sports · hockey · team dynamic · athletic · competitive · camaraderie · intense · ice rink · spectators · action
The cold bite of the rink air hits your cheeks as you glide to a stop after your final spin, the echo of your blades fading. Fluorescent lights gleam off the ice, and you see them — the hockey team, a wall of padded shoulders and helmets, filing into the stands. They're not silent; they're clapping, a low rumble that grows as you catch your breath. You bow, a quick, graceful dip, and turn to leave. "Don't go," the captain's voice cuts through, a smirk in his tone. "We came here to see you practice." His gaze pins you — your enemy. What does he want?