'Blue team have kick-off, but they're not even going for the ball!'
'This has to be the most peculiar-looking play I've ever seen, Frozna.'
The other commentator laughed. 'Looks like Velaris is waiting for Avrae to land. Hold that thought; the dragon sees the threat below and is charging towards Niren instead.'
The ball landed harmlessly on the grass, sitting idle as the two teams clashed in battle. Then the referee blew his whistle twice. 'First half is over.'
'But there are still four minutes remaining on the clock!' The Blue team's head coach complained to the referee.
The Official turned around abruptly. 'Do they look as though they want to play Runeball?'
'No.'
Both teams were laying into one another, with Niren climbing up onto the back of Gwendalin Varus, stomping on the crab's shell-head until part of it cracked.
Avrae kept swooping down on the pair, trying his level best to grab the bastard troll. And even in her weakened state, Stormfall continued to cheer him on from the sideline.
The furious Blue team coach marched away from the referee in a huff.
'What a goal-fest that first half was, Frozna.'
'The players seemed more interested in fighting each other by the end, though. I've never seen a game like it! But the question is, can both teams manage without a fifth player?'
'We'll find out soon enough, but at least the two sides are even again.' Rasia noted.
I watched as the opposing teams huddled at either side of the pitch, hurling threats and in some cases, objects across the field at each other.
Avrae was the unruliest of the bunch though, using the taller crab as an armrest. More surprising was that Gwendalin didn't seem to mind until the dragon turned around to face her.
'Are you planning on getting involved this time, or is it another "Lunar holiday" for your species?'
Long before her pincers even had a chance to snap at him, the coach somehow managed to shut them both up. The whole crowd could hear the new head coach chewing out his players; even the opposing team seemed to be listening to the man's outburst.
'The Reds aren't your enemy. They are!' He pointed directly at the Blue team. 'The same bastards who did that to Stormfall! Win this game for yourselves. Win this game and become legends!'
Fans on both sides were cheering now, and even I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I felt privileged, just being here to watch it.
Several holographic projectors began setting themselves up around the pitch; everyone seemed to be talking about them, but no one knew what was going on. When the stadium lights went out, they finally got their answer. The projectors sprang into life, recreating 3D images of who I assumed were past players.
'Here we have some of the all-time greats, Frozna. Let's look back at those plays that made it into the Runeball Hall-Of-Fame.'
The holograms were so life-like it was uncanny; the fans dove for the ground as tussling players took their fights into the stadium seating, with the lights making up each recreation fizzling out and forming into something else soon after. I had to admit that while we'd witnessed numerous goals in the first half, we hadn't seen anything that approached this level of greatness, not yet anyway.
Both teams had their eyes locked on the half-time show as well. And seeing their reactions, I understood the reason for having such a display in the first place. After all, there wouldn't even be a Hall-Of-Fame next year unless the teams could start performing better.
'This is amazing!' Alistair cried with joy.
'Yeah.' I agree, using the distraction to peer around in search of Violet and Butland.
'I've kept an eye open, but I still can't see them,' Sameth grimaced.
'They'll be here; we'll just have more luck searching after the game.' Molly added.
I nodded reluctantly, turning back to watch the show, only it finished as soon as I did, with the stadium lights flashing into life once more.
'Well, I don't know about you folks, but I am ready to get this show on the road!'
The Blue team's armour warding was glowing red. 'It looks like they've activated a fire rune for the second half of play, Frozna.'
I couldn't help but smile wickedly; surely Velaris would suffer for being away from water so long.
'Will Red team go for Ice warding, or will they miss out on yet another golden opportunity, Rasia?'
The female commentator sighed. 'It looks like thunder, and it seems like we're in for yet another bloody brawl.'
Frozna hissed, with the unpleasant sound echoing louder than usual. 'I think you might be right, but either team could still be in with a chance at supremacy. What's it going to be, folks?'
'Water!' Rasia finished for him. 'How interesting; the Red team's thunder warding will overpower the water rune on the ball, meaning that any pass made will have so much force to it that if the Blue's even try to block, they're going to lose more than just the game.
Frozna grunted. 'There's one exception to your theory, and looking at the player's face, I think the Blue team have figured it out too.'
'What's that?' Rasia asked.
Frozna pointed at Velaris as she caught the ball after receiving the kick-off. 'Look at her move with that thing! So long as the Mermaid has the ball, she might singlehandedly win them the game.'
Rasia nodded. 'Velaris charges for goal, holding the ball out in front of her as she slides along the grass.'
'What is she doing?'
'Your guess is as good as mine, Frozna. But here comes Galadrin; his head is down, and he's aiming straight for her.'
Velaris grinned at the last minute, as she swung the ball up and around with both hands. Galadrin The Impaler roared out in agony as his horns were smashed into bloody stumps. Still, he kept a hold, trying to dislodge the ball out from under her sharp fingers. The Mermaid laughed cruelly as the pair bolted through the Red team's goalposts and pelted straight into the concrete wall.
'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!'
'That poor Cow... I mean, Minotaur!' Frozna corrected bitterly. The score now stands at two goals apiece.'
In the aftermath of the latest goal, Game Officials seemed to be struggling to rescue what was left of Galadrin. With his remains having been smudged into the wall at something close to terminal velocity.
The crowd suddenly went silent as a colossal orange rune appeared in the sky above us. Sameth heard me gasp and followed my gaze. 'That's a locator rune,' he whispered. 'Dammit!'
Whoever was searching for us had succeeded, and now we had nowhere else to run.