Tensioning the Bow

I braced the base of the cedar stave against the rough rim of the terracotta pot. Wrapping the fibrous grass cord around the lower groove, I cinched the knot until the fibers locked. I leaned my full weight into the timber, bending the wood into an even arc until the resistance pushed back against my chest. With one quick pull, I looped the cord over the upper notch. The line snapped taut with a sharp hum. The stave held its flex without a single fracture. Assembly complete. Now I require arrows.