355 REVIEWS! THANK YOU!
Icecloud's POV
A strong gust of wind hits my face, and I close my eyes to take a deep breath. There.
Next, I hear a cry of, "Look out! Icecloud!" and I open my eyes just a second before the ball hits my face.
I catch it.
"Toss it over here, goalie!" yowls Foxleap. I smile as I hurl the soccer ball towards my brother, and he immediately begins dribbling the ball away from an angry Emberfoot.
Smirking, I put my hands on my knees and await the next attempted shot of a Windkid. But, for awhile, nothing happens.
"Icecloud! Cinderheart will be replacing you in a second, okay?" yowls Squirrelflight from the sidelines, acting as our coach. I nod in understanding. As soon as Cinderheart runs over, towards my goal, I sprint back towards the side.
Picking up my bottle of water, I dump it into my mouth and wipe away the sweat from my forehead. Though, I must admit, this is soccer. Soccer is my life.
"In a second, Dovewing should switch with Hollyleaf," murmurs Squirrelflight to Brambleclaw beside her. "M'kay?"
Dovewing, who's sitting beside me on the picnic table, looks up in fear. She drops her latest friendship bracelet and turns to Squirrelflight.
"I don't want to play soccer!" wails Dovewing. I roll my eyes.
Squirrelflight tries to smile. "We'll lose points if not every person on the team has played. Okay?"
"How long will I have to be out there?" frets Dovewing.
Brambleclaw shrugs. "Just about five minutes."
"Five minutes?" asks Dovewing, worry in her eyes. "Five whole minutes?"
"Unless someone else would like to trade in for you after a minute," Squirrelflight starts.
"I'll do it," I decide.
"We just took you out, Icecloud!" argues Brambleclaw. "You need a few more moments to rest."
"I'm done resting, okay?" I snap. "I play soccer, okay?"
"Please let her do it!" begs Dovewing.
Finally, Brambleclaw nods. "All right. But Dovewing, you have one minute. Do your best."
Dovewing nods as Squirrelflight calls Hollyleaf out of the game, and the two quickly switch places.
"Man, it's tiring out here!" pants Hollyleaf, quickly taking a huge gulp of her water.
"I know," I agree, my eyes fixed on Dovewing. She's chasing after her sister Ivypool, who has the ball. I sigh. Dovewing, just stay away from the ball!
However, as Heathertail turns and lunges forward to get the soccer ball from Ivypool, Dovewing slips and falls on the muddy ground.
Fortunately, Heathertail trips over Dovewing.
That allows Ivypool to sprint up ahead and shoot the soccer ball into the goal.
Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw cheer. Finally, Brambleclaw calls Dovewing out, and I trade places with her.
"Three minutes left!" warns Brambleclaw. I nod just as my brother Foxleap starts out with the soccer ball. He kicks it in Hazeltail's direction, who dribbles it across the field until Harespring steals it from her. Growling, I race over to Harespring and steal the soccer ball, dribbling it away from the other Windkids. Towards the wrong goal.
Nobody sees what I'm doing, though. Even I don't feel as if I truly know what I'm doing. In fact, Sedgewhisker of WindCabins races towards me and misses the ball by a centimeter. I continue to run, making a lap around the edge of the field, then nearing the WindCabin goal.
I can do this.
However, as soon as I see Heathertail following me, I think quickly and kick the soccer ball in Lionblaze's direction. Smiling, he retrieves it and dribbles it from one foot to another, allowing me to run towards the goal.
"Thirty seconds!" warns Squirrelflight. I clench my fists and run faster, towards the goal. Come on, Lionblaze. Pass it to me.
Lionblaze is trapped on both sides by Heathertail and Breezepelt. I can't go over there and save him.
"Twenty seconds!"
Ivypool races over towards Breezepelt and Heathertail, elbowing them out of the way. Breezepelt keeps his balance, but Heathertail falls onto the ground.
"Ten seconds!"
Ivypool has the ball now. She passes quickly to Lionblaze, who exchanges a look with me for a second.
I nod, and in that moment, Lionblaze kicks the ball in my direction. I stop it with my foot in front of me, then use my leg strength to kick the ball into the Windkid goal.
It makes it in.
"Yeah, Icecloud!" everyone cheers happily.
Squirrelflight races up to me. "Great job," she says.
"Who won?" I ask.
Brambleclaw shakes his head. "It ended in a tie."
"A tie?" I say. "We need a winner!"
Brambleclaw shakes his head. "We're on a tight schedule now, to be honest. We still need to do have lunch and then running."
"Why lunch before running?" I ask.
Brambleclaw shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. Ask Firestar."
Well, for right now, I'm going to celebrate. I approach Lionblaze, who's talking to his sister Hollyleaf.
My heart drops as he high-fives Cinderheart.
Yes, I love Lionblaze. But I know that Cinderheart likes him, too. It's pretty obvious, after all.
But how hard is it to give me one wish?
I just want Lionblaze to love me.
Rosepetal's POV
After a light lunch, we're all taken to the Camp Warriors track.
"All right, campers, listen up!" yowls Ashfur as all the Thunderkids gather around him. "We have several different events, ranging from 50 to 500 meters."
I nod in understanding. Ashfur calls for everyone to choose their event. I sign up for the shortest, fifty meters. Hazeltail signs up for five-hundred.
I shake my head. Hazeltail can be such an overachiever sometimes.
Anyways, Sorreltail directs me to the start of the fifty meter even for girls, which is always first. I look at my competition. Pinenose from ShadowCabins. Swallowtail from WindCabins. And Petalfur from RiverCabins.
I take a deep breath. This is just a quick sprint, Rosepetal, I remind myself. No need to worry.
Still, I feel as if WindCabins are at a huge advantage. They're known for being fast.
I smirk. But I can be faster if I want.
After "okay" signal from Graystripe, Firestar stands off to the side.
"Ready, runners?" he says. The four of us nod.
"Get set…"
"GO!"
I dash forward, my legs flying in front of me, pulling me towards the finish line. I take quick breaths and force myself to run.
Swallowtail's right beside me. Directly beside me.
I'm not going to lose to her, I decide. I force my legs to go forward, faster, until I reach the finish line.
"First place in the fifty meter event for girls," calls Firestar.
I take a deep breath as I wait for him to announce the winner. Swallowtail's directly beside me.
Which one of us got first place?
In fact, I can't even believe that it's over already. I always knew that the 50-meter-sprint was the fastest. It never took a long time. Maybe a few seconds, but that's it.
"Rosepetal of ThunderCabins, first place!"
Heathertail's POV
Wow. How have WindCabins not won every single race? Seriously.
Yes, there have only been two non-WindCabin first-place winners. Rosepetal of the stupid ThunderCabins, and some ShadowCabin guy.
Still, I can't help but growl. Us WindCabins deserve to win!
Which is why I'm going to win the 500-meter run for girls.
That's the very final event, right after the 500-meter for boys. Thank goodness Breezepelt won that one. Though, I have to admit, Lionblaze was only a centimeter behind.
Nightcloud guides me to the starting line, where I'm standing beside Hazeltail from ThunderCabins. Even if she's the fastest from ThunderCabins, she's still no match for me.
As soon as everyone finishes up setting everything up, Graystripe makes sure we're all ready, then lets Firestar know. Nodding, Firestar yowls, "runners, get ready!"
I kneel down.
"Get set!"
I smirk. I'm going to win this.
"And GO!"
I'm off with a bang, my legs flying, flying, flying. Across the track. My eyes are glued to the finish line.
I am flying.
I steal a quick glance behind me. The RiverCabin and ShadowCabin girls are so slow they're almost walking. But, right in front them is Hazeltail, who's only a few yards behind me.
I am faster.
I speed up, but almost as if she is a bullet, Hazeltail speeds up faster.
I'm almost at the finish line. Keep it up, Heathertail. Don't lose to a stupid ThunderCabin girl.
Hazeltail sprints to my side.
Don't lose to a stupid ThunderCabin girl.
Hazeltail lunges forward.
Don't lose to a stupid ThunderCabin girl.
Hazeltail is now ahead of me. Ahead of me. Great.
I force my legs to go faster. Just a little bit faster. I finally meet Hazeltail's pace, and run beside her.
Finally, I let go of my breath, close my eyes, and run. Run like I'm escaping a prison. Run like I'm running from a bear. Run like there's no tomorrow.
And so, my legs run.
I cross the finish line just as Firestar announces that I've won first place.
I can't help but smile.
So, WindCabins won most of the running. No surprise there!
I really enjoyed writing about Icecloud playing soccer, by the way.
So... review, follow, and favorite! ~Silver