Preparation

I am overly presumptuous, I know, to equate water polo with defending a river from invading animals, but I didn't want to bother coming up with anything else. So here is my presentation of my pre-game preparation. If I feel so inclined, I might write about the actual game afterwards.

The ocelot breathed deep, steeling her mind and her body for the night ahead. Worries tried to force their way into her consciousness, but for the most part she kept them at bay. That night there would be a minor skirmish along the river. Due to the smallish size of the invading faction, the higher leaders of the river defense had left it to the less experienced to deal with. With the heads excluded, the ocelot would be among the ringleaders of the expedition. It would be far more mentally draining than physical, and she prepared herself accordingly.

However, certain worries were finally managing to worm their way into her mind. The raccoon was one of her main concerns. The ocelot had been in one of these skirmishes before, and the raccoon had let loose. She had refused to see reason and had tried to assume authority that was not hers. She had insulted many of those involved as well. From her own side, no less. The raccoon had a habit of creating great division in the band of defenders. The ocelot only hoped that circumstances would not arrise that would incur her wrath. She had no wish to create division either, but if provoked on this night, she doubted she would hold her tongue. She prayed that the raccoon would hold hers.

The ocelot's other worry was directed more inward. In the last confrontation with an invasion, she had heinously failed in her duties. The invaders had made many advances due to her inability. She sincerely hoped that she would not fail in such a way again.