The arena was a bustle of fan activity despite this being the first match between the two rival teams. Instead of being early on in the season, one might think that the Falcons and the Magpies were again meeting for the League Cup.

The teams are both sporting familiar faces and some exciting newcomers, as both franchises did some maneuvering over the summer to ensure their teams would remain at the top of the standings. Neither team has disappointed since the beginning of the season, easily winning their matches to this point. This has been the match they've all waited for to really test their skills.

The teams entered in their usual fashion and the referee took his place in the center circle ready to unleash the tools of their trade. His eyes flicked from one side of the pitch to the other before he put his whistle to his lips and let its shrill song float through the air.

The snitch was released, immediately to begin its speedy trail off into the distance. The bludgers and quaffle were soon to follow signaling that the match hat officiall begun.

Callum was nervous. It was the third game for the Falcons of the season. They had won their first two games. He hadn't even played in the first game, and when he'd been sent in during the second game after the first string beater had gotten knocked off his broom- well, he hadn't expected to do well. Callum had managed to play better than he had in his life, even with only having Hogwarts experience, and today he was getting his first chance to start a professional match.

Hard to believe that his friends were at Hogwarts, going through their sixth year, while he was living the life of a professional quidditch player. He was only sixteen and his reputation was on the line with this game. It was the first big game of their season- one that everyone was looking forward to, and one that could make or break his rookie year if he didn't play well. The Magpies had also won their first two games.

His broom was new, and fast. Much better than the one he'd flown at Hogwarts. (He'd love to have had it for one year while playing for Slytherin, though, to rub it in everyone else's face.)

Callum waited on the pitch for the balls to be released, watching as the snitch flew off into the air. And when the match had officially begun, he gripped his bat tightly in head and pushed off the ground- flying into the air to chase after the bludger that was closest to him. A part of him hoped that Dominik would take the lead and carry the team- he was sure his inexperience would never be able to  protect the team alone.

Athena Ainsley was ready for this match like no other. She had performed as expected during the first two matches that the Falcons played, but she couldn't in good conscience say that she had been tested to her limits with the likes of Portree and Wigtown. Sure, the former had given them a good go in their first match, but eventually they had been no match for Falcons, fueled by the return of their undisputed star, Wiedman.

This match was bound to be tougher and the real start of their season. Even as conceited as Athena was, she was well aware of the talent on the Magpies. It might be the only team in the league that could match their own.

As their team got into position before the referee sounded his whistle, Ainsley glanced around at her teammates and shouted, "Allez!" Her coppery eyes fell last on their newest starter, Knight and she smiled at him. Then she blew him a kiss. That playful coyness was almost immediately erased when the game began and the blonde sped off to seize the quaffle. With it in her hand, she headed into Magpie's territory, with her fellow chaser in her peripheral in the hopes of making a pass.

Another match to win. Jacqueline was ready. Even though she had been gone for a season of Quidditch, Jacqueline had no trouble coming back to her team, she had caught the snitch for the two games they'd played already. The Falmouth Falcons was like a home to her, most of the members she knew well, after four consecutive years of being a Seeker. It was only her hope that the Falcons were able to get another victory, especially with the tention due to the match being with their rivals.

Getting into place, Jacqueline felt an adrenaline rush. It was the excitement she always got before a game, for she knew that in the stands there were both those cheering her on, and those hoping she got knocked off her broom. She looked at her team members getting into place as well, hearing Athena call out to the team in French. "Oui!" the French woman replied. "Onward Falcons to another victory!" Her french accent was still very noticeable in her English as she spoke.

As soon as the whistle sounded Jacqueline was off, flying directly up. She could feel her long blonde hair whipping behind her. It was these feelings she loved, flying was meant for her. Even though she had spent most of her life as a proper lady, Jacqueline felt Quidditch was the one place for her to be improper.

Once she reached a point where she could watch over most everything and look for the snitch, the Seeker came to a sudden yet smooth stop and leveled her broom. After locating the two bludgers, Jacqueline began a loop around Falcon territory, trying to spot the little golden ball.

Dominik let out a crazed roar of cackling laughter that was full of confident blood-thirst as he rushed his broom after Callum Knight, backing him up from the start of the game by following his lead toward the first bludger.  He spun off as he passed him, slowing down just enough to shout with enthusiasm, "You're gonna kill em, boyo!"

Dom really liked the kid - he had full faith that by the end of the season, he'd have the feeling of having raised a bloody son. 

Yeah, they'd been on their game from the start of the season, and he was having a right good time.  He had an ace in his pocket, too, and it was called Niobe Thursby.  Between this game and the last he'd released his animal urges in a more genuine way; and now he wanted something more authentically raw and to hell with love.  If this was his last stretch, Dominik had to make it count for something.  He had too much building to suffer for soft affairs.  He was done with sorrow and with squirming love-lust.  Dominik Wiedman wanted to be the animal that he was... and this was his avenue.

The game had just begun and already the Falcons were shining and the crowd was roaring madly - he displayed his precision on a broom in celebration, circling round where Callum was headed with some oversight to beam with greedy hunger at Ainsley, who he'd dashed after to show he'd be sure they had her back, just before whipping past Jacqueline with an "AHAHAH YEAH!" to rally her spirits and welcome her back again and again. 

Cause they were going to win this bloody match or kill the lot trying. 

He rejoined Callum Knight, pulling up fast above him.  "Keep your eye on Ainsley and pace yourself, kid, we're gonna knock em dead!"

Chaser, Magpies

The balls were off, and the Falcons were faster on the tip.  Falcon Chaser Ainsley had the quaffle and so Juno was in hot pursuit.

It was dangerous, chasing down a Falcon, what with her two valkyries Wiedman and Knight keeping watch.  Well, Wiedman anyway.  It was kind of hard to take a twelve-year-old straight from the commonroom seriously.  But Wiedman'd send you to Mungo's if he had a second to spare.  So Juno hugged tight to her broom as she came up on Ainsley fast to fly shoulder-to-shoulder along side her. 

She gave her a rough bump - either she'd drop the ball or Juno'd force a pass.

The leggy blonde Chaser kept the quaffle tight in her grasp as she sped off towards pretty boy Cuddyer, but the bump from Grimalken had her reassessing her attack.

"Merde!" she cursed as she threw her elbow out in an attempt to keep the enemy at bay. Her eyes sought figure of Falmouth's other Chaser and she curtly called, "KEEEK!"

Instinct told the Frenchwoman to send the red sphere her way and if Godric be great, he would make sure she was there to catch it unhindered.

Alright champ, this was the big leauges. Err, bigger leauges. Time to prove that you could handle signing on to a hotshot team. That helping the Tornadoes to a victory during a freak twister wasn't a fluke. Time to earn your new teammates respect...before you ended up fighting your old ones later in the season.

Foster Falkin took to the air at an acceptably fast clip. He liked sturdier brooms, models that could handle a stray bludger to the shaft without splintering. These meant a slower broom overall but with different 'gears' of speed, like the clutch of that damn car of dad's...at slower speeds Foster's broom had greater handling but that was sacrificed at high speeds, a tradeoff that brough near unstoppable momentum. Could add that extra zing behind his Beater's bat.

Magpies and Falcons. Both birds. Both on the monochromatic spectrum. One white and black, one silver and grey. He was really going to have to keep track of the different patterns so he didn't bludger his own team.

Speaking of, as Foster flew to meet the bludger heading towards the Magpie side of the pitch. He caught sight of the two Falcon Beaters circling for a word. Strategy? Other? All Foster knew is that Dominik Skye Wiedman had only recently stayed on the rival team when he'd been slated for retirement.

"Heads up ol' timer." It was a thought spoken aloud without any volume behind it to make it a jeer. Foster spun his bat in a pinwheel, prepping, then smacked the bludger towards Dominik.

Beater, Magpies

Poppy had zipped into the air as soon as the signal had been given, and took a moment, hovering high above the pitch, to get a reading on the immediate state of play. She was careful to keep Falkin in view; he was still new to the team, and the two of them would need to coordinate where possible. But while Falkin preferred a slightly slower broom with excellent maneuverability, Poppy tended towards a model with exceptional speed that made it a tad slippery on fast turns. Overall it meant less force to her blows, but Poppy valued being able to reach the bludger before her opponents had the chance. Given enough time working together, she liked to think Falkin and she would compliment each other well.

After noting her fellow Beater's position, Poppy sped down toward the action, her gaze flying to the Falmouth Beaters, Wiedman and Knight. The one to watch out for and the unknown quantity. But Falkin was dealing with them right now; her immediate concern was that Ainsley had taken the quaffle for Falmouth. At Grimalken's jostle, she passed, yelling out for Kiyomizu. No time to spare.

With a surge of speed, Poppy hurtled towards the other bludger, swung her bat, and sent the heavy ball spinning roughly in Kiyomizu's direction. She hadn't slowed down enough to aim properly, but she still hoped to at least knock the Chaser's concentration even if she couldn't knock her off her broom. 'Grim, go get it!' she shouted to her teammate.

Wallis was in her usual spirits today; utterly riled up and ready to go, her blonde hair strapped to her head and goggles masking her building eyes. She barreled across the pitch, robes whipping out behind her, trailing the Falcon's Chasers and flying just below them, trying to stick to their blind spots. And, of course, Ainsley.

She grinned her feral grin - the grin that showed far too many teeth and far to much gum. Juno was nearby, the smaller Chaser ever a reassuring blip on Wallis's radar. She could trust Juno come hell or high water, and there wasn't a better bloody Chaser in the whole damn leage. Certainly not the little poppets the Falcons currently had! No, Juno was made of brick and nails and Wallis liked her that way.

Athena threw the Quaffle towards Kiki, and Wallis wasted no time. She swerved upwards from where she'd been waiting below and intercepted the ball, seizing it in her iron grip.

"Juno!" She roared, as she turned in midair and shot off towards the Falcon's goalposts.

Kiki was super excited for her first professional match in Britain! It was probably the most exciting thing since her first game for theTengu! Which they had won! So she had high hopes for this match! After all the Falcons were probably one of the best teams the United Kingdom had! Now that she was here they were sure to win!

When Ainsley had grabbed the quaffle Kiki flew up and followed from above where she waited in case Ainsley had to pass! Suddenly Grimalken swooped down and bumped her fellow chaser who called out to her and quickly passed the ball!

"WOOHOO!" Kiki shouted. She dove down to grab the quaffle, but had to duck out of the way to avoid an incoming bludger! That was all it took for Kiki to miss the pass and for Clayton to intercept it!

"Damnit!" shouted the little Japanese girl as she made a tight turn and began to chase after Clayton!

Callum nodded. Eyes on Ainsley. Callum could do that. Protect the women on the field at all costs. His women, anyway. Playing the first couple of games for the Falcons had taught him that being shy about hitting a bludger at women on the opposite team was a recipe for disaster. If they sensed out that weakness in him, every other team would play off of it. Of course, the way around that was to aim the bludger more for their broom thant heir faces.

He saw the opposing team smack the bludger toward Kiyomizu, and immediately flew to her aid. She ducked out of the way to avoid it, and now Clayton had the quaffle that was meant for his team.

Callum gripped his bat and chased after the bludger that had just been aimed for Kiyomizu. He caught up to it, squared his aim, and smacked it as hard as he could toward Clayton's broom, hoping to catch the tail end of it and send her spinning.

Jacqueline turned as Wiedman zoomed past her. "Send them home limping Dominik!" she called after him. She wanted to see some injury come from her side. There was always something satisfying about knocking into another Seeker when they both were chasing after the snitch, it was almost too bad Jacqueline couldn't do the same to other players if they didn't get close to her, or else she'd risk not seeing the snitch.

The quaffle was intercepted by the opposite teasm and Jacqueline watched a Magpie Chaser fly off towards their goals. "Allez, allez! Ne laissez pas son score!"[1] Jacqueline called out in her native language to Athena. She continued to fly at a slower pace through the air, glacing at times to locate the bludgers again. She had to make sure she was not knocked off her broomstick.

Sensing more attention turning towards the Falcon side on both team, Jacqueline took the chance to venture into Magpie territory, still trying to spot the snitch. She had learned from the violent tendencies of her own Beaters to not get caught up in groups of Chasers from the opposite team, unless they came towards her. In that case she would take the job of the damaging ball, and give them anywhere from a nudge to put them off balance to a large shove, depending how closely the referee was watching her.

1.	Go, go! Don't let them score!

Juno crowed with joy when the Magpie Beater's successfully covered that crazy beast Clayton so she could intercept the Quaffle.  The bludgers were everywhere, but the Magpie Chasers flew in tight formation behind Clayton, Juno taking post at her right flank.

"Take the shot!" she shouted at Wallis.  "Shot! I've got you covered!"

Dominik kept his momentum and wove round in the action, getting a feel for the play and even watching without getting twitchy as the closest bludger was swept away by Poppy Feng.  It was always good to get a sense of how everyone was playing - separately and as a unit - before getting into the fun of acting rashly. 

Despite having ten years under his belt, he still loved puzzling out the dynamics peculiar to each game as he started to feel the cold wind on his ears.  The subtleties were much more obvious in this case, where there had been so many new faces added to the Pitch.  He hardly knew when it was that the Falmouth Falcons had gone from being a bunch of angry blokes who all looked alike and grew up in Falmouth to being an international and gender-balanced ball of passion.  He liked it, though.  He took his inspiration where he could get it.

Aware of and tracking the location of both bludgers, Dominik was not very caught off guard by the one flying towards him, cast by the bat of a fresh face. 

Dominik still had plenty of time to murder him later, so this was better taken as a naive but awesome cross-team "pass" (not forgettable).  Get to bloody work now, Dominik told himself, rather than get caught in a tiffle over some new-kid-on-the-block show off.  He dipped down quickly just a hair, and staid his broom, waiting for it, and when it came in towards him, he listened to the way it sounded on the air to get a sense of how hard it would hit, and when it would hit.

Not lethal, but too fast to crack back at from the receiving end.  6... 5... Dominik grinned and crunched his nose in barbaric anticipation.  4... 3...  His own bat was ready but strangely angled out in front of him.  2... 1... and when it was three inches in front of the tip of his bat, he moved like the sudden snap of a rubber band, clipping it upwards in just the right spot and at just the right moment.  The bludger went POP and its momentum slowed slightly as it spun up above Wiedman. 

Then Wiedman spun up after it, and smacked it full-strength toward Wallis Clayton.  His aim was a lot less gentlemanly than Callum Knight's.