's finely tuned ears heard it, clear as crystal. 

'And what do you want to do?' he asked. 

'Can't we just live off the plants? Never killing and helping the forest and it's wild creatures. Couldn't we? Can't I?' she replied, her voice serious,almost pleading. 

'If anyone could do it Archie, it'd be you,' he laughed, full throated and hearty; the little girl from her perch on his shoulder beamed. ' If you want, you can try and we'll go over the types of plants that you can eat. For now though you'll just have to make do with the feast back at the village.' 

Laughing, she wrapped her arms around her father and swung from his shoulder, spinning them circles. 

'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' she all but squealed as she spun, her smile stretched across her little face in a perfect grin of happiness. 

'Alright, little one, now it's past time we got bac-' he cut off as a sharp break sounded out in the woods, a branch cracking in half under the weight of something. His response was instantaneous, running to the nearest tree he lifted Archer to the highest branch and sat her there. 

'Papa,' she protested before he shushed her. 

'Stay here, Archie,' he cautioned. 'I'll go check out what made that noise but you stay here. Do you understand me?' She nodded. 'Good. Stay there until I return. You remember what to do if I don't come back within an hour?' she nodded again.'Keep your eyes sharp and your bow shaper little one.' 

With those final words he stalked silently back into the forest. 

There was an unnatural quiet to the forest, Archer thought. The constant murmur of life, the sheer vibrancy of the animals here, was hushed somehow. The ebb and flow of the low voices of the creatures was replaced with a deafening silence. 

Still, she sat there, alone with only her quickened breath for sound. 

Finally a noise off to her right, a thud of heavy steps; quickly she sighted her bow and arrow and span in the direction of the noise only to be confronted with her father. 

Strange that he would make so much noise approaching her. 

'Papa?' she said hesitantly. 

'Yes child,' he answered voice scratchy as if it was barely used. 'Come on down.'

'No,' she said shaking her head.

'But you don't want to miss the feast, do you?' her father said maliciously, his eyes momentarily flickered green before settling back to his usual blue.'Oh, yes child. I can safely say, the feast wouldn't be the same without you.'