Rena arrived at the forest, and looked around. Nobody. That was good. She could take her time setting up. She didn't like to be rushed. She took the bag from her shoulders, and opened it. It always made her smile, seeing her very own crossbow. She had been using her father's up until very recently, when she was given her own as a birthday present. She took it out, and examined it for damages and loose parts. One of the screws wasn't fully tightened, resulting in a slight wobble. She took a driver and tightened the troublesome screw. Apart from that, her crossbow was fine. She put her foot in the stirrup, and heaved, until her crossbow was cocked. Finally, she reached into the bag, took out her quiver, and put it over her shoulder. She wouldn't load an arrow into the crossbow yet. That could be dangerous.

Sh was glad she got here early. She didn't like Mal seeing her struggle cocking the bow. It was hard enough getting him to stop offering help. If she couldn't cock it, she couldn't shoot it alone. Despite that, he didn't judge her for being a young lady who likes shooting things, as a lot of people who lived near her did, as well as her friends. Neither did her father, but then again, he's the one who got her into it. She practiced every day. She's a better shot than him now, but she still feels she needs to learn. That's how she met Mal.

...Where was he?