The wind was whispering around the rocks as the dark clouds moved in with the intent of covering everything in a fog. Callan knelt on the hard ground, his bow taunt as he held it in his hand. He was sighting down the arrow, waiting for the man to move into view. The muscles in his arms began to ache as he waited and he started to wonder how much longer he could hold his position.

“Wait until he is in your sights,” Callan's commander had ordered. “You canna risk missing Callan, not this time.”

Callan bit his bottom lip as the words rang through his head again. It wasn't like he missed often, his commander was just an old worry wort! Well Callan would show him! This time he would hit the man right in the heart! There would be no chance of the man living!

Something was stirring by the campfire. Callan focused all his attention on that spot now, ignoring the growing ache in his arms as he watched. Yes! It was as he had hoped! The man he had been waiting for was standing up, he was moving from out behind the group of men and coming Callan's way!

Callan felt his heart start to beat faster, his hands started to shake and sweat. He forced himself to remain calm, if he lost his control now there was no telling where the arrow might go! Pushing all else aside but his assignment Callan closed one eye and watched as the man walked into the cover of the rocks, right in front of the arrow.

Now! Callan released the string and the arrow sang through the air flying in a smooth arch. Callan watched as if flew toward its target, and embedded its self in the man's arm! The moan that escaped the young archer's lips would have been enough to give away his position had not the man suddenly howled at that moment. Instantly the rocks were swarming with men, all armed with cross bows.

Arrows filled the air as the wounded man was hurried into the cover of the rocks. Callan knew he had failed, he had forgotten to calculate the wind and therefore and lost his aim. Now his only thought was getting away without getting an arrow in his own heart. Quickly he moved backwards, hugging the shadows as he slipped into the rocks.

“There!” one of the men shouted and Callan could have kicked himself when he realized they must have seen him moving. That was another thing his commander had warned him about.

“The enemy most likely won't see you unless you move. No matter what, stay still until they are not looking, then slip away!” Callan heard the sharp words as he quickly moved backwards, there was no point in staying hidden now that he had been spotted.

The wind started to pick up as the men moved in on the young man. No longer whispering it started to howl and before the strangers had any idea of what was happening the clouds had settled over the mountain in a thick, dark fog. It was that fog that saved Callan's life. As the enemy stumbled about blindly Callan leaped to his feet and ran off, he knew his way around the mountains well enough, he did not need to see to know where to go and very soon he was well out of range.

He was safe, for the time being.