Target Practice

[Meriwether Strangeway]

5th of October
Year LVI
8th hour

Summer mornings were the best times, it was hot outside but the breeze that still had a chill in it from the night made it comfortable. Everything was buzzing with energy after a plentiful rest. The sun was shining brightly without a cloud in sight, promising an entire day without the threat of a midday summer storm. It was a prefect day, a day that you could do just about anything. As any child would Meriwether loved these days, these type of days were her name sake after all.

The youngest Strangeway, now nine, was running through the open field toward the fringe of the forest to practice with the sling her father gave her on her birthday. She had been wanting one for a while, and since Aubry wasn’t interested in sporting Dominic was excited in teaching one of his children the skills he learned becoming a hunter, even though it was his little girl instead of his only son.

With another year gone Meriwether could see the fast plummet to staying at home and learning household duties coming up in one or two years. She always wanted to go out hunting with her father, but when she would be old enough to go out in the woods with him it would be highly inappropriate for her to. So she was learning and doing as much as she could while she still wasn’t expected to do much more then play.

Helping her mother and sister these past few months with the house because of the mysterious couple they took in Meriwether hadn’t been able to go out as much as she wanted to. But today she didn’t have any chores and so she was off, bound determined that she was going to bring back some type of bird or rabbit. Or at least she had a goal of getting one before the month was out.

Once Meriwether made it to the forest line she searched around the large boulders for fragments of rock that would be perfect for projectiles. She piled the rocks on top of the boulder and took a few in her hand to practice hitting a certain spot on a tree.

[Maggie]

__________________________

Maggie;

A strong burst of sunlight had awoken Maggie from her slumber that morning. Normally she was a very lazy kitty, often only rising when the sun was well on it's way to reaching the middle of the sky, but today seemed to be one of those rare occasions when she was stirred by something she simply couldn't ignore. The reason being said light that was shining unmercifully onto her face. Shifting, the young Guardian gave a grunt and a frown, tail tip twitching in annoyance and pressing her face into her paws as she attempted to let sleep consume her once more.

No such luck, as just then a rustle and the sound of footstep's made her mind stir in curiosity. Curse her inability to let things simply be. With a yawn Maggie shook her head and peered blearily at her surroundings, noting that Guy and Cedric were not present alongside the rest of her sleeping family members. They must have either woken up earlier or had been out all night patrolling, but Maggie didn't let the idea stay in her mind for long. It wasn't unusual for them not to be here, though the fact that they weren't there sometimes made Maggie's stomach churn with an uncertain feeling...

Shrugging, the cream tabby turned to her twin, exhaling shortly through her nose when she realized he was practically on sprawled out on top of her. She wasn't a bed that could be slept on, thank-you-very-much. With another grunt and a bit of wriggling, the young feline freed herself, making sure to give her sibling a good nudge with the back of her foot as she rose to her feet. Now, who was awake at this hour...? Ears and head rotating in every which direction, Maggie raised her head up further when she saw the slightest bit of movement continuing towards the fields. Maybe they were headed for the edge of the village? Not without her, they wouldn't be!

Springing off the smooth platform she had been sleeping on only moments ago, Maggie charged after the disappearing figure, heart fluttering as she weaved her way through the tall grass. Hm... this scent was familiar... Was it not? She didn't have much time to dwell on it however, as she was soon able to find out who the culprit was when the grasses thinned and revealed no one other then the youngest Strangeway member - Meriwether. What a stroke of luck! Not only did she have a valid excuse to push her boundaries, but she'd be in the presence of the lovely Miss Meriwether.

Maggie remained hidden as she watched Meriwether gather small rocks and carefully pile them on top of a near by boulder. What was she planning to do with those? Hopefully not eat them... Maggie had once tried to herself a long time ago and it had tasted quite dreadful. Not to mention it had been much too hard to even chew. And then there was how angry her mother had been when she had found out... But that was another story.

Eventually the young Guardian ventured from her hiding space, unable to keep still for any longer. Streaking past the young girl, she made her way up the boulder that held Meriwether's collection of projectiles. Maggie gave a loud mew in greeting, probably far too loud to be considered a pleasant morning greeting, but was a customary habit of her's. Wiggling her ears, the feline pawed at one of the rocks at the bottom of the pile, as if half expecting it to dart away at any second and flee into the near by forest. Since rock's could totally imitate mice and come to life at any second.

[Meriwether Strangeway]

After a few near misses and adjustment there was a very satisfying thunk as the rock struck squarely in the middle of the trunk. Meriwether grinned and gave a small jump of success as the sound echoed into the forest. Now as long as she can do that a few times in a row, she was sure that she’d be ready to start hunting small prey around the fringe. Picking up another rock she ready it in the sling and started twirling it. She was almost ready to throw it when there was a loud caterwauling greeting.

She spun around and let go sling sending it whizzing past the intruder and into the trees. “Goodness Miss. Maggie!” she cried surprised. It was the way that she and Mr. Griffin always greeted Meriwether, but she must have been so concentrated on practicing that she hadn’t been expecting one of them. But she smiled at the kitty pawing the rocks and scratched her on the shoulders, “You want to throw ‘em with me?” She asked knowing that Maggie loved to play even though she didn’t know how in the world a cat would throw a rock, but it was the polite thing to offer.

Picking up another rock she remembered that she no longer was in possession of the sling. “Oh shoot!” she starting running in the direction that the sling flew, “Come on Miss. Maggie help me find it!” She called back as she entered the trees dodging this way an that searching for the leather sling on the ground, behind trees, and in the smaller trees and shrubs. “Did you see where it might have landed?”