"RUN! Run for all you're worth." And she did, directly towards the goal.
Emma snared the ball out of the air perfectly, continuing on her speeding arc, looking for what she'd seen hundreds of times before, hoping against hope that her teammate would be there. Sure enough, she was!
Sprinting at full speed now, Richie's trajectory was taking her towards the goalie's left hand post, stick raised in the air, waiting to capture the ball that would be spinning her way at any second. Emma, not one to disappoint, flung the ball as hard as she could, knowing before it had left her stick that her teammate wouldn't have to move the head of her stick even an inch, that's how perfect the pass was. Moving so fast it was just a blur, Richie recognised the slight change in the weight of her stick before anything else, at which point her body took over. By now she was closing in on goal, defenders (one of which was Attitude... although Richie was so consumed by it all, she had no idea which one) closing in on all sides, hoping to block her shot. Her body rolled with her gut feeling, as the rest of her looked on. Ducking underneath the closest defender, her movement was sublime as she cut inside and, with all the strength she could muster, let loose a low bounce shot that hit the exquisitely trimmed turf just in front of their goalie and leapt up past her outstretched boot, smashing into the taut netting behind her that she'd been guarding. Screams of jubilation echoed all around as friendly arms and faces engulfed her, all offering congratulations. Wheeling away with the others to head back to the opposite end of the pitch, a quick glance over her shoulder noticed the dark and foreboding expression etched into Attitude's face. It was only then that she started to realise just how much trouble she was in.
With the score being 1-1 now, the action came thick and fast, with adrenaline pumping for everyone on the pitch, including the officials. Transitions, when they came, were lightning fast with both teams leaving holes in their defence that their opponents continued to try and exploit. The Avengers went through a period of trying to constantly force Salisbridge out of bounds wide, which worked to a degree, but left a great deal of space behind, something the Salisbridge ladies took full advantage of with some mighty risky passes. But as the whistle blew to signal half time and the women headed off for the agreed ten minute break, it was only thanks to some more stunning saves by each keeper that the score had remained level.
Both teams filed off the pitch on the same side, but at opposite ends. For the sweat drenched players, taking on fluid was the first priority, and Richie was no different. As the cool contents of the water bottle worked its way down inside her throat, she could just make out Attitude glaring in her direction from the heart of the Somerset players. Turning away, the ex-dragon poured some of the water across the front of her curly hair, encouraging it to spill down on to her face and then run down the front of her neck and cleavage. A firm hand on her shoulder jolted her.
"You alright Rich?" questioned the accented voice of Harriet the goalkeeper.
"Uhh... yeah," she replied, panting. "Just worn out... you know."
Harriet nodded, understandingly.
Most of the team had taken to sitting down on the lush grass, stretching and flexing their tired and well worked muscles. Richie joined them, pulling her legs in close to her chest, all the time taking small sips from her water bottle. An aura of expectation hung over the team, waiting for their leader to speak. But try as she might, she just couldn't find any words for them. Still badly shaken up from her painful encounters with Attitude, she wanted nothing more than to leave and go home. In her life, she couldn't recall having ever been intimidated on or off the lacrosse pitch, and it was having a profound effect on her. More so, her silence was having a profound effect on the rest of the team.
"I think if your injury's that bad, that you should go off," announced Rachel.
One or two of her teammates nodded their agreement. Richie just clutched her legs tighter to her chest.
"My guess though, is that's not what's bothering you," exclaimed Emma, the closest of all of Richie's friends on the lacrosse team.
"So, what's up then?" asked Poppy politely.
"It's that girl, isn't it?" stated Sue.
Remaining silent, for the first time in a very long time their captain was unsure of what to say or do, so very unlike her. The team all looked at one another in the bizarre situation they found themselves in, insomuch as Richie had always been larger than life and full of an inexhaustible amount of energy and enthusiasm. Now... it was almost as if the life had been well and truly sucked out of her, leaving a husk in her place.
"Why has she got it in for you?" asked Jan, softly.
"I don't know," came the mumbled reply from their captain, her head still buried somewhere between her knees.
All of them were almost ashen as they sat surrounding their distraught captain, nearly half of the interlude having come and gone. It seemed that only now were they realising the degree to which they'd previously relied on the ex-dragon, not only for her stunning goals, her thankless running and her tactical knowhow, but also for the way she acted as a role model for each and every one of them. Only now could they sneak a glimpse into the real woman and see that they were not so different, that she had her fears and worries just like the rest of them. For the first time in what seemed like forever, the whole team could see Richie for who she truly was, and not the happy go lucky, super talented, score a goal from almost anywhere talisman that they'd so often thought her to be. On many occasions she'd saved them, dragged them by the scruff of their necks to victory, inspired and amazed them. Now it was their turn to save her, and by God they would.
Standing up, Emma spoke first.
"Rich! You're not here alone. You're part of a team, out there with all of us. I might be the one speaking, but I think everyone here agrees... we're all in this together. So many times you've carried us through matches, when either we weren't good enough, or we were playing teams who were so much better. But amazingly we won, and at times... that's been solely down to you. Speaking for myself, I recognise those as times that I haven't performed, haven't been at my best, despite giving my all. But to know that I can count on you and the others around me always encourages me to be more than I am, try harder than I would alone, punch above my weight. Others, including yourself, have lifted me up when I've been down, encouraged rather than criticised when I've lost the ball, and always, always, believed in me. And I don't think it's possible to ever express my gratitude in the way that I would wish or that you all deserve. So you see... we're all in this together. Your problems... even off the pitch, are our problems. And I for one won't see anyone here bullied, intimidated or downright hurt. We all play the game as it should be played... it's something that makes me so proud to be part of THIS team. Hard but fair, strong but just, no hint of cheating, always obeying the official's decisions, even when we know they are wrong. This, I believe, is how all sport should be played... not just ours!"
Every single player, including Richie, who had now lifted her head up from her legs, sat open mouthed, incredulous at what Emma was saying. More importantly, they all wholeheartedly agreed with every last word.