<font color=silver>Coach Amelia Pierce</font>

May 10, 2012 9:30 PM
As she was looking over her notes of Sonora's past few Quidditch seasons, Coach Amelia Pierce had noticed that she had, at some point, fallen victim to an alphabetical bias to put Aladren on the pitch first. Having made this discovery, she immediately eliminated the Hawks as one of her options for the first two teams to play.

She also decided not to have Pecari go first since their roster was the last to come in, and she wasn't above petty retaliation for its tardiness.

That left Crotalus and Teppenpaw to play first, and she vaguely wondered if maybe she should make a habit of putting the two finalists up against each other during the next year's elimination rounds. It had shaken things up nicely last year, even if she would have preferred for her own house to make it further than they had.

She couldn't think about that today, though, because she needed to remain impartial while Crotalus played Teppenpaw. With Marissa Stephenson's graduation, Captain Melcher was now the most experienced captain leading her team and Crotalus would be fielding an untried Seeker. It was, Amelia thought with forced impartiality, going to be anybody's game. Neither team had won a game last year. Crotalus would be looking to redeem themselves. Teppenpaw would be even more eager to prove that they could win at all.

It was also anybody's game in beautiful weather. Amelia paused briefly to enjoy the warm sunlight, then continued carrying the trunk of Quidditch balls out to the center of pitch. The two teams were already gathered in clumps, listening to their captains' pre-game speeches. She gave them as much time as they needed, then called the two captains over.

"Today, we have Captain Kirstenna Melcher leading Teppenpaw and Captain Sam Bauer leading Crotalus. Please shake hands." After they had done so and returned to their respective teams, Amelia continued as she released first the snitch, then the bludgers, "Goals are worth ten points. Game ends when the snitch is caught, which is worth 150 points. Game begins with my whistle. Let's keep it clean, folks. On three." She picked up the Quaffle and readied to throw it into the air. "One. Two. Three. Tweet!" She blew into her whistle and tossed the Quaffle as high as she could.

She picked up her own broom and followed the balls and the players into the sky.


OOC:
Quidditch rules and FAQs are available on the wiki. As always, minimum posting length applies, and clear detailed posts help everyone understand what is going on. Any additional questions should be asked on the OOC board. Have fun, folks!
Subthreads:
1 <font color=silver>Coach Amelia Pierce</font> Game One: Crotalus vs Teppenpaw 20 <font color=silver>Coach Amelia Pierce</font> 1 5

<font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font>

May 19, 2012 11:14 AM
Derry had bothered the chasers for a little while, but as they ran off toward Nic Sawyer, he thought Teppenpaw might be doing well enough without him. Laurie had joined in, too, so they were defended. This, of course, meant that Kate wasn't.

He gave a quick look over to see how Kirstenna was doing, but their Captain was pretty much alone on her side of the pitch now. Topher was with the Chasers and Laurie, and Gareth was . . . with Cepheus. He definitely had to go look after Kate then.

Derry pulled his broom around and started heading over that way. He sped up a bit when he saw she had a bludger on her tail with no beaters nearby, but she managed to shake it on her own. He relaxed his speed again, but made a slight detour to go fetch that bludger before returning to the seeker game.

His cousin, Duesius, was one of the best Beaters Derry knew. Ben's sister (Ben his roommate, not Ben his nephew) was a big deal but if Duez had wanted to, Derry thought his cousin could probably show even her a thing or two. Duesius had only one other remarkable ability, and that was handling dangerous animals. Duesius once told him these were not terribly different skill sets, and Derry believed him.

So with all the respect, care, and caution as if he were guiding a feral hippogriff, Derry guided his bludger toward the two Crotali, the seeker and his guardian beater, trying to come up unnoticed behind them. Beaters were generally not known for the subtlety, so he thought maybe this might work, just for the surprise factor.

He attempted to approach at an angle that put him closer to Cepheus than Gareth, but he was unfortunately unable to make that work in such a way that he could get between them and Kate. They were both paying her a fair amount of attention and they would have certainly noticed him if he'd tried.

So when he got close enough that he didn't really think they could continue to not notice him much longer, he took a swing. The crack of his bat on the metal ball gave away his position as loudly as if he had shouted at them. He didn't wait to see if it hit Cepheus or if Gareth got in there in time. He just pushed the Derwent IV as fast as the custom broom could go, trying to get between the bludger and Kate, just in case there was a redirection.
1 <font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font> Coming to join you 189 <font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font> 0 5


<font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font>

May 19, 2012 9:53 PM
Flying a bit higher, Gareth’s sharp eyes tracked the Chaser game in the moments when Cepheus slowed down long enough for him to take in the rest of the game. A glance at said Seeker showed that his roommate was looking rather worried. Flying lower, so they were side by side, Gareth offered the smaller Crotalus a reassuring smile. “Just breath, no one’s going to skin you if you don’t catch it, even the Captain couldn’t catch it last year. But look at Jade, and the Carey, both of them caught the Snitch their first go at being Seekers. Luck seems to favor the inexperienced in this school and it should favor you as well. Crotalus just needed some new blood, and now we will succeed!” Gareth said with more certainty than he actually felt.

As unlikely as the idea was, the Tepps were holding their own in the Chaser game even with an almost entirely new lineup and players who didn’t appear to be terribly experienced. Somehow they were able to maintain control of the Quaffle long enough to make two failed attempts on the goals. Now Crotalus finally regained the crimson orb and were making their way back down the Pitch to the Teppenpaw side of things. I should probably pay more attention to-

The thought was abruptly illustrated when the resounding CRACK of a bat from behind that was far too loud to be aimed at the Chasers brought the larger boy around with a curse. How by Merlin’s beard had he lost track of the dratted Tepp beaters?? The dark orb barreled towards Cepheus’s back at a speed that brought further curses to the Beater’s lips as he urged his broom forward, already knowing that he wasn’t going to be able to get his bat up in time to take the brunt of the hit, the angle was wrong and the speed needed just to put himself between the ball and his Seeker was too fast to try and get the bat up as well.

It didn’t even occur to Gareth not to do whatever it took to keep Cepheus from harm. Instead he cloaked back a snarl of pain as the iron ball smashed into his left shoulder with enough force to rattle his skeleton from top to toes. The hit was a solid one, but thankfully not one that forced his bones to yield under the force. Spinning with the blow, Gareth managed to bring the bat into play as the Bludger circled and attempted to strike him again. This time he was able to send it careening away, though he hadn’t been able to aim it at anything. Panting he glared around the Pitch until he spotted the Yellow Beater now firmly between him and the rival Seeker. Gareth rolled his shoulder, and hissed slightly at the burning pain that told of a deep tissue bruise, possibly even a bone bruise. That was going to look rather spectacular on his pale skin come morning.
0 <font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font> I was hoping you would forget your Seeker 0 <font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font> 0 5


<font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font>

May 20, 2012 8:54 PM
The pressure was beginning to mount on Cepheus's young shoulders as he tried to blink the black spots out, but the Princeton heir had always worked well under pressure, surprisingly. He was good at following orders, but was not clear-headed during horribly tense situations, like this one. It was a trait his other brothers lacked and Cepheus was jealous of it. When he was nervous, it was fine. But when he felt slightly panicked, things would begin to go pear-shaped and that was never where he wanted to go especially now.

Gareth flew down to his side, encouraging him, and it worked. Cepheus took a few breaths, trying to calm the panic that was beginning to knot his chest. "Yeah, you're right." One side of his mouth went up in a half-grin. "Thanks, mate." Knowing that he was supported at least by his roommate, Cepheus felt a new surge of hope that he would catch the snitch. He didn't think or worry about his hopes being dashed just yet. That would come after the match. For now, he would go find the snitch. The dark spots were even fading.

And then the reverberating sound of a Beater's bat to bludger was heard and Cepheus tensed immediately and ducked his head. He didn't care if he looked silly, but he didn't know where it was coming from and it could hit him at any moment. His spine was clearly exposed and one bludger would most likely permanently damage his small frame if it hit him too hard and his spine directly. Oh, Merlin, Cepheus cried in his mind, squeezing his eyes shut and bracing himself for an impact.

It never came.

He opened his eyes and saw that Gareth was no longer by his side. Instead, he turned and saw his roommate bat the bludger away as it tried to attack him. His eyes widened as he watched him roll his shoulder, piecing together what had happened in his head. He flew over to him, imitating their previous encounter just a few minutes ago. "All right?" he asked, hands tight around the broomstick. Then he saw gold and his eyes widened again. "Ah, be back." Brilliant words to say, of course. Cepheus, the Master of Words he should be titled.

He sped off in the direction of gold. The black dots in his vision had cleared for the most part now. He narrowed his eyes to keep them from watering at the height of his speed and focused on winning. Gareth wouldn't have saved him from a bludger for nothing, and he didn't want to see Crotalus lose poorly. He hoped to Merlin that the Chasers were doing well. He'd been a bit preoccupied with his own duty to watch theirs.
0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> This can only call for a fight to the death. 0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font>

May 20, 2012 10:28 PM
The pain dulled to a sullen throb and Gareth set the uncomfortable feeling to the back of his mind to live along side his fear of heights. It was just one more thing that had to be acknowledged and then put in its place so that it couldn’t affect his performance. “All right?” Cepheus asked before something caught his eye and with a quick “Ah, be back” The Crotalus Seeker was off again before Gareth could assure him that he was fine. His lips corked into a smile as his liquid blue gaze snapped towards the Beater who now flew comfortably between him and the rival Seeker.

The smile turned sharp edged as he flew a bit higher and began corralling the bludger he’d hit earlier. Because his strike hadn’t had the full force of his strength behind it, the dangerous ball hadn’t gotten too far away. Just far enough not to be triggered again into attacking him or Cepheus by their proximity. The rival Beater’s position had become a hindrance, because not only was he between Gareth and the Tepp Seeker, he was now between the two Seekers as Cepheus made his play on the Snitch. If she wanted even a chance of catching up with Cepheus now, she’d have to pass his position to close the distance, and even with her own guardian, the risk was one worth taking.

Gareth was relying on the hope that Kate wouldn’t wait for Derry, that the glimmer of gold, positioned closer to Cepheus than herself, would be enough to blind her from the danger Gareth represented. So, much like a great hawk he hung in the sky, waiting for the dove to fly below and give him the perfect moment to strike her down.
0 <font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font> Undoubtedly 0 <font color="red">Gareth Whitebriar-Beater </font> 0 5


<font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font>

May 21, 2012 1:24 PM
To say that Kate was relieved to see Derry appearing to look after her was akin to saying that New York was this town where some stuff happened every now and then. She had been doing all right so far, but she had not counted on that to continue if she didn’t get someone in here to cover her, which she now had. Derry was definitely better than Gareth, she was sure of that even before the enemy Beater took a Bludger to the shoulder hard enough to make him spin and her wince, and so she felt that now she could look for the Snitch with greater security and less personal attention to the Bludgers.

Not, of course, that she thought she’d ever just completely stop keeping an eye and an ear open for the Bludgers – getting hit hurt too much to put the responsibility for not getting hit entirely into someone else’s hands, however trustworthy she thought those hands were, if she could help it – but she could think about it less now that Derry was here. Him injuring the Beater who’d been after her all game wasn’t quite enough to make her want to kiss him, but it came close. If Gareth couldn’t hit straight, then only being a complete idiot could result in her getting injured now unless he and Topher switched places, she thought, and Topher seemed pretty busy trying to bash Arista’s brains in.

It was un-Teppenpaw-like of her, but Kate thought she might almost pass for a Layne as she thought, for just one second, better you than me, sister before turning her eyes back to her part of the game, seeking the sparkle that was the making or breaking of the team’s shot at the Championship in years.

Catching something moving fast in her peripheral vision, she looked and saw Cepheus moving with intent toward…something…Kate gasped, thrilled into some paradoxical place just between shock and resignation, when she saw it was gold. She probably didn’t have a chance…but she had to try. Turning as quickly as she could, she called “Derry!” to let him know she was going to move, maybe, and headed off after Cepheus, hoping for a flash of – she didn’t even know – good luck, or a freak twist of chance, or anything, really, that would make the Snitch end up in her hand instead of in the Crotalus Seeker’s.
16 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> Let's get it going, then. 170 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color=red>Gareth, Beater</font>

May 21, 2012 1:58 PM
Events unfolded almost ideally and Garth gave a sharp toothed grin, the competitive streak that only showed after a game was well under way finally surfaced as he watched the Yellow Seeker catch sight of Cepheus just as he wanted her to. The hit he took earlier was a lucky one, striking his left shoulder and not his right, so although it was distractingly painful, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on his aim.

The only hair in the potion was that she’d given her own guardian a heads up that she was about to make her run. Timing would be key as the female Seeker streaked after Cepheus in a vain attempt to out run him and catch the Snitch. Flying a bit to the right Gareth gave the Bludger a sharp tap to move it along, but not enough for it to get loose of him, years of playing in the family games followed by last term’s experience left Gareth will a fairly acute sense of how to move to get the best hit on a Bludger and not let it turn on him at an inopportune moment.

It was amazing really that muggleborns made it on to the teams as first and second years. Not that he had anything against it, he just couldn’t fathom how they were able to compete with students who’d been flying, and most who’d played either on youth teams or family games sense they could adequately ride a broom higher than five feet. Learning how to fly with out prior experience, learning a whole new game that had no comparison in the muggle world that he knew of, and finally competing against students who knew both from an early age was impressive to the Pureblooded boy.

Another tap nudged the fickle ball to the right just as she passed below. Sitting up Gareth gripped the bat in both hands and ignored the sharp twinge of pain that accompanied the move in his shoulders. He’d have to hit hard to get the Bludger to outrun her protector and with sharp precision Gareth slammed the bat into the metal ball with bone jarring force. Like a midnight missile, it shot down from the sky, its trajectory lining up neatly poised to strike the yellow Seeker.

Gritting his teeth against the pain the force of the hit caused in his wounded shoulder, Gareth shifted his weight and urged his broom forward to catch up with Cepheus. It wouldn’t do to allow Derry to regain control of the Bludger only to turn his shot against his own Seeker, so he had to get ahead of the drama that was unfolding instead of sitting back to watch the move play out.
0 <font color=red>Gareth, Beater</font> Yes, lets 0 <font color=red>Gareth, Beater</font> 0 5

<font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font>

May 21, 2012 10:08 PM
Derry got in front of Kate and only then did he look back to see what had happened with his bludger. They had been pretty close together, so it had been a risk, but he'd been behind them and not expected. It could have worked. Looking now, Derry saw that Cepheus had been spared but Gareth seemed injured. Whoa. Cool. It wasn't often that he got to actually hit another beater.

He thought it might have been better overall to get Cepheus as he'd originally intended, but he'd totally take the consolation prize.

Then Cepheus spotted something and ran after it, and Kate ran after him with a word of warning, and Derry headed after her, knowing there was a bludger in Gareth's vicinity. A look over in the other beater's direction verified his worst thought, that Gareth had not only gotten control of the bludger but was hitting it at Kate.

Derry pushed his broom to its limit. The Derwent IV was a couple years old now, but it had been top of the line when it was new and he'd kept it in near-perfect condition. He put it on an intercept course and managed to get in between the bludger and Kate with only moments to spare. He swung his bat, not having time to aim even if Kate hadn't been moving in the same direction Cepheus was. The bludger went careening off to Derry's left, safely away from Kate and (more by happy chance than intent since there had been no time to look first, just to swing) all other Teppenpaws as well.

Under other circumstances, he may have run after it so it stayed in Teppenpaw control. Good offense, good defense, and all of that, but Topher had seen him come over and seen Gareth get hit, there could be reinforcements coming and Derry would not leave Kate unguarded while she was busy trying to catch the snitch.

With the immediate threat passed, Derry turned his broom to follow after his Seeker. He could never Seek himself - his eyesight was bad enough that he had enough trouble spotting bludgers that were more than a couple dozen yards away - but he would do his darndest to keep up with Teppenpaws' Seeker, to keep her safe, and maybe to worry and distract Cepheus as well.
1 <font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font> I'm confused, Gareth wants Cepheus to die? 189 <font color=yellow>Derry Four, Beater</font> 0 5


<font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font>

May 22, 2012 12:32 PM
Things were flying past Cepheus's peripheral as he sped towards the prize. He couldn't remember another time feeling this close to the snitch. He could reach out and probably stroke the hard gold. His fingers gripped his broom tightly as he focused, but then he saw Bauer coming up next to him in his peripheral.

Squeezing his broomstick tighter, he made a sharp turn, following the gold, keeping his eyes focused on that and not on her. His arms were beginning to shake and Cepheus started to reach out slowly, then retracted his hand. He was getting unsteady from moving so fast. He'd probably raced around the pitch twice already.

The snitch was moving quite erratically. It zoomed around here and there and Cepheus felt that he would get motion sickness quite soon. Suddenly, the snitch paused and Cepheus reached out a hand to snatch it, but it flew to the side and his hand clutched air. Then the snitch zipped past his ear. The cool metal felt strange against his skin, and he shouted involuntarily. Then it was gone.

Cepheus was so angry he could have thrown a fit. "No, no, NO!" he yelled. He didn't care that everyone could hear him and that he was in the public eye. He was so close! So bloody close and it was all to no avail. He felt ready to swear, but instead he turned his broom and flew after that snitch. He was blind to it now, eyes searching the skies desperately, flying aimlessly towards no one and nothing. He was so angry he felt like he'd go mad. He was going to lose his concentration the angrier he got, so he tried to soothe himself. He took several deep breaths as his broom slowed down, but his eyes were searching the pitch tirelessly.

He hadn't heard anyone make a goal yet, and he was getting irritated. This match seemed like it was at a standstill at the moment. There wasn't much going on for the crowds to cheer about. Except for the bludgers going around. Thank Merlin for some entertainment. He glanced at the Crotalus chasers for a moment before turning his attention back to his work. He was desperate enough now to follow his rival Seeker, and he looked at her, watching her moves while keeping another eye out for the snitch.
0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> I'm also confused. Kate doesn't mind dying? 0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font>

May 23, 2012 12:37 PM
Behind her, Kate heard the cracking of bats and Bludgers, but she didn’t dare look back to see if she was right about being safe or about to be hit square in the back…or back of the head. That wouldn’t kill her, probably, but she might wake up in a few hours without a clue what she’d done for the past two days or that she’d slept through the loss of another game until someone – probably an irate someone, unless it was one of her sisters – filled her in.

That would be, to prove her exceptional mastery of understatement, bad, but she couldn’t think about it, just listen for the whistle and keep her eyes on the Snitch for now. If she caught the Snitch right before a Bludger hit her in the back of the head, no one would really care if she didn’t remember catching it later, up to and probably including her. The important part would have been the win; it would be helpful if her hand stayed closed around the Snitch after she lost consciousness, but she’d read that there was some way to know who caught it, so even that didn’t really matter.

After a long moment of not getting hit, though, she relaxed just a little, assuming that Derry had successfully gotten the Bludger off her, even if it had done no other good, since Cepheus was enough ahead of her that she could see him and his undamaged state very clearly. And hear him yell, something that made her think her heart was going to stop for one second before she understood what he was yelling and grinned.

He didn’t have the Snitch. He had gone for it, but it had done what it did best and changed things up, and it was still anyone’s game.

He was flying around a lot, but she looked around, squinting against the sun, and decided that now, he was flying at random – maybe from desperation, maybe just trying to burn off some steam after his disappointment, but definitely not with real purpose. So she kept flying, too, in a more controlled way, looking for a speck of gold. It could be on the other side of the Pitch, or it could have doubled back and only be a few feet away; there was no telling, not with the Snitch, at least as far as she knew. There was nothing for it but to keep her eyes open and hope for the best.
16 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> I thought the idea was that you didn't. 170 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font>

May 25, 2012 5:47 PM
Though he had been flying around quite a lot, the sun was beating down on Cepheus’s thin shoulders and he had to brush back his blonde hair. His body was feeling slightly overheated in this Quidditch robes even if they were made for the desert. He kept his blue eyes on Bauer, hoping she would see the snitch already just so he would have something to do and didn’t just sit here like a fool. Aggravated just staring at the Teppenpaw, he turned away and wished that he had more experience. He lowered his broom considerably, wondering if the snitch would bother going down this low. He had an inkling that Gareth had a thing with heights, though he hadn’t been extremely verbal about it. The sun was just so hot and seeds of doubt had been planted into the boy’s brain. What if Crotalus lost this? What if they didn’t make it to the finals? What if they lost to Teppenpaw?

Cepheus swallowed nervously and didn’t fancy his suddenly sweaty palms. He was feeling that horrible nervous twisting in his stomach again at the thought of failing. Cepheus wished then for some sort of experience, and as if his wish had been granted, he saw a glint of gold high above him. Not even allowing himself to think twice, he zoomed straight up after his, his broom going nearly vertical in his effort to get to it.

He knew by now Bauer probably knew what he saw and Cepheus followed the snitch like his life depended on it. It did, really, but that was beside the current point. The sweat was cooled by the wind on his face, slicing past him almost painfully at the speed he was going at. The snitch was quick; of course it was. It flew in front of him, leading him on like a donkey with a carrot, and he had to keep going for it.

A few times it dropped unexpectedly and after the third time Cepheus felt a little sick. His stomach wasn’t thanking him, and he hoped to all things good that he wouldn’t be a disappointment, that this would be worth it. There was so much on his shoulders now; the respect of his house, of his father, the Princeton name, his brothers. He couldn’t lose. Merlin, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. Cepheus pressed on, eyes locked on the gold as it weaved over and under the other Quidditch players and bludgers.
0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> Race to the death begins...now. 0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font>

May 25, 2012 6:45 PM
Back and forth Kate went, her eyes darting from the air to the other Seeker to the Beaters, looking for the Snitch, for Cepheus to make a move toward what might be the Snitch, for one Beater to try to take someone out and the other to try to block that, for anything, really. Seeker could be a glamorous position (she had noted that it seemed to be especially shiny for those who occasionally won), after the game and in theory, but for those playing it, Kate had discovered that it was as common as it was not for a lot of the game to really be kind of boring. She had to imagine the endless back-and-forthing, in goalless games, got tiring on its own after a while, but at least the Chasers always did have something to look at besides the grass and the sky, which was as often as not all Seekers had for extended periods of time if their Beaters were either playing each other or not really playing much at all.

Right now, it looked like Derry had knocked their Bludger out of range and now they weren’t playing much at all, just hovering protectively over her and Cepheus for when a Bludger inevitably came back this way, looking for a chance, while she and the second year kept looking for their own chances at glory. She guessed that suited her; she was moving toward the mentality of just wanting something to happen, that feeling that came with a game going on for a while, but she still had enough sense to know that the last thing she really wanted was for a Bludger to come around. Knowing her luck, she would be the one who got hit.

She turned again, looking all around, and then – saw Cepheus going up, and going up fast. Kate’s mind froze, but the rest of her moved without thought, hurrying up and through the air, hurrying after the same thing he was, desperately trying not to lose her seat with each maneuver around how the Snitch was moving….

Come on, she thought, her ability to do so returning to her as her stomach filled with acid. Come on, come on, come on, go faster, come on, got to get there, got to get there, got to get there, can’t miss it again –

...Oh, no.


They were going into the game, by the looks of it. Kate hunched lower over her broom, bracing for the worst possible, short of losing, way for this game to go. It had been a while since the Snitch had been dis-obliging enough to take them into the midst of the other players, she thought, but here it went now, and it really was anyone’s game with them having to work around all these people, it could disappear again at any second, she was just trying to keep her eyes open against the rush of air so that she didn’t blink and then open them to find it gone….
16 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> Run for your life, Mister. 170 <font color="yellow">Kate Bauer, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font>

May 25, 2012 10:53 PM
This was the final stretch. Or so Cepheus felt. The air was being sucked out of his lungs and he tried to keep his mouth closed. It was difficult to remember, with him slicing through the air so quickly that his lips were getting chapped. His tongue darted out to swipe over them briefly, but it was no help. Cepheus instead tried to keep his eyes on the snitch. Bauer was with him now, following the snitch herself, and Cepheus could feel his heart pound, the adrenaline rushing through his blood as a slight panic set in. I must get it!

He pressed his broom to go faster, faster, even though it was going as fast as it could possibly go without him losing control of it. Still, it could go faster if he wanted it to, right? Sometimes fancy brooms weren't the most reliable. Of course, Cepheus didn't know that from experience.

He imagined himself as one of those really fancy Seekers in the professional matches, and suddenly the pressure mounted. The snitch went straight down and Cepheus followed after it obediently. He narrowed his eyes as the ground came up rapidly. He tried to still his fear of smashing into the ground and breaking every bone in his body, but it was beginning to take over his mind. He was going crazy, he decided. Cepheus had no breath left in his lungs and he had to gasp for air the same moment the snitch levelled out, and his gasp was cut short by his breathless pulling.

As quick as he tried to pull his broom back up, he wasn't given enough time and instead made a mad dash for the snitch, snatching it out of the air and bringing the snitch to his heart with his right hand. Glee filled his heart, but he had been so focused on getting the snitch that he hadn't realised that he'd let go of his broom. A second and a half after catching the snitch, he crashed to the ground, tumbling a few feet away from his broom and when he finally stilled, right hand still fiercely clutching the snitch to his chest, Cepheus groaned. There was a piercing pain in his right wrist, but when he relaxed his shaking fingers, there was the glint of gold. In his hand.

A burst of joy erupted in his chest and it overwhelmed him for a moment. He sat up quickly, cradling his right hand to his chest and taking the snitch in his left. "I did it," he gasped, staring at the gold, feeling the cool, round ball in his fingers. The pain in his wrist wasn't so bad. "I did it!" he shouted, holding up the golden snitch with his left hand. He stood up quickly, beaming. He could meet the eyes of every person in the stands now and the eyes of his teammates. He'd caught it! They'd won!

When Cepheus had questioned why anyone would want to play professional Quidditch earlier, he had been a fool. Here and now, with the snitch in his hand, he had the answer. He couldn't stop the brilliant smile from spreading onto his face, delight in his eyes. This feeling, despite his broken wrist, made everything worth it.
0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> It's a good thing we're flying, not running. 0 <font color="red">Cepheus Princeton, Seeker</font> 0 5


<font color=silver>Coach Pierce</font>

May 26, 2012 6:37 PM
 
0 <font color=silver>Coach Pierce</font> Crotalus wins! 150-0 (nm) 0 <font color=silver>Coach Pierce</font> 0 5