The Zebra noms a zebra...
#1 of Omninomnicom Tales
Companion piece for a YCH image from https://www.patreon.com/omninomnicom and is reposted with permission.
This, this right here, is why you don't mess with The Ref when they can sin-bin you in the most gluttonous of ways.
Prologue to Feeding Bob.
Dain knew he had been had even before the last of the zebra's legs slid into his gut. Just like the regular ref, he had been expertly setup. There was no way he could keep watch over the football game and either side would take advantage of his gravid state and slothful movement. Still the irony of "The Zebra" -- a common affectation for referees because of the striped uniform jacket -- nomming 'a zebra' was not lost on him.
How it happened was just as clear too. The zebra player, kept making sure Dain could see him fouling another player. First the verbal warning, then a more stern verbal warning, then the yellow card. That was the league rule, when rivals played, you couldn't go straight to the yellow or red for any but the most egregious penalties. It didn't keep games clean, when rivals played it was usually a dirty game, but it tended to keep things manageable.
After one last intentional foul, Dain showed the zebra the red card. The zebra just stared the unicorn down mischievously and said in an arrogant and dismissive fashion, 'eat me!'. The challenge was so disrespectful and shocking that it compelled compliance, so without thought or consideration of the consequences Dain did just that.
The teams were waiting for him to resume play, but instead of doing so, he waved to the last reserve ref, who rose from the Fleur University bench. That weasel knew he would be needed. He got up and accepted the duty of officiating the game with relish.
Dain wanted to take a long hot shower, but knew that with that zebra in his tummy, there would be no way he could get dressed again once his belt was off. Waddling past the showers, he hung his whistle and striped jacket on a peg and proceeded out of the gym and out into the quiet evening.
The game between the home team and sneaky F.U. had taken the attention of everyone. It was just as well, he needed to think about how to deal with his meal. Dain didn't partake of predation to often, but knew exactly what he was in for. There was an alternative and it had been a while since he had visited his botanical buddy Bob. Dain knew that Bob would happily tolerate his sweaty body and the plant's soothing embrace would be just as revivifying as a good long hot shower.