Monday, January 27

Santa Fe Mariotter Hotel

2:30 P.M.

Trading was the way of the world with the FBA, and Sasha Ivanovich (Lynx, F, ALB), Mary Wooten (Sheep, F, TAL) and Susan Kruegar (Raccoon, F/C, ALB) would all be missed. But that didn't make it any less easier to accept it.

Still, Williamsburg would make the best of it.

Ironically, Ozzie Templeton (Cardinal, F/C, WIL) was in town already, having just played his previous game with the Typhoons, so when he heard the news, it was no hard task for him to stay behind at the Mariotter Hotel when the Minutemen arrived.

As the team filed in the hotel, they found Templeton dressed in his Typhoons jersey, jeans and sneakers. He was seated in the lobby, doing a crossword puzzle quietly. He noted the team entering and gave a little wave as he spotted Vera La Tiérra (Red Vixen, PG, WIL) at the front of the group. Alex Moon (Grey Wolf, F) peered over his glasses and grinned as he noticed what Templeton was wearing.

"Hey, Ozzie, we're going to have to get ya a whole new wardrobe!"

The cardinal laughed with the rest of them, sensing they were glad to see him. He got to know the coaching staff and took the time to go over the playbook. Coach Roosevelt (Raccoon) wanted to play Ozzie that night, so he digested the plays and chatted with his new teammates as they waited.

Meanwhile, the hotel's shuttle bus pulled up with a few passengers. The driver parked and removed a couple of suitcases and Albany Alphas gym bags. A grinning hyena and straight-faced white tiger, oddly with his stripes colored red and navy blue, exited the shuttle. Damien Nathaniel (Hyena, F, WIL) was genuinely excited. Joshua Koda (White Tiger, C, WIL) seemed indifferent, a pair of headphones blaring punk rock music into his ears. Still, he dropped the 'phones to his neck, knowing he had to meet his new teammates. They entered the building.

"Damien!" Vera squealed. She draped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. The hyena giggled as the vixen displayed her welcome while the others just laughed.

"Wow, Vera, I really want to know what you'd do if you REALLY missed me," he quipped. The laughs continued while Josh just shrugged a little and looked over at his new teammates. Since Vera was so occupied, Crystal Davis (Cheetah, G, WIL) jogged over and hugged the white tiger around the neck.

"Welcome to the team, Josh," the cheetah said, smiling. Josh blushed visibly and nodded, seemingly not minding the contact. "Thanks..." he said quietly.

Nathaniel knew several of the Minutemen teammates, he had helped them win the championship back in 2012. However, there were still several he didn't know. One was Crystal, who greeted him with a small hug herself. Vera couldn't help but giggle how shy Koda seemed.

Damien gave a toothy grin. "There's a reason they call Josh 'The Artist'. Rather express himself that way. He's cool, though," he said.

Nathaniel and Templeton then proceeded to meet the players they did not know. For Ozzie, that was everyone. Damien met with the two rookies, saying that he loved Alex's look with his headband and goggle combo. He exchanged a fancy bro handshake with Desmond Macon (Siberian Tiger, F, WIL) as if he knew him for years.

Then there was Margaret Walters (Spotted Hyena, G, WIL). Damien blinked as he met her eyes. A small blush crossed his face. Walters grinned at him.

"So you as tough a shooter and rebounder as I've heard or am I going to have help teach you a little bit of that?" Margaret said with a smirk. Damien grinned and scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I try my best."

"Hope you do, we'll need it around here."

"No problem, Marge."

"Call me that again and we'll see how tough you really are," Walters said bluntly. Damien's shoulders slumped, and Walters grinned and started to laugh. The team soon joined in.

It was like they had been together all season.

* * *

Pueblo Coliseum

6:00 P. M.

Nathaniel slid on his headband and looked around the visitor's locker room at the rest of his teammates as they dressed in their game uniforms. Vera was just coming out of the ladies locker room with Eleanor Rigby (Deer, G, WIL) and Marron Gwosdz (Arctic Vixen, G, WIL), with Crystal and Margaret waiting for them. Teo Masalia (Black Panther, SG, WIL) and Nick Nwabudike (Elephant, C, WIL) were chatting like usual.

Damien watched Alex pull on his goggles. He'd have to get some of those himself. He then looked over to Crystal and grinned as he noticed the number on her practice jersey.

"Heeeeeeeeey, I was wondering where they put my old number. I only have a dinky little 3 now."

Crystal smiled. "You want to take the number back, Damien?"

"Nah, it looks MUCH better on you anyway."

"Darn right it does."

Laughter rang through the locker room and Josh even smirked.

Damien looked back over at Vera as she laughed.

"And Vera, I actually thought you might have socked me, seeing as I was an Alpha when we pasted you guys a couple of times."

The vixen stared at him and grabbed one of Leonard's socks and threw it at him. It was a perfect wringer on his nose.

"Okay, I deserved that."

That brought down the house, the hyena included.

Yeah, it was like Damien had never left.

---

Leonard Mack, Mary Wooten, Margaret Walters, FBA ©  buckhopper

Damien Nathaniel, Vera La Tierra, Joshua Koda ©  jtigerclaw

Susan Kruegar ©  christaphorac

Sasha Ivanovich, Nick Nwabudike, Teo Masalia ©  oinuttah

Desmond Macon ©  baddwill

Crystal Davis ©  tobu

Alex Moon ©  positronwolf

Diego Imperio ©  lizzimba

Eleanor Rigby ©  oinuttah and  buckhopper

Ozzie Templeton, Marron Gwosdz, Morgan Roosevelt ©  sam-gwosdz