The Ranger’s Measure

An Elven ranger teaches his apprentice the vital art of judging distance in archery.

The morning mist clung to the trees as Elwyn, the seasoned Elven ranger, stood beside his young apprentice, Edwyrd, on the mossy ridge. The forest stretched out before them, sunlight spilling through the leaves in shifting golden patches.

“Eyes forward,” Elwyn said, gesturing toward a crude target carved into a distant oak. “Today, you’ll learn something most forget.”

Edwyrd adjusted the bowstring, his fingers tense. “I’ve hit plenty of targets before.”

Elwyn’s sharp eyes didn’t waver. “And how far away were they?”

The boy frowned. “Close enough to see clearly.”

“That’s the problem.” Elwyn placed an arrow on his own bow, pulling it back with effortless grace. “A ranger must judge the gap between himself and his mark. The forest won’t always give you a clean shot. Sometimes, your prey will be far, shrouded by shadow or branches. Misjudge that, and you lose your arrow...or worse.”

He let the arrow fly. It whistled through the air, striking the center of the oak from nearly fifty paces.

“This is important,” Elwyn said, his voice carrying the weight of command. “Distance changes everything; the arc of your shot, the speed of the arrow, even the strength you put into the draw. If you cannot feel that, you cannot hunt, nor defend these woods.”

Edwyrd took a slow breath and nocked his arrow. He gauged the target, imagining the space between them. This time, he raised his aim slightly, pulling with steady strength.

The arrow flew, thudding into the outer ring of the carved mark.

A grin tugged at Elwyn’s lips. “Better. Now again. And again. Until you can strike it blindfolded.”

Somewhere in the branches above, a sparrow sang, as the lesson in patience, and precision, truly began, carrying on until the fading sun painted the forest in shadow.

Word Count: 297
Prompt: Write a story that includes the line: “This is important.”
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"