Frontline Fräuleins In: Kick The Cauldron

Kick The Cauldron

The 'Coven Missile Crisis' as one tabloid had named it was one week old. It had been a long week. The town of Blytonbury had been immediately invaded by the world's press and everyone from paranormal investigators to the Shiny Chariot Fanclub. The school was searched and investigated by the authorities and buffeted by requests for interviews. After careful consideration by the Headmistress a select few newspapers were to be given time on Saturday afternoon, the first day of half term holiday. Normally a number of overseas students would stay at the school during breaks, but such was the interest from witch families worldwide that they were all were obliged to return home to give their take on the spectacular events.

Nine young witches remained at the school that Saturday. Seven to take part in the interviews and two out of loyalty to their blonde messiah. It was in the latter three's stately room, as lips were on the verge of meeting fine china cups, that there was a knock at the door and a familiar voice said "Hey, can I come in?" Before any adequate reply had been given the little creak of the hinges heralded Amanda O'Neill's appearance. Hannah England refused to let the importunity go unanswered "O'Neill, you shouldn't just barge in."

"My apologies your highnessess, I thought you'd like to know the rest of us are going to play a game" Amanda informed them.

"What game?" snapped Barbara.

"Kick the cauldron, O'Neill family rules" announced Amanda clearly expecting this to carry some significance "We'll wait for you to finish your princess tea time and meet in the quad, half past."

"We've not said we're playing" retorted Hannah.

"C'mon, how often do we get the whole school to ourselves? If you don't think you can hack it with the rest of us that's cool too" Amanda started to close the door "Quad, half past and no wands."

Some called it the quad, others the courtyard, whatever it went by it was the large lawned area surrounded by the school buildings and featuring two large statues. Today it acted as the game's hub, as signified by the small cauldron at its centre. Five witches sat around it with Amanda standing to silently count down the seconds until half past. Akko, Lotte, Sucy, Jasminka and Constanze were fidgeting, a sign of the nervous energy of a stressful week.

"OK, looks like they're not coming. Listen up these are the rules" said Amanda eager to get going. She was cut off by the regal entrance of Diana, Barbara and Hannah. "Glad you could make it. You're just in time for the rules." Amanda then listed the rules that had been passed down to her.

1) One person (the seeker) is on and everyone hides while they count to one hundred
2) You do not have to stay in the same hiding place
3) When the seeker finds someone they say 'one, two, three' and that person's name
4) The seeker then tries to kick the cauldron first to add that person to their posse of seekers
5) If the hider kicks it first they are free and the seeker has to count to one hundred
6) The last hider wins the game if they kick the cauldron when they are found
7) The last hider loses if they get caught. The game starts again with them as the first seeker
8) NO WANDS

Amanda finished by saying they would use the ground and first floors of the school and any communal areas like the dinning hall for the game; higher floors and classrooms would be out of bounds.

Her exposition was met by seven nods and one confused look, luckily help was at hand. "Akko, you have to hide and if anyone says 'one, two, three Akko' you have to kick the cauldron before they do." Sucy's explanation was met with a determined nod. Soon Amanda was counting next to the cauldron as the eight hiders dispersed around the school.

Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger general outlook was a serious one. This extended to the game and as she watched the other girls excitedly disappear into the school she removed two items from her uniform's waistcoat. The first was a small camera that she threw high against the wall, where it secured itself using small mechanical claws. The second item was a compact portable screen to receive images from the camera. With her preparation in place she walked to the far side of the quad to hide behind one of the walkway pillars. The heavy door on that side of the quad was locked meaning the other entrance would be used for the game, therefore her hiding place would be quiet. Knowing her room mate well she expected the impulsive girl would dash off into the school. Confident in her plan Constanze lent against the pillar, watching her screen until she could commence phase two of her plan, it being too noisey to carry out while Amanda was nearby.