Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach
October 15, 2006 10:16 PM
Quidditch Match: Crotalus vs. Teppenpaw by Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach
The second match of the year rapidly followed the first, coming a mere two weekends later. Although the sky was clear and it was obviously going to be a lovely day, it had rained the night before, leaving the pitch covered in puddles of watery mud. Fighting the glare of the morning sun, Amy frowned as her boots yet again squished and then stuck in the ground. Plucking her feet from the mud, she moved further down the pitch, waiting for the students and faculty to begin to arrive.Having had breakfast at a startlingly early hour, at least for herself, Amy had entered the pitch some time ago, taking time to fly by herself. Once the time for the game to begin had approached, she had landed in order to make sure that things were ready to go. She calculated that it would take at least a few more hours for the ground to dry to an appropriate firmness for the game, but that was time that she didn’t have. Instead, she found herself grinning inwardly at the idea of students planting themselves face first in the mud on takeoff.
Soon enough, motion suddenly sprung to life on the pitch. People began filing into the stands in anticipation of the day’s match. Moments later, the players began to make their way onto the field, slowly coming in her direction. The Paws would be playing the Crots. She watched with amusement as some of the players seemed to be trying to contain themselves from going everywhere with once with excitement, and anxiety. She only hoped none of them lost their breakfast during the match, as flying bodily fluids never seemed to please an audience.
Once the teams had gathered round, she motioned for the captains. “Okay, as I am sure you are more than well aware, there are no dirty plays. You will only be wasting my time, and yours, by trying to get away with it. Penalty shots will be called and then the game will move on. Also, should any of your players get injured, make sure that that your replacements are ready to go. I will not stop the game in order for you to switch out your players or to make sure that the injured are okay. The medic is on the pitch and he will look to them. Got it? Let’s see…the game won’t end ‘til the Snitch has been caught, so we’ll be out here until then.” Glancing between the two captains, she waited a moment to make sure that they had heard her before continuing, “Alright, so shake hands and then return to your teams.”
Moving over to the box of Quidditch balls, she soon released the Bludgers and Snitch, watching as they each zoomed off in different directions. “The game will begin once I’ve released the Quaffle. On the count of three:
“One.
“Two.
“Three.” She lobbed the Quaffle into the air, straddling her broom and pushing easily off the ground. She only hoped that the players were able to get off the ground as easily. The game had begun.
OOC: Note to all players, please put your position and team name in the author section, so I can keep accurate account of the game. Also, be sure to have lengthy posts, detailing the game. Finally, good luck.
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Subthreads: And off we go by Jennifer Zucchero, Crotalus, Seeker with Jake Santoro, Teppenpaw, Beater, Captain, Lily Collins, Crotalus, Beater, Dalila Bastet
Keeping to the goals this time... by Earl Valentine Keeper Crotalus
How essential is the Keeper, really? by Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, about to be sick with Kaylie Brockert. Teppenpaw Seeker, Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, in name only, Amy Fox
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Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach
Quidditch Match: Crotalus vs. Teppenpaw
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Amy Fox, Quidditch Coach
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, about to be sick
October 19, 2006 7:34 AM
How essential is the Keeper, really? by Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, about to be sick
How Pepper was supposed to play Quidditch when she was having to focus her mind and be very persuasive to make herself just keep putting one foot in front of the other to take her down to the Pitch, she didn't know. Her short, red hair was pulled back into a stubby little pony tail, with the side bits clipped. It made her face, usually framed by it, look strange and even more startled. Every freckle stood out like neon, the remainder of the colour having drained away.About to face seven people who were going to find various ways to pound and possibly kill her, she found that she had difficulty remembering why she'd signed up. She supposed it had seemed fun, and like a goo idea at the time, but now she was facing her first match, it was all very different. It was against the Crotali as well. Adam was a Crotalus, and he was an absolute sweetheart but the types who signed up for Quidditch tended to be the meaner, tougher ones. And she'd seen what this lot were capable of last year, when they'd nearly killed Saul. She was good at making snacks and doing fun voices in stories and stain removal. They were going to eat her alive! She was good at looking after younger people, which was why she'd spent the morning following Gil around like a shadow, telling him - him, who had grown up flying and played countless matches before - how he would be fine, absolutely fine, nothing to worry about, it'd all be ok, ok, really.
She found herself nearly crying with nerves as she got changed, but she told herself she had to pull herself together. If she got upset, she would unnerve the younger studetns. Student. As they exited the changing rooms, she carried on reassuring Gil, though as they got to the pitch she found herself grabbing his arm with a vice like grip.
"Please get the Quaffle first," she whispered. "Don't let them get near me." She bit her own tongue. Even if she admitted that all her reassurances to Gil had been for own benefit, that had still been a very selfish thing to do, putting more pressure on him right before take off. "Sorry," she said, letting go of his arm.
Although she felt bad for her outburst, it had a slightly cathartic effect, and she made it to the middle of the pitch without hyperventilating. Her stomach was still doing backflips though, and she stared around the packed out stadium, eyes wide, the coach's words fading in and out. She noticed movement around her and, with some effort, pulled one of her feet free from the mud and swung it over her broom. She wiggled the other foot experimentally to see whether it was likely to allow her to take off. As the whistle blew, she made it into the air, although one of her shoes was less fortunate. She couldn't go back, dig it up, put it back on and leave the goal exposed all the time that took, so, with only one foot shod, she flew over to her territory, telling herself - amongst other things - that she had a very reliable broom, and that the only reason it was wobbling so much was because she was shaking. \n\n
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, about to be sick
How essential is the Keeper, really?
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, about to be sick
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Kaylie Brockert. Teppenpaw Seeker
October 25, 2006 9:30 PM
Quite, but don't tell Stephen. It'll go to his head. by Kaylie Brockert. Teppenpaw Seeker
Kaylie had woken up this morning, eager and excited to play Quidditch. She was fairly confident in her flying abilities, more so than in anything academic. She'd thought many times about the different maneuvers she could do but when it came down to it, there was a certain amount of luck involved. The important thing was to have a good time playing though it would be nice to win this year.Now that she was on the pitch, the one thing Kaylie had to remember was to stay focused. Therefore, she was absolutely, positively, not going to look at the stands to see if Chris was there, watching her. That would distract her. Adam, she knew was there, despite his dislike of Quidditch and fear of seeing her hurt.
The one and only thing that Kaylie was worried about were the two Crotalus beaters. One, Gwen Carey, was known to not be quite right in the head and had nearly killed a Pecari Chaser the year before. The other was Lily . Lily, who was absolutely full of anger that she needed an outlet for. Who had been moved from Chaser to Beater, because of how vicious she was. (Lily had seemed quite amused by-and proud of - this fact)
As the game began, Kaylie noticed Pepper flying towards the goal missing a shoe. Perhaps this could work to her advantage. She took off, flying around the pitch, looking as if she saw and was intent on, catching the snitch. She made her way back towards the shoe, and swooped down, as if to catch the snitch. She picked up the shoe and zoomed towards their keeper. Hopefully Jennifer would have fallen for Kaylie's diversion. "Pepper!" She hissed, hurling the shoe at the other girl, "Catch!" She didn't stop to see whether or not the Keeper had it, for just then, a flash of gold caught Kaylie's eye and she took off after it.\n\n
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Kaylie Brockert. Teppenpaw Seeker
Quite, but don't tell Stephen. It'll go to his head.
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Kaylie Brockert. Teppenpaw Seeker
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, in name only
October 26, 2006 12:59 PM
So I can't leave and go home now? by Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, in name only
A Tepp Chaser had the Quaffle! A small wave of relief swept throught Pepper, but not enough to make her feel happy about being here. Two things then happened at once, one which filled her with terror and one with joy. The terror-inducing act was the sudden change of hands that the Quaffle underwent (doubley bad because it was due to a Bludger hit) but the uplifting thing was that Kaylie was already diving towards the pitch. Could she really have seen the Snitch this early in the game? Oh, God, Pepper hoped so! Then it might not even matter that the Crotalus Chasers were coming towards her. The game would be over before they got here and no one would see how terrible she was!But as Kaylie swooped to grass level, the game didn't end. It was clearly just one of those trick things - a Feint (which, if the Crotalus Chasers got any closer, there might be another of, but of a slightly different nature). As her petrified attention returned to the Quaffle, she heard someone hiss her name and saw Kaylie flying towards her. She squeaked as something came hurtling through the air, and fumbled, trying to snatch at it with shaking, unprepared fingers. It was the most humiliating thing to have to dive through the goal hoop after your own shoe. She prayed none of the opposing Chasers had seen that appalling display, even though the crowd would have, and it would be through the entire school before the match ended that the Teppenpaw Keeper couldn't even catch a friendly throw from her own team mate! At least things had changed again at the other end of the pitch though. She was relieved to see they were going for a goal, as she struggled to quickly get her shoe back onto her foot.
She jumped as Jake shouted at her to be ready. Clearly he'd seen her mistake, and didn't think she should be re-shoeing, when she should be keeping an eye out for enemy fire. She gave the goals a shakey loop, glad the that Quaffle was busy at the other end of the pitch, and hoping that Kaylie (or even Jennifer) went for the Snitch for real soon. \n\n
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, in name only
So I can't leave and go home now?
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Pepper Jones, Teppenpaw Keeper, in name only
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Kaylie Brockert, Teppenpaw Seeker
October 27, 2006 5:01 PM
In a moment, let me just catch this snitch first.. by Kaylie Brockert, Teppenpaw Seeker
Kaylie could see the way the Snitch was glinting and sparkling. She zoomed after it but she couldn't quite catch it. It seemed so close but she couldn't quite get there.She heard Jake yell to stay focused. Unfortunately, for Kaylie, such words tended to have the opposite effect. She looked in the direction of his voice and when she looked back, the Snitch was nowhere to be found. Thanks a lot, Jake, she thought.
Narrowing her eyes, Kaylie scanned the pitch. The Snitch came back into her line of vision and she sped towards it. She was only feet away when a Bludger, courtesy of her cousin, came hurling at her. She yelped and flew out of its path, missing both it and the snitch. She would have glared at Lily, but Kaylie knew that was just the way Quidditch was. Besides, glaring would be coming unfocused. It was just that, she could have been hurt .
Something flew up into Kaylie's face. She instinctively slapped at it. As she hit it, she realized it was not an insect or piece of random debris, but something a bit larger far rounder, and shinier. The Snitch! She quickly grabbed it.
Clutching it tight, Kaylie raised her arm into the air, a huge grin on her face.
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Kaylie Brockert, Teppenpaw Seeker
In a moment, let me just catch this snitch first..
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Kaylie Brockert, Teppenpaw Seeker
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