Ephsta had just reached the tree line when her walkie-talkie crackled.
“Everybody in position?” asked the blue team leader. Ephsta joined the series of affirmative sound-offs. “Great. Now remember,” the leader continued, “we’re at the boundary of the red base. So they could be anywhere from here on in.” Ephsta tensed and immediately perked up her flopping ears. “And most importantly, we only need one person to reach the target to complete the mission.” Silently nodding, Ephsta gazed at the target where it rested on a table under a red flag. Her stomach rumbled. “Go!” whispered their leader, and they moved in.
Every blue team member had a predetermined role. More athletic, four blues would crash the east and west sides, relying on skill to get in. At worst, they would draw lots of attention. Meanwhile, Ephsta, blue leader, and one other would approach the north on different paths, testing the defenses. But all meant to confuse the red guards, while Vinny Sneak, the stealthiest blue struck. Just one out of eight, they all knew.
Suddenly, as Ephsta neared the final leg of her approach, the walkie-talkie crackled again.
“Hey blue team,” came the smug voice of Gavin, red team leader. “Vinny sends his regrets, but he’ll be waiting for you in our jail.” Ephsta’s stomach dropped. They were busted. As she wondered how they could regroup, she heard her name. “Oh, and Ephsta, that picnic bench really doesn’t hide you,” chuckled Gavin.
At first, Ephsta thought to retreat, to get under the trees and swing around a different way. Or to wait for the red guards and lead them on a goose chase. Both ideas, however, felt too sneaky. Elephants never outwit, Ephsta had heard, especially not clever opponents like Gavin. No, she had only one move: Trumpeting directly into the walkie-talkie, Ephsta burst from cover and charged the base.
Aiming for a spot between two guards, she crashed bodily through the folding chair walls. Surprised at the speed and directness of her move, the reds didn’t close fast enough. Ephsta had almost reached the target, trunk extending for the prize, when someone tagged her.
“Gotcha!” shouted Gavin, the smug oozing out all over his face. Around him, the reds celebrated.
But over the red team cheers, Ephsta’s sensitive ears picked up running feet behind her. Instantly, she knelt, pretending exhaustion and disappointment. In three strides, blue leader charged up over her back and onto the target table. Landing amid a cacophony of shocked reds, blue leader hoisted the box of donuts and bellowed, “Blue victory!”
Below, Ephsta smiled. Perhaps elephants do outwit sometimes.