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Wednesday, June 20th

Sam Gwosdz (Red Fox, GM, WIL) held a glass of soda in his right paw as he looked around at all the other party guests, merrily chatting away about whatever was on their minds. Subtle music played from the stereo speakers, helping lend a relaxed mood. A lot of furs had come to Stefan Calico's (Tabby Cat, Owner/GM, HNT) private birthday party. The fox was almost surprised to see Jamie Velasquez (Seagull, G/F, TEN) and Aragon Fisher (Otter, G, TEN) there. He guessed they liked a good gathering. Gwosdz was really only there to see whom he considered a friend, though he did have his wife Marron (Arctic Vixen, G, WIL) along.

The celebrant was conversing with a few other notable names in the league, particularly Roscoe Lott (Raccoon, GM, TEN) and both Vera La Tiérra (Red Vixen, G, WIL) and Leonard Mack (Fox, F/C, WIL). The former two had been on the invite list while the big vulpine was the vixen's guest. Stefan managed to catch Sam out of the corner of his eye and gestured him over to the small group, while the waiters continued their paths through the room to serve up drinks and appetizers.

Sam nodded and gestured for Marron to come along. The arctic fox nodded, taking her glass of punch with her.

"Hey, Stefan, happy birthday, man!" Sam said chipperly. He hadn't been drinking or anything, he was just in a good mood.

The cat beamed and raised his glass slightly in a mock toast to the fox. "Thanks, Mr. Gwosdz," he replied before sipping some orange liquid. "I'm sure you know your players, as well as Mr. Lott of the Moonshiners here? We were just sharing stories and about to discuss an off-season possibility for Ms. La Tiérra here."

"Indeed," remarked the raccoon. "Perhaps have Vera and your wife join Jamie and Thea de Csepel (White German Shepherd, G/F, TEN) over there for a little promotion of one of our newest red ales."

"Heh, you'd have to ask her that," Sam said. Marron nodded.

"It's all right, Mr. Lott," she said in her London-influenced accent. "I have enough on my plate as it is. Let Jamie and Thea have all the fun," she joked.

Leonard felt Vera tense up a bit from the recent turn in the conversation, but she smiled sweetly. "Ah, thank joo for the offer, but I think I'll pass on it, too. Though... I think I need to 'powder my nose'. Perdóneme," she said, then starting to walk to the restroom. The big fox frowned as he knew exactly why she was leaving: to calm down. Marron noticed Vera leaving and excused herself, following her to the lavatory.

Mr. Lott reached up and clapped Mack on the shoulder, nudging him away from the other two general managers. "How 'bout you, m'boy? Feel like posing with some fine ladies and some quality beverages?"

Stefan smirked as he watched the raccoon move off and try to sell the fox on joining the photo promotion. "Some folks really need to turn off business mode."

Sam laughed himself. "No kidding. Is Mr. Lott always doing that?"

"Nah, he was joking about Aragon Fisher (Otter, G, TEN) over there over-eating one time," noted the cat as he lifted his glass and took another sip once more to a "Happy Birthday" greeting in passing.

"Leonard will probably turn it down, too. If Vera's not going to do the photo shoot, he won't either. However, it would be nice to see how it comes out with Jamie and Thea," he quipped.

"Well with Marron it would've been three furs in white, with one fur in red to accentuate the ale," Stefan pointed out, "though I'd rather talk about you, Sam. Do you know what you've done?"

"What I've done? You mean with the team?" the fox asked, taking a reflexive sip of his drink. The cat only nodded, waiting to hear the continuation of the answer. Sam put one paw on his hip and took another drink, trying to figure out how to phrase it. "Honestly, I'm not real sure. I'm just as surprised as everyone else. I knew the talent was there; I've always thought that. None of us in the organization, even the players, thought we'd be this good this quickly..." he mused.

Stefan shook his head. "That's not the right answer, because that's almost like my answer for my team. Except there's an undercurrent going through the rest of the league that I'm inclined to agree with, but will fight against it because I consider you a good friend." He took another sip of his drink. "Do you consider me a good friend?"

"Yes, Stefan, I do," the fox said. "Since I came into the league, you're really the only fur outside of the Williamsburg organization that I've related to."

"Well, you need to do one of two things: either embrace the role that you've been given, or admit to some of the evil that we all have to do in this business," purred the cat. "One's easier, one's healthier, but neither will change much of the growing public opinion."

This was the first time that Sam had ever heard Stefan speak like this, and he was a little confused about what he meant. "I'd like to think that I've embraced my role fully... all I can do is bring players to the organization and hope for the best," he said, again speaking in generalities. He was a little unsettled with the "evil" comment and he was trying to skirt over the elephant in the room. And Eric Logan (Bull Elephant, C, WIL) was present.

"You may think you've embraced it, but you need to go further," noted the feline. "You've probably heard your team being referred to as the Minutemonsters by now, dominating opponents just like the Yotechuk Mayors of the '09-'10 season. You are the manager of the hated team in the Eastern Conference, possibly unseating the Bikers for the league's hatred. Yet you and your players continue to act humble about their success, with maybe Ain Iannizzi (Cougar, F, WIL) being the only exception. But you need to show more of Ain's swagger, and not feign ignorance of your team's prowess."

The fox scratched the back of his head unconsciously. "I need to?" he asked. "But my team isn't a bunch of 'monsters'. They're a bunch of good furs that are a strong, confident group. Their talent in working together this year has been incredible. I'm honored I get to watch it every day. Vera's been absolutely phenomenal; I can't believe how much Lenny improved this year," he said genuinely in an off-the-cuff manner.

"I know that, I've seen it myself. But not everyone sees that. Even some of my own players still don't grasp that. But the public opinion is out there, and it can affect your team's future," said Stefan. "I don't think I could've changed it much after going down 0-3 in Explorer Stadium, you heard how loud the boos were during our playoff series. I'm just pointing out that you'll need to watch your back, if you wish to follow down the path that is developing."

"Yeah, I understand. But I need to follow that path. Everyone in the Minutemen organization deserves it. This has been a truly historic, special season, and it deserves to be treated as such," Sam replied with an air of certainty.

The tabby nodded. "I expected no less of you, my friend. I'm sorry if my concern for your reputation was a little forceful, but you have to also understand that I do hope there won't be any long-term fallout after this season finishes up. The other teams might be a little hesitant to try and deal with you."

Sam frowned a little, reminded of what he did in the past with the litany of deals that other teams may have found shady. "I understand," he said quietly. He then broke eye contact, feeling a bit uncomfortable and wondering if Marron was back from the bathroom.

Damien Nathaniel (Hyena, F, WIL) then bumped into the fox accidentally, and smiled over at Stefan. "Hey, Happy Birthday Mr. Calico! Thanks for the invite!"

The cat lifted his glass and sipped more orange drink. "Well, I do need to show the local free agents a good time, y'know. Thanks for coming."

Damien then waved at the two ladies approaching from the restroom, Vera looking much more relaxed and Marron looking much happier as she approached her husband. "Did you two have a nice chat while we were gone?"

"Yes, honey, we did. Stefan seems to enjoy being older," Sam chuckled. Marron giggled and tapped her husband's upper arm playfully. "You're really a terrible joker, " she teased.

Stefan mewled. "You know what they say: the older, the wiser. Though I'll save my wise cracks for the remainder of my guests. Enjoy yourselves at the rest of the party, Mr. and Mrs. Gwosdz... Vera... Damien..." He also nodded to the two Williamsburg players whose contracts were expiring at the end of the season before wandering through the crowd.

The hearty laughter from across the room focused Vera's attention on its source, as Leonard Mack was reacting to something that apparently Jamie Velasquez had said. There was a slight pang of jealousy that seeped into the back of her mind before it was quashed by the rational part of her thought processes. The three foxes and hyena moved off in that direction, sampling more of the hors d'oeuvres and drinks that were making their way through the party.

And the ever-present bodyguard Leo (Black Cat) remained nearby, processing the conversation between the two general managers while keeping an eye on his boss.

* * * * * * * * * *

Friday July 20th

Targets Acquired by Patrick Suarez

The Williamsburg Minutemen are the new FBA Champions.

Okay, who didn't see that coming?

Now if you've been in hibernation since 2010, maybe you've got an excuse. Especially if the last thing you heard about Virginia's FBA franchise was the report of a freak airplane accident that killed the majority of the team and coaching staff. While the plane crash story was a hoax, their championship is no joke. Though if you weren't a Williamsburg fan before, if you saw what happened this season then chances are you're wishing that the report of their deaths weren't highly exaggerated.

The Minutemen dominated the league with a 67-13 record, going 39-1 at home and securing home court advantage throughout the entire post-season. They lost only two games on the road in the playoffs, both desperation Game 4 wins by Huntsville and Newark after falling behind 0-3 to Williamsburg. Their average margin of victory was 24.8 points, with only 15 of those regular season and playoff wins having a single-digit gap.

Stats like that would normally belong to a worthy champion, right? In this case, however, they belong to a bully who punished the lottery-bound 6-42 Pittsburgh Keystones all the way back in Week 16 with a record-shattering 81-point victory [that record was then broken by the 84-point win by the Voyageurs against the bench players of the Bikers -ed]. Nothing drives that point home more than Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal match against the Mayors, where Tyler Kiko (Goat, F+, HNT) all but blew out his knee again shortly before halftime... and the Minutemen took their 25 point lead and extended it to 45 points by the final buzzer.

So congratulations, Coach Morgan Roosevelt (Raccoon, Head Coach, WIL), on winning a fourth Coach of the Year award in your career. The legacy of your former assistant coach Daniel "No Mercy" Williams (Skunk) lives on in you and your players. And good luck trying to get a second championship in a row, because that bullseye on your team won't be going away for quite a while.

Patrick Suarez (Jackal) is a reporter for FBA News and a correspondent for Furballer magazine. Any opinions that may be implied in this article belong solely to the writer and do not represent the FBA or any of its affiliated agencies.

* * * * * * * * * *

Thursday August 30th

Despite the chill that dared to intrude upon the late summer weather, the crisp Canadian air felt refreshing to the feline. Even with walking through the trees of the provincial park, his barepawed steps were confident as his vision had already adjusted to the guiding light of a nearly-full moon and the twinkling panorama of stars shining down from a clear nighttime sky. While the trail he was following was unmarked, it had been memorized ever since his induction, though the cat felt none of the nervous energy from that first visit. Instead, he felt a twinge of relief upon reaching the clearing within the forest at the end of the trail, seeing six other furs seated on smoothed stones encircling a small campfire, all of them turning their heads to him as if impatiently awaiting his arrival.

Steeling himself despite the twitches in the tips of his fingers and toes, Stefan approached the group and sat down wordlessly upon one of the three remaining spots around the fire. A soft purr escaped his lips as the heat from the flames began to seep beneath his pelt, adding to the already warm feelings of being away from the trappings of the civilized world and of being enveloped in the calmness of the wilderness. The sound of approaching steps snapped him out of his light trance, ears swiveling as the final two seats around the fire were taken by a large lupine and an even larger black bear.

The nine assembled folks sat quietly for another minute or so, the crackling of the wood in the fire and the various woodland noises from the surrounding forest the only sounds accompanying the rustle of fur and quills in the late night breezes as well as the measured breaths passing through the various muzzles and snouts. The ursine then closed her eyes and started to hum softly, extending her paws out to the two furs to either side of her. The dire wolf to her left as well as the hedgehog to her right clasped the offered paws in their own, closing their eyes and adding their own hums while reaching their free arm to the next furs around the campfire, a puma and raccoon respectively. Stefan was in the penultimate pair, connecting with the raccoon before him and reaching for a porcupine at his end of the group, while his skunk counterpart on the other side of the fire connected with the puma and reached for a chocolate labrador at her end. And when the dog wrapped his paw around the porcupine's to complete the circle, the humming from their throats came out louder, which everyone else in the group then matched.

After a few minutes of this communal meditation, the bear suddenly threw her head back and let out a loud roar, followed by matching howls and yowls and screeches by the rest of the furries in the circle. While the cries began to die down from the group, the echo of their noise still reverberated weakly in the remote Canadian night. As if on cue, every one of the nine furs opened their eyes at the same time and lowered their gaze from the sky and back to the fire.

"'Mother' enjoys hearing our greeting as always, dear Brothers and Sisters," intoned the bear, "but for now, we have business to discuss."

And at those words, Stefan grinned.