Masika looked up at the sun, the rays catching the golden undertone of her warm brown skin, her brown irises flaring into a pool of amber for a split second until a triumphant shout caught her attention. She looked back down at the playing field. Or rather, the construction site that wasn’t being worked on today. It was the only large, open place in the city that had flat, even ground and no debris— perfect for running around without having to jump around things or people. The hustle of bustle could still be heard all around them and plenty of people would stop to view the commotion going on inside.
Plenty of the children would come into their vicinity, dancing around the waiting player’s legs and cheering and shouting just as loud as the players. Masika had picked up a young girl and let her sit on her shoulders, giving her ample view. She had even tried to explain the game to the child, calling it by it’s strange name of “dodgeball” and pointing here and there to explain why some players were out and others got to stay, but the young girl care little for the rules.
There were two lines, one for each team, as so many people wanted to participate. Everytime a player was out someone new would replace them and they would scamper off to the end of the line. Masika had been waiting quite awhile, but now, she was finally next. Her brown gaze watched the heavy hide balls whizz past each other and players on either side. She could hear shouts of “watch out!” Or “your left! Your right! Jump!” She felt a shiver of excitement course through her. Oh, she loved activities like this so much.
Abasi had introduced her to so many board games, all which required thinking not just what to do but what your opponent was also likely to do. Masika had never been good at Hounds and Jackals or the Coiled One, if anything, it was a sure way to make her fall asleep. But when she had snuck away to play with the “no-good group of hooligans” that Abasi detested so much, well, their games were always so much more fun. Boxing and wrestling, tug of war, seeing who could carry the biggest rock or who could throw the farthest, swimming, fighting with sticks and so much more. Those were the things Masika excelled out.
She had no doubt that she would do well here, too.
One of the balls flew past, and the young man (who had been playing for nearly an hour at this point) was finally struck by it. The other team cheered. They had just disposed of one of the better players. Masika was beaming though, her eyes glittering in delight as she easily picked the girl off her shoulders to set her firmly onto the ground. Without a modicum of modesty, the young warrior bent over, grabbing the fabric of her long skirt and easily ripping it— in Masika’s defense, it was a old skirt that was fraying at the ends anyhow and she did plan to repurpose this. With her calves now exposed, the extra fabric tied around her waist firmly, Masika stepped onto the playing field.
Sweat decorated her skin, her bare arms glistened under the sunlight much like the buildings of Ragash did. The contours of muscle and sinew was evident along her shoulders, her clothing hiding most of it. One of members on the other team groaned.
“She’s a monster.” He said when the others looked at him confused. “Stronger than a ox and faster than a falcon.” The balls were placed down at the center, four total. Each team had to move all the way back on their side. Masika bent down low, one foot ready to launch her to a ball. She was determined to make sure that at least two of the balls ended up on their side. The men beside her were breathing heavy, she watched the way their chests rose, how sweat fell down their chins onto the dust at their feet.
The moment “Go!” Was shouted from the sidelines, Masika dashed forward.
Masika gasped, her hands quickly going over to cover her gaping mouth. Her brown eyes matched everyone else’s: the unifying emotion being shock, pure and unblemished. She thought back to what had happened seconds before, having a ball between her strong hands, readying her shot at a opponent. She didn’t think she had thrown it that hard but the ball had thankfully flew past the other players… to only crash into the wooden beams of the nearby building that was being put up.
They were on a construction site, after all, however, no one had thrown the ball hard enough to break the beams, which then caused the boards and other beams to fall down. Dust blew up, covering the damage, and very slowly it dissipated. Those around Masika groaned. As clear as the sun in a cloudless sky, a massive hole could be seen in one of the bronze walls. Masika stayed still as everyone around her began to walk away, shaking their heads and muttering under their breath. The game was over, and really, no one would want to be caught with this mess.
Slowly Masika began making her way towards the pile of broken wood and iron, looking up to seeing some wooden platforms hanging from a single hinge or being caught on rope.
“Maybe if I just put this back together then no one will notice?” She whispered to herself, not even wanting to think about what she would do with that hole in the wall.
Plenty of the children would come into their vicinity, dancing around the waiting player’s legs and cheering and shouting just as loud as the players. Masika had picked up a young girl and let her sit on her shoulders, giving her ample view. She had even tried to explain the game to the child, calling it by it’s strange name of “dodgeball” and pointing here and there to explain why some players were out and others got to stay, but the young girl care little for the rules.
There were two lines, one for each team, as so many people wanted to participate. Everytime a player was out someone new would replace them and they would scamper off to the end of the line. Masika had been waiting quite awhile, but now, she was finally next. Her brown gaze watched the heavy hide balls whizz past each other and players on either side. She could hear shouts of “watch out!” Or “your left! Your right! Jump!” She felt a shiver of excitement course through her. Oh, she loved activities like this so much.
Abasi had introduced her to so many board games, all which required thinking not just what to do but what your opponent was also likely to do. Masika had never been good at Hounds and Jackals or the Coiled One, if anything, it was a sure way to make her fall asleep. But when she had snuck away to play with the “no-good group of hooligans” that Abasi detested so much, well, their games were always so much more fun. Boxing and wrestling, tug of war, seeing who could carry the biggest rock or who could throw the farthest, swimming, fighting with sticks and so much more. Those were the things Masika excelled out.
She had no doubt that she would do well here, too.
One of the balls flew past, and the young man (who had been playing for nearly an hour at this point) was finally struck by it. The other team cheered. They had just disposed of one of the better players. Masika was beaming though, her eyes glittering in delight as she easily picked the girl off her shoulders to set her firmly onto the ground. Without a modicum of modesty, the young warrior bent over, grabbing the fabric of her long skirt and easily ripping it— in Masika’s defense, it was a old skirt that was fraying at the ends anyhow and she did plan to repurpose this. With her calves now exposed, the extra fabric tied around her waist firmly, Masika stepped onto the playing field.
Sweat decorated her skin, her bare arms glistened under the sunlight much like the buildings of Ragash did. The contours of muscle and sinew was evident along her shoulders, her clothing hiding most of it. One of members on the other team groaned.
“She’s a monster.” He said when the others looked at him confused. “Stronger than a ox and faster than a falcon.” The balls were placed down at the center, four total. Each team had to move all the way back on their side. Masika bent down low, one foot ready to launch her to a ball. She was determined to make sure that at least two of the balls ended up on their side. The men beside her were breathing heavy, she watched the way their chests rose, how sweat fell down their chins onto the dust at their feet.
The moment “Go!” Was shouted from the sidelines, Masika dashed forward.
Masika gasped, her hands quickly going over to cover her gaping mouth. Her brown eyes matched everyone else’s: the unifying emotion being shock, pure and unblemished. She thought back to what had happened seconds before, having a ball between her strong hands, readying her shot at a opponent. She didn’t think she had thrown it that hard but the ball had thankfully flew past the other players… to only crash into the wooden beams of the nearby building that was being put up.
They were on a construction site, after all, however, no one had thrown the ball hard enough to break the beams, which then caused the boards and other beams to fall down. Dust blew up, covering the damage, and very slowly it dissipated. Those around Masika groaned. As clear as the sun in a cloudless sky, a massive hole could be seen in one of the bronze walls. Masika stayed still as everyone around her began to walk away, shaking their heads and muttering under their breath. The game was over, and really, no one would want to be caught with this mess.
Slowly Masika began making her way towards the pile of broken wood and iron, looking up to seeing some wooden platforms hanging from a single hinge or being caught on rope.
“Maybe if I just put this back together then no one will notice?” She whispered to herself, not even wanting to think about what she would do with that hole in the wall.
