She shifted her stance as she watched the others move the goat-skin ball down the field. Her gaze darted about as she moved between the two blazing torches that stood spaced farther apart than the others in a sizeable rectangle, except the two opposite hers.
Her voice carried above the others as she called encouragement to her teammates.
“Kae,” shouted a girl from the other side of the field.
“Yeah,” she replied as she caught the ball, dropped, and kicked it in the direction of the voice, “Kim.”
Most sprinted off after the ball. Only two or three lingered in proximity to her.
A shout, and the ball flew in her direction again. Once more, she caught it, and lobbed it in the direction of her preferred teammate.
Moments later, a shout erupted from the opposite end of the field. She pumped her fist in the air and refocused as the ball zipped toward her face. Her hands flew up reflexively, stopping the momentum. She punted it toward the opposite end.
Another cheer went up from her team at the opposing end.
Just then, a shrill whistle pierced the air.
Kimshira trotted over and thumped the girl soundly on the shoulder. She nodded approvingly. “You have incredible reflexes. Have you thought about joining the scouts?”
She gave a noncommittal shrug. “I’m not of majority age, yet.”
Another sound thump on the shoulder. “I don’t think that will be a problem. Come by my tent tomorrow morning and we’ll talk to the chief about it.”
After a moment of contemplation, she inclined her head slightly. “As you will.”
The World of Terra 