Chapter 6: The Second Event (written on January 15th, 2022)

September 23rd, 2012

Today was now the second event, and the sky couldn't be more clear. The first event resulted in the elimination of the Southern team. As winners, the Northern team was allowed to choose the next type of event. The North decided on another relay race but one that was a straight course with its legs on a long hill. The first team to make it to the top of the hill won. There were many hazards. Different levels of the hill had unique terrain. Each leg was different, and the players of a team had to be in the optimal order to utilize their skills.

"This could get a little tricky today," said Humphrey, looking at the long hill ahead.

"I'm ready for whatever they've got!" said Brent.

"I double-dog dare a wolf to step on my back," said Agnes.

"Stay on the attack," said Stinky.

"We can do this!" Runt assured.

"Just be prepared," said their coach. He had listened to what his daughter told him, but Humphrey was not sure what the Northern team was capable of.

Eventually, the honk was given to start the next event. Runt took the first and easiest leg. He and a Northerner were neck and neck while an Eastern was left in the dust. The bottom leg was more spacious so it was easy for Runt to keep his distance. He tapped Stinky who took a more challenging leg. It involved hopping from boulder to boulder, and the area was narrower. At one point, Stinky made it to the same boulder as a Northerner. The Northerner pushed Stinky before leaving, preventing Stinky from jumping after him.

"Nice," said Stinky with a scowl. It was an obvious offense.

"What?!" Humphrey and the two birds exclaimed.

"Foul! Foul!" yelled Marcel.

"Umpire!" yelled Paddy. They both flew over to where the refs were perched. The black-painted geese simply ignored them.

Stinky continued hopping through the section until he tapped Brent. Brent's leg had fewer rocks, but the area was steeper. There was a trench that cut through the hillside. Brent sprinted over one of the log bridges. Behind him, a Northerner came and pushed him off the bridge. Luckily, Brent was able to get out of the trench quickly. His leg turned into Agnes's leg. The porcupine was not willing to put up with the rough play.

"Agnes, up the log!" Brent shouted.

"Get them on the log," Nars said under his breath. There was another trench. Agnes caught up to Fleet on the log and pricked him.

"Ow! Hey!"

"How do you like it, huh?!" said Agnes, but she was not able to slow Fleet down. Fleet tapped Magril while Agnes tapped Claudette. The last leg was similar to the first. They were once again even.

"Good girl!" said Humphrey. Then, in the most flagrant way, Magril elbowed Claudette hard enough to knock the wind out of her.

"Oof!"

"Good girl," Nars mumbled.

"Umpire, did you see that?!" yelled Marcel. The golf goose was in the face of a ref goose. The ref honked at them, a signal telling them to stay back.

"Umpire, they were cheating!" said Humphrey. He and Nars walked to Marcel.

"She slipped into her," Nars protested unobtrusively. The ref motioned other refs to stop the event and huddle together. They proceeded to whisper back and forth. Marcel was clearly agitated. He did not want to think these were his cousins.

"What are they doing?" said Marcel. "Laying an egg?"

After half a minute, the referees came to decision.

"We couldn't clearly see the play! No foul!" the lead ref announced. Paddy was taken aback.

"What?! That was as much a foul as a chicken is a fowl!"

"Resume play on my honk!" The lead ref raised a wing and honked. Claudette and Magril continued their run. There was a short rocky section before the finish line.

"Run the rocks! Run the rocks!" Nars yelled. Magril jumped over Claudette and kicked rocks into her face.

"Umpire, I can't believe this!" said Marcel. Magril crossed the finish line. Nars jumped in the air in celebration.

"YES!" Claudette then joined Magril. Claudette was on the verge of tears. Her head was swirling with mixed feelings.

"Good job, Claudette. You played it fair," Humphrey whispered to himself. The Northern coach turned to him.

"See you in the final," he smugly remarked

He walked up the hill to meet his victors. He noticed Magril limping and Fleet carefully helping her. "Magril, are you okay?"

"She slipped on the rocks," said Fleet.

"Can you still compete?" Nars asked her. Margil frantically whispered to Fleet.

"No, Magril. Don't," Fleet warned her.

"What is she saying? Why won't she ever speak directly to me?"

"Dad..."

"Magril, are you okay?" He approached her with fervor. "Speak up NOW!" Magril refused to look at him in the eyes. She cowardly buried her face in her forepaws.

"She can't, Dad!" yelled Fleet.

"Why not?" Nars was genuinely clueless.

"Because she's terrified of you! She's injured... She's out of the Games..."

"Out of the Games?" If the North could not have Magril for the final, they would have to forfeit, making the Western Region the winner. The second event had just eliminated the Eastern team. Nars had to come up with an idea.

"Cheaters! That's what they are," said Agnes. The Western team had gathered at the bottom of the hill.

"And don't even get me started on those umpires," said Marcel

"We ought to get the Western Owls to take them out," Paddy suggested as a joke.

"Coach," Nars called as he approached them.

"What now?" said Humphrey. His team faced them.

"Magril is... injured."

"Oh, no," said Claudette.

"Now, we can do this two ways. Either we... default and it's all yours... or we do a different race... Winner takes all."

"You mean four against four?" said Humphrey.

"No... One against one. My son against Claudette. A run around the mountain and then down to the field. Fleet is strong on the rocks and Claudette on the field."

"Well, uhh... let me speak to my team." All eyes were on Claudette.

"You got this, Claudette," Runt encouraged.

"Go for it," said Brent. The other teammates nodded.

"Okay. I'll do it!"

"Nars, you're on!" said Humphrey. Nars stepped closer to the Omega's daughter.

"Good. You know, Claudette... I wonder if your Games will be as good as your mom's."

"Dad, please," said Fleet. Claudette answered with her own smirk.

"I'm sure Fleet's Games will be better than your Games." Nars squinted his eyes and growled at her. He soon left afterward.

"See you tomorrow, Coach," said Humphrey.

Fleet took a step towards Claudette. They exchanged respectful nods while Humphrey was not looking.