"What is that, and what are they doing?" Violet asked, her gaze fixed on a group of students who were carefully sliding claw-like frames with retractable prongs over the upper and lower jaws of the wolves.
Natalie followed her gaze and replied casually, "That’s a mouth gripper."
"Mouth gripper? Is that really what it’s called?" Violet repeated, her brows furrowing at the odd name.
Natalie pointed at one of the wolves being fitted. "Yes. It’s a tool that allows the players to securely hold and manipulate the ball in their jaws during the game. Pretty essential for Lycan Fangball."
Violet’s face twisted in concern. "That looks like it’s going to hurt."
Natalie gave a knowing smile, clearly amused by Violet’s reaction. "They’re werewolves, Violet. Pain is kind of their thing. Besides, the core frame is coated with a smooth layer to prevent injuries, and the parts that come into contact with their teeth and gums are lined with softly treated wolfhide leather for extra comfort and grip. The gripper is durable too, built to withstand the pressure of a game."
Violet gave her a skeptical look. "Comfort, huh? What about when they get tackled or slammed into the ground?"
Natalie said breezily. "Well, you don’t have to wear one, so no need to worry. Trust me, Your darling Alaric will be just fine."
That comment earned Natalie a sharp look from Violet, but the girl kept her expression straight and innocent.
Ignoring her, Violet focused on the staff member fitting Alaric’s mouth gripper. The device was remarkable—adjustable to fit various jaw sizes and seemingly intuitive as it molded itself perfectly to the shape of his mouth. She couldn’t help but be impressed by how advanced it was.
"You really don’t know much about this sport, do you?" Natalie asked, breaking her thoughts.
"Not really," Violet admitted honestly. "I’ve heard of it, but my school was all human. And our district doesn’t get much werewolf visitation either. We’re the forgotten part of the new world that’s been left to stew in poverty."
Although a flicker of sympathy crossed Natalie’s face, her response still carried an edge of unintentional arrogance. "That’s... unfortunate. I guess I’m lucky to have been born into the right part of society."
Violet bit her tongue, unsure how to respond to that. It wasn’t Natalie’s fault she came from wealth, but hearing her speak so casually about it left a bitter taste.
Violet forced a tight smile and muttered, "It’s fine."
Except an awkward silence followed, heavy and uncomfortable.
Natalie, seemingly unable to bear the tension, sighed dramatically. "Alright, fine. I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about the sport. Consider it a crash course."
Violet raised her brows in silent curiosity but didn’t decline the offer. Natalie leaned in, her tone animated as she began her explanation.
"Lycan Fangball is an adrenaline-packed, high-stakes sport played exclusively by werewolves in their wolf forms. Humans obviously can’t play, they can’t shift, and they’d never survive the intensity. Think of it as football, but way more brutal and exciting."
Violet nodded slowly, her curiosity growing as Natalie continued.
"The goal is simple: players compete to secure the ball, called the Lunar Orb, and deposit it into the opponent’s pit while defending their own. The field—" Natalie gestured to the setup, "—is divided into two halves by a neutral zone. Each half has a pit at the far end, which serves as the scoring zone. Teams have to cross a boundary called the scoreline before attempting a goal."
She paused for effect, then added, "The Lunar Orb is launched from a central pit at the start of the match and after each score. All players start equidistant from it, creating an insane scramble to grab it first."
"Wow," Violet breathed, her imagination running wild as she tried to picture it. "That sounds chaotic."
"It is," Natalie said proudly. "Each team has eight players. Your boyfriend over there—" she motioned toward Alaric, "—is a runner. Runners are the fastest and most agile players, responsible for carrying the Lunar Orb and creating scoring opportunities."
Violet’s gaze naturally drifted to Alaric in his wolf form on the field. Pride swelled in her chest, though she tried not to show it.
"Griffin Hale," Natalie continued, "is a defender. His job is to protect the runner. Makes sense, right? Big, burly guy like him? Perfect for the role."
"Of course," Violet muttered. "Griffin was born for that."
"And then you have blockers, like Asher," Natalie said, her tone casual but pointed. "Their job is to stop the opposing team from scoring. They’re the brute force."
"Cool," Violet said, trying to sound indifferent, though her stomach twisted at the mention of Asher.
"Roman Draven," Natalie went on, "plays as a chaser. Chasers retrieve the Lunar Orb or knock it loose from the opponent. Sometimes he runs as a backup runner, but Alaric’s speed usually makes him the first choice."
Violet nodded, her understanding deepening. Natalie clapped her hands together, her explanation reaching its finale.
"So, in summary, each team has one runner, two defenders, three blockers, and two chasers. The rules are simple: if a player has the Lunar Orb, they can’t drop it on their half unless they’re tackled. Dropping it without a tackle gives the opponent a point."
"To score," she continued, " the runner must carry the Orb into the opposing pit without dropping it. That’s worth three points. If the team completes three consecutive passes without dropping the Orb, they earn an additional point."
Natalie’s voice dropped slightly. "Here’s where it gets brutal. Tackling is allowed, charging, coordinated attacks, the works. No clawing or mauling, though. A successful tackle knocks the Orb loose, and anyone can grab it.
She leaned back, clearly enjoying Violet’s awe. "The game lasts two fifteen-minute halves. If there’s a tie, there’s a sudden-death Sprint round where one runner from each team competes one-on-one."
"That’s... intense," Violet said, her voice filled with awe.
Natalie smirked. "Welcome to Lycan Fangball. If you think this explanation was exciting, just wait until you see the game in action."