An arrow was stretched across its bow behind the banana tree, ready to shoot. With sharp, yellow eyes, Kirana directed the arrow to a sampan carrying a man who was rowing across the stream peacefully. The glitter of the moon was as if waving towards them across the dark blanket of the stream.
She was perched on the branches of the dipterocarp tree like a stealthy panther, breathing in deep to catch her first prey to finally legitimise her becoming of the srikandi (female warriors).
Her sister, Kasturi, scowled. "What are you doing? Shoot!" She whispered from across the two trees, motioning with her arms.
Kirana's hands began trembling as sweat moistened her grip on the arrow.
Tup!
The man in the sampan turned around to search for the sound. Kasturi palmed her forehead irritably.
"Idiot!" Kasturi hissed, "this is the fifth try!"
The man seemed to hear the whispers. He steadied his sampan at the stream and picked up the unnaturally wide arrow made out of teak wood. Goosebumps crawled on his skin as he fearfully searched for its owner.
Then he locked eyes with big yellow eyes on the branches of the tree. Kirana's eyes.
Kasturi clicked her tongue and threw a small fruit directly towards his forehead.
She grabbed Kirana's hands and sprinted, jumping from branch to branch.
When they finally reached the waterfall where all the elves resided, Kasturi pushed aside Kirana.
"You idiot! He saw us!" Kasturi pushed her sister into their quarters.
"I'm sorry!" Kirana apologised, throwing the teak-wood bow across her bed.
"You should be grateful those humans are cowards. And also, your aim sucks," Kasturi stated, disappointment dripping from her voice.
Kirana glared, now sitting on her bed. "I know. I'll practice some more with Widuri."
Kasturi glanced back before leaving the room, "Do it properly. Don't forget, your 160th birthday is in two months. That means-"
"Two months to prove myself. I know," Kirana rolled her amber eyes and quickly shoved Kasturi outside her room before she got more irritated.
Kirana exhaled, brows knitting as she picked up her bow again.
The elves were a people of enchanting beauty: pale-skinned, bewitching amber eyes, long pointed ears but most of all, incredibly strong and stealthy.
They have lived alongside the Great Empire of Serinara since the ancient times. Yet now, they live quietly besides the clear waterfalls and mountains of Mahkota. They hunt humans or bewitch them into slaves. To be a srikandi (maiden/princess warrior), an elf must make their first hunt. And they must swear to protect the lotus blade that protects the elves.
Kirana is a princess elf, her mother is the matriarch of the Suryavi Clan. But being a princess elf is not a luxury within the elf community. To be born into a family of warrior and leaders mean holding responsibility as the pillars of a nation.
Kirana, disheartened at the sheer burden, stared at the faraway mountain across Suryavi's waterfall.
A hand swiped the window closed. Kirana turned and found her mother, sternly staring at her daughter.
"Mother," Kirana greeted as her trembling hands swiftly hid the bow behind her back.
"I told you, Seroja Kirana. You are to not fantasise about that mountain," Her mother, Matriarch Sutra, warned her.
"Mother, I am part-human," Kirana pleaded, "I long to understand why my father left me."
Sutra turned her head sharply, "You are an elf, Seroja Kirana. And you are not weak neither cowardly like those humans. You have my blood, my sakti (powers) and my name. You do not find your father unless to kill… before he kills you." Sutra's hands clasped her daughter's shoulders. Then she exhaled, turning away for a minute.
Kirana's head dropped downwards, "You are ashamed of me."
"Do not speak ill of me," Sutra hissed.
"Then why?"
"Enough," Sutra raised her voice, "I did not come to your quarters to speak of your blood. I heard of your practice with Kas."
Kirana's head lifted, eyes trembling.
"You are to practice with your guru before dawn. You are a princess, Kira. Make me proud. Only because you are my daughter am I able to give you this much," Sutra explained before reluctantly leaving for her matriarchal duties once more.
Kirana sighed a breath of relief: she was expecting some sort of ridiculous punishment. Unlike her older sister, Kasturi, who was able to make her first hunt on the first game, Kirana was having trouble in practice multiple times.
It was already midnight when she slid the windows back open. Only to let the breeze flow inside, the excuse she made to stay out of trouble. Lulled by the sweet melody of the wind, she immediately fell into a deep sleep.
Three urgent beats knocked at her door.