Calling all Demigods! discussion

Hayley kept her frustration at bay with a simple, calming exhale through the mouth. "Just pretend you're going to show an arrow, get ready and all that stuff, raise your bow, but don't. Shoot."

"Ahh, okay." Miles said. "Why didn't you just say that?" Miles notched the arrow in place and pulled back his arm.

"I--Never mind," Hayley said with a sigh, shaking her head. She stepped back and studied Miles for a moment, then the fallen arrow a few feet before him. "Raise your bow," she advised.

Miles inched his lift arm a bit. "Better?"

"Not quite," Hayley observed, moving her arm out to move the tip of Miles' bow up. "Okay, now, pull back, slowly..."

Miles pulled back slowly, just like how Hayley isntructed him.

Hayley watched until it was far enough, stopping his arm with a gentle tap. "Alright, now, aim...and shoot."

Miles let go. To his surprise, the arrow zoomed past his fallen arrows and hit the board, scoring a 25. "Woah!" He breathed. "That's the best I've ever gotten!"

"Of course it is, I was teaching you," Hayley said, as if it were obvious.

Miles chuckled. "Thanks," he said before taking another one.

"Here's something that'll help you remember: Don't let your bow go too low," Hayley advised, making the rhyme up off the top of her head.

Miles chuckled. "That ryhmed." He said, before muttering it under his breath and shooting again, again hitting the 25, but this time closer to the 30.

"I'm daughter of Apollo, what do you expect?" Hayley asked with a comical waggle of the brows.

Miles giggled and went to retrieve his arrows.

Hayley notched an arrow on her bow, aiming for the same target. She easily let it fly and hit another bull's-eye.

Miles made a face at her before letting another arrow go. Using his magic, he made it hit the middle of the bull's-eye. "Good enough for you?" He smirked at her.

Hayley narrowed her eyes suspiciously, then shrugged. "I don't see what you're trying to prove," she said nonchalantly, sending a volley of about five arrows toward a target of their own. Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud. And they all hit the center on point.

Miles sighed, but took another arrow.

"I wouldn't take it so heavily, this is like, the only thing I'm good at that's useful," Hayley said, going to retrive her arrows.

Miles mused for a moment before throwing an arrow at the target.

Hayley returned with a full quiver, going over to a more challenging target. She focused hard on aim, but released too early and her arrow fell a few feet short of it's target location.

Miles tilted his head to the side before standing his back facing Hayley, as he was a left-handed warrior.

Hayley noticed that with a bemused look on her face. "Left-handed, eh?" She flexed her right hand, her strongest hand, unconsciously as she observed the tiny detail.

Miles turned. 'Yep," he said, fitting another arrow into place.

Hayley notched an arrow into place, aiming for a farther, more difficult target. She pulled back so far the bow looked like it would snap, but with expert measurement, she let it go and the arrow whistled past, hitting the target's inner ring.

Miles looked at her, impressed before shooting the arrow at the target. She had inspired him, and he shot with the same confidence as Hayley did.

"Good job," Hayley praised with a beaming smile. But something about the smile wasn't so beaming, like it was almost dull, forced, and fake.

Miles beamed at Hayley. "Thanks," he said with pride, not noticing that something was wrong.

((SHE CAN TELL HIM!))

((TELL HIM VAT?))
"Praise well deserved," Hayley said with a shrug.

((WHAT HAPPENED, Y'ALL.))

Miles blinked. Something wasn't as it seemed. "Are you sure you're alright?

((OH. I are smart. -.-))

Hayley blinked, the question catching her off guard. "Um, yeah, I guess," she replied, rubbing the back of her neck and biting her lip.

Miles looked at her sternly. "I guess?" He asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Is guessing a crime?" Hayley joked in a weak attempt to make the situation lighter.

Miles shook his head. "It's not, but when its about your feelings, it is."

"Sue me," Hayley said with another shrug.

Miles blinked. "Hayley, you can tell me. I won't tell anyone, I swear it upon the River Styx." In the distance, thunder rumbled, making Miles jump.

Hayley only regarded the sound with a small twitch of the fingers, gaze growing hard. "It doesn't matter, because everyone knows."

Miles frowned. "Then why don't I know?"

"You do. Or at least, you should," Hayley replied, looking back at her far target. "About the Hunters."

Miles blinked. "Do you mind elaborating?"

"About two or more of the Hunters dying," Hayley allowed, narrowing her eyes and ducking her head to hide the pain in her expression.

Miles gasped. "Really? T-thats terrible!" He was choked with emotion.

"It was bound to happen, but they hunt among the starts now," Hayley said, forcing her voice to stay strong. I'm the worst friend ever. I had no idea, and I didn't even get to say good-bye.

Miles looked up and put three fingers next to his temple in salute.

"I can't believe you didn't know," Hayley muttered, letting an arrow go.

"No one tells me anything." He mumbled. "It's like they're terrified."

"Terrified of what?" Hayley asked, peeking at him though her protective wall of hair.

Miles shrugged. "I unno."

"What's to be terrified about? No offense, but I'm scarier than you when I wake up in the morning," Hayley said, half-joking.

Miles broke into a grin. "I unno, like I might separate their brain from thier bodies?" Miles suggested.