The news of a lack of dragon-sighting almost seemed to leave Aren a bit deflated, shoulders slumping and stance loose. But then, he was probably just bored. Eventually, he shook his head as if to clear it before making his way over to Lydia and Larkin's side, letting out a whistle. Soon after, his own horse trotted up to them from a small ways off, where he'd been grazing. Aren spent a few moments showering the steed with attention, the two apparently sharing a joke as they glanced at Lydia and Larkin, Aren snickering and his horse tossing its head in an amused manner.

After a few more moments, Aren peeled away from Apache's side, peering at Lydia.
"Alright, I suppose you have to get a bit of training in while we wait on Big Red..."
He glanced around for a suitable target, eventually pointing to a small copse of trees.
"Right, stick a quiver or two in those."
'Those' apparently meaning the trio of large knots on one of the trees, each perhaps a foot in diameter, and digging fairly deep holes into the trunk.

"Shoot frommmm...."
He pointed to a spot some sixty yards from the trees.
"There."

Because giving complex instructions takes too much effort. How he ever ended up a teacher is a mystery.