The airport was crazy with activity as Zoie hugged her mother and father goodbye. Her dreads were hidden away in a black rasta cap, keeping the fans down to a minimum. She bought one jacket from a sports shop for her trip. Zoie was now on her way to a different country, going north to Manitoba, Canada, land of the beavers, cheese fries and her new home with the Winnipeg Voyagers, not too far off the North Dakota border. She guessed it would be cold, likely colder than never-winter California.
 
Demetri held Abigail's hand keeping her from fussing over Zoie's hair or crying as her baby girl was to fly away. “Zoie, ite us an' call your moder when ju land so e'll sleep tuhnite.”
 
“Always so confident” Abi added as she helped tuck away an escaped lock of hair. “E'll watch ju on da screen wen ju play.” She bit her lip, trying not to cry.
 
“A'll be fine, an' ah'l call wen ah can.” Looking at the time, Zoie had to get through security to her plane. She hugged both of her parents and looked at them in each others' arms. Their golden fur was fading and the dark black coats were graying but they were still so close. They were also her best friends. Zoie held back her own farewell tears and turned to head through security, passport ready.
 
***
 
A good seven hours later Zoie arrived in Winnipeg, her workplace. She left the plane and walked through the crowd of people at the terminal. A cab driver held a sign that read “Zoie Wilds”, written in marker on a white board. “Dat be me.” Zoie approached the cab driver.

“Good to see you Ms. Wilds. I have been assigned by Mr. Timberheart to take you to the Riverside Arena. Follow me.” Zoie nodded and followed him. As soon as she stepped outside, cold was a word she now had a proper definition for.  She zipped up her jacket and climbed into the cab as the driver loaded her luggage into the trunk.
 
She watched the scenery of the city, passing the big mall of Polo Park and going down Portage Avenue, seeing businesses run and people zoom past her. Soon she arrived at Riverside Arena. She grabbed her bags and headed inside. The arena was big and mostly empty, save for a lost-looking Fennec foxtaur named Antony and a green and yellow elk in a fancy business suit named Axe Timberheart.  Zoie smiled and shook their hands then followed the two to the locker room.  The beads she brought rattled in her pocket as she entered and caught a glimpse of her new jersey hanging in her locker space.
 
Axe Timberheart caught her looking and smiled. Zoie was happy Axe was doing most of the talking as the three sat down and the GM started talking about the club. The history of the team as he told it was exciting and the rookies listened in. Finally Axe handed Zoie her jersey, blue, red and gold, with her number 56 on it and “Wilds” across the back. Her locker was already labeled as well.
 
She quickly changed in to it and put the beads from her pocket into her hair that was now pulled back. “Et’s warm up, ire cold out ere.” She smiled at Antony, who also looked great in his jersey, nabbing a basketball dashing out onto the court where Coach Tomasi and some of the players were  waiting for the new arrivals of their team.

---

edited as well as - axe timberheart is owned by  PaulShep
Antony Rufkin is owned by  Lapso
Zoie Wilds is owned by ME

the court design is done and stolen from  BassMan

For more information on the FBA go to  BuckHopper


Want to color it.. SURE
BUT
you must post a link to your colored work here.