<font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>
February 06, 2007 7:30 PM
Quidditch Match: Aladren vs. Crotalus by <font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>
Although the grass was still covered in a light sheen of dew, Amy was fairly certain that it was going to be a warm day. Of course, the morning air was still rather cool, causing her to slightly shiver. Having forced herself to roll out of bed at the ungodly hour of 8:00am, Amy was barely even awake enough to notice the weather. Stifling a yawn, Amy repeatedly blinked her eyes in a vain attempt to remove the fuzziness.Having already looked up the day’s forecast, Amy was fairly certain that the temperature would only reach a mild 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Hopefully, a mild breeze would accompany the comfortable temperature, allowing the game to run along smoothly. Of course there would be those strange Northerners who thought that even 70 degrees was hot, but the general population would find the temperature to be wonderful. None to hot and none to cold.
Hopefully, the students would thus be mindful of their Quidditch uniforms, in contrast to how they have been in previous games.
Donning on a light t-shirt and a pair of shorts, Amy then began to search for the best possible robe choice. Orange seemed to be the final choice, seeing as it wouldn’t blend in with those of the players and would be garish enough that anyone in their right mind would be able to see her. Or, at least, so she hoped. Having met some of the students, she wasn’t quite so sure.
A thick leather strap was tied around her head to prevent stray hairs from flying into her face. Muggles called the contraption a headband or hair band of sorts, if she remembered correctly. Her hair was then knotted tightly into a bun and her feet were shoved unceremoniously into her sturdiest pair of boots. The entire operation took less than five minutes.
Stifling yet another yawn, Amy grabbed her wand and gear and headed out of the room. The Als and the Crots would be playing today, if she rightly remembered. Although all four houses tended to become muddled in her mind, she vaguely remembered the captains. She was also quite happy that neither team had yet to have the inclination to play dirty. Unlike that team last year…
Finally making her way to the Quidditch shed, Amy unlocked the door and entered. She managed to light the room without any mishaps and located the chest of Quidditch balls quite easily. Muttering beneath her breath, she magically lifted the chest and left the building with it trailing behind her. The shed would have to remain unlocked, unfortunately, to allow the players access to the brooms, should they need it. She could only imagine the damage they would make to the perfectly clean shed.
Entering the pitch, she strode to the center, allowing the chest to drop to the ground when she reached her destination. Everything seemed to be in sorts, but she needed to make a few last-minute check before the students arrived. Glancing at her watch, Amy noted that she had just under an hour before everyone would begin to arrive. She immediately lowered her bag of gear to the ground and removed her broom and goggles. Straddling her broom, she pulled the goggles on to her face and, less than a moment later, she pushed herself into the air.
For the next forty or so minutes she busied herself with checking the hoops, once again making sure that they were ready for the game. She also spent a few moments warming up for the game as she knew that she’d most likely be spending a good deal of time in the air. Upon spotting the first couple of heads entering the pitch, she quickly pulled into a dive and landed gracefully on the ground. Pulling her goggles onto her forehead, she checked her watch once more.
Within no time, the teams were making their way onto the field. When they had finally reached the center of the pitch, Amy motioned the captains toward her. Clearing her throat, she then motioned the teams nearer as well. “I think I need to say something to the teams as well before we get to the particulars. So,” she started, looking at each team member individually, “I’ve noticed in past games that there have been players from teams that have failed to properly follow the rules of Quidditch; thus, I felt the need to remind you all of just the basics. The first of which is this: You must wear your Quidditch uniform during the game. If I see that any of you aren’t wearing your robes, you will not be allowed to play in the game. I do hope that is understood. I also wanted to inform you that you are not allowed to leave this pitch unless you are being wheeled out by the medic. If you need to get sick, you will get sick in front of everyone.
“Finally,” she stated, placing extra emphasis on the word, “you will not cheat. If I see any foul plays whatsoever there will be penalty shots. Is that understood?” Waiting for only a moment, Amy turned toward the captains. “Alright you two, you know the rules. If one of your players gets injured I can’t stop the game. You will need to motion to me if you need a time out. If the medic states that your player can’t return to the air, then your replacements will have to take their place. After last year’s championship game, I hope you all now realize the importance of having extra players.
“That being said, I want you to shake hands and then mount your brooms. The game will begin with the Quaffle is released from my fingers.” Placing her goggles back onto her face, Amy rubbed at the indents that had been left on her forehead. Turning away from the players, Amy dipped down and opened the chest. The Bludgers were the first to be released, the Snitch following not too far behind it. She paused a moment to watch the golden orb disappear into the sky. Removing the Quaffle from the chest, Amy straddled her broom once more.
“Alright, on the count of three I will release the ball,” she yelled to the students. “One, two, three!” Lobbing the ball into the air, Amy immediately pushed off the ground and into the air. She found that the air was quite a bit warmer than it was moments before. Yes, the day would be a nice one.
Hopefully the game would be as well.
OOC: Alright, I need your full name, your team and your position in the name heading. Please be sure that you pay attention to all of the threads that are taking place during the game as well as we’ve had problems with this before. I expect these posts to be very detailed as each will count to the point total at the end, which determines the winner. Pay attention to spelling and grammar as well. That being said, good luck and have fun!
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Subthreads: Let's get this show on the road! by <font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font> with <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>, <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>
Let's get it started! by <font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>
There are only so many possible "seeking" or "shiny" puns by <font color="red">Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker</font> with <font color="blue">Zack Dill, Seeker</font>, <font color="blue">Zack, Alderaanian Seeker</font>
[On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by <font color="red">Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper</font> with <font color="red">Oliver Abbott, SubChaser</font>, <font color="red">Lutece, Reserve Keeper</font>, <font color="red">Oliver, Reserve Chaser</font>, <font color="red">Lutece, Reserve Keeper</font>
Aladren Bench by <font color="blue">Mika'el R., Benchwarmer</font>
Post-Game by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font> with Bella (and a bit of her brothers), Geoffrey S.
<font color="red">CROTALUS WINS</font> (nm) by <font color="orange">Amy Fox</font>
0
<font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>
Quidditch Match: Aladren vs. Crotalus
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<font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>
1
5
<font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>
February 11, 2007 3:49 PM
That would be my suggestion. by <font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>
Earl took a deep breath. It was a perfect day. Perfect weather and a perfect game to go along with it. And it was going to be perfect even if it killed him. It just wasn't fair that after four years on the team, Crotalus had yet to win a game. How humiliating. But today was going to be different. Today, Crotalus was going to kick Aladren butt!So ready was he to defend those goals with his life, that Earl paid absolutely no attention to what Coach Fox said or what Jenny said. Instead he kept his eyes going between the quaffle and the goals he was supposed to be keeping. When the quaffle was lobbed into the air, he sped off towards his goal and began circling furiously with a scowl on his face that told anyone in the area that the quaffle was not getting anywhere near these hoops.
Earl was so concentrated on the game, he never notced the gray owls decending onto the field. He never noticed the boxes and pamphelts they dropped. He never even noticed the two that went directly to Coach Fox and Geoffrey Spindler. He only noticed anything at all when te red envelopes these tow owls were carrying began screaming at the recipients.
Earl stared with fascination at the red letter insulting the Coach (he ignored the one directed at Geoffrey). Who in their right mind would send that? Earl just stared transfixed while the letter finished up and Coach fox took one of the pamphlets and made it burst into flames. He glanced around the pitch to see how everybody else was reacting to this. Most were like him, but some look angry and Geoff was trying to flee the pitch. Earl shrugged it off. Coach had yet to blow the whistle, so he should get back to the game. He glanced aronud the pitch one last time and saw -- almost at the same time -- a very manacing look given out by one Lily Collins and red ball zooming towards the goals. Ignoring Lily's death glare he lunged for the ball -- too quickly -- and ended up catching the quaffle just as he slid off his broom. He yelped and reached out to grab his broom handle, just barely reaching it.
He sighed with relief and tossed the ball the nearest chaser he could see and used both his arms to drag himself back up onto his broom. He wiped the beads of persperation from his face and stared at the ground. That would have been a good thirty foot drop. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought of almost dying and turned his attention back to the game.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>
That would be my suggestion.
0
<font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>
0
5
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
February 14, 2007 12:21 AM
I didn't make it up, it's just what they say by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
Missing a shot for Ben was like making a poor mark in an easy class. The slight pang of dissapointment hung around him only until the encouragements of his teammates reached his ears. He looked around when he heard the sound of metal colliding into body- one of their players had been hit, but she was maintaining her position on her broom, which was always a good sign. What on earth that Crotalus beater was thinking, trying to kill off the chasing team, Ben would never know. Anne went over to the injured player- the role of captain dictated that sort of thing.Figuring that was a signal to continue the chasing game without her, Ben watched carefully as the quaffle was returned to the opposing team's chaser. Said chaser promptly turned, making her way back towards his own teams goals. Ben reversed his direction as well, putting on speed to catch up to the new chaser moving down the pitch. He might have missed a shot, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to go to pieces. As with grades, you accept what you get, move on, and vow to do better next time.
Ben looked towards the goals as he trailed the player in posession, praying that their keeper was prepared. Granted, the player was rather green, but there had to have been some potential to get on the team in the first place. He tightened up his defense on the other chaser, vacillating between staying tight to her right and left sides. This method of guarding was not only helpful in keeping the defender close enough to intercept, but when done properly, the player in posession would get frustrated enough by the continual appearence of an opposing chaser to make a mistake. Monopolizing on said mistake was the real secret to scoring goals and winning games. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
I didn't make it up, it's just what they say
58
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
February 14, 2007 10:15 AM
"They"? "They" who? by <font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
It took a little for Geoffrey to get his rhythm back. The owls, the pamphlet, the boxes and most especially the howlers had - while not being entirely unexpected - come as a bit of a shock. Not in a million years had he expected the game to be interrupted. And not in a million years had he expected to be publically ridiculed and heckled. He knew his mother didn't think much of him, but... well, deep down he knew that he loved her simply because she was his mother. He'd rather thought that somewhere inside her heart, his mother felt the same way. Or at least liked him. Even if it was just a really tiny smidgeon of a bit.He was even shellshocked enough that even after he'd agreed to return to the game he almost missed the look that the Captain was sending his way. Almost.
It was only once the Aladren Chaser had made a run on the goals - thankfully stopped by Valentine - that he realised that he needed to pull himself together, properly this time, and get back into the action. There was a game to play. Taking the current situation into account, he followed Helena back across the field, away from their own goals, and then veering downwards when he noticed that Helena was being rather closely hemmed in by the boy who'd made the goal attempt before.
He was fairly certain that he hadn't been spotted yet. Ben - that was his name - seemed to be concentrating rather fiercely on Helena, and Geoffrey tried to use that to his advantage, doing his darndest to be invisible, small and unworthy of notice as he made his way forward, faster and faster and then slowing slightly so he would be properly positioned for a pass.
And then a new dilemma hit him. How to get Helena to notice him but not Ben?
Well... he was busy. Maybe it wouldn't matter. Split second timing and all that. A breath, a moments preparation to be sure he was ready to catch the quaffle at a moment's notice and he was ready.
"Helena!" he shouted. "Down here."
Pureblood, he recalled, as the words escaped his mouth. His mother was going to kill him. Well, if his team-mates didn't beat her to it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
39
<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
"They"? "They" who?
0
<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>
February 14, 2007 8:43 PM
Posting up here (and they are the wise people) by <font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>
Zoey had no recollection of her uninjured arm making its way to craddling her injured shoulder. It was instinct to want to protect the part of the body that was in pain, but to not remember actually making the move seemed a bit startling in Zoey's mind. Perhaps the fact that she wanted to prove herself so much allowed her subconcious mind to work on a level her conscious mind couldn't keep up with.Her thoughts all went straight back to the game the moment Anne spoke to her. Zoey's hand left her shoulders and gripped the broomstick tightly. "I'm fine." Zoey replied through clenched teeth. She wanted desperately to show to Anne and the rest of them that she could be tough and dependable. That she couldn't be so easily replaced. Zoey wondered briefly that if it had been Ben to have been hit by the bludger, if Anne would have asked him the same thing.
"We should get back." Zoey stated, glancing at Anne before turning her broom around and flying after oe of the Crotalus chasers. In all reality, Zoey very much wanted to be a weak girl. She wanted to cry and and have peopel fuss over her for her giant and painful bruise she now had on her shoulder. But she couldn't do that. Not now and probably not later. It wasn't like she'd never been hurt before. Playing basketball she had received plenty of elbows in her face, it was just...in this game, if you showed any signs were pain effected you in any way, you were taken out, frowned at, forever labeled weak.
Zoey wanted to be more than the weird tall girl with her nose in the book. When she played quidditch with the team, she wasn't invisible anymore. If this was taken from her, she would be left empty.
Shaking off the negative thoughts and putting the pain away in the back of her mind, Zoey flew after the red Chasers down the pitch towards the Aladren Keeper. "Keep your eyes open, Hyana!" Zoey called out to the keeper, trying to be encouraging. So long as she kept herself focused on the game, everything else would just fade away.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6
<font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>
Posting up here (and they are the wise people)
39
<font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
February 18, 2007 12:32 AM
So some wise guys tell us to do these things? by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
Left, right, left, right... Ben thought rhthymically as he followed the chaser in posession's movements. As with walking, people had a natural gait to their flying- some people flew straighter than others, some swayed. Not that this made a huge difference or anything, it was just something Ben had observed in his time as a quidditch player. The player's gait was a bit part of how they moved, passed, shot, and their general field presence. It was extremely advantageous for a defender to quickly observe and interpret the opposing team's feel. From playing quidditch for the past couple years, Ben had mapped out most of the senior members, but this girl was new- or if she wasn't, he hadn't paid much attention to her before. Ben was still in the process of figuring out this girl's patterning when he heard a voice- his head whipped around to find its source."Helena! Down here." one of the Crotalus Chasers, he was pretty sure it was that Spindler kid, was shouting to get the girl in posession's attention. Ben made eye contact with the kid and immediately switched over to put himself physically between the girl and her available pass option. Well, Ben certainly hadn't noticed the secondary chaser beforehand, but he had only assumed that the Crotalus chasers would have followed their leading chaser- Helen, was it?- downfield. It was annoying, he thought back bitterly as he processed the positions, that Valentine had just barely blocked his earlier shot. He still felt the mild sting, something that spurred him farther into wanting to beat Crotalus. Besides, someone had to show that silly house that the Aladrens were smarter and better at quidditch than they were. Ben looked again from the chaser to her passing option, weighing the situation.
On one hand, he could attempt a steal- risky, could cause trouble, but definitely worth it if successful- or, he could just wait. Waiting was something Ben could do; he was naturally a bit on the impulsive side, but he could do patience. All it took was, well, some patience. Wind from his speed flapping his robes around his legs, Ben was undecided. The risks were ones he had taken before, and usually with good results. Ben looked again, this time from the two opposing chasers to the distance from the goals. They were still a ways off, long enough for him to take the quaffle if he really wanted to without slamming into the hoops... Still, something in him said it wasn't a good idea. So Ben decided to wait- as soon as the leather ball would leave the girl's hands, he'd intercept. It was safe, but for some reason beyond his own explanation, it seemed like the right thing to do. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
So some wise guys tell us to do these things?
58
<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>
February 19, 2007 1:20 PM
Something like that. by <font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>
The way Gwen saw it, the main difference between Crotalus and Aladren was in the Seekers. Until today, they had had the exact same opponents, but Aladren had one victory and Crotalus had zero. They had both lost to Pecari, but Zack Dill had won the game against Teppenpaw for Aladren where Jennifer had not for Crotalus. That Teppenpaw had beaten Pecari as badly as Pecari had beaten Aladren and Crotalus was irrelevant. Luck did come into it, sometimes, but not enough, by her light, to throw off the line of reasoning.All this meant, once she had it organized coherently, was that taking the tiny Aladren Seeker out of the game would be even more important today than it usually was. Because of his one experience with good luck, Gwen had decided to send Zack Dill on a prolonged trip to the hospital so Jen would have a chance to catch the Snitch. Crotalus' moment in the sun was two years overdue, and while beating nerds might not have gained them quite as much face as doing so against Pecaris would have, Gwen was prepared to take the spoils she could get.
She remained fully committed to this strategy all the way through the speeches and Anne taking the Quaffle in under ten seconds. The Seeker was a better target, she thought, than any mere Chaser, captain and Quaffle-bearer or not. She was scanning the air for a Bludger to use when Lily sent one of them on a collision course for her cousin and the owls started pouring in. After that, Gwen forgot about strategy and, indeed, the game. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't happening. She had gone crazy and started hallucinating owls from the association that had snubbed her as a second year. That wasn't a pleasant thought, but it was better than the alternative.
It was only the necessity of holding onto her bat that kept Gwen from covering her ears when the Howlers went off. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. She was close to being home free when it came to the Council situation, a hair from it, and now this had to happen - in the middle of the game, no less. She couldn't lie about being here to any group of people who knew otherwise as large as this one. It had to be a nightmare. But it wasn't.
The thought that the team could still win drifted, somehow, through her head. It was a ridiculous thing to think of at such a time, but it was there: they could still beat the Aladrens. She shook her head hard, trying to get back her grasp of what was happening. Lily had taken aim at all of the enemy Chasers and injured one. A Bludger was headed for Zack. The other Bludger was shooting past Lily, hit by Anne's friend, and little Helena had the Quaffle. Geoff was nearby, but the blond-haired Aladren Chaser was cutting him off from a pass. Someone ought to fix that.
She was sure that Lily meant to use the free Bludger to teach Geoff Layne about respecting his elders, but that would have to be done later, either after Crotalus had a goal or three under its belt or after the game. Grudges took second place to winning, and a firefight between the Beaters was counterproductive. Ignoring any objections, dark looks, or other signs of discontent Lily might have made during or after the fact, Gwen moved in on the Bludger, bracing herself for the shock of hitting a ten-inch sphere of iron with a piece of charmed wood, and sent it flying for the blue-clad back of Benjamin Stafford. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>
Something like that.
63
<font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>
0
5
<font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>
February 19, 2007 9:07 PM
Wise Guys love to say their Peace by <font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>
Chrissy was trying keep herself focused on the game, but it was hard when her mind continuously wandered. Mainly, it wandered to her mother. Her mother did not approve of Chrissy playing Quidditch. In fact, Chrissy even thought her mother believed her to like other girls, having stated something during the holidays that suggested so. Helen thought that because Chrissy was so close to her female roommates, one of whom was the Beater of the team, there must be something to it. Especially when Chrissy showed no signs of interest to any of the boys Helen paraded in front of Chrissy.Chrissy's simple answer was that no Snobby, has no brain, Pureblood boy would ever get her attention. She needed something a little extra. Be it attitude, be it adventurous, Chrissy couldn't really say. All she knew was that the boys her mother preferred her with put Chrissy to sleep.
Focus on the game! Focus! Her team would kill her if she blew it! Chrissy fell behind Helena and Geoff just incase one of the Aladrens actually did get ahold of the Quaffle she was in position to block and/or steal it back. Her eyes were glued to the back of Helena, occassionally, she took a chance to glance at the other players (mainly the beaters) to see their positions, but she floated high above the ground waiting for what was to come next.
Her mother must be apart of WAIL. She had to be. WAIL stood for everything her mother did. And if her mother wasn't apart of WAIL, she certainly will become a member once she hears about them. Though Chrissy wasn't going to be the one to tell her. Sometimes Chrissy was jealous of her friends families. Tally's family was always supportive no matter what, Lily's-though Chrissy didn't know all that much about Lily's family-didn't seem to constantly fuss over anything, and Jenna's, well, Chrissy was just jealous of Jenna in general.
Focus. Chrissy focused back on the game just as a bludger was hit towards the Aladren in the way of Helena and Geoff. Chrissy looked past the chasers to the Aladren Keeper. The girl looked no older than a second year. Their last Keeper had been completely lucky with her save the year before, but this one looked as though a simple flick could knock her over. "Don't worry Helena, you've got this!"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>
Wise Guys love to say their Peace
0
<font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>
February 21, 2007 5:14 PM
She shoots... by <font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>
When one of the Aladrens closed in on her and began going from side to side, Helena tried to get a better grip on the Quaffle and resolved not to look even as far down as her broom handle. The way he kept appearing and disappearing was disconcerting enough to make her feel a little dizzy, a sensation she had no desire to increase the presence of this high in the air. There was noise everywhere, which was why it took her two seconds too long to process what Geoff Spindler called out to her. Part of why, anyway; she hadn't been paying attention to what was going on below her, and was caught off-guard by his return to the air.It was upon realizing that she was about out of options that Helena considered panicking. They were getting close to the Aladren Keeper - a first year. That could have worked to, say, Chrissy's advantage because of the intimidation factor, but Helena was only a year older than Hyana and small for it. She stood nothing to gain by losing her head, though, and so opted to keep it. She wasn't out of options yet. She had the choice between trying to shoot or, given the general player layout, crashing into the goals.
Chrissy's shouted encouragement settled the bargain. She was going to have to try for the goals. Here was to hoping that the Aladren Keeper was extremely nervous and that Anne had done an extremely bad job of training her and that Helena could throw straight while surrounded and under pressure. She hated the predictability of it, but the side opposite Stafford was her only real option; straight or to his side, and he'd probably snatch it from under her nose. Hopefully, the first year would be too anxious and inexperienced to notice that and predict what she was going to do. Feinting forward a bit just in case, she threw the Quaffle at the far goal hoop as hard and as accurately as she could. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
16
<font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>
She shoots...
88
<font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>
0
5
<font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>
February 21, 2007 6:01 PM
I catch? by <font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>
Everything was happening so fast. She was flying around the goal posts, just like she had been trained. She was following the Quaffle, just like she had been told. The pace of the game, her first game was so exciting. She was glad for her martial arts training. She was glad that she played soccer. Boy, she was glad she could stay concious. Hyana barely kept on her broom when that red envolope exploded.That must be the infamous howlers she thought gravely as she watched them explode on Coach Fox. It was saying horrible things about her...calling her a lesbian. Hyana felt a stab of guilt. Coach Fox didn't deserve this...I think so many bad things of her and now she's getting insulted in front of everyone. Who could do such a horrible thing? She thought sadly. She vowed to find out more about WAIL, and put her focus back in the game to see Ben throw the quaffle and Zoey get hit by a bludger.
She held her breath. But Zoey was fine and the quaffle was...it was...heading right towards her! Hyana cried out in surprise, and started having second thoughts. What was I thinking? Why did I think I could do this? I can't...I can't! But those stopped when she heard words of encouragement from Zoey.
"Keep your eyes open Hyana!" Hyana heard her cry. She let out her breath, knowing that she needed to focus. No time to panic. Everyone was watching her. Mika was on the bench and she knew, if he could play, he would be Keeper and she would be on the bench. She couldn't let her friend or the rest of the team down. So when...Helena? Yeah that was her name. When Helena threw the Quaffle, Hyana reacted quickly.
She flew towards the Quaffle, which was heading toward her right. Gripping her broom with one hand, she reached out the other. The red ball was almost to the hoops! "Come on!" She cried. Her broom went a little faster and she caught the Quaffle in her outstreched arm. She pulled it close to her, panting slightly. W-wow...that was too close. She thought before she threw the ball to the closest blue clad player she could find.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
0
<font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>
I catch?
0
<font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>
0
5
<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
February 21, 2007 6:38 PM
Well done! by <font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
Ben was waiting. He kept pace with the Crotalus chaser, marking her just enough so that he could keep both the distance from the goals and her shifts within his eyesight. Everything in his body and muscles were yelling to steal- just grab it out of the younger girl’s hands and make off down the other side of the field. Just wait, Ben, the calmer, more patient brain soothed, Everything'll be okay, you just block her options and keep a tight defense. Just wait. Easier said than done. Still, Ben kept waiting until the girl decided she was close enough to shoot. He didn't even bother to mark her until the shot had been blocked, he was that decidedly annoyed at his stupid decision. A far-off whizzing noise reached his ears, but Ben was too ticked off to give it a second thought.He cursed rather violently in his mind and broke off angrily from his mark. Seconds, only seconds, had passed since his initial decision to wait out the Crotalus chaser and the attempted goal. Hyana had caught it beautifully; a rather impressive feat for such a new player, and that was something to be happy about. Ben was drifting for a moment when that whizzing he had heard earlier materialized into one of those sick metal balls that every chaser dreads meeting. The bludger skimmed past where he should have been moments before. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Lexi's voice interrupted his thoughts in harsh and almost mocking tones- "I can't believe how dense some of these chasers are! I mean, if you hear the noise, turn around, look behind you, for Merlin's sake! Some people are so self-involved they don't even think about the possibility of getting hit."
Taking a deep breath to clear out the anxiety of being so close to an encounter with a bludger, Ben shouted back to Hyana, "Good save, kid! Keep it up!"
The quaffle was tossed back, and Ben took the opportunity to catch it. He grinned at Hyana again, trying to give her a little more confidence, as if blocking her first goal in a match wasn't enough. He looked about the field, searching for Anne, or even the injured Zoey for some backup. Seeing neither in very close range, Ben took off back down the field, thankful for his sheer good luck. Otherwise, he was sure that a very long and didactic Lexi lecture was in store for him from his hospital wing bed about the dangers of quidditch and the stupidity of her own twin brother. He looked again to find Anne, but he knew she would follow him soon enough so they could set up some structured offence instead of just shooting at will. With strengthened resolve, Ben kicked up his speed a notch, sailing full throttle at the Crotalus goals. Ben wasn't one to be rejected twice, not in the same game.
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<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
Well done!
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<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
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<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
February 22, 2007 8:23 PM
I think not! by <font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
It became apparent very quickly that his positioning wasn't going to help, with the Aladren boy being a bit quicker off the mark than Helena in responding to his shout. Geoffrey slowed, hanging back and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Stafford had Helena effectively with two of the goal choices, and she was clearly going for a shot. Chrissy was... over there. He located her, putting her into his mental map of the game.And the Aladren Keeper... well, she was a first year, apparently completely new to the game according to what talk he'd heard. But she was an Aladren, which meant she was hardly going to be stupid. She'd probably worked out that Stafford had two goals covered which meant that her chances of blocking the Quaffle were increased. And Stafford was right there waiting for a pass.
Geoffrey moved back, giving himself room to move in for an intercept, and then adjusting his position a little to try and make it less likely that he'd be spotted preparing.
And then it all happened, just like he'd have much preferred it hadn't. Helena shot, the firstie caught the ball, it was passed to Stafford and then he was hurtling down the pitch towards the Crotalus guarded goals.
It was a straight path that Stafford seemed to have chosen, but that just made things easier. Geoffrey moved in at an angle, pushing his broom firstly as fast as it could go, and then adjusting things a little, as he'd mistaken things slightly and would have overshot his goal otherwise. He came up to Stafford, amazed that the boy hadn't even considered a pass. Didn't anyone realise that this wasn't a one person game? You didn't just grab the quaffle and go from one end of the pitch to the other - that was suicide! That said, he hadn't really noticed much of the other Chasers from the Aladren team since the Howlers. Not that it mattered. The quaffle was there, almost in reach, just waiting...
A sudden burst of speed and he was there, reaching out and snatching the ball from the grip of the other player. Using his momentum, he turned the movement into a vertical U-turn, flipping back upright at the end and regretting the hearty breakfast he'd had just that morning. Moving back the other way, he took quick glances around, taking in the changes in position that other players within his easy range of sight had made.
There was no point in making the same mistake that Stafford had made. Not when the other chasers of his team were well set up for another goal attempt with a bit of team effort.
Geoffrey adjusted his grip on the Quaffle and let fly, throwing it as hard as he was able towards the nearest of the other red-clad chasers. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
I think not!
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<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
February 25, 2007 7:46 PM
Oh Come On! by <font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
Chrissy watched with icey eyes as Helena went in for the shot. There was no way a newbie like this Aladren could be good enough to block some decent shots. Only...she had? Chrissy cursed loudly in her spot in frustration. How can a completely and total newbie to the game of Quidditch, probably someone who's only been on a broom half a dozen times, possibly be confident enough not to fumble?Chrissy didn't understand it! She had been rubbish her first year and she had been surrounded by magic her entire life. How could these first year starters be so well? Okay, okay, breathe Chrissy! It was probably just luck and Helena isn't all that intimidating. We'll work on it. Chrissy thought to herself as she watched in frustration as the Aladren boy got he quaffle.
She paced on her broom halfway between the Aladren goals and the Crotali goals, watching in anticipation for the blue chaser to make it down her way. From time to time, her eyes would move to Geoff who seemed to be working on some strategy and then to Helena to know where the younger chaser was flying. Watching them come closer to her, Chrissy's eyes widened in surprise as Geoff stole the quaffle. She had never seen him so aggressive before.
Surprise turned to satisfaction as she sped off after Geoff. Her broom picked up speed with surprising ease despite her weight. She was farther to the left than Geoff was so his pass ended up being perfect. Picking up the quaffle and tucking it securely beneath her arm, Chrissy leaned so close to her broom that her chest pressed against it. Her cold eyes stared down the pitch at the Aladren Keeper. Just a little intimidation that was all she really needed.
Ears perked and listening for the sounds of a bludger closing in on her, Chrissy zoomed down the pitch, weaving between the other players. They had to get a score. They had too. They couldn't be the bottom of the bottom any longer.
On full speed, Chrissy came charging at the goals and with one quick sweeping motion of her arm, Chrissy sent the quaffle flying in the direction of the goals. Merlin better be on her side or else! One save was one too many.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
Oh Come On!
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
February 26, 2007 12:34 AM
Come on down to the ground..... by <font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
Once Lily was satisfied that the bludger was hurtling rapidly towards Zack, she glanced back at the game. It had rather surprised her that Helena's shot had been blocked. As far as she knew, the Aladren Keeper was fairly inexperienced, although Lily didn't actually know much about the Aladren team other than off the field, Zack kind of amused her and she now wanted to kill one of their Beaters.Now however, Chrissy had the Quaffle and was going for the shot. Lily quickly looked around for that other bludger. She narrowed her eyes. This time the child was not going to catch the Quaffle. This time, the shot was going in.
She finally found the other bludger and zoomed over to it. Lily glared fiercely at opposing Keeper and sent it barreling directly towards her at top speed. After all, the firstie couldn't possibly have it in her to deal with the bludger. It would probably cause her to be paralyzed with fear, and then the quaffle could sail through the hoop without any opposition. It seemed highly unlikely to Lily that the Aladren Keeper would be able to block the Quaffle while trying to avoid the bludger. It would be even more unlikely if the bludger got there first and she was knocked off her broom.
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
Come on down to the ground.....
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
February 26, 2007 6:14 PM
Nothing's gonna go my way, is it? by <font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
Hyana breathed a sigh of relief when Ben caught the quaffle she threw out. "Good save, kid! Keep it up!" Ben shouted at her as he sped to the other side. Hyana smiled. This was a lot of fun. She started circling the hoops again when it happened. Geoffrey stole the quaffle from Ben.Oh no! She cried in her head. She floated in the middle of the hoops, remembering her training, and everything she had read. She saw the quaffle fly towards another chaser...Chrissy? Yeah, Chrissy. She could still do this. Nothing to worry about. She just had to throw the quaffle, and Hyana would catch it. She wouldn't disappoint her team. Then Chrissy gave her the coldest stare...her breath caught in her throat.
Mother... She thought, She's looking at me like mother does. She was scared. There were more people like her mother in this world? How could that be possible?! And they were students together! Hyana took a calming breath. It would give her great satisfaction to see the anger on Chrissy's face when she caught the quaffle. It would be like she was proving to her mother that she was worth something. She wasn't a nobody.
Chrissy threw the quaffle, and Hyana sped towards it. "I've got this." She whispered to herself. Then she heard a terrifying whistling sound behind her. That Lily Collins girl had sent a bludger at her. Hyana had to think quickly. Should she save the quaffle and get hurt so she would be removed from the game? But her team had no alternates! They had Mika, whom Hyana believed was perfectly capable at playing, but they wouldn't let him play. One of their chasers, Zoey, was already hurt. They couldn't risk losing any other players. So Hyana made her decision.
She stopped going for the quaffle and dodged the bludger. She wouldn't leave the goals open. She took a deep, shaking breath when she heard the crowd cheer. The quaffle had gone in. Hyana looked at her team. "I'm sorry..." She mouthed. But it was the clear choice. If they were mad at her...they'd have to deal with it. They had no alternates. If she had gone after that quaffle, the hoops would've been left wide open. What else was she supposed to do? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
Nothing's gonna go my way, is it?
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
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<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
February 26, 2007 9:16 PM
Nothing is fair, kid. by <font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
Ben was fairly one-track minded when he played quidditch. It was a simple track, one that didn't involve many things outside of observation, quick decision-making, and equally swift action. The fact that his one-track was really a multi-track didn't bother him at all, it was easier to think about as a single track. However, Ben was so blind-sided at the next events he almost had to double take. Geoff had taken the quaffle from him- that is to say, by some ungodly and wholly unexplainable miracle, the other boy had managed to first catch up to Ben and then steal the quaffle from his tight grip. It was some kind of turn of events that Ben never in his life would have predicted, especially with his grip on the quaffle and speed. It was utterly ridiculous.The game, nevertheless, progressed, and Ben sat there, fuming. It took him only until the count of ten to think, to breathe again, before dashing off after that cursed boy. Geoff passed hard to Chrissy, and it wasn't long before the opposing chaser shot at the goals. Hyana looked torn for a moment, between blocking the goal and something else. Then Ben saw the real problem was a bludger set on a crash course for the keeper. She dodged the bludger, but let in the goal. Ben inwardly groaned, but set his jaw and bore it. So, she had missed the goal to save herself- a wise move for the long-term benefit of the team, for sure.
"That's alright!" he called to the keeper, unable to put as much emotion into it as he usually would have, "You'll get it next time!"
He tried not to feel angry at Geoff, at himself, at whatever blasted stroke of luck that kid had happened upon, but to no avail. Ben shouldn't have-couldn't have- been so easily ployed into being stolen from. It just didn't happen to him. He tried to unclench his jaw and his hands that were now turning white from their grip on his broom handle, but again he couldn't. Ben counted again, slowly, in his head. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten- and he was under control again, making every effort to relax his hands, arm muscles, and tightened jaw as he looked about the pitch. Where were Anne and Zoey? He desperately needed someone else to take up the quaffle and head up an offence- clearly, he wasn't getting the job properly done. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
Nothing is fair, kid.
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<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
March 02, 2007 12:36 AM
We scored, she's uninjured, seems pretty fair to me. by <font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
She couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed. The goal had gone in but the bludger had missed Aladren's keeper. The dratted girl was still on her broom. Oh well, Chrissy had scored them a goal and that was the important thing.Lily looked around for where that bludger had gone. Nobody had caught the Snitch yet. There was still plenty of time. She turned just in time to see Zack Dill get hit and fall to the ground. A look of pride came to Lily's face. Not that she had anything against him, but this was Quidditch and that was how it was played. Besides, this was what she'd been trying to do since the beginning of the game, knock someone off their broom. It was also very productive to take out the other team's Seeker. If Zack was too hurt to continue playing, then there wasn't anyway Aladren could win, unless they called a time out and they rearranged who played what position and put one of their others on Seeker, or they put that kid in the wheelchair who was sitting by the Aladren bench in. If Zack was taken out and they did put him in, Lily certainly wasn't giving him any special treatment. He had the same potential to be hit bludgers at by her (or Gwen) as every other player on the opposing team.
Finding a bludger, Lily flew over to it, pondering who to take out. She'd already got the opposing Seeker. There were two people she despised on the pitch, but it wasn't very bright to take out her own teammate or give an opposing Beater a bludger if she missed and she didn't see who had the Quaffle.
She had no choice but to go for the Aladren Keeper again. Lily rose her arms over her head, aimed, and fired hard.
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
We scored, she's uninjured, seems pretty fair to me.
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<font color="red">Lily, Beater</font>
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
March 02, 2007 10:42 PM
But...is there really such a thing as fair? by <font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
Hyana heard Ben call to her, but didn't at the same time. She was focused on the bludger heading towards Zack. "Z-zack!" She called as loudly as she could, but it had already happened. The bludger collided with his leg and he fell to the ground. Hyana covered her mouth with one of her hands. If she had been hit by the first bludger, would that one have missed?Hyana wasn't paying attention to the game until she heard the familiar whistle of the bludger. She turned her focus back to the game, but still didn't register the bludger until it was impossible to dodge. "Oh no!" She shouted, and flew as far as she could out of the way before contact.
The bludger slammed into her shoulder, and she bit her lip to stop the cry of pain trying to escape her lips. This is nothing...nothing at all! She reassured herself in her head. The bludger had come back for more, and Hyana flew out of the way. It wouldn't get her again. She refrained from clutching her shoulder. She needed to keep her balance. Zack was already down, Aladren was losing...where were Anne and Zoey? She flew to the middle of the hoops, her shoulder stinging from the force of the wind. She wouldn't be taken out of the game...they couldn't do that to her.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
But...is there really such a thing as fair?
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<font color="blue">Hyana, Keeper</font>
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
March 02, 2007 11:39 PM
When it comes to Quidditch? Not likely by <font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
She had scored. Chrissy had actually scored. It was a moment where she should have been happy, excited even. But she wasn't. She had seen exactly what had happened, had read every thought on the little first year's face. It was only because Lily had smacked a bludger at the Aladren Keeper that Chrissy had been able to score. If there had been no bludger, the first year would have made another save.Chrissy hated first years. Especially first years who could do everything like a Pro whether they knew what they were doing or not. It was obnoxious. Chrissy worked hard for her spot on the team and she wasn't going to just let some little first year show her up because she was some Miracle child.
Hm...that nickname reminded her of someone...Who was it that we dubbed that before? Chrissy hung back as the Aladren's took possession of the quaffle, still trying to recall who it was that they had once upon a time nicknamed the Miracle Child. Or something close to that. It was during her momentary lapse in paying attention to the game that Chrissy had missed the initial hit of the bludger to the Aladren Seeker. She only became aware that something had happened when she heard screams.
Jolted out of her thoughts, Chrissy watched as the Seeker fell from the sky. Almost as though it were in slow motion. He just...fell...screaming. Chrissy was well aware of just how violent Quidditch could be but...this was a school, they were 15...it just seemed unneccesary.
The shout from behind her, startled Chrissy. Whirling as much as she could on her broom, Chrissy turned to find that the annoying first year had been hit by a bludger too. At least she seemed to be handling it better than Zack, who had now been taken into the Medic's tent.
Chrissy chanced a glance at Lily, and was grateful to have her on the same team. Chrissy certainly never wanted to be on the receiving end of any bludger sent by Lily.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
When it comes to Quidditch? Not likely
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<font color="red">Chrissy, Chaser</font>
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