Hatred

Aurora ripped off a strip of fabric from her sleeve, tying it to a broken branch she snapped from the ground.

Then, using a nearby rock, she tossed it out from behind her cover.

As expected, the elf reacted instantly. An arrow flew, piercing the decoy. But that was all the opening Aurora needed.

She moved.

Aurora sprinted in a wide arc, flanking his position. She kept her steps light, silent, using the terrain to mask her approach. As she neared, she picked up a small handful of dirt and loose stones.

At the last second, she threw them with all her strength.

The dirt struck the elf's face, blinding him momentarily. His reflexes were sharp, but Aurora was faster.

She closed the distance in a heartbeat, driving her knee into his ribs with brutal force. The elf gasped, stumbling back, but Aurora didn't let up.