Beautiful work done by the wonderful  Jenery

Story:
Laying down on her shooting mat as he looked down the scope of her beautiful rifle to the target paper 1000 meters beyond. The black bullseye rings a little dot even at maximum magnification. Remembering all her training and practice as other contestants fired around her.

As she steadied herself for the final shot of the day she pressed her finger to the trigger taking up the slack in it. Exhaled slowly binging the crosshairs on the center of the target and waited momentarily as the wind died down. Putting just a little more pressure on the trigger, it released the firing pin into the back of the round. Sending the bullet spinning down the barrel and out the muzzle with a flash of fire and crack of thunder. Watching the trail of the supersonic round as it flew down range and into the target.

She relaxed and drew in a slow breath before leaning over to her spotting scope sitting next to her. Peering into it and looked at her target and smiled pleased with herself. With its higher magnification she could see that eight of her ten rounds where in the 10 ring. The other two had been blown by wind gusts into the 9. Doing a little math in her head with the other positions she shot that day she had an educated guess of between 280 and 290.

Lifting the bolt and sliding it back to eject the brass casing and put it back into the holder to be reloaded at home she dropped the magazine and set it aside and stood up carefully to not distract the others. Turning around and smiled at her dad Gultch who was sitting in the spectator benches and was looking though his own scope. Glancing up he smiled at her and nodded. Signing “98” to her with a thumbs up. She nodded and waved her hands happily. They knew some basic sign language from both watching and studying some together as a way to communicate some when they had ear protection in.

Once all the shooters had finished and cleared their rifles the range officer called cease fire and waited a moment checking all the shooters where away from the line. Then sent down a couple workers on a cart to retrieve the targets for scoring. Taking their hearing protection out Rayla smiled and hugged her dad. “I think today was the best I have shot yet” she said. “Especialy given the wind gusts we have been fighting today.” She said as the judges brought the targets back up and went to the scoring table. The range officer called out saying they could approach the line once more to pack away their gear.

Smiling Rayla went up and packed away her rifle into its pelican case and rolled up her pad. Packed away the scope and rest of the ammunition into the range bag and carried them over to her dads truck with his help and put it all into the back seat. Walking back to wait for the results of that days competition.

She went and stood next to her team mates and best friend. “One hell of a day eh?” Rayla said to Ashley a tigress that had been friends since grade school and joined the junior shooting team starting with air rifles. The judges stood up and spoke loudly for all to hear them. After a little bit of a speech and announced scores. Most of the bottom ones accepted they didn’t shoot well they day due to misjudging the wind. But all showing improvement none the less. Getting to the top three Rayla and Ashley waited together and one other from another team for who won.

“Third place, Jessie with 279. Second Ashley with 284. And winner with 288 Rayla!” The judge called out. They each stepped up to revive their medals and happily congratulated each other.

“I guess we will be seeing each other at regionals then.” Jessie the wolf smiled to them. “You know it, and may the best shot win” Rayla said with a smile and hugged them both