E L E M E N T A L S

Chapter 5: Red VS Blue

After choosing who would be on the Red and Blue team, we began to make our way to the forest. It wasn't a huge one and if you walked to the edge of the forest, you would find several homes surrounding it.

Coming into contact with patches of forests and thus parks were very common here in Canada.

The closest forest near Sparrow's Creek High was relatively large. Lots of places to run, while being mindful of the protruding tree roots, different levels and there was a small creek that went through the entire forest. If you somehow had gotten lost (although unlikely), you would just need to follow the creek and find the small wooden bridge.

The bridge was there so it would be easier go across the creek and avoid the rushing water, which was dangerous around autumn and winter, due to melting snow and heavy rainfall (a common occurrence here).

Though, unlikely you would be in serious risk, the creek would sweep you off and send you down to the deep crevice; created from time and erosion from the water digging bit by bit of dirt.

Because of the water levels were slow, it wasn't likely you would be swept off.

I remember my teachers teaching us if we did fall into the deep crevice (well deep for Elementary school kids), you could follow to the end and get to the hill or yell for help. Considering now though we were old enough and tall enough, we could technically climb out if you were able to walk. It wasn't suggested if the weather was wet and cold however.

As we got to the entrance of the forest, you could see the small memorial there and beyond that the shade of the forest. It was relatively dark and that meant it would be cooler then standing out in bright light.

I smiled and took in a deep breath.

The sound of the creek bubbling and washing over each other brushed in my ear. The smell of dirt, sunshine, trees, and clean air filled my nostril and my lungs.

"Alright kids!" yelled out Mr. Jensen and the chatter between us died down, "We're going to play Cops and Robbers! We've played this before but just in case, one team will be the Cops and the other will be Robbers. The cops will chase and capture the robbers; who are going to try to rob the flag-"

Mrs. Jensen grinned and took out a flag, before she spread it open for us to see.

We laughed and cheered as we saw our red and white maple Canadian flag.

"-Hey Mr. Jensen, wouldn't it be better if the cops were Mounties instead?!" yelled out one of my classmates.

I recognized it as Sara from my PE class.

We all cheered at that agreement and Mr. Jensen and Mrs. Jensen looked at each other with (fake) exasperated looks.

"Fine, we'll be playing Mounties and Robbers" sighed dramatically Mrs. Jensen.

We cheered and hollered.

"Now, now-" yelled Mr. Jensen; gathering our attention again. "The game ends when either all the Robbers are captured and brought to the checkpoint, or the Robbers successfully bring back the captured flag."

"Remember, the Mounties have to tag and escort the Robbers, but fellow Robbers can save each other by either tagging the Mountie or tagging their captured Robber. Either which, the Mountie has to stay still for 30 seconds before they are allowed to give chase and chase after However, if the Mountie manages to tag the second Robber, they're also captured." explained Mrs. Jensen.

From it was all reminders. Robbers could tag Mounties and basically freeze them, only allowing to be set free by fellow Mounties. We weren't allowed to push each other or do anything unnecessary (i.e. tripping others or tackling them) and nothing harsh. The Mounties weren't allowed to hide the flag and it had to be in plain sight. It was also not allowed to have the flag be tied up on a high branch either.