“Chapter 2 Shock Horror

Fox meadows stares across the paddock what pedigree does he have was the Blackwater Bugle headline. Harold piped up. "Hater gonna hate Fox Haters gonna hate"

The article went on to say all mouth no Trousers.

"I will show them Harold I will show them all I tell you! Glory will be mine"

"Surely you man ours Fox" Enric Stoolerbaker said piping up. "You know this is a team game personally I have no idea why you get all this press what have you ever even done. Everyone know this team is all about me and Hotwing. You go and stick with the Halflings and Dwarves where you belong."

The bad tempered Blitzer hated nearlyeveryone on the team and Fox's press was not helping.

"Oh and Fox" Enric said "Remember to pick up the damn ball."

Enric trotted off to practice is throwing hoping Magoo would let him take on the throwing.

"Don't worry bout them" said Harold, "lets get some food on board".

The Hauaki's tea rooms were deadly quiet with mostly lumbering Zombies looking for Brains to chomp on and skeletons staring at their soup bowls.

"Over hear Fox this tea room is legendary" the eager halfling darted towards the deserted end of the hall with a hatch that said soul food.

A lumbering Ghoul was tending to a large bubbling caldron and the smell was actually rather tempting.

Harold grabbed three plates the first one didn't even make it to the table before he wolfed it down.

"What the hell are you eating?" asked Fox staring at the two full steaming bowls.

"It is the famous Ghoulash, a mix of Possum and wombat shipped in from the Southern Waste Lands. The best you will get this side of the new world".

Fox couldn't remember the last time he ate all this press had been putting him off his food perhaps it might settle his Stomach.

He quickly grabbed a bowl before Harold could get through the first one.

---------

Gathering in the sheds the talk had all circulated around Hulking Hauraki and how best to avoid the Mummy. The squad were eagerly awaiting Madhead Magoo's pre match thunder talk.

Suddenly his aides burst in the room again looking sheepish. Under there watchful eyes Madhead had apparently went into the wrong locker room and spent the last half hour explaining he short fallings of his own squad including a 35minute rant on reasons not to pick Gorrick Icehand. Luckily he had seemingly got all his negativity out and was back on task.

"Right lads, simple int it, just steer clear let them do the hits we look after ball."

With that the squad ran out on to the field.

It seemed the local fans were on the Madheads side all this negative press seemingly bringing out some of the fans to see what the fuss was all about.

The Horrors cut a formidable defensive line and certianily looked intimidating as they kicked off and quickly followed up.

Fox sprnted towards the kicked ball and went to pick it up. Reaching down with it almost in his mit suddenly a crippling stomach pain rattled through his body and he dropped the ball.

"What the hell" Fox thought to himself.

Though the line of Scrimmage was holding slowly the Ghouls were creeping into the Madheads half. This though was balanced with the Enric and Hotwing ripping deep into the Horrors half.

Fox attempted to pick it up again and his time it was successful he cruised past the oncoming traffic to shape to throw the perfect pass as the early score was on. Just as he looked to release the ball bang another deep pain in the stomach and the ball fell out his paw.

Grifter Gibletstrom shouted at him "What the hell is going on lad." As slowly the Horrors crept down the flank. Slowly they gathered the ball and formed a tight cage around it. n an ominous death march they shuffled up the pitch. Suddenly ahuge orange light came from the sky and a fire ball opened up this cage.

"What the hell was that." asked Harold.

Harold was having a notably strong game for everything that Fox had done wrong some how the halfling had done right including opportunistic fouls and an incredible diving tackle.

This though the arcane intervention and a scrambling defence could not hold back the horrors crossing for the opening touch down.

"Right Fox you are on" Screamed Magoo somehow unaware that he was in the starting line up as the Mountain heads lined up.

Travis Hotwing and Enric trotted past Fox and in unison said "One Job Fox! One Job!!"

Harold ran back on to the pitch saying to Fox "I tell you I feel amazing it is the Ghoulash mate".

That's it Fox tough the Ghoulash surely it couldn't be? Could it?

The Horros kicked deep and again the fleet Fox was quick to get to the ball, this time he Picked it up with ease.

"No cant be the Ghoulash" -Fox Thought to himself but let us just try something. He ripped forward and instead of the long spiral he shaped to make a small toss of the ball. Bang before it let his hand crippling stomach pain, he tried to regather the throw but to no avail. The ball landed on the ground.

The two teams went back into the sheds.

"Harold that Ghoulash it was poisoned or cursed mate I tell ya hey have done something to me."

Before Harold could say anything in stormed Enric and Hotwing. They were visibly upset.

"Out the way Harold" Enric said as he ran toward Fox and gut punched him between the armor plates.

"Stop making me look like a fool!" Enric said curtly.

"Is that all you got" Fox taunted.

Enric Swung again an as he did Fox lifted his arms exposing more of his midriff in a strange move. Enric's fist flew deep into Fox's stomach and a surge of vomit came out of Foxes mouth. On to Enric's shoes. At this point Briskett and Grifter came in Enric knew batter than to keep up the fight.

"Just do your damn job Fox Meadows." said Enric as he charged out the shed followed by his lacky Travis.

"Right I think that has sorted it." Said Fox smiling at the stunned room.
----

The rest of the match clicked along and though the Madheads couldn't quite get a handle on the game Fox was feeling better.

At 3-0 down there seemed little hope for the rabble but another huge kick and a chase from Fox saw him gather the ball and charge down the Field he lined up the pass and perfection thats what the crowd were here to see.

Unfortunately the whistle went and that was the end of the game.

”