They had designs of being champions

                                                                                       Attribution: Sgt. Brian Glass
Image: Players with Markers (guns)
at the ready (here)

Note:  Paintballs (pellets) - the ammunition used
in the marker (guns) are spherical gelatin capsules
of non-toxic, water-soluble substances and dye

the 12 given words:
champion deplorable try spring 
smite (to afflict or strike with deadly effect)
writhe straw guise fire basket dye us

They had designs of being champions

The records of the last few games were

deplorable and they swore to do better

They tried to spring a surprise attack

in the final stages before but unfortunately

they were themselves  'surprised' instead

The hunter became the hunted. What a

smite they received. They could see

themselves writhing in pain as the

paintball pellets were quite lethal on

soft spots of the body not protected 

It was the last straw. They were not about 

to easily forget it this time.

Under guise of night given by the tree

shadows and to hold back fire until

absolutely necessary so as to inflict

maximum hits they did better this time

Their basket of strategies worked wonders

They were not splayed with as much of

the dyes as did before.. It was a successful

outing and they learnt from their mistakes

'They got us before but we got the last laugh'

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #266
Outlawyer's at Real Toad's - following
a thread  -  weekend mini challenge