Adelaide

Chapter 1

Part One: The Fall

"James, hurry!"

"Hold on. We're coming...just a bit s-stuck," he replies, in a distant, and rather hurried, tone.

"Well, be quick. The enemy is forthcoming. And we can win. I can win," I continue.

I continue on the murky trail, ridden with sand and dirt, and shuffle my way through the cramped hole. Hesitantly, the clouds try to cover their way across the sky but, like me, the sun is notwithstanding it. It cascades down in full heat mode and I plough across the ground, hunched in a battle position, ready to protect my territory.

However, my territory is doomed: my flag is shielded, the leaves well covered it but, my fellow team-mates are apparently stuck.

Stuck.

James, being one of the competitive ones — like myself, is cursing to our other fellow minion, John, who is apparently trapped. They are pretty far behind, maybe two metres back but, to me, it feels like an infinity away. Because the birds are piquing up, becoming more restless and screeching seamlessly, I can sense something is amiss. If my amateur outdoor senses are correct, this means that a flock of company has arrived.

And, they are not ones of our kind.

Grunting, I ease myself to a stance position; to be guarded, ready for attack and in player's position for battle.

Then, like an alert owl, my eyes widen and I shift to my full height. The only thing is this: I am alone. Alone because the initiates who I'm paired with are probably messing around and not taking this seriously. But...I am.

With a heated sigh, I turn back towards the slight hole and say: "If you boys don't get a move on, when we win, you won't get cut out of the winnings."

"We're sorry Adelaide. Well I am but I'm not too sure of this shi—." a thunderous crack, probably a boulder breaking, interrupts James' delightful curse, "—head. He's still... ouch!"

I shake my head.

Slowly, as if I am rousing myself for a big argument, I breathe in through my nose. Then twice out. And, with a threatening look up at the sky of the heavens, I say:

"Guys, I love you. Really I do," I begin to make a circular barrier in the dirty, beneath my feet, "but you need to get your heads screwed on a little tighter."

Continuing to shuffle, I place my hands on my hips and observe the hurried mark around our crimson flag.

"Adelaide, now would be a good time f-for some help..."

I decide to see what the fuss is about, to peer through the whole and pester them to hurry. Hurry and win. As if they were really in trouble; they're more the trouble makers.

With another frustrated sigh, I crawl back to the opening. And see, with an aghast cry, a leg...on top a head.

Is that a head with a leg...above it?

James and John helplessly elbow each other, restlessly trying to escape from their tangle and mess. It's like viewing children; children vying their way to get out first.

"Move!"

"Get off." A groan came. Was it John's? No, maybe it was James? "I won't tell you again."

The latter guy seems distressed. A slight vein pulsates at the side of his head.

He was angry.

"You, don't understand. John, you stepped on my arm and head. I need those limbs for lacrosse."