[Backstory] Shooting Range

"Pull!"
 
The stone disc was launched high and far away from the parapet. A short moment later, an arrow whistled by, falling far short of the target.
 
"Shepherd's arse," the recruit swore. "How the hell are you supposed to hit it when it's moving!"
 
"Reckon your enemies will stand still at your leisure?" the sergeant snapped. "If you can't hit a moving target then being able to hit a static bullseye is pointless! Now, I want five laps of the tower, get moving!"
 
Once the recruits and their sergeant had gone, Robyn and Hamish snuck out of their hiding spot. Hamish was the teenage son of a Skirmisher officer, and lived in the family quarters in the Tower. He didn’t have ambitions like Robyn to be a Skirmisher, but he did like the machinery and making things work.
 
“This is really cool,” Hamish said, looking over the contraption used to sling the plates in the air. “Look! You can adjust the angle and speed… they could make it easier to move around though, it could do with a pivoting platform…”
 
Robyn grinned. “When you’re done being a nerd, mind actually firing it?”
 
Hamish looked torn. On one hand… fun contraption. On the other… “Is this really a good idea? If we get caught…”
 
“We’ll only get caught if we hang around here too long that they finish five laps and come back, so hurry up!” Robyn pulled her bow from her back, an old recycled shortbow that she had “rescued” from the store room. “C’mon! You heard the sergeant. Enemies won’t stay still!”
 
Hamish rolled his eyes but did as he was asked, adjusting the angle of the launcher. "Ready?"
 
"Always," Robyn said, drawing her bow.
 
Hamish loosed the launcher, and the disc spun into the air. Within fifty feet, it was shot out of the sky, Robyn grinning triumphantly.
 
"Higher, Hamish!"
 
Grinning, Hamish adjusted the launcher. "Ready?"
 
"Don't warn me every time! An enemy -"
 
"Won't stay still for you, okay, okay!"
 
Unbeknownst to the pair of them, despite their initial stealthiness, their antics were being observed from nearby. For a teenager with a repurposed bow, Robyn showed great skill, but outside the limits of her range, she had less luck.
 
"I think eighty's your limit, Rob."
 
"One more, one more hundred, just to try, we've still got time."
 
Hamish shrugged, adjusting the settings as Robyn lined up her shot, using the parapet to steady herself. The disc flew high and far, and Robyn loosed an arrow to follow. It clipped the disc, just knocking it off course, not shattering it, but it was a hit regardless.
 
"Yes, Robyn!" Hamish whooped triumphantly, rushing over to clap her back. Robyn just grinned, taking the praise. Not far away, the sergeant could be heard shouting and the sound of running feet approached.
 
"Shit! Let's get out of here," Robyn said with a laugh, grabbing Hamish's hand as they ran.
 
Later that evening, Robyn was doing her chores in the store rooms when Quinn called her in. It wasn't his normal shout, and Robyn was confident she hadn't done anything to ire him, but she was still cautious rounding the corner.
 
"Yessir?"
 
Quinn gestured to the package on his desk. "Present for you."
 
Robyn looked confused, stepping up to the table and looking at the parcel. It was a bow, that was clear, but it was longer than she was tall.
 
Quinn huffed impatiently. "Well, don't hang about. I ain't got all night."
 
She grinned, unwrapping the paper and looking at the finely made longbow underneath. The arrow rest had two complementing colours of wood, with the Skirmisher coat of arms inlaid just above where her hand would sit. Robyn lifted it up carefully, mouth agape, and Quinn snorted in amusement.
 
"You'll need to draw about twice your bodyweight to fire that thing. Told 'em you weren't big enough for that yet."
 
"But I could, right?" Robyn's eyes were bright, inspired and motivated. "Like Kath Razorthorn?"
 
"Aye, maybe. If you do as you're told and get strong enough. As it is, that thing will fire you rather than you firing it." He nodded his head back towards a store cupboard in his office. "Lock it up with your mam's lute for now. I'll get you a heavier shortbow you can keep practicing with in the meantime. And you'll be getting up to run drills at first light, you hear?"
 
Dawn training didn't sound like fun, but firing a longbow would need more strength, so Robyn just nodded vehemently. Quinn shook his head.
 
"Go on, get out of here, crazy girl. Try not to cause any trouble."