Some of the crowds from the other matches had started to take an interest now that the ladies' lacrosse looked as though it were about to start, with a twisting line of onlookers filing their way around the circumference of the pitch, carefully avoiding the space at the back of the substitution area where players that have been sent off sit out their two minute penalty. Everybody's intention was undoubtedly that this particular area wouldn't be called into use this afternoon.
With all the practice balls off the pitch, Richie strolled up to the centre line, ready for the draw, having already indicated to the umpire that Salisbridge were ready to play. Standing facing her opponent, all thoughts of anything but the match had been wiped from her head as the umpire, sporting his usual attire, placed the ball between the back of their crosses. Without a hint of emotion, he said,
"Ready."
Both women remained completely motionless, focused, waiting for the inevitable whistle. It seemed to take an age, there in the glorious sunlight. Not for the first time that day, Richie felt the tiny weight of the necklace with the ring on it that Peter had given to her some time ago. For some reason it seemed to be charged, almost burning her skin... but in a good way. Nearly drifting off into thoughts of what it all meant, she was abruptly shaken out of it by the shrill, piercing sound of the umpire's whistle. One thought above all others registered in her brain: 'PLAY!' And so she did.
Channelling all her might into raising her stick as she had done countless times before, she watched as the ball zipped high into the air, over her left shoulder and back into her own half. Instinct took over, her feet moving her body into the nearest free space, all the time mindful of where her teammates were, and just what she could do to help them out. Currently Angela, one of the Salisbridge defenders, had the ball nestled in the crosse of her stick, having just feinted one way and then sprinted the other way around the outside of her attacker. Richie slowed her run a little, intent on heading out wide on the left, as that was the direction Angela was now running in and it looked as though that was the place to be. Just as she was about to turn, a sharp, almighty pain tore across the lower half of her back, forcing her to close her eyes and drop to her knees in agony. Aware of what was going on around her and that the match was still continuing, she staggered to her feet, wheeling around, trying to find out exactly what had happened. It didn't take long to figure things out. Attitude was standing not six feet away, an ominous looking grin chiselled into her dour, plain face. A thesaurus of expletives sprang forth in Richie's mind as her mouth opened automatically, but by then her brain had the presence to stop anything from spouting out. Shocked, open mouthed and wide-eyed, she watched Attitude turn around and run back, just catching Angela out of the corner of her eye, zipping past her, out wide on the left.
'Damn,' she thought, hoping against hope that what had happened was just a sporting accident. Pushing the pain to one side, she stumbled off towards the goal they were attacking, hoping to give her side at least one more option.
Harriet, the Salisbridge goalie, had seen it all. Well, she hadn't as it turned out, but she was sure she knew exactly what had happened. Just as Richie had checked her run and was turning to move outside, the strapping great defender who she recognised from another club they played against, must have hit her teammate hard with the end of her stick, right in the base of her spine.
'That,' she thought, 'is just not what today is all about.'
While Richie hobbled as quickly as she could to catch up with play, Angela had just played a beautiful one-two with Joey, one of the other forwards in her side, and was in the process of lobbing the ball to Emma who stood expectantly some way back, behind the goal.
Still deeply disappointed that the officials had missed what felt like an assault, Richie darted around to the right of the goal, careful to stay well back from the goal circle. Emma, having caught the ball, zipped in and out of the player trying to block her off, all the time looking for someone to pass to. Richie knew that Emma was trying to pick her out, hoping she'd make one of her normal runs. And so she did... well, at least she tried to. Her right foot pushed off, but suddenly as if from nowhere, a weight had appeared on her left foot as she tried to move... resulting in a screaming pain down the inside of her left knee. Once again she buckled over, landing hard on the lush, freshly cut grass. This time a whistle accompanied her fall. Staying down, vaguely aware of the whispered voices all around her, it wasn't until a gentle hand came down on her shoulder, followed by some comforting words, that she opened her eyes.
"Rich... take your time. Are you okay?"
Fissures of pain streaked up the inside of her knee, on even the slightest lateral movement.
'At least it distracts me from the pain in my back,' thought the beautiful former dragon, trying hard to find some kind of relief as she rolled up into a sitting position.
By now, half the team had gathered around her, concerned by her injury, knowing there was no way she would go down unless genuinely hurt.
"What did she do?" spat Sue, one of the team's midfielders, angrily.
"Deliberately stepped on her foot to stop her from moving off," replied Joey, before their captain could say a word.
"She's an evil one, she is," offered up Ali.
"Why is it she's playing for them now?" asked Jan, up from the back. "Last time I heard, she was still playing for the Fire Foxes."
"Who cares?" muttered Poppy into the gathered group. "Let's just kick their arses back to next week, and make them scamper back to Somerset with their tails between their legs."
"That's not really the attitude... is it?" exclaimed Richie, getting to her feet with a little help from Emma. "We need to show everyone watching what this sport is all about. Don't forget that!"
The group crowded around her looked suitably chastised.
Planting her left foot down, Richie ignored the pain that flooded up and around her knee. At exactly the same time, something primal and frightening flittered around her subconscious. Murky and dark, it fought to be unleashed, even through an overwhelming sense that she was above all of this. Sweeping it to one side, almost as if she'd been trained to do just that, the comforting voice of Emma cut in.
"Do you think it's wise to continue?"
"Wise or not... we're done!" announced the bullish ex-dragon, who'd had more than enough of this bully, even though only a few minutes of the match had passed.
Sue passed Richie's stick back to her, while the others took up their previous positions. Determined, but visibly shaken, Richie too took up her position, all the time eyeing Attitude, wondering what the hell was going on.
For the next ten minutes or so, the crowd were treated to a smorgasbord of smashing lacrosse... just how the game should be. Action changed from end to end, with both defences putting outstanding pressure on the passers, leading to fabulous interceptions, which in turn led to relentlessly quick transitions, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye. Nobody, however, had scored yet. Both keepers had made astonishing saves. The Avalon Avengers goalie had made two brilliant saves, one with her hand, that she tipped over the crossbar, the other she caught in her crosse. Harriet, the Salisbridge keeper, had used her feet to good effect, making what most would consider to be a mind-blowing save, to keep her team level at 0-0.