The forest breaks off into a small clearing here. The far side walled by an almost sheer rock face. Lined up across the other side of the clearing are half a dozen archery targets with large straw bales between each to minimise the chance of an arrow hitting the stone and shattering.
There is a high thwaaaang followed by a solid Thump as an arrow appears near the center of one of the targets. Curious, and a little cautious you step out of the shelter of the trees and look for the unseen archer. Too your surprise it is not human but a large, grey, fox like creature crouches near the edge of the forest to your left, laborously stringing an arrow on a polished wooden bow.
A flick of it's ears indicate it has noted your presence but it does not turn to you until it has released the nocked arrow, sending it arcing up through the sky, high before swiftly decending to land next to it's fellow.
It turns towards you, the bow still gripped in it's jaw and seems to fade until it has the consistancy of smoke then disappears, caught by the wind! You look around astonished, for signs the creature was even there. No paw prints, no flattened grass where it sat. Even the arrows have disappeared from the target!
There is a faint chuckle behind you and you spin to see Darkhorse leaning agains a tree, a honey coloured bow, unstrung, in her hands and a quiver of brightly fletched arrows at her side.
"You were lucky. That was Aishel'tri'darkhorse, my spirit guardian. Even I've only seen it a few times outside dream-meeting.
Aishel'tri'kaellan very rarely materialise in our plane. It takes a great deal of energy. It was made by Islinna of Savine and arrived to me suddenly." The pegasus mare shrugs and smiles, nocking an arrow and drawing the string back fluidly.
"I guess the noble Jiri'aishel felt I needed watching." The arrow leaps from the bow string but the string clips Darkhorse's sleeve and the arrow begins to fishtail half way through it's flight, losing course and thumping into one of the straw bales. Darkhorse grins ruefully and rolls up her sleeve. "I probably need it. Actually its very comforting knowing that another is keeping an eye out for you." Darkhorse lets loose another quarrel, this one flys true and strikes the 'b' ring of the target. "Sometimes we play chess when I'm asleep."
At your confused look Darkhorse explains: "Aishel'tri'kaellan generally comunnicate with their attuned through dreams, it's a plane they can access without using too much energy. She fishes around in her pocket and pulls out a rune stone. "This will take you where you can find out more if you're interested in learning more about them."
There is a keening cry in the distance and Darkhorse curses. "I have to go! Luck on your travels." With that she leaps into the air, her wings beating frantically to gain altitude.
Within moments she has flown away, bow still in hand, leaving you to return to the forest