Robyn looked at her feet. She had ran through the forest and her boots were fairly untouched by the snow-blessed mud. She reminisced her training in the forest with her master. A kind and benevolent man. She grew up with no mentor other than him. He would shoot an arrow that would pierce through several trees. He could skewer several birds in one shot. He taught her her favourite skill yet. Being untraceable and light-footed were key to survival, both in the forest and in the city.

They stood at one end of a forest path, the path saturated with rain water. He instructed her to get to the other side. That if she were to enter the puddles, she would risk being caught in a bear trap. A submerged trap did better in catching its victim when it is invisible to the naked eye. Robyn struggled to come up with a solution. The archer told her to pay attention. He shifted and zoomed past from tree to tree. It happened so quickly, Robyn did not have time to comprehend what happened, let alone time to blink. She was stunned and impressed.

“I call this the Bandit’s Dash. Mainly because bandits who are in a hot pursuit, need to dash to escape. I will teach you this.”

Robyn was glad to have this archer as almost a father figure. He told her that he had found her abandoned in the forest.

“People always take what they want from nature and leave their unwanteds behind. I want you to appreciate this forest. We take what we need but always give back.”

Robyn nodded and donned her hood.

“Teach me.”