Accuracy has a minion!

Aim at the Harpier

The arrow flew from the bow like a bird set free from a cage. It moved through the air and hit its target in the back, penetrating its heart. Accuracy wasted no time and quickly knocked her next arrow and sent it into the eye of the second man below. The small family of three huddled in their wagon as the bandits around them fell one by one. None of them could see Accuracy as she moved from one tree branch to another. It was easy for her to tell which branch would best support her weight, even in the dim light of the forest. It was even easier to take down each clueless man with a carefully aimed arrow.

When it was safe, the small family peeked out at the bloody mess around them. They called out their thanks and asked for her to reveal herself. She could, but what would that do? Then they would just assume she would always be there ready to protect them. They had to learn they weren’t safe here. Accuracy aimed one last arrow at the side of the wagon. It hit the solid wood with a loud whack, startling them. They hurriedly packed themselves back in and urged the horses into a fast trot, taking them far away from.

While she collected her arrows from the bandits, trying to salvage as much as she could, Accuracy thought about the family. The little girl looked loved, her brown hair brushed to a shine, obviously by her mother. Accuracy remembered when her mother had done the same. She remembered cold nights snuggled up by the fire, her mother singing her to sleep and her father making shadow figures on the wall with his hands. There had been nothing those hands couldn’t do, except hold the door closed against the thieves. There hadn’t even been anything to steal, but still, Accuracy had had everything stolen from her.

Accuracy looked down at the mess around her. This was the third time this week she’d had to do something like this. It was annoying to say the least. At least the animals would take care of the cleanup. Unfortunately, not soon enough. A guard patrol came barreling down the path. Their noisy steps warned Accuracy long before they came into sight, giving her time to slip into the shadows. They were shouting about someone, someone they were searching for, a mage. The dead bandits put them on alert. They searched the area -never coming close to finding Accuracy- and the moved on.

A mage? Here? Accuracy tightened her grip on her bow, scanning the shadows. This could be trouble. “You shouldn’t hold that so tight. You’ll break it right in to and leave splinters all over your hand.” Accuracy spun around, an arrow already drawn. He stood with absolute calm against a nearby tree, his black hood covering his face. “Amazing.” He said with awe.

“What are you doing here?” Accuracy snapped, her voice quiet. She rarely had to speak and the words felt strange.

“My name is Anticipate, I’m looking for a place I can practice my magic freely, where I don’t have to worry about rules and guards.” He answered. “You see, I’m in the middle of creating several new spells and they can get dangerous.”

“Find another place.” Accuracy warned. He laughed at her. A pop of anger spread through Accuracy and her fingers released the arrow. It was just a warning hit, a scrape on his arm. It never reached his target.

He kept laughing and waved his hand dismissively. The arrow missed by several feet, embedding itself in an oak tree. “I thought you never missed.”

“How would you know that?” Accuracy snarled. Her fingers itched to draw another arrow, to shut his mouth.

“I’ve been watching you for a while now.” He said. “It was easy really, you’re a sucker for helpless families.” A second arrow flew, this one headed for his face. It stopped in mid-air inches away. Suddenly it was flying back towards her and buried itself into her calf. She was on her knees instantly, reaching for the shaft. He moved towards her and she responded with another readied arrow.

“Stop right there.” Accuracy said. Pain was making her vision blurry.

Anticipate continued forward, his hands held up in mock surrender. “That didn’t go so well last time, I don’t suggest you try it a second time. Who knows where it will land next time.” Accuracy reluctantly lowered the bow, keeping the arrow in place. “I have a proposition for you.”

“I want nothing to do with you.” She flexed her leg muscles, trying to determine if they would support her weight. It only had to be long enough to get away from him.

“But we could work together so well. You could give me the protection I need and could give you magical help. For example, how would you like me to heal that wound? It looks painful.” Anticipate smirked.

“I don’t need your help.” Accuracy wrenched the arrow out, keeping her face still despite the intense pain. She stood and marched away from Anticipate. He followed at her heels, still trying to convince her. Just a little further and he’d be unable to follow her. Accuracy stopped at the edge of a steep cliff and sneered at Anticipate. “The answer is still no.” She walked out along a fallen tree hanging precariously over the edge and dropped down safely. When she looked back up, he was gone.

Days passed, Anticipate came and went, always trying to get her to agree. She met his requests with stony silence, and once a carefully aimed arrow that still missed. Her leg continued to cause her trouble. Now she was the loud stumbling idiot who couldn’t sneak up on a blind man. The pain coursed through her at regular intervals and she was sure an infection was starting. None of her usual remedies seemed to be discouraging it. Then again, she’d never hurt like this.

In less than a week the wound was a horrible shade of green and black. Accuracy had stopped venturing out of her small home. There was little chance she would survive this and she had no plans to spend her last few days listening to Anticipate’s nonsense. He thought otherwise.

“I’m taking choice out of the equation. I’m not going to let you die from stubbornness when I still need you.” Accuracy wasn’t sure how he had gotten into her home, but there he stood at the foot of her bed. She automatically reached for her bow but the infection made her movements sloppy. Her hands grasped the bow wrong, pulling the wood in directions it wasn’t meant to go. It snapped in to, scattering wood chips all over her. “Stop moving, I need to concentrate. The infection has spread pretty far.” Accuracy felt his hands on her leg and kicked. An immense feeling of satisfaction washed over her when she felt her foot connect with his face. It didn’t last long.

He gripped her shoulders painfully tight, keeping her still. She saw his eyes briefly, the magic shining there stilled her. Anticipate moved back to the wound on her leg and carefully ran his fingers over it. Accuracy screamed involuntarily and blacked out.

She awoke several hours later with the sun shining on her face. The blankets were wrapped tightly around her, forming a cocoon. On a table beside her was a bowl of water and a damp washcloth. Anticipate was across the room asleep in a large comfy chair that hadn’t been there before. Accuracy saw an opportunity and reached for her bow. Her hands closed around the fragments and she remembered what had happened. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t be very grateful for my help.” Anticipate said, keeping his eyes closed.

“Get out.” Accuracy said. Her voice held less anger than before, weariness had taken the center spot.

“All I’m asking is that you keep pesky intruders away from me. I won’t bother you unless absolutely necessary.” Anticipate said. He too sounded tired, as if he were close to giving up. “Please?”

“What kind of magic help would you be giving me exactly?” Accuracy asked slowly.

“Something like this.” He didn’t move, but the bow fragments in Accuracy’s hands glowed and snapped back together with a small pop.

“I could have just made a new one.” She said, quietly impressed.

“But would it be unbreakable?” he asked.

“With the magic you have, why not just keep those pesky intruders away on your own?” Accuracy asked.

“I could, but I have other plans for my magical energy.” He said, standing to leave. “Besides, then I would just be alone. People can go crazy when they’re alone too long.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, they can get violent and attack anything that moves.” He laughed and walked out the door, leaving Accuracy alone in her home. She had been right to think he would be trouble.

Profile layout by Fiore! ♥️ Coding by me~
Amazing story by SkyeBear!
Wonderful art by Phobia!
Pixel art by Senpai!