prrflr-goldenday

“...Ladies and gentlefurs, please rise and remove any head coverings as we participate in a moment of silence for our lost friends and sport participants, Shirs Greycloud and Redline...”



Every match started this way since the accidents, as Goldbloom and others knew. They all stood silently near their seats. Some cried, the memories still too fresh. Others just hugged those crying knowing the feelings that they were going through thanks to the empathetic nature of chakats, some more than others. Goldbloom stood, her hand shaking a little bit as she looked to Oksana then to Wintemute.



“It’ll be okay, Goldie.”



Shi cocked hir head to look at Oksana, who just needed her head. The Caitian was the best thing to happen hir life, alongside hir other mate Wintemute. With that the Stellar Cup match between the New Auckland Witches and the Amistad Aphrodites got under way. It was to be an exciting match that would decide first place. Goldbloom had wanted to go to a match for as long as shi could remember. Oksana and Winty had saved up after the affairs of Doctor Vrae had resulted in hys death to get these tickets, hoping to snap Goldbloom out of the resulting bond snapping funk that she had been in. Hir therapist, Derein, had also suggested the outing thinking that the air and the atmosphere



“Thank you, both of you.”



“Yeah.”



“It wasn’t a problem, Goldie! We want you to be happy!”



Shi nuzzled them both and then ate a small amount of popcorn before passing it off to Winty. The action gotten underway rather quickly. A player for Auckland, named Redflare scored the first goal though it wasn’t easy as she had gotten checked by two Amistad players before the ball sailed into the goal.



The entire arena stood and cheered! It had been awhile since New Auckland had managed even a point against their rivals. And now here they were up one nothing. Goldbloom smiled and hollered, pushing all the negativity away and feeling the positivity of the crowd. Wintemute saw this and leaned in, giving hir first a nuzzle then a kiss. A nudge from Oksana showed that they were on the big screen for the kiss-can, eliciting an awww from the crowd.



The game continued on, the crowd cheering and waving as it did. Amistad had taken the lead before half time, with the score so far being four to three in favor of the Aphrodites. No one moved, loving to watch the half time show.



“Are you hungry, Goldie? How are you feeling?”



“I’m doing well, Oksana. Not as well as I should be, but better considering. Thank you for asking. I’m a little hungry but let’s wait till after the game.”



Oksana sat back, satisfied with the answer. Slowly, the match’s cock ran down, and the more impatient and worried the fans of Auckland got. They weren’t anxious enough to do anything dangerous, but with the score so close and the other team threatening to score it was a matter of time before someone did something.

“SCORE! AUCKLAND!”



The crowd roared back to life as they witnessed another player, Cloudflower, score for Auckland. It was an amazing goal as well, the insta-slow replay showing that it was done with a simple flick of hir tail. It was an amazing display of athleticism. Winty and Goldie were both on their feet in joy! They had tied the game with less than fifteen minutes to go. One score to win it all, even at the beginning of the season was amazing. What made it even better it was against their rival!



“Oh my goodness! Auckaland can win this! Auckland can win this!”



“I know, Winty! This is amazing!”



All three hugged each other close, tails winding and twirling in anticipation. Goldie was feeling a little bit more like her old self as the crowd rose to its feet in the waning minute, the action before as boring as one expected with neither team giving an inch. Each one tried to score only to be denied. As the clock ticked off down to thirty, Redflare, living up to hir name, streaked down the field with the ball in hand. Shi passed one defender who attempted a block. Shitwirled around another who tried to check hir into a wall and then with all the strength shi could muster, threw the ball into the ring, eyes closed.



“SHI DID IT! SHI DID IT!”



The crowd cheered on as hir teammates came over and lifted hir up in joy. The crowd started to file out as the two teams shook paw and congratulated each other, ensuring no one was seriously hurt. Goldbloom and hir mates were the last ones out, Goldbloom glad to be out.



“There’s a nice Italian place around the corner, who’s up for some?”



“Me!”



Both Oksana and Wintemute took a moment then did a double take after looking at each other. Goldbloom had a big smile on hir face, still caught up in the moment of the game as hir stomach growled. They filed around to the restaurant, Oskana going in first to scope out a table. As they sat down, with Goldbloom last, shi thought back to what Vrae said.



You chose THAT Caitian...you chose THAT Caitian.



Hy was right, shi had chosen the Caitian. But Goldbloom couldn’t but notice that shi no longer felt like it was a bad thing. As shi touched a paw to Oksana, Goldbloom only felt warmth and happiness, something shi hadn’t felt in weeks. A big smile form on hir face, trying to stare at the beautiful woman next to hir or other mate as they ordered and had fun.