04:46 PM

Salamandastron: Caverns - Archery Range
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
As the training room cannot fit a truly adequate, large enough archery range, this large room, down in the caverns of the mountain, has been converted into one. It, in itself, is rather cavernous, and is more long than it is wide. The furthest wall from the entrance is lined with archery targets, at least a ten, and they are each separated by a few feet. Along the closest wall to the door, barrels are placed, containing arrows as well as bows, to practice with. Further, the walls are lined with torches, though the ones behind the archery targets are protected by metal grates, of a sort. The room is relatively well lit, and is usually a moderate temperature.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
                  Visible Exits:
[C]averns

Another day, another training session for Jarril as he moves along the line.  Right now, his fur has been restored back to it's original colour as he stops behind one of his best runners so far and watches as one of them gets a shaft right in the middle of the target.  Coughing slightly he nods for the two of them to face him.  "Ah, very good.  I am going ta put ya two for the next test, I think ya learnt all that ya can."  He smiles.  "I've already requested that ya both be placed on my patrol but if I only get one of ya do not think going ta another patrol is anything less.  Ya do a good job regardless."  He carries on talking to them as he hands them both a scroll each.  "The exam is in two days from now, it be outside.  The written exam will be after the physical exam is over with."  He carries on talking nonetheless to the two older second year hares.

No longer a recruit, Taye's sense of the recruit schedule has long since gone. That is why, when he comes through the doorway and into the archery range, he pauses in surprise as he finds every range in use. His own personal bow is slung over his shoulder, and he looks around with a sigh and a frown. "... Damn."

For those who know Zeraph well enough, it is apparent that the hare has something else on his mind as he tries to get a recruit to straighten out his aim. This is, while Jarril is paying attention to those two older hares for the moment. "You've got to remember to look /down/ the arrow.. so you can aim properly..Yeah. Like that." Suddenly Taye entering gets his focus, glancing towards the runner. This is when the recruit lets the shaft go. He seems a little startled.

Jarril nods his head and smiles at the two recruits and nods for them to leave.  "I'd go and revise, ya don't need anymore archery training right now."  Seeing them both nod and salute the major watches them run off with a look of pride on his face.  He turns around and blinks as he shouts out to one of the first years.  "Straighten out that arm and..."  He blinks as he see's one fire a shaft but falls backwards at the same time.  "And bally well put ya opposite foot behind ya a bit."  Shaking his head, the major walks over to where they are.

Catch Zeraph's eye as he looks about, Taye blinks, looking startled himself, and looks away. His eyes come to rest on, of all creatures, Jarril. Resettling his bow on his shoulder, he crosses over to the major, and by association, Zeraph. He salutes, though he doesn't directly look at Zeraph. "Sahs," he greets.

Jarril blinks and grins.  "Ah just the hare I want ta see."  He looks at Taye for a moment.  "I think it's time for some proper training for ya, so I made something up for ya."  He points to the very far end of the room.  "Ya find it down there but we head there in a moment."

Zeraph sighs a little when the runner doesn't seem to want to be too close to him. So the hare just clears his throat, with a nod of greeting. He never wanted to be the officer that everyone was afraid of. Or whatever the younger hares are doing to him now. After a greeting to Jarril, he goes back to trying to help that recruit out, as if it is the most interesting thing in the world.

Taye's eyebrows go up, and he smiles a little bit. "So, what? Those seasons of sittin' through classes 'n' work? That wasn't propah trainin'? 'Cause, hell, wish someone woulda told me that /then/." He chuckles, but it slacks off as Zeraph returns to his assistance of the recruit.

Jarril grins and begins to walk, replying back to Taye.  "Oh that, well doesn't help ta improve training and come up with new ideas.  Besides I am trying ta impress the upper ranks, doesn't hurt ta do that from time ta time."  He grins and nods.  "Politics and all but it will help the patrol anyways."  He stops at the end and turns around.  "And here it is."  He points to a large wooden structure built at the other end with thick logs, two legs on each end which meet at the top with another log along the side high up.  "It took a while for the carpenters ta help, though our squirrels that were staying helped out."  In the middle of the log, suspended by rope is another log which just hangs there.  "Moving target practise.  Should improve archers from trainee's ta fully fledge archers and sling shots.  Want ta give it a go?"

"You're just not thinking about this the right way." Raph can be heard to be saying to the recruit, trying to organize his words and thoughts as they should be. However, the young hare seems to think this is something against him and begins to look upset. "Oh.. come on." The Lieutenant tries to start working him back into a more 'enthusiastic' mood. Mostly so he won't cry. After a moment, he pats him on the back. "Just, practice more, I'll be back." And with this, the officer goes to try and help someone else for a little while.

Taye turns his eyes towards the strange contraption at the other end, and with a blink he nods. "Can't believe I didn't notice it firs' thing... Where'd ya get the idea?" His ears flick in Zeraph's direction as they pass him on their walk to the other end of the room. "But sure, I'll give it a try. Might embarrass m'self in front of the recruits, but..."

Jarril grins as he replies.  "Well, the thought came ta me that most of the recruits never have a moving target ta fire at, which most find out the hard way on their first patrol.  Standing targets they get ta know fine but moving ones are a bit tricky without risking someone."  He nods to a large fighter hare who runs over to the other side and nods as he pushes the big log to make it swing side to side.  "I have ta get the log painted though ta have a target on there but it should be enough to improve skills I think."  Nodding for the other hare to run back he pats Taye on the shoulder.  "Alright, don't worry, ya the first ta try this out."  He steps back and nods his head so that he can watch.

Zeraph's attention turns to what Jarril and Taye are doing for a moment, ears perking as he watches in that thoughtful manner. But then the recruits get his attention again, and he begins re-positioning one of them completely, using his footpaw to scoot the young hare's own back. "Don't bend your elbow like that." This is becoming a full-time thing for him.

Taye eyes the rig speculatively, watching the process the hare has to go through to get the log moving. "Ya might secure the log to the wall with a rope or somethin', 'n' just release it when ya want it to swing." He's drawing an arrow from a barrel of practice arrows as he says this, setting it to bow. He draws the bow string and arrow back, held securely between two knuckles. For a few seconds his bow sweeps from side to side, following the path of the log, and then, breath held, he lets the arrow fly. The breath bursts out in a woosh, and he watches as the arrow strikes the log and ricochets off the top, hitting the wall behind and clattering to the floor. He frowns.

Jarril grins.  "I have other plans for the structure but it was easier ta make this so it can be changed easily than get something attached to the rock."

A smile is actually given when the recruit that Zeraph was helping out actually hits the target closer to the center. "Very good. Now keep doing that. You'll get better." He gives this one a reassuring pat on the shoulder, then moves on. Every now and then he glances towards what Jarril and Taye are doing.

Taye nods, his lips twitching thoughtfully. "... Yeah," he murmurs, and sets another arrow to his bow. Once again his bow moves with the path of the log, and once again he releases with an outward-letting of breath. This one does not strike the center of the log, but rather a little to right of center. It strikes and sticks into the wood, however, and for this Taye grins. "Not a bad thing, sah."

Jarril grins.  "Well, it should be something ta keep ya and others here ta practise on."  He nods his head and smiles.  "We see how the others think of it though in due cause."

Terrance walks into the range and nods to the other hares, making his way to a free target lane out of the way of the others with a sling in one paw and a pouch of stones in the other. Setting the stones down on the ground he picks one out and loads it in the sling and then looks to the target. Rolling his neck a little, the recruit then starts twirling the sling and lets the rock fly, hitting on the second ring from the center.

Taye grins. "Not m'not here all the time, anyway." He looks pleased, though, as he slings his bow over his shoulder once more. The log's momentum has slowed to the point that hitting it would be fairly easy. "I bet the colonels'll like it, sah."

Jarril nods as he begins to walk again.  "Well, I hope so, not had one down here lately that much, ya think they need a refresher course themselves."  He grins.  "Though must of them have retired or on reduced duty anyways."

Zeraph steps to the side away from one of those that lets the arrow fly backward out of their grasp. He clears his throat, and shakes his head at this hare. The Lieutenant moves around the back to get this loose shaft and return it to it's 'owner'. "You don't hold it in the bow like that." His attention turns around to see if any others are in need of help. When the arrow bounces awkwardly out of the recruit's grasp again. This young hare flushes, embarrassed.

Terrance looks towards the group of recruits and smirks a bit as he sees the arrow hit the ground. He loads up his sling again and gives it a couple of twirls before letting it fly again, hitting in the same spot as before. The recruit frowns a little at that but shrugs is off and grabs another stone.

Taye nods, arms crossing over his chest as he turns to face the major instead of the device. He smiles, though, at the possibility that the colonels might need a refresher. "Well, you've got to've lived quite a few seasons to reach Colonel level, so I s'pose it's not surprising that a good few're retired."

Jarril blinks. "Yeah, those that are lucky ta reach such a age."

Zeraph sighs and takes the bow from the younger beast, holding it correctly with the arrow fitted on the string. "Like this." With a nod of understanding from this recruit, he moves on to another, that is watching Terrance attentively. "Pay attention to what you're doing. Don't get distracted. He's not even doing what you are." This one soon sends an arrow flying for her target, and he nods. "Thank you."

Taye's eyebrows go up at the blink. "Sah?"

Terrance is twirling his sling when Zeraph addresses him, he turns his head just as lets his stone loose from the sling to say "Yes sah." Quickly looking back he winces as his stone breaks an arrow a couple of targets down. Opps.

Zeraph blinks as he watches the stone crack into an arrow and then his attention turns back to Terrance. "Be a little more careful. I don't want to send anyone up to the infirmary." He offers a soft smile when he says this to the recruit, trying to make the subject a bit more light than it is.

Jarril moves over to where one of the benches are and sits down.  "Can ya see us not going through another big battle eventually with the bloodthirsters as I can.  The way some act it only take one small action ta set the other one off."  He smiles at Taye.  "Ya young, not really been through a big war yet, only a few small battles with them."  He looks out to the young lot training.  "Most of these haven't even seen real battle yet, but they're training ta kill nonetheless."  Giving Taye a look.  "Ya know, some will actually freeze up like ya did the first time around.  I just hope they're as lucky ta survive when that happens."  He blinks and calls out.  "Alright ya lot, break time.  There's some sliced apples on the table over there."

Taye flushes at Jarril's words. His first battle wasn't that long ago; the words and the memory still manage to sting. He straightens slightly, meeting Jarril's look. "Sah, I may be young, but I've killed in the name o' the Patrol, and-" But Jarril calls break, and he is silenced as the recruits move in mass to the table, some even dropping their bows where they stood. He watches them, feeling no great inclination to join them.

Jarril grins at Taye.  "Don't worry about it.  I flinched once in my first fight but it wasn't in the patrol though."  He leans back against the wall.  "If I remember correctly it was some cheeky fox that wanted my rations and asked rudely."

Terrance scratches the back of his head as he looks back to zeraph and gives a couple of nervous chuckles "Heh heh, right sah." He then looks as the other recruits take a break. He's not a part of their training group but he decides to try and get some of those apple slices as well.

Zeraph is about to nod and say something to Terrance, but then the recruits swarm past him, happy for a break. The officer just clears his throat as he goes to get out of the 'flood'. He stands off to the side, leaned against a wall and just observing again.

Terrance gets his apples then gets out of the throng of recruits, ending up somewhere not too far off from Taye and Jarril. Terr glances towards then and offers a nod then eats his snack

Taye leaves it drop, though his pride still looks slightly injured. He turns, sitting a bit further down on the bench than Jarril. He leans forward, resting his forearms on his legs, studying the floor. He seems to be pondering something. "Sah... c'n I ask you somethin'?"

Zeraph crosses his arms, seeming grateful for the break in training himself. The officer lets his eyes half close as he goes back to his own thoughts. Not much else is done.

Jarril nods slowly at Taye.  "Aye ya can."

Munch munch munch. That is the sound most of the recruits are making along with some small chatter. Terr just continues to eat and finishes off the last of his slices, looking at the older recruits a bit.

Terrance hms and goes to collect his pouch of stones and heads out of the cavern.

"Well..." And for whatever reason, he flushes again. "There's... a beast. Um. An' he, um... well, he..." he takes a deep breath. "He told me that, um... he doesn't like does, sah. Likes /bucks/." He glances up, then, and to the side. "I mean. What's wrong with does, y'know?" He shakes his head, and his voice is obviously lowered so that the distracted recruits won't overhear. "I... guess I should talk to m'da about this, but... it'd be kinda weird." Not that it isn't weird with /Jarril/, but. "I guess I don't know what to do about it. I told him not to talk to anyone about it anymore, so's he doesn't get in trouble or anythin'."

The hare just sits there, Jarril doesn't say a word at all on the matter for a while and then breaks the silence with.  "I see..."  He looks about and calls to the recruits.  "Training is over for today but I want ya revising before lunch."  He moves his head back to Taye.  "Has there been trouble already with this?"

When the recruits file out of the room, Zeraph sees no more reason just just stand around, so the Lieutenant shifts so that he can sit down in the corner. His ears lay back down his neck and he rests here, arms upon his knees. The buck doesn't bother with the other two still remaining, for now.

Taye looks down, for a moment not sure. He nods, then shakes his head, then shrugs. "Dunno. I guess... maybe. Nothin' too serious."

Jarril looks at Taye for a moment and frowns.  "Taye, come on, ya been with me for so long I know something is being held back.  What happened?"

Taye shakes his head, again. "He kissed a buck when he was drunk. The buck wasn't too pleased 'bout it, sah. It was nothin'." He doesn't mention the rank involved, of course.

Jarril sighs.  "I see, well..."  He stops and frowns.  "Do you think it will interrupt in the free running of the patrol or the mountain.  I don't want this ta grow into something that could've been nipped in the bud before it becomes harder later on."

Taye shrugs uncertainly. "I don't know, sah. It feels kinda weird bein' around him, now. But if he'll listen about not tellin' folks about it, maybe it won't be a problem." He kicks his foot backwards against one of the legs of the bench they sit upon.

Jarril frowns.  "Taye, this is because I gave ya a bad time back then wasn't it?"  The major clearly doesn't want this issue.  "Okay...  Fine, just who is this hare that likes other...  Erm..."  He goes quiet again.

Taye blinks. "What's because ya gave me a hard time, sah?" He looks away at the second question, though, looking uncomfortable. "I can't tell ya that, sah. I considah him a friend, even if... well." He shrugs.

Jarril speaks quietly. "Look, it doesn't bother me, I just don't want the responsibility.  As long as ya say it wasn't anything important then I will trust ya on that.  If ya think it won't go any further then I trust ya on that as well.  But ya must think otherwise other than ya wouldn't be talking ta me about it now.  The last thing this patrol needs at the moment is some disruption and if there was any violence, I don't care if it was another buck fighting another buck on a doe.  That's an offence."

After a while of just sitting there in his own corner, Zeraph finally stands, and goes to head out. He doesn't say anything to Taye or Jarril, as they are talking to each other. The officer is soon gone.