Bedrock's gymnasium showed signs of its age across the building, as each side had bleachers about 30 rows high, all them covered in worn-off paint and spots of rust. The hardwood itself was more of a reminder of how the FBA was played 25 years ago, with minimal writing at center court, along with very few coloured spots at the free throw line and inside the arc. At least the baskets had solid glass backboards along with some freshly hung nets.

Thuds and bounces of basketballs echoed around the gym this time around, as players warmed up with shooting and dribbling around the court. In the midst of it was the coach, a groundhog, looking on with a tensed up look on his face. He was wearing a polo shirt with comfortable pants, which was just enough for a small and pudgy guy like him. Dalton McDougald was his name and he's been coaching the team for 10 years. Sounds like it's a good team, right? Think again.

Bedrock's basketball program has not exactly been the greatest. There were years where the team almost made the FCAA tournament, but ended up missing it due to losing vital games towards the end the season. In other years, the team saw a horrible season with only a handful of wins. The players then were just glad it was all over when the season ended.

As McDougald wrote down notes on his clipboard, he was groaning already, as he saw several players miss easy shots. He split the 12 guys on the court into two teams, each player wearing either white or light blue uniforms. At centre court, a pair of American cream draft horse twins wearing different colours were arguing with each other who could make a shot from the centre line. Both had shaggy hair covering their eyes and had lean yet scrawny bodies. They looked more suitable for surfing and a lot of team members knew that. They pointed fingers at each other, while their cracking voices were heard quite clearly by the coach.

"Whitakers! Goddamnit, go stretch or take some shots! You can both argue at home!" the groundhog coach snapped as the two split and took a basketball in their hand, still grumbling at each other.

Beside the groundhog was a tall, lean pheasant by the name of Winston Mallee. He's been McDougald's assistant for a couple of years now and he can see why his head coach was rather tense about everything. There were many players who took their position on the team seriously, but not everyone saw the same viewpoint. McDougald blew the whistle again to break up a fox by the name of Zack Ingolstadt and a white-tailed deer named Rory Connors arguing about last season when Bedrock failed to make the tournament for the third year in a row. Tension has built up on the team and the pressure to get on the national stage once again has been mounting on them.

There isn't a lack of talent on the team, but the team chemistry has been a great issue for McDougald and Mallee to fix. Bedrock's team has a mix of personalities that include bookworms and pure athletes. Mixing them into a team with a common goal has been anything but easy for the coaches. Verbal arguments are a common occurrence and when they happen, it shows just how different some players are from each other and the coaches have their hands full to solve the issue.

Mallee and McDougald looked over as with five minutes left in warm-ups, a new face showed up; a tall, young reindeer stepped onto the hardwood floor, wearing a white practice uniform. He jogged towards the coaches.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Erik said as he swung his arms around to warm himself up. With a grunt, McDougald looked up to the big and tall reindeer, recognizing him from a brief meeting the two had a few days before.

"Ah, Erik, glad you could show up." the groundhog noted his presence on the clip board. "Go and shoot some hoops. We'll begin with warm-ups shortly." the coach instructed Erik. With a nod, the reindeer went on to grab a ball from the rack at the sideline and started dribbling around.

He pump faked a little and went around some of the players before taking a shot from the free throw line. It kissed the glass, then the net. He picked the ball back up again and danced with the ball. Between the legs, around the back, simple, yet elegant moves were shown off. Shaking his hair away from his eyes, Erik took another shot from the left from 18 feet out. He watches as the ball flew flawlessly into the netting of the basket.

A few players stopped and noticed Erik's rather enthusiastic warm-up, as he collected his ball again and dribbled it around inside the arc. Juking around with the ball, Erik kept stepping forwards and to the side, taking the ball around the arc and getting the feel of being back on hardwood again, after a not playing on one for over a month.

"Hey, what's your name?" a shorter mule doe on the same half of the court looked towards the big reindeer. With a glimpse, he saw her standing at the free throw line, looking at him before she looked back to take a shot. After she wound up, the ball flew gracefully into the netting. She was wearing white and had her sleek, long hair tied to a pony tail. Erik stopped dribbling and held onto the ball before walking over to her location.

"I'm Erik, and you?" He asked the doe.

"Yvonne. Nice to meet you." Yvonne stretched out her hand for a shake. Erik carefully took it and shook it back. "What position do you play, Erik?"

"Uhm... Center." Erik replied as he dribbles around a little. "You?"

"I play guard. I mean, I played a little bit of forward when I went to high school here in Minneapolis, but I just found myself to be better at guard." Yvonne flicked the ball around in her hands, looking up to the reindeer. "What did you play in high school?"

"Center and some forward." Erik collected his ball once more. "I played center most of my life, so I know what I'm doing."

"Oh that's neat. Where's your high school?" Yvonne asked curiously.

"Oulu. It's in Finland." Erik looked towards the mule doe as he adjusted his jersey.

"Finland? That's awesome! I've never actually been outside of the country, since my family and I live here in the state, but I'd love to travel somewhere new and exotic." Yvonne smiled as she was intrigued by Erik's origin and hearing a little bit about him. Erik just nodded with a smirk.

Before the two could continue their conversation, a loud whistle blew from a distance and the players made their way towards the coach. A total of 13 players showed up to the try-outs, consisting mostly of sophomores and third-year players, with about three freshman players, including Erik.

"Alright, listen up!" the coach began his speech. "I'm sure you all know why you're here today. You're here to become part of a great team and I'll make sure it won't be easy. This ain't high school no more, kids and I'll make sure it ain't feeling like it! We'll get right into it tonight. Everyone go to the far end there end and gimme five rounds of solid jogging! All the way around the court and no cutting corners! Line up over there." the players made their way towards the far end of the hardwood and lined up along the end line. With a loud blow of a whistle, the coach let his players go and they began jogging to warm up.

Erik jogged his laps well, not feeling worn from it. His experience of going through intensive training with the Finnish national team seems to pay off well so far. Though he noticed how some were already breathing harder and were slowing down. The difference in athleticism within the team showed, with the 7 well-trained players leading the pack, while the others were slower and playing catch up on the last lap. As the team finished up jogging, the coach called them up around the center circle to stretch. The second group finished their jog just as the first one was settling into a circle.

"Ok, get yourself all loosened up, because I'm not going to be easy on you, and some of you already know that." the short groundhog continued his speech with volume. "I expect great things from you this season, because I know a lot of you can do that. A few new faces have shown up tonight and that's great. The sophomores can tell all of you freshies just how intense I can be."

"I'll make you run and shoot, until you can run the whole game and hit more than half your shots." The coach exclaimed. "Basketball isn't a walk in the park and you should know that. Welcome and welcome back to Bedrock University. Now get up. Let's get going!" the groundhog clapped a couple of times, watching his players get up and finish stretching, awaiting further instructions.

///

Shooting drills were conducted by McDougald and his partner Mallee. Erik was on McDougald's group and his turn came up. The groups were lined up near the arc to start their drill. The players were instructed to sprint to the right to the first spot, just inside the arc, to shoot. Then they were to run to the left to settle halfway between the arc and the basket to shoot a second time. A lay-up would finish off the turn. So far, most of Erik's group has hit two shots on their first try. The coach wasn't happy seeing his players not getting their far and mid-range shots right.

Erik has hit all of them on his first turn. His second turn was coming up.

To a loud whistle, Erik sprinted off to the first assigned spot, watching the coach's ball as he catches it and winds up for the shot. Like a near perfect arch, it bent down into the hoop, bouncing off the inside rim a few times before going in. The reindeer sprinted to the next spot, watching as the coach passed him another ball to shoot. He fires and watches it hit nothing but net. The coach threw the last ball, but it was short, as Erik catches it a little too close to the rim, but Erik had an idea. One, two, three steps below the net and Erik swung his right arm around, catapulting himself upwards and smacking the back into the basket.

A wave of applause and cheering came from the lined up players as Erik jogged back, getting a few high fives as he went back into the line. The coach responded with a deep frown, despite Erik's impressive showing.

"Very nice, Toivonen, but I said lay-ups! Next time!" he yelled out before blowing the whistle for Roxy, a bobcat point guard, as she lined up. Yvonne looked back and gave Erik a thumb up.

"That was awesome, Erik. Where did you learn that?" she asked as Erik watches Roxy miss her first shot, but getting the other two to go in.

"Uhm, I just practice." the reindeer bull says to the mule doe. With a giggle, Yvonne turned back to watch the cricket by the name of Xavier Munns line up for his next turn.

"You said you were from Finland, right?" Yvonne asked as she turned her head once more.

"Yes." Erik replied. "I was born there."

"That's neat. I would love to go to Europe someday, it sounds so nice." Yvonne continued as she saw her turn approaching.

"You should. It's beautiful. I have already seen Rome and Croatia and Britain." Erik smiled as Manuel Guzman, a Latino Jaguar started his drill before Yvonne's.

"Wow, really? That's so cool!" the mule doe wagged her stubby tail slightly. "You have to take me sometime!" she laughs.

Erik grinned slightly, shrugging in response. The two were interrupted by the yelling of the coach.

"Less chit chat, more shooting! St. Paul, Go!" McDougald yelled as Yvonne started her drill. She sprinted to the first spot as she catches the ball from the coach with ease and wounded up for the first shot, watching it fly into the hoop. She huffed as she took off to the next spot, taking her second shot soon after, but her attempt took an unlucky bounce. She reassured herself by easily bouncing the ball off the backboard and in on her lay-up attempt.

"Toivonen!" the coach yelled for the reindeer's last turn at shooting. Erik received his first ball after a hard sprint and he watched his shot bounce of the rim a few times before going in. He sprinted to the next spot, stopping with a loud squeaking from his sneaker's sliding against the hardwood floor and he winds up for the shot, watching it go into the net after it kissed the rim. Erik sprinted to take his last shot and stopped as soon as he got the ball. He looked up and jumped, bouncing the ball off the backboard and in.

"Awww, come on amigo! Why not dunk it again?" Manuel smiled towards Erik as the whisle blew again and the crowd broke up.

"I don't want anything fancy tonight. Now get yourself a drink then we'll scrimmage." the coach ordered as the players walked to the bleachers to grab their drinks. Erik sits down and leans back, drinking on his water bottle contently.

"Erik, can we talk to you for a sec?" Mallee asked Erik, holding a clipboard in his hand, with his groundhog partner beside him.

"Am I in trouble?" Erik asked as he gets up, standing next to the groundhog and the pheasant.

"Nonono, we just want to fill out some information. So where did you play previously?" Mallee asked as he prepared his pen.

"Previously? You mean before here?" Erik tried to confirm with the coaches and they nodded in reply. "Uhm... in Oulu at my high school, then a bit on the community team... national team..."

At the sound of 'national team', the two coached cocked up their heads, eyes widening.

"Wait, so you play internationally? For Finland?" McDougald questioned Erik, struck by disbelief. How can an international player end up in Minnesota?

"Yes. I play on the Under 20 team in Finland. We're going to the European Championship next year." Erik replied reassuringly, standing there, unphased by how the coaches were figuring it all out.

"Well, I'll be damned..." McDougald scratched his head as his assistant writes it all down.

Tapping his pen a few times, Mallee looks to Erik once more. "... Is your father named Blake?" Mallee asked curiously. Erik nodded, making the pheasant light up once more.

"Wait, his dad? What does he have to do with it?" the groundhog asked, looking sternly at his assistant. Mallee looks over to him, trying to contain himself.

"Dalton... Blake Toivonen almost made the 1993 FBA Draft, but he had knee problems that prevented him from going. He still played pro in Europe! Dalton! We have an athletic bloodline on our team!" Mallee told his head coach excitedly with a smile across his beak. The groundhog's eyes widened, as he cracked a smirk.

"My father is an agent for players in the FBA now." Erik added on as he watched his coaches, a little weirded out.

"Haha! Winston, that's amazing!" the groundhog cheered. The two exchanged smiled and pleasantries as Erik grabbed his water bottle again to distract himself. He began to feel some pressure.

"Oh Erik, I think you're just what we're looking for!" McDougald walked over and padded Erik's back. The coach blew the whistle to order his team back on the court to start the scrimmage.

Now it was up to Erik to prove what he can do on the court. He was nervous, but he felt it before. This was nothing new to the Finnish international. Erik was widely known as Blake's son to people following international basketball in Europe. The pressure to perform as great as his father built up every time he steps on the court. This has been occurring since Erik was called up to the Finnish U20 team two years ago and stepping into the spotlight of some Finnish media outlets. Basketball isn't a big sport in Finland, but Blake Toivonen is a widely known name associated with great talent within the sport in the country. Erik loves playing basketball just like his dad, but he's determined to make a name out of himself, rather than just making his own father proud.

///

Blake was sitting in the living room, watching the local news. It was very different compared to watching Finnish news, as there were a lot more reports on violence and politics. It irritated him a little, but considering he's watched American news before, he just shrugged it off.

The door clicked and swung open, as the young, long-haired reindeer entered and closed the door behind him, swinging his backpack against the wall gently and sitting down on the couch, rubbing his head. Blake watches on as his son returns home.

"(Hey, how did it go?)" Blake asked as he put his feet off the coffee table and muted the TV.

"(Pretty good. But...)" Erik paused as he tried to gather his thoughts to continue.

"(But? You didn't make the team?)" his father was beginning to feel concerned.

"(No no, I'm in, it's just that...)" the young reindeer sighed. "(They're expecting a lot from me.)"

Blake nodded contently. He knew that his son's status as a player was going to be a culprit for pressure, especially since he's also playing on the national team.

"(So you told them you played on the national team and everything?)" Blake double-checked.

"(Yes. They asked about where I played before. I couldn't lie to them.)" Erik nodded and sighed. His father responded with a nod on his own. He knew what his son meant.

"(I understand, Erik. I know you're great on the court. Don't let them drill the pressure into your head, because they don't need to. You have studies to focus on and that's what you should do.)" Blake leaned on his thighs with his elbows, talking directly at his son.

"(I know, Papa, but I also want to succeed in basketball. You know how much I like to play.)" Erik responds firmly.

"(Yes, but there should be a balance with your studies too. You know that perfectly well.)" Blake nodded. "(So I trust you on that end, Erik, because you've proven to me that you can balance school and basketball, even with the national team. I'm sure you can do just that here too. You'll do great, Erik.)" Blake smiled as he looked to Erik, who replies with a combination of a smirk and a smile.

"(I guess I will.)" Erik noted. He got up and stretched. "(I should get some studying done. I promised Koray I'd do a little every day.)"

"(Who's Koray?)" his father asked curious as he leans back.

"(Koray is my literature teacher.)" the young reindeer said as he grabbed his backpack.

"(I see. Is he nice?)" the older one asked once more.

"(Yeah, he's pretty nice. Tough, but engaging.)" Erik says as he makes his way to the stairs.

"(Sounds great. Oh, did you eat?)" Blake stood up as he made his way to the kitchen, looking back to his son, who had one foot on the stairs.

"(Yeah, I had some food on the way home.)"

"(Ok, if you need anything, you know where you can find it.)"

"(Alright, Papa.)" and with that, Erik dashed upstairs to begin studying. With a chuckle, Blake grabbed a carton of fruit juice as he looks to the clock. It read 7:50 PM. He looked back to his glass, filling it up and taking a drink out of it. He smacked his tongue to taste as he looked back to the TV but submerged in his own thought.

College seemed to go ok so far for his son and that's always a nice thing to hear. He knew the transition to another country would be more difficult for his son, especially since he doesn't speak English as well as his father does. But Blake was determined to make sure he can provide the help Erik needs to succeed. Erik was on a good way to feeling more at home in North America, having made a few friends already, including one in Julian, one of Blake's own clients. The thought of a few good friends for Erik was calming for his father. Reassured, Blake returned to the living room.