To this end, Nike was now sure she was definitely not a panther or a feline animal who would wait for her prey and pounce on them. She was more akin to a wolf or lioness who hunted for her prey in a group, and went in with all the rage and fire of killing - an instinct that Athanasia's brother had trained into her afterall. What the princess explained made perfect sense. The bow was a lot more flimsy and breakable then her blades and daggers, so a deft hold would be required for it. She had deftness,but Nike definitely did not have the control over her strength just yet.

"I'll try, but no promises." she muttered with a laugh in her tone when Athanasia told her to imagine. Nike had trained her accuracy and speed for years, but Athanasia's words made sense. If she could take out her enemy before she attacked, it would cull their numbers and make it easier. That was why there were archers on the frontline, before the military took over when the enemy got too close.

Taking the arrow Athanasia handed over to her, she somehow managed to nock the arrow in the spot with the princess's guidance. Noticing how sharp the arrow was, Nike also noted that with he wooden arrow, it was not as heavy as a dagger's hit, but it was faster and she imagined it would whistle through the air to find its target, hitting it straight and true. It was a deadly weapon if one had the good aim to use it.

Nodding, the habit of biting her lip returned again as she pulled where Asia had indicated, elbows straining to get the string pulled back as much as she could without the fear of it snapping. Focusing, Nike instinctively closed one eye to aim for the tree that Athanasia had indicated, and then released her hold, hearing the arrow whistle through...

And fell halfway through its path to the ground. Nike cursed, and then turned a sheepish glance at Athanasia. "I... could try again?" she murmured, embarassedly running a hand through her short dark hair.

The princess's giggle brought a flush to Nike's cheeks - luckily her skin was bronzed enough for it to be barely noticeable, but the commander instinctively ducked her head to hide it as best as she could. You would think that for someone with Nike's history, she would be used to failure, what with all the trials and tribulations she's had to go through in her first few years of being in the military, failing almost every physical and being unable to compare to the naturally stronger and more muscular of her cohorts.

But she had her pride, especially after Vangelis had promoted her. It wasn't offensive, but it was there as proud as the way she wore her commander's armor.

Instinctively shaking her head when Athanasia apologized, Nike kept her silence as she picked up the new arrow the princess handed her, fighting to keep the flush from raising to her cheeks again, and instead focused on concentrating on her words. Tilting her head again where Asia pointed, she did as the younger one motioned, ears eagerly picking up the instructions. Nike had always been a fairly good student - it was why she caught up so easily to her general's instructions.

"How... far back?" she murmured, but they were words mostly meant for herself, as she bit her lip. Her brows furrowed from the way she focused, unused to the flimsy feeling of a bow. Could such a small weapon prove to be that deadly? Nodding steadfastly, her eyes were trained on the tree, and then with a steady hand, she released the cord.

More on target this time, the arrow Nike had released flew in an arch in the air. In a way, while it was not the trajectory the commander had planned for the arrow, she was thankful that it didn't fall flat to the dirt again.

Until a loud squawk broke the silence when her arrow dived into the leaves in the tree top, followed by a fall of a feathery creature into a low thud on the ground of the forest. Nike froze, and then blinked slowly at Athanasia. "Was... that supposed to happen?" she sheepishly muttered, eyes shiftily looking at Athanasia. Letting the hand holding the bow now drop to her side, Nike jogged over to the bush which the creature had fell, and winced when she saw a dark, feathred, definitely dead creature lying with the arrow embedded in its side.

"So... right. Do cooks use these?"

Nike's grip was loose as Asia took the bow from her - the newly minted commander was still mildly shocked at the fact that she had just managed to kill a bird despite her being a first timer. Beginners luck? Highly probable, especially considering she had been aiming at nothing in particular really. A small chuckle escaped her when Asia technically complimented her - it passed muster as a compliment right? That she managed to kill something on a hunt (never mind the fact that it was never meant to be a hunt to begin with) on her first try?

Following Asia as she walked to the tree, the commander listened quietly to the princess's explanations, and then surprise colored her gaze when Athanasia quickly nocked and shot another one. Sure enough, the other body fell with a soft thump.

Funny, how as a military trained soldier, she had killed and maimed many with little qualm on the battlefield, yet she couldn't stop the slight wince when Athanasia picked up the dead pheasants. In a way, the woman guessed that her logic helped her on the battlefield. There it was kill or be killed, for the protection of one's kingdom, people and loved ones. Here? The creatures had been harmlessly roosting in the trees - why did she have to go and play God?

But one needed to be fed, in a way.

Nike shook her head at Asia's question, never having given the pleasure of such food. She had been but a lowly soldier, and even now as a commander of the crown prince in Colchis, Nike had yet to feel comfortable partaking in the greater riches available to her now, not one to bask in name and glory. She did what she did from duty, responsibility, loyalty and affection for her general, not for what it may gain her. "Mostly chicken eggs, really. The occasional treat of fowl." she murmured, taking the dead bird from Athanasia with another wince, holding both in her hands.

Following her over to where she had discovered the eggs, Nike looked down, and then back at the princess. Pouch? She looked down again, and then back at Athanasia, an almost beguilingly lost look on her face, before shrugging the leather vest she had laid over her tunic off her shoulders. "Would this work?" she asked, handing the material to Athanasia, crouching down next to her to help in placing the fragile things on her vest, intending to bundle it up so they could at least carry them safely.

"I don't think I'm that great as to get to the big game now, Princess." she murmured gently, flashing Athanasia a cheeky smile that clearly showed her sheepish manner. In a way, it was a good thing Nike had ended up in the position she was, a female in disguise as part of the military. As a female, she would have been extremely cheeky and outspoken - unbecoming for a woman of their time. "Perhaps the next time, we could go and get that big game? Some practice would make it easier for me, I surmise. And you can check on my progress - I promise I'll practice everyday like a good student." A hint of laughter rippled through her tone as she spoke, as she bundled up the last of the eggs, gently wrapped hr soft leather vest around them, and ensured they were safely in Athanasia's hands, before picking up the pheasant she had laid on the dirt ground. "Shall we head back then? I'm sure the cooks will be happy to see what we've gained for them for our meal."