Saturday, June 9

Eleanor Rigby (Deer, PG, WIL) and Tina McCall (Fennec Fox, PG, WIL) were preparing for the opener of the second round series against the Huntsville Mayors.

The two ladies were seated cross-legged on Eleanor's carpeted living room floor. The lights were darkened and the shades were drawn. Not a sound came from anywhere. Both ladies had their eyes closed. Eleanor was showing Tina one of her finer ways of preparing for a game.

When the rookie fennec was invited over, she expected to be going over the playbook, so she had brought that along. But Eleanor shook her head when Tina brought it up. The fennec raised an eyebrow.
　
"Then what are we going to do?"

"Just relax, Tina. You'll understand. It'll all be groovy..." she said in her usual low-key tone.

The deer doe had the den prepared for the exercise and instructed Tina to sit cross-legged and relax. The fennec did so, expecting this from the deer doe that she had been teammates with for several months now. Still, her way of preparing for games was two-fold: playbook and practice. Sitting around didn't qualify.

"Now, like, just close your eyes... and search inside and outside... the answers will be revealed," she said cryptically. Tina resisted rolling her eyes, knowing what Eleanor was saying.

It was time to think about the games against the Mayors.

She did close her eyes.

And she waited.

Only the quiet sound of their breathing was heard in the room.

All Tina could see was blackness...

...

John Stoat (Stoat, G, HNT) leapt over a grossly-undersized Eleanor and drained a three in her face.

Nina Lime (Wolf, G, HNT) stepped back against Vera La Tiérra and hit a majestic floater in the second quarter.

Ray Rodin (Rat, G/F, HNT) covered Marron Gwosdz (Arctic Vixen, G, WIL) like a quilt, forcing her to stall and hold the ball away from him, killing the offensive flow.

The fennec cringed and bit her tongue, troubled that she was thinking of these things now.

She tried "searching" again...

Jim McCormick (Badger, F, HNT) powered down a thunderous dunk against Ain Iannizzi (Cougar, F, WIL), almost brushing the cougar aside like a rag doll in the air.

"Tina, you're not searching hard enough," said a voice as Jim celebrated the slam as Minutemen coach Morgan Roosevelt called a timeout.

Tina opened her eyes and looked at Eleanor, who was staring back at her with her hazel eyes.

"Huh?"

"You were, like, thinking of our last game at Huntsville, where we lost control of it, were you not?"

"Er..." Tina mumbled, scratching the back of her head. She really didn't want to admit it.

"You were grunting and stifling whimpers. I could hear them," Eleanor said.

The fennec continued to rub the back of her head, almost feeling ashamed. "I was? Um... I know I wasn't doing it right..."

"Don't let your fears take control of your thoughts. Search for the light in the ether. It is there..." Eleanor said.

"Okay..."

With a long sigh, Tina closed her eyes again and let herself search the darkness for the light...

A minute passed.

Still nothing.

Where was the light? Was she just going to wander the darkness until Eleanor told her they were done?

Finally, an image.

Patriot Stadium.

Teo Masalia (Black Panther, SG, WIL) weaved his way through the Mayors defense and threw down a thunderous dunk, electrifying the crowd.

Leonard Mack (Fox, F/C, WIL) was wide open in the right corner, having lost Tyler Kiko (Goat, F, HNT) and he took a pass and nailed a three, thrusting the shot from his chest.

Eric Logan (Bull Elephant, C, WIL) got the ball at the end of the first half at the top of the key. He hoisted it up as the buzzer sounded and it swished. The crowd went berserk and Eric celebrated his triumph and even gave a high-five and high-trunk to a giddy Nick Nwabudike (Elephant, C).

"There, you found the light," said Eleanor's voice again.

Tina opened her eyes and looked at the doe, who had a knowing smile on her face.

"If you hold on to the light, Tina, fear won't take over," the doe said.

Tina nodded and smiled back. Eleanor then stood up.

"That's, like, enough soul-searching. Would you like some granola, Tina?" she asked.

"I'd love some, thank you."

* * *

Leonard Mack went to the ball rack and grabbed another basketball, getting ready to shoot another three-point try. Vera La Tiérra was on the other end of the court, letting a shot fly from beyond the arc. Naturally, the shot was perfect; the ball making a crisp swishing sound as it traveled through the hoop. Assistant coach Kelsey Hampshire (Red Fox), who was dressed in a red Minutemen warm-up suit, took the ball and bounce-passed it back to the vixen.

"Excellent shot, Vera," the redheaded fox said, grinning.

Vera gave him a nod and smile before going back to work, working on "keep-away" dribbling.

Kelsey was always impressed about how the vixen went about her business when practicing. She was extremely methodical about it, doing some shots for a few moments, then working on her dribbling, then passing against a wall. She knew what she wanted to do and she was relentless when she did it. She sometimes added in a little flourish, like a pose or a twirl after she hit a good shot, but she was focused.

He could only have dreamed to be as good as her. He knew she was going to go far in the FBA.

"Oye, Lennie..." Vera said, motioning with the basketball towards the basket. Mack nodded and walked over to the lane. La Tiérra then charged from mid-court, dribbling fast, her beautiful brunette hair swaying with her moves. Mack took a defensive stance as she approached and raised his paws as she jumped. The vixen flexed her arms up as she ran into Leonard and hoisted up a shot. It was harder than she wanted it, but the ball bounced off the backboard cleanly and into the hoop. Leonard had no time to dwell on the nice consequences of the charge because Vera grabbed the ball and motioned to the hoop.

"Otra vez. Defiendas mí, Lennie," she said. Leonard knew the command in her voice and took a closer defensive stance against her. The vixen went up against the much taller fox, weaving in and out, trying to hit shots over him, weave around him and get to the hoop. While they did this, Hampshire had his arms folded, observing the spectacle.

He knew that the two were in love. The whole team knew at that point. What he also saw was cooperation and mutual respect, as the big fox tried his absolute hardest to defend the smaller, more agile vixen. The two had looks on their faces that showed pure determination.

Just like they usually showed on the court.

After La Tiérra drained a high, arcing hookshot over the bg fox, Hampshire clapped and took the basketball.

“All right, you two, that’s enough for tonight. Excellent work. Be here bright and early tomorrow, we’re going to go over the game plans for Huntsville. There’s a lot to work on,” the Californian told them.

The two players nodded and wished Kelsey good night, exiting the gym. Leonard escorted Vera to his truck and drove her home to her apartment. The fox courteously walked Vera to her door and she turned and smiled at him.

"Muchas gracias por ayudarme en la práctica, Lennie," she said. She draped her arms around his neck, leaned up and kissed him. Leonard smiled in return, grateful for the kiss.

“Uh... de nada, Vera.... dormir bien?” he asked. Vera giggled and nodded.

“That’s good enough, Leonard,” she praised, giving him another hug. “See you tomorrow.” Te amo.”

“I love you too...” Leonard said in return and watched as Vera entered her home safely. They would need sweet dreams that night, for the hard work would begin tomorrow. Hopefully it would produce results tomorrow night. in Game One.

Vera La Tiérra c  jtigerclaw
Leonard Mack, Eleanor Rigby c  buckhopper
Tina McCall, Kelsey Hampshire c  sam-gwosdz