Amy Fox
August 27, 2008 1:07 AM
Quidditch Match: Crotalus v. Pecari by Amy Fox
It was hard to believe that four and a half years had already passed and that she was still at Sonora biding her time. At first, she had assumed that her banishment would be a short one. She would receive a small slap on the wrist, be banned for the rest of the season, but then start again the following year. Of course, it had become apparent to her some time during her first or second year at Sonora that her stay at the school might be an extended one- and oh, she had dreaded it and hoped otherwise. She wasn't made out for teaching. She didn't have the temperament.But time had passed and it was yet again time for another Quidditch match. It was hard to believe that this would be one of the last matches for most of the captains, Anne being the only exemption.
For once, she had made her way out to the pitch early, wanting some time alone to herself. It was a cool morning, only in the mid-50s but the temperature would definitely increase as the day progressed. The weather forecast, Amy had noted, had stated that the day would most likely be warm for February, being in the mid-to-upper 60s with only a slight breeze.
Taking a seat on the field, Amy removed the rumpled piece of parchment from her pocket, unfolding it so she could read over the missive yet another time. Her eyes scanned over the words, still hardly believing the content. Shaking her head, she refolded the parchment and stuffed it in her pocket. The decision would have to wait until later.
Dear Miss Fox, the letter read,
I am writing to inform you that after careful consideration of this committee, it has been decided that you may once again play Professional Quidditch. Please understand that you will be placed under a trial period, during which you will be held under the close scrutiny of this committee. Should you act in any way that is discordant with the rules and regulations set by this committee, then your banishment will be considered permanent.
Although the last few lines were difficult to read, it was clear that a dedline was mentioned and the letter ended with a valediction and signature.
Pushing herself to her feet, she looked over to make sure that the equipment was ready for play. The balls were situated on the field beside her bag and broom. She would have just enough time to unlock the supply closet before the teams and spectators arrived. Turning on her heel, she started down the pitch. Reaching the shed, she made her way around to the supply closet, unlocking it with a quick flick of the wrist. She had checked the brooms the night before and all were in excellent condition for the days match. Finished, she slowly began to return to her place in the middle of the pitch just as the stands were beginning to fill.
Time passed quickly and soon the teams were making their way out to the center of the field. The ritual was quite simple and all of the captains should have been fairly familiar with it. When the teams were within hearing, Amy called the captains over, instructing them to shake hands. She then went over the obligatory rules, making sure that everyone understood that it was entirely unacceptable to cheat. "Am I understood?" she ended.
Moving over the giant chest of balls, Amy grabbed her broom and opened the balls, letting the Snitch and Bludgers loose before taking hold of the Quaffle. Turning back to the teams, she straddled her broom and pushed off the ground. "Alright," she said, "on the count of three: one, two, three!" At three, the Quaffle was released from her fingers, being lobbed into the air. As the teams rose into the air, Amy flew to the sidelines, watching as the game began.
OOC: Alright, have fun and being creative. I expect lengthy posts of excellent quality. Make this game interesting!
Subthreads: Here it goes by Josh Warren, Crotalus Beater with Irene Liddowe, Pecari Chaser, Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
ROCKING THIS JOINT by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker with Irene Liddowe and Josh Warren
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Amy Fox
Quidditch Match: Crotalus v. Pecari
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Amy Fox
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Caedence
September 03, 2008 6:54 PM
If we all do what we're supposed to by Caedence
Caedence thought she was ready for the pass, but by some considerable skill, Oliver ended that thought. He threaded between the two girls like… well thread through a needle. Then, he made a pass to Helena. Caedence tried to keep her broom level with them, but bludgers were flying around like hot Hollywood gossip. The cravens were mercilessly beating towards the Crotali, and the Crotali were mercilessly beating at the Pecari. It was all the bludger magnet could do to keep uninjured. She winced at Irene’s obvious injury, even though it couldn’t be so bad. After all, the girl was still moving on.Caedence swooped in for a pass, keeping clear of the Craven’s beating maneuvering. She fell in line a few feet behind Irene. She looked around, but in the heat of the moment, she couldn’t spot Saul. Where was he? The strange, yet skilled chaser was usually their last resort. Almost always it turned out that he was the one who could avoid the bludgers. In fact, in one game he was the last surviving chaser left. Caedence had broken her arm that year, if she remembered correctly.
She gently smirked to herself, remembering some of her worse ideas that had gone completely awry. She really did deserve the name ’bludger magnet’ didn’t she? It wasn’t like the name bothered her. After all, she was pretty stupid. But not today. Today she would be all here. She would keep her head in the game.
“Heads Up!“
Caedence cursed herself as she found the ball headed her way. She let her mind wander right when she was thinking about how much she needed to focus!
Her gloved hands fumbled on the quaffle. Her careworn beaters gloves had rubber grips on them which she found better at holding a ball than chaser gloves. But the grips couldn’t help a lousy catch.
Caedence groped the air for the ball. One, two, three times it bounced between her hands. On the fourth fumble, she gripped it, but barely. Breathing a sigh of relief, the young blonde tucked it securely in her arms.
Now, to go after the goal. Earl wasn’t ever that reliable. He had the skill, but not the nerve. The last save was lucky. Perhaps next time he wouldn’t be so lucky. Caedence would be the one to test her luck…
… Then again, the last time she tried to hog the ball, she ended up in pain. Ball hogs were great targets for bludgers. And it wasn’t like Caedence was known for keeping out of trouble on the pitch. Yes, she had had the ball long enough now.
Looking around, a brown-clad player showed up in her vision. Just as she was about to throw, a red player got between them. Cursing lowly, she looked around. Where was the other one…
There! Caedence took careful aim, faked to the red-blocked player on her right, then tossed the ball deftly to the free brown player on her left. Time for Pecari to win. Time for them to take the Quidditch Cup! \n
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Caedence
If we all do what we're supposed to
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Caedence
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
September 04, 2008 5:44 PM
Don't we always? by Irene, Pecari Chaser
It was times like these when Irene was perfectly aware of why Quidditch was the first part of the magical world she came to love. She had been in Uncle Mike's house a total of a week, all adventures completed (twice), before he introduced her to the game. Once the explanation was out Irene was on the old broom. Remembering that old thing makes her appreciate her Blurr so much more too. Quidditch was her first glimpse into the magical world. She had many wonderful, cherished memories of it that inspired fond feelings of the sport. Currently, all those sweet feelings were forgotten. Her stinging shoudler helped that along. Her mind was focused on beating Crotalus and putting all of her energy into getting what she needed done, done.Irene held her breath as she watched Caedence fumble for the Quaffle, fearing for a moment that it might be dropped. Her teammate managed to cling to it and Irene allowed herself to breathe again, keeping pace with the braided player. As they neared the hoops, Irene dropped low, coming back up on Caedence's left. Saul was being blocked by one of the Crotali, leaving the chance of the Quaffle being passed to him quite slim. She continued flying with the team, keeping her eyes open. When she saw the makings of a pass begin in his direction, she felt her nerves tense-- Oh, wait. Irene's reflexes jumped as the Quaffle was suddenly in her direction. She closed her fingers around it, her eyes focused on the goal.
The current score (zero to zero) needed to be changed. Irene had the tools in her hands, not to mention that her hands happened to be one of said objects, to kick this game of in their favor. She pushed her broom into a high speed, racing towards the center hoop. As she neared, Irene pulled back the Quaffle and, at the last possible moment, hoping to fake out the Keeper, fired it towards the left hoop. Turning away towards her teammates, Irene glanced back, hoping to see a few disappointed Crotali.
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
Don't we always?
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
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Earl, Crotalus Keeper
September 05, 2008 1:46 AM
Until we stop you by Earl, Crotalus Keeper
Earl felt his grin falter and fade, turning into a deep frown when Ash Craven made fun of him. Earl gestured at him rudely and told him what he could do with his own broom. It was either that or stick his tongue out at Ash and Earl felt that that was a little childish, even for him. For the most part, Earl had very little problem with the Craven twins. Sorrel was scary and Ash looked like he could pulverize Earl in an instant, but neither of them really paid much attention to him and Earl did the same. Now, with this insult and the fact that they were graduating in a few months, Earl decided that it was fine to feel some almost undeserved hatred towards them. Or at least Ash. Still cussing Ash he dragged his attention back to the game.He watched the quaffle fly back and forth between the chasers, a red blur flying through the air between streaks of maroon and brown. The blur stopped, suddenly hidden by a brown set of robes. that began heading in his direction. The chaser was small, no more than a fourth year. Saul was one thing, but unless he was fairly mistaken, this was her first year actually on the team full time.
He saw a look in her eyes. It was nothing more than a quick glance and Earl barely had time to register it, but his body automatically adjusted his broom to dash in front of the quaffle just as it soared out of the girl's hands. Earl caught it deftly with a huge grin on face. She had done almost the same thing as Saul. It was almost too easy. He glanced around for Ash, looking to gloat, but couldn't spot him in among the players.
Instead his brown eyes searched out a Crotalus chaser and passed to the first one he saw that wasn't being blocked. Take that Pecari!
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Earl, Crotalus Keeper
Until we stop you
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Earl, Crotalus Keeper
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Oliver, Crotalus chaser
September 05, 2008 5:22 AM
Which we will by Oliver, Crotalus chaser
Oliver cursed loudly when Irene just about managed to claim the Quaffle from its path towards him. No matter; they would be back in possession again soon. Locating the other Croatlus Chasers, Oliver made it his duty to make at least one of the Pecari chasers inaccessible. He made it his temporary duty to make it incredibly difficult to pass to Saul, by staying between him and the girls as much as he could. Although he plan seemed to have worked, Irene nevertheless still managed to retreive the ball and send it out to the other Chaser. Oliver's reflexes caused his muscles to tighten when it looked like the ball would be dropped once again, but after that false alarm they relaxed again as he flew with the chasers, doing his best to make their life difficult.Somehow, the Pecari team managed another shot at the goal. Oliver hated to deny it but they seemed to know what they were doing. He wasn't worried though; Earl had been Keeper many years and didn't let his team down. With a whoop, Oliver flew fast away from the Chaser he'd been shadowing, and successfully caught the Quaffle after Earl's release. Knowing he had to get the red ball as far away from Crotalus' goals as he could, Oliver tore down the pitch with the Quaffle tucked safely under his arm, leaving other players in a blur behind him.
A fair distance down the pitch, Oliver turned to look for another Crotalus chaser. Carrying the ball for too long only made him a bludger target, and gave time for Pecari to block Oliver's teammates and narrow his options. Eyes settling on the nearest red-clad player, Oliver passed the ball with a strong overarm and readied himself for the next play.
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Oliver, Crotalus chaser
Which we will
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Oliver, Crotalus chaser
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Helena Layne, Crotalus Chaser
September 08, 2008 10:01 PM
Every time. by Helena Layne, Crotalus Chaser
Helena didn't see exactly what happened between her passing and another Chaser taking the Quaffle, but it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Somehow, some apparently-not-quite impossible way, the Pecaris had intercepted the Quaffle. It was almost enough to make her add a little to the amount of cursing going on, but Quidditch wasn't worth sending up her blood pressure and the Pecaris didn't need the satisfaction of knowing they'd shaken her into being emotional about the game.Irene got the Quaffle back to Caedence, who somehow managed to reach the goal area without being taken out by a Bludger from either team. It was all down to Earl now, and then she and the boys took over responsibility for making the Pecari team and supporters unhappy. A seed of irritation was stuck in the bottom of her chest cavity, but she had regained her grip on it; she was not going to become desperate or wildly angry or Annish. Earl made the save, Oliver caught the ball from him, and action resumed.
She moved back down the Pitch with Oliver, keeping an eye out for any Pecari attempts to close in on him that would require blocking and on him in case he needed or chose to pass the Quaffle off again. It would, in all probability, be better for Geoffrey to take over - when it came to him and her, he was easily the better player - but situations on the Quidditch Pitch were seldom ideal, and no one with half a brain held onto the ball too long. When Oliver got rid of it before his brains could be chosen to ornament a Pecari bat, Helena caught it more smoothly than the first time.
Decision time. Should she try a run on the goals or try to pass again? Both options involved a risk that Pecari would get the ball back, maybe even before she reached the goals if she went with option one. When the sharp whistling of a Bludger reached her ears, she dropped in altitude to avoid it and rose again close to a red-clad teammate. It was all the sign she needed. Taking both hands from the broom, she tried for the second time to land the Quaffle in the hands of another Crotalus Chaser.
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Helena Layne, Crotalus Chaser
Every time.
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Helena Layne, Crotalus Chaser
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
September 12, 2008 11:13 AM
May I cut in? by Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
Saul had watched his shot soar towards the hoop and for a moment, he thought Earl had missed it, but no . . . his broom knocked the quaffle off course. Saul didn't see where it went from there because Caedance was shouting his name and a bludger was coming at him. Saul dodged and jinked around, missing the next couple of quaffle passes as he tried to lose his tail. Fortunately, one of the Cravens stepped in before it could catch up and do any damage. Well, aside from the fact that he'd been out of play for awhile.His teammates seemed to be doing alright though. Caedance was fumbling with the ball, no she had it. He flew towards her, setting himself up for a pass but Oliver was there in between them and she passed to Irene instead.
Saul cheered Irene's attempt at scoring, but this time Earl caught it solidly and passed it on to Oliver. Saul chased after him, following him back toward the Pecari goals, but he passed to Helena before Saul could draw even and try to wrestle it away.
Pulling up and away from Oliver, Saul positioned himself just above the line between him and Helena so he could drop down suddenly if she tried to make a pass back, but not so close that a quick glance from her would show that Oliver was covered. Sure enough, a short while later, the quaffle came flying back towards Oliver.
Saul dove down and snatched it out of its path between the two Crotali. He barrel-rolled and shot back toward Earl's side of the Pitch at his top speed. Climbing in altitude as he went (the dive had dropped him well below the normal playing level), he looked around and spotted one of his teammates who had positioned herself just ahead and above him. "Here!" he called, throwing the quaffle up at her.
\r\n\r\n
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
May I cut in?
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
September 12, 2008 4:47 PM
Please do! by Irene, Pecari Chaser
"Oh, come on!" Irene cried out as the ball was captured by that red team once more. Pecari was on a rampage offensively, but unfortunately the Crotali's keeper was annoyingly fortunate today. The brunette girl kicked her broom to speed, kicking in the Pecari defense now. Their team was a force to be reckoned with and this was the chance to prove it. This motivation was coupled with her desire to win her first starting game. Her blue-green eyes narrowed at the players ahead of her, the Quaffle being tossed from Oliver to Helena. Irene could no longer hear the sounds of the crowd. In her mind, the pitch was in another world. Her senses only picked up the feel of the wind and the sound of bludgers being whacked at in the distance. The ball was in the air again! From the corner of her eye, she saw Saul leap into action."Alright, Saul!"
A grin spread over her face as she saw the red ball fall into his hands as she turned and flew not too far above the scene. Irene heard him call out to her and the next second the Quaffle was close enough to snatch from the air. Her hands reached out, seizing it from the space in front of her and tucking it into her arm. She shifted her speed up one more gear, drawing closer to the goal. Irene's eyes scanned the area around her, spotting each red-clad player. If she kept the ball too long it would mean additional pain from additional bludgers. The dull pain in her shoulder had subsided decently, but that may be because her mind was focused elsewhere. Looking around, Irene found a fellow Pecari Chaser and, not wanting to make the mistake she had before, checked for Crotali before passing the Quaffle their way.
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
Please do!
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Irene, Pecari Chaser
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
September 15, 2008 4:17 PM
Snip snip by Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
Without the encumbrance of the Quaffle (not so much its size as much as the fact that opposing chasers and bludgers got in your way and tried to beat you up when you had one, though the ability to lean forward helped, too), Saul jumped forward and put himself in a good position for another scoring run.Irene spotted him and tossed the Quaffle back his way. It was a good solid pass and Saul caught it easily. With a whoop that was half triumph at keeping control of the ball and half war cry, Saul sped forward and aimed up for the center hoop again. Both he and Irene had made the same play earlier, so he was hoping doing it again, would make Earl feel like he knew what was going to happen.
This time though, instead of throwing to the side as they'd done previously, Saul faked it and then took his shot, going for the far hoop on the other side. It was an awkward angle though, and a blind shot. Saul only had about a one in five chance of getting it in without defenders. He'd felt good going into it though, and when he completed the turn he whooped again and pumped both fists into the air (with just a little too much surprise to credibly claim that he was sure of his skill on that throw) because it looked like it was on target. Maybe a little too high and to the far side, but he thought if that red blur on a broom didn't get there in time, the quaffle would skim the inside rim on its way through rather than bounce off it.
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
Snip snip
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Saul Pierce, Pecari Chaser
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Caedence
September 25, 2008 7:33 PM
Look ma! A plan that doesn't get me injured! (I hope...) by Caedence
Caedence had been keeping up with the game as best as she could, but she often found herself blocked by other players. Another attempt at a score failed, and Caedence was starting to cure Pecari’s bad luck. The ball passed back and forth between the two teams for a while. She resisted the urge to curse loudly to relieve some tension. Caedence urged her broom forward, keeping up with the other players.The ball never seemed to get the opportunity to get in her possession. Caedence knew it wasn’t anything against her, and that it was just poor passing opportunity to get to her. Still in her head she screamed “I’m right here!” willing the ball to get to her.
Saul, Irene, Saul. The ball zoomed back and forth, making its way down the field. Well, at least Caedence couldn’t say this game was lacking in tension. Saul pitched the ball somewhat blindly Earl’s way. Caedence took this opportunity to let out the swears she had been saving up. The game was still tied, nothing to nothing. The ball was going a bit cockeyed and it didn’t look like it was going to make it.
But what if it was? What if the ball was going to make it in to the hoop? Perhaps Caedence was stressing over nothing. But every second she thought, the longer the ball was flying. That meant the less time to save a throw that was off. But Saul seemed happy enough about it…
Caedence had a sudden idea. It was a stupid and juvenile one. But, perhaps it might just work. If all else failed, her team would get a good laugh at her. Preparing with a low curse at the stupidity of the idea, Caedence took a deep breath.
“HEY! YOU! EARL! LOOK OVER HERE!” she bellowed at the keeper. She hoped it was enough to get him to look over at her and ignore the quaffle for the second it would take to get into the hoop. Her cheeks flushed, embarrassed at her plan. Too late to take it back. At least this plan didn’t involve stupid heroics or chasing bludgers.
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Caedence
Look ma! A plan that doesn't get me injured! (I hope...)
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Caedence
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