This was getting better and better for Sylph's aspirations of keeping a clean sheet at her matches - the Gryffie keeper, while small, deeply nervous and lacking confidence, had the reactions of a kneazle on speed. Green eyes almost popped from her head as his slender fingers clung onto the quaffle for the fourth time, and her jaw was very close to dropping. For a moment she was speechless, but within the next few seconds she began to clap enthusiastically, and a grin stretched wide at her mouth. Oh they were onto something here.
"Bloody hell Ferris!" she laughed out loud. "You're a dark one. How you pulled that off I'll never know. By rights that ball should be lost in the shining river right now. Good strength on it, Ania," she added cheerfully, just as she had encouraged Megan beforehand. "Crackin' shot - lucky we've got Ferris or we'd have to abandon practice due to lack of equipment." The captain quirked an eyebrow, still beaming happily, and indicated for Ferris to give her the ball. Expertly wheeling around her broom she took up position at the penalty spot, and with a fairly forceful heave sent the bright red ball flying to the left hoop, dead on target and with terrifying speed and venom.
Ferris wrung his hands, wincing. His captain was right - it had been a, err, crackin' shot, and it had hurt. A lot. Still, he had notched another one up, and, though he didn't know it, he was now sitting straighter in his seat, his head held a little higher, but he was no less nervous about the whole situation. He still had Sylph to shoot - and she looked not only experienced, but talented and tough, and he was sure that she'd put just as much, if not more, power behind her shot than Ania. His hands stinging still, he tossed the quaffle to her as indicated and, tugging at his broom rather gingerly, came back to centre hoop, and waiting, hoping fervently that this shot would be less painful than the last.
That devil-may-care grin was playing at the captain's lips again as she watched the red orb sail untroubled through the left goal hoop. It was a valient effort by their keeper, but Sylph had far too much experience and strength and the quaffle soared uninterrupted through the air, eventually landing on the soft turf fifty feet down with a resounding thud and a short roll. Peridot eyes twinkled happily but she shrugged offhandedly at the rest of her teammates, trying not to make a big deal of the whole thing. Ferris, for the first time, was looking relatively calm and confident, and she didn't want her score to put him off. Better to play down the situation and miss out on compliments than have her team drop their heads.
"One of us had to, Ferris," she said matter-of-factly. "Not to worry. Letting in one out of five is certainly nothing to be ashamed of - I've not known a school team keeper with such a good record, in fact. Keep it up and Gryffindor will be for the cup with no problems! Course, we still need a seeker... but it'll be fine." For a moment her face became grim and set once again, but she brushed it aside, and looked to her team, just about regaining her cheerful expression.
"Next!"
Ooooh... this quiditch stats for everyone seem to have finally been completed. We play with those scores from now on.
At Sylph’s words, Aednat’s lips quirked slightly in an almost-grin. She knew that she hadn’t been whinging so much as actually shouting, but Sylph was trying to diffuse the situation. And quite rightly too! Heaven knew they were a small team. They didn’t need to become any smaller, or to be any less than very strong together. She threw Sylph a slightly apologetic look as she nodded at Ania, signifying both that she was going to shut up and let Sylph continue with her practise without further interruption and that she still thought that the red head had deserved every word.
Shooting practise was next, and though Aednat said nothing, she privately wondered when she would get a chance to play with a Bludger or two. She wouldn’t say anything though, because she thought that Sylph was running a very good practise and besides, she was enjoying it! The issue of Ania’s rudeness and Aednat’s resultant loss of temper had been unfortunate, to say the least, as had Megan’s fall. But aside from that, the practise was a very good one; even though she far preferred beating, it was always enjoyable to partake in a spot of practise for other positions too if it was a group thing. Aednat lived for company.
Shooting Megan an encouraging smile as the younger girl returned to the air and shooting Ferris an apologetic one- he hadn’t seemed to enjoy the display at all- she took her place among the group. Megan offered to go first and Aednat smiled again, delighted at the spirit that she was showing. She joined enthusiastically in Sylph’s cheers for both and then shut herself up as Ania took her shot. Aednat didn’t know what to expect, for the girl appeared skilled, but Ferris was showing remarkable talent too. When he saved, she cheered again, although she tried to keep it to a minimum for fear of getting Ania annoyed and ending up with another row. He really was some Keeper, and Aednat noticed how he seemed more comfortable or confident, even though he nerves were still on display. Sylph was up next, and Aednat had an idea that it would be Ferris’s toughest challenge so far. She was right, and for the first time Ferris let one in.
Speeding suddenly past Sylph, she tapped her arm as she went, smiling brightly and saying “Well done!” before whizzing down to ground level to scoop the Quaffle into her arms. As soon as she returned to the proper height, she drew her arm back and let the Quaffle fly, not bothering to try to disguise her target- that was the job of a Chaser, not a Beater; a Beater always aimed directly and accurately and that was that- and knew that if Ferris saved this one, it would not be the less painful he was looking for, for she shot with power and the strength she needed to fend Bludgers off.
((And then Liane rolled the bloody dice and hoped that she’d have more look this time XD))
His hands were still smarting something awful, which may have been part of the reason he missed the next shot. Of course, he hadn't expected to be able to stop a shot from the captain of all people - to be honest he had been exceedingly lucky to save the previous ones, let alone someone with the physical presence and strength of the violet haired girl opposite him. His face reddened despite his low expectations, though, and what confidence he had gained previously seemed to leave him, much like a balloon deflating due to a pin hole. He suddenly withdrew back into himself - if he wasn't already there, of course - and lowered his eyes, ashamed. Looks like your luck's deserted you, Ferris m'lad, that nasty voice said snidely. Better give up now. For a moment the brown-haired boy's shoulders sank as the voice gained a hold, but in the next moment, something unexpected happened. Ferris stood up to it.
No - I'm not giving up, he snapped back at it, raising his head to meet the glittering eyes of his captain with his own pale blue gaze. She has faith in me at any rate, and I'm not doing -that- badly. Gripping his broom and pulling it back round to starting position once more, the skinny lad chanced a watery smile and called over to his captain, his voice wobbling but still clear.
"S-s-sorry about that, S-Sylph," he said apologetically, stuttering a little out of nerves. "I don't know what happened - I'll try and do better next time." He meant it too, though when the lone beater stepped up to the plate the nervousness took him afresh. If anything would beat him, it was sheer power, and as a beater Aednat would have plenty of it. He brushed his hands on his robes, trying to rid them completely of the rapidly receding sting, and moved as soon as the Irish girl shot.
Sure, she had missed the goal, but so had Ania and Aednat. Sylph was the only one who had scored, and that made Megan feel at least a little better, though she wished it didn't. Ferris was good, there was no denying that.
Before the next person could go and take their chance at shooting, something gold flickered in the corner of Megan's eye. The Snitch? she asked herself, turning her head quickly to spot what was indeed the golden snitch. It had escaped it's clasped box on the ground and flown up into the air apparently intent on causing trouble.
"No you don't," she whispered, and without another word, the girl was flying after it, her borrowed school broom going faster than she could have imagined possible. Leaning forward, the broom and the first year girl began to feel as one and it just came naturally to her. Swooping, diving, pulling back up, zig zagging, the brunette stayed on the tail of the snitch, until eventually... "Gotcha!" she yelled, clasping her hand around the golden ball and not letting it go. The impact had stung, yes, but it was worth it.
Looking back up to the rest of the team, Megan grinned. "It's okay! I got it!" going down to the ground, the Gryffindor put it gently back into the box and flew back up into the air. "Sorry... where were we?"
Sylph could have either rolled her eyes or jumped for joy. Since the latter was impossible on a broom and the former rather rude, she opted for racing over to the fifth year and clapping him on the shoulder, grin now of Cheshire proportions, her green eyes dancing. After Ferris had saved yet another shot - making it 5 from 6, only missing Sylph's own shot by mere inches, she had been about to congratulate the meek boy and then to shout for Megan to have another go at penalty practice. The first she did with enthusiasm, but in the next moment, a tiny blur on a broom shot past her line of sight, on the tail of something fast, small and golden in colour; the snitch. The tiny winged ball zoomed left and right, up and down, even once in a loop-the-loop, and Megan was following it intently, never varying her course. After a minute or two, during which Sylph watched in dumb silence, the young brunette stretched forth her hand, this time no trace of looking unbalanced by doing so, and wrapped her fingers around the escapee snitch.
Sylph was still silent when Megan had flown back up from returning the ball to its proper casing, but now, instead of gaping in wonder, she was smiling knowingly. It was rather astounding how calm and unruffled the younger girl was when she came back, almost as if nothing had happened. But Sylph knew better. Looking at the first year in an apparently new light, her peridot orbs glistening and sparking brightly, Sylph moved away from Ferris, only to clap her hand on the first year instead.
"You, my little one," she said, half-intimidating, half-ecstatic. "Have a new role in this team. Megan, how'd you feel about playing seeker?"
Megan blinked repeatedly at the words Sylph spoke. She hadn't done anything, just caught the ball and put it back. But now she was moving her on the team from Chaser to Seeker? "But... the.... the seeker?" she asked, her words coming short and surprised. Okay, she hadn't been much good as Chaser, that was true, and she had just caught the golden ball easily.
But did that make her Seeker material?
Blinking again, and looking at their team captain in undisguised confusion and surprise, Megan stuttered - "But...I...the team...chaser... ball... goal... missed... uh... sure?"
"Yes, the seeker," Sylph told the baffled Megan, the slightest hint of exasperation evident in her voice. "Did you not see what you just did? And I hope I'm not insulting you when I tell you that you're still kinda small to be a chaser. A seeker though... you're small and fast, deadly accurate, and we haven't got one yet. You're perfect. Chasers are easier to find, but seekers are somethin' special. You want proof? Here, I'll show you." Pulling her broom round and diving like a falcon to the ground, Sylph leapt off her silver javelin and began rumaging in the equipment box she had brought out. Finding what she wanted, she stuffed her pockets full and returned to the air. Next she dug her hands back into her pockets and handed out several golf balls to both Aednat, Ania and Ferris, leaving herself some as well. All this took barely a minute, and Sylph readied herself, a golf ball loose in her throwing hand.
"All you gotta do is catch them," she said, her eyes sparking madly. "Ready, guys? On three. One... two...three!" With the final number Sylph let loose two of her golf balls, one to the left, the other just above Megan's head. Seeker's had to have good - nay great - reactions. If Megan managed to catch two-thirds of these, then Sylph would snap her up in a second. If not, though... well, it wasn't as if the team had a choice, was it?
"Uh oh," Megan whispered, spotting the golf balls in Sylph's hands. It was true, she was still small for a Chaser, and Seekers were better small, as they were faster, but was Megan really ready for that responsibility? It was possible a whole game could be lying on her shoulders, depending on how many goals Sylph and Ania scored between them.
However, there was no time to think about that. As soon as the thought left her mind, the number Three! was called through the air, and two golf balls were pelted in her direction. The aim: Catch them before they hit the ground. Instantly, she was off, getting the one to the left first. It was the lowest, so it would be the first to hit the ground. Diving, she caught up and grabbed it easily, managing to stuff it in her pocket in time to see the second dart past her.
Diving again, Megan caught it possibly twenty feet from the ground and pulled her broom up again, waiting for the next challenge. How on earth was she meant to catch all these? The games would be easier. There was only one to catch then...
Teagan Offline: This board is full of nostalgia.
Aug 22, 2020 8:39:09 GMT -5
Missing the old MH: gotta say missing when MH and all that was around.
Nov 6, 2019 0:02:30 GMT -5
Willow_lazy: why tf are there 400 posts about adidas
Sept 6, 2018 17:35:57 GMT -5
Azrael: I'm not hard to find, since I'm the only one there who goes by "Azzy", I'm pretty sure. XD
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:41 GMT -5
Azrael: Dunno if anyone still pops by here from time to time, but if any of you mofos do and still feel like gettin' yo nerd on, I've been hanging around this here place a bunch recently: www.roleplayerguild.com/
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:10 GMT -5
Azrael: hold onto your pantaloons
Jul 25, 2016 5:16:43 GMT -5