The arrow landed deep in the dense underbrush, entirely missing the hanging bag of straw.

Sofia groaned and went after it and the other dozen or so arrows that had also missed their mark. Despite having practiced every afternoon since Erae had first taught her, Sofia didn’t feel she was making much progress.

Another Ymplerim sighting had sent Erae, his troop of guardians, and a few of the recruits, including Priftoi, on a mission away from the Ylvly camp since yesterday evening. Sofia asked Harton to stay with Itah during the day, wanting to take advantage of the solitude to double down on her efforts with the bow and arrow. It also kept her from the intrusive eyes of the camp.

As Erae had warned, the mood of the camp had shifted. Ever since word got out about Sofia’s involvement with Erae, many of the elves had started treating her coldly. It was evident that the camp felt she had overstayed her welcome. 

Having retrieved her arrows, Sofia brushed her long, loose hair away from her face. She attempted again to focus on the lowest hanging bag, but her mind swarmed with a million thoughts. 

“I don’t understand…” Her lip trembled as she muttered to herself. “Why does this always happen?”

Ever since she was a child, Sofia had felt like an outsider. That somehow, she didn’t truly belong. At home, at school, at work… No matter where she found herself, Sofia felt as if she had to earn her place; to prove her worth. She couldn’t afford to make mistakes, yet she often felt as if she did nothing but mess up.

“I don’t understand…” she muttered again. 

Sofia didn’t often ask for things. If she did, it was always on behalf of someone else or for a task she had been given. Whenever she did test the waters and go for something she desired, it always seemed to be met with opposition. The situation she now found herself in was no different.

Indignation towards Faliona filled her mind as she prepped the next arrow. It was obvious that the Keeper of Stories had been the one to tell the camp. Sofia felt betrayed by someone she thought was a friend, and stupid for having trusted her, especially when Harton clearly had not.

And now things were difficult not only for her, but also Erae. He had tried to comfort and encourage her, making clear that he would stay by her side to protect her, but Sofia could see that the others were acting differently around him, too. Her heart squeezed, frustrated at herself for causing problems for him.

“I don’t understand!” she shouted, releasing the arrow in her grasp.

It missed.

Furious, she grabbed another and another. With each shot, Sofia spiraled deeper and deeper, mentally counting out her offences.

Again, she thought of the people of the camp, with their stares of disapproval and distrust burning into her back. Then there was the altercation and arguments with Roquewei that put her on edge and Lyna’s clear, inexplicable avoidance of her.

Her face burned as she remembered the accusative interrogation in the Chief’s tent when she first arrived, and blamed both for the damage to the forest as well as Harton’s injuries. 

Breathing heavily, she imagined Jasper’s annoying smirk on the bag. “Hey Pigita,” she could almost hear him say, “that raise is as good as mine.” Still, she missed.

Her mind wandered to Autumn. Autumn, like Itah and Erae, had been one of the few who had been truly caring towards her and she hated the awkward way they had left things at the airport.

Older memories began to surface as well. She remembered being repeatedly shut down by older male colleagues during work meetings and the struggle she had in trying to find a flat in the city, only to be rejected and told she “wouldn’t fit in” to the community. Her flatmates in the first space she had moved into had been crass, dirty, and racist. 

Not one to normally rock the boat, Sofia had never fought with her parents until the day she announced she wanted to move into London. The argument grew so heated that she had been kicked out then and there, with her younger brother watching on silently. 

As a young woman, she remembered posing for a group photo at prom with classmates, but being pushed to the back to cover her and the cheap dress which had been all she could afford.

Her mother would sigh and shake her head as she held up an outfit from the girl’s clothing section. “If you lost a little weight, you’d be able to wear these cute clothes,” she’d say before turning to the “husky” section with preteen Sofia in tow. 

Nervously looking around at her first day in primary school after moving from her home country, not knowing any English, Sofia hung her head in shame as she was made fun of by her classmates. 

By now, tears of bitterness and resentment were streaming down Sofia’s cheeks. Her body shaking in anger and frustration, Sofia notched and drew another arrow, squinting in an attempt to see through her water-blurred vision.

“Why,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion, “do I always end up alone?”

Suddenly, she saw an Ymplerim racing toward her. Child Sofia stood paralyzed on the sandy shore, not knowing what to do as the terrifying gaseous beast towered over her. From the surrounding darkness, a hand appeared and touched her arm.

“Relax your face,” a voice said beside her.

Startled, Sofia turned toward the voice and released her grip. Roquewei yelped as he quickly jumped out of the way of her arrow. The projectile was lost in the bushes far beyond where the elf had been standing. 

He looked in the direction of the arrow and back to Sofia, who was frozen in shock. Nonchalantly, Roquewei wiped his hands on his robe.

“Ha… Thank the Creator your aim is terrible.”

Sofia wasn’t sure whether to be livid or relieved. She quickly turned away from the elf and wiped her tears with her sleeve. “I-if you hadn’t startled me, it would have been better,” she retorted angrily.

“Right… So say all the arrows in the underbrush,” Roquewei replied. He was about to chide Sofia on her poor marksmanship when he noticed her tear-stained face.

Suddenly uncomfortable, Roquewei struggled to find words. His eyes darted around, looking for some sort of attention shifter. Finding an arrow on the ground that had fallen out of Sofia’s quiver, the elf bent down to pick it up.

Frightened, Sofia took several steps back. Roquewei held out the arrow. “Let me teach you how to hit your mark.”

Surprised and uncertain of this unexpected gesture, Sofia hesitated. “I don’t need your help,” she spat. Self-conscious, she followed with, “How long have you been watching me, anyway?”

“Long enough,” replied Roquewei, not unkindly. “And I think it is quite obvious that you do need my help.” He held out the arrow again, but Sofia refused to take it. 

“How did you even find me?” she demanded. “Erae told me this was his secret hideout.”

The blue-haired elf raised an eyebrow. “It’s our secret hideout,” he scoffed. “The two of us and my sister. The three of us found it together with...”

The elf stopped himself, balling his fists in momentary frustration.

Sofia kept her distance, leery at being alone with him. Nervous under her gaze, Roquewei ran his hand through his loose hair. 

“Feel free to yell at me,” he breathed, averting his eyes. “I’m sure you have plenty to say…”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Sofia interrupted. 

Roquewei furrowed his brow and pressed his lips together. “Fine,” he said, positioning himself in front of the target, “then listen.”

Running a hand across his jaw, he began, “Your face needs to be relaxed and both eyes open when sighting your target. Take a calming breath before you lift your bow, and release the breath with your arrow.” As the elf spoke, he took the bow to demonstrate. It annoyed Sofia how easily he was able to pull back the string.

“Focus on the target, but try not to overthink,” Roquewei continued as he returned the weapon. “You must allow your mind and body to do the calculations. If you try to take too much active control, you will hinder yourself and miss your target almost every time.” 

The two stared at each other for a moment in awkward silence before Roquewei gestured toward the seemingly elusive target. “Go on, then.”

Still wary, Sofia turned towards the target and raised her bow, pulling the string with all her might. With her eyes on the target, she took a couple of breaths and then released the arrow as she exhaled. The arrow whistled through the air and pierced the edge of the target, lodging itself deep in the hay.

Sofia stared in disbelief, and then turned towards Roquewei with an ecstatic grin. “I did it! I hit the target!”

Her enthusiasm was so palpable that Roquewei couldn’t help but crack a slight grin. “Try hitting closer to the center this time.”

With newfound enthusiasm, Sofia dashed into the underbrush to gather her arrows and soon was back at her mark. She raised the bow again excitedly when Roquewei stopped her.

“Hold a moment, may I correct your posture?”

Sofia blushed instantly as she thought of how Erae had taught her posture. Realizing what she was probably imagining, Roquewei also blushed and gruffly clarified, “Any touching will be purely instructional.”

Sofia blushed even deeper red in embarrassment. “O-of course.”

The elf gestured to Sofia to raise her bow, and then circled her to lightly and respectfully guide her body into an improved posture. 

“You are incredibly strong,” Roquewei said softly as he worked. “More than you realize. You just have to know how to use that strength.” 

What? Sofia felt her stomach flip. Did he just… compliment me?

With a surprisingly gentle touch, Roquewei lowered her shoulders and elbow, corrected her grip, and slightly raised her chin. Then he pointed to the target.

“Both eyes open,” he reminded her, “and visualize the arrow hitting the center of your target.”

Sofia nodded, and set her eyes on the straw bag. Roquewei’s hands were suddenly on her shoulders. “Relax.”

Taking adeep breath, Sofia dropped her shoulders, looked again at the target and with newfound confidence released the arrow. Once again, it hit its mark — this time, dead center.

Sofia whirled around and threw her arms around Roquewei’s neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” 

Roquewei, bent from Sofia’s embrace, was frozen in surprise. When she realized what she was doing, Sofia quickly released him and took several steps back. 

“S-sorry,” she said. 

“N-no it’s fine,” he cleared his throat.

The two stood awkwardly in silence again until Sofia finally managed to ask, “So… why are you helping me anyway?”

“Erae will not let you leave camp to search for another gate until he feels you have some means of defending yourself. So the faster you learn, the faster we get you home, and the sooner we can all move on with our lives.”

“Ah,” breathed Sofia, dark thoughts returning. What did I expect? 

“Roquewei,” a deep voice came from the trees, “is that the only reason?” In a gleam of red and blue, Porgi glided down to the elf’s shoulder.

Sofia was excited to see the Aslavu again. “You are looking well, Porgi. I’m so glad!”

The bird bowed to her. “Thanks to your quick thinking, I did not fall prey to the Ymplerim that day in the rainforest. I owe you my life.”

Sofia waved her hands dismissively. “Oh no, you don’t owe me anything…”

“Yes, we do,” interrupted Roquewei. His downcast face had an intense emotional expression that Sofia had not seen before. 

The elf continued. “In my callousness and my rage, I placed my compánach in a dangerous position that almost cost him his life.” The elf turned to look at the Aslavu. “If it hadn’t been for you, I know that Porgi would not be here today. In saving his life, you saved mine.”

Sofia cocked her head in confusion. Porgi met Roquewei’s gaze and seemed to be encouraging him to say something else.

Inhaling deeply, Roquewei looked straight into Sofia’s eyes, and then said, “I also beg your forgiveness for putting you in danger, and for not coming to your aid when you needed it most... I-I failed as a Lyfayan guardian that day.”

Sofia stood in shock as she tried to process what was happening. Is he really… apologizing?

“Roque…” she began.

“To be clear,” he interrupted again. “I still do not trust you, and I do not like the fact that you and Erae are… involved. I fully intend to make sure you get back to Talamh as soon as possible. I just… I promise to do so safely.”

Tight-lipped, Sofia listened to the elf’s words carefully, trying to gauge how much of the declaration was fact and how much was an act.

“Well,” she finally said, “I don’t trust or like you either. Erae told me he’ll be joining us to protect me, I’m assuming it’s as much from you as from anything else we’ll find out there.”

Roquewei lowered his gaze. 

“Believe me, I want to go home. There are too many things I’m trying to accomplish with my life to just… disappear from it all.” Crossing her arms, Sofia continued. “I still don’t understand a lot of things, especially your insistence on my being a danger to Lyfay. But… if you say you’ll help me get back home safely… I’ll believe you.” 

Sofia locked eyes once again with the blue-haired elf. “I accept your apology.”

Roquewei sighed, relieved. Porgi nodded approvingly and suggested they continue practicing. “Sofia needs to have more consistent shots before we can continue our quest!”

Agreeing, Sofia and Roquewei took their places once again.

“Aim for a higher target this time,” instructed Roquewei. 

Sofia nodded and raised her bow. She took a deep breath. 

Let’s do this. She set her sight on the target and fired.