Welcome to Gaia! ::

The final bell had rung out over Crystal Academy some 30 minutes ago. Rather than migrating home, Harper Rafferty and a handful of students instead made their way to the archery range.

The after-school weather for the school's Archery Club meeting was a welcome respite from the usual biting cold that had settled on Destiny City during the winter. There was still a slight n** to the air, but the wind was infrequent and the sun was out. Everyone was still in their powder-blue school uniforms, but jackets, scarves, and other bundling-type clothing was not necessary to be comfortable for once. Perhaps spring would finally break through soon? (None too soon, either, if this flu going around was any sign.) Harper gathered her gear: recurve bow, set of arrows and quiver, and the protective slip of leather for her forearm. As her pulling skills improved, she was also popping herself less with the string... just not enough to give up that bit of leather. Stepping out onto the archery range, Harper smiled and basked in the warmth for awhile. It was a moment of peace that she took greedily, a moment that did not involve schoolwork or galactic wars or even anything going on at home.

Usually, she was more chatty with her fellow Archery Club members. Especially during these Wednesday meetings, because it was only for beginners and intermediates like herself -- which meant, for Harper, less pressure while shooting. However, this time there were some butterflies mingling in her stomach. They were going to have a guest instructor on the range to help them out. Harper actually liked the idea of having an advanced fellow student in such a position; it was different than shooting next to them, certainly. Still, she couldn't help a bit of nervousness. She had started archery for the fun of it, but like a lot of things in Harper's life, she couldn't have fun without some seriousness mixed in.

Harper fiddled with the bowstring lightly while she waited, checking the notches and tension. She wasn't good enough for the more complex bows yet -- she didn't dare even touch the mechanisms on one, unsure of what they did besides make the arrow go faster. Currently, she was simply trying to get it to go straighter. She could hit the target's colors often enough, even competently. Yet, every so often, it was as though they had a mind of their own and would fly wildly off into the blue yonder. It was pretty horrible.

Hopefully it would not happen today, in front of the guest instructor of all people. The archer was coming in as a favor to the club and Harper was trying not to embarrass absolutely everyone involved!

Just as Harper was turning to check the clock, the club door was opened by a girl who only looked a little older than herself (but with so much more hair). It couldn't be a new recruit with admissions closed, so it had to be the instructor. Smoothing out her nerves, Harper went to greet her.

"Hi! Welcome to our archery club."

"Not a problem," Harper said, smiling and slinging her bow around her shoulder, "We were just getting ready ourselves." Phew! So far so good - there was always the chance with strangers that they could turn out to be a real sack of potatoes - and not nice potatoes, either. It was one of those worries that didn't surface until the danger had passed, so to speak.

Harper gave their guest a moment to set her things down before taking charge again. She wasn't an official captain of the so-called junior varsity squad (not that such a position existed at the time, or else she would have been), but that wasn't going to stop her.

"The guest instructor is here!" she announced loudly. In a playful whisper, she added to their guest, "Don't be anxious - you're leagues above us." Harper waited another moment just to be positive no one had notched bows before stepping in front of the eager crowd. "I know we'll all learn something today," she finished, motioning for their guest to take her place in front.