Ahti Nereus

Ahti Nereus
(White Sturgeon, C)
ID# 704
	Art by Pac
No. 26 – Retired
Position	Center
Species	White Sturgeon ( Acipenseridae )
Gender	Male
Personal information
Born	February 21, 1993; Prince George, BC
Nationality	Canadian
Listed height	7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight	295 lb (134 kg)
Shoots	Right
Career information
School	Heritage River Riparian College
FBA draft	2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 27th overall
	Selected by the Texas Lone Stars
Pro playing career	2014–2019
Career history
2014-2019	Texas Lone Stars
Career highlights and awards
	FBA Rookie All-Star (2015);
Contract information
Contract year	2014
Player Contacts
(IC) Agent	Hubert Bristol
(OOC) Creator	Betsie
(OOC) Actor	Unknown
(OOC) Usage	Ask me before any use

Biography

Ahti was born and raised in a native reserve just outside of Prince George, BC where the Asipe tribe of sturgeon have lived for many generations spanning across centuries. Long before Ahti's time, the tribe was a nomadic one, following the river to the coast where they spent the winter before returning to their summer home where the Hechako River meets the Fraser. Times have changed, but the Asipe tribe, in many ways, has not, and Ahti carries with him the ancient beliefs of his people. Although much of the tribe has modernized and moved away from tradition in some ways, Ahti himself still believes strongly in the spirits of the world around him and treating them with the proper respect and care. Perhaps this stemmed from his childhood, where he was a small, scrawny thing, always bullied and teased for being weak. He sought solace in books and education, in caring for Mother Nature's creations by starting gardens and keeping pets of all sorts. As a boy he even had an orphaned deer he raised and released back into the wild. He never really had any friends, either, just spending his time playing teacher's pet really. But in middle school he met somebody who would turn out to be his greatest friend and supporting force for his single athletic endeavor of basketball. Ahti met Wesley Lachs (sockeye salmon) in their first year of junior high together at Yellowhead Junior High, and despite their vast differences, the two became fast friends. They both played on the junior high basketball team, although Ahti struggled with it due to being a fair bit smaller than his aquatic companion. But he shot up quickly and by the end of junior high he was starting to edge towards the six-and-a-half-foot mark. Sadly, though, the end of junior high also marked the end of his close friendship with Wesley. They lost touch with each other as Ahti transferred over to the private high school on the reserve where there was no basketball team, no way for him to connect with Wesley other than the occasional internet chat. But even those faded out over time. But the time they were 18, they hadn't talked for over a year. But Ahti had moved on, made a couple of new friends, but most of all, he made it into college in Prince George at Heritage River Riparian College. Ahti managed to make it into the basketball program based on his junior high skills and tryouts. And on the first day of practice who should be there but his beloved friend, Wesley. The pair rekindled their old friendship almost immediately, and within weeks of practices started proving their amazing chemistry on the court, the perfect blend of their offensive and defensive playing styles. And even off the court they balanced each other out; Ahti's shy and quiet nature perfectly offset by his friend's outspoken attitude. It didn't take long for them to be named starters in their Freshman season. As Wesley and Ahti continued to improve on each other's games, the two fish led the Nuggets to the national championships two years in a row, winning the CFIS title in their sophomore year. As for his on-court skills and attitude, Ahti is very much a defensive player, focusing and blocking the opposing team with his height and large, webbed hands. Off the court he's a laid-back and quiet person, but as soon as he puts on that uniform Ahti very much shows a different side of himself. A determination to put himself between the opponent and his basket, or to get himself into a useful position for a rebound or assist. He doesn't excessively push for shot-taking, but focuses on the team aspect of the game. As such he's very proficient at passing and rebounding, and getting his shots in the paint. Because of this, he does struggle making points from a distance but makes up for it by snapping the ball off to somebody else who can make the shot when able. His other major strength is the ability for quite a high jump for a fish of his height and weight.

Ahti resides in the Asipe Reserve with his mother, father, grandmother, and eight siblings.

Stories

Players of the Game Written by Tazel © Tazel
Players of the Game Players of the Game Story by Tazel Sixpaws Copyright 2015 Characters are copyright to their creators and owners Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places to take anyone that you deem close to your heart. The lush tropics melding with the pristine beaches, coupled with the island-flavored metropolis of Honolulu, makes for an exhilarating experience. Whether you go for business or pleasure, it's a destination that invokes envy in coworkers, friends and family. For some, it's home. A home base of operations. For a major company, it's prestige, where the over 350 thousand residents can see your effect on the nation. Hawaii is not contiguous to the states, but there is still that connection. That influence. Be it business, or romance, Hawaii does not leave people untouched when they visit. Even the most curmudgeonly polar bear - a sight rarely seen often in the paradise - can find the peace and solitude he wants, away from the bustle of downtown, or the usually crowded beaches. At sunset, the beaches usually become empty, with tourists finding a luau or some other trap to fall into. Only locals would know of the pristine spots to visit. With Waikiki beach's usual collection of visiting mobs being empty, it was easy for a pair of figures to slip onto the still slightly warm sand, despite the cool night breeze. Their tails flitted behind them, sleek bodies aerodynamically cutting through the air, hands holding a rolled up blanket and a hemp basket. The pair giggled, a male and a female, as they ran towards the shore, stopping where the snake indicated. "Here, love." she said, pointing to the spot on the ground in the golden light of the setting sun. "The water doesn't come up this high, and it's past high tide anyhow." The tall gray sturgeon nodded, dutifully putting down the blanket flat on the sand, ducking under some lower hanging palm trees on the side. "It's perfect, love! Did you have any problem sneaking away from the team?" he asked, smoothing out the blanket as he spoke. "Not really," replied the yellow cobra, her light brown eyes glistening in the waning sunlight, pupils wide as her forked tongue tasted the air. "Though Tanya shot me a look. She knew I was going to do something with you. She asked, but I just shot her a wink. Though she claims I owe her 'all the juicy details' later." A lightly hissing giggle escaped the reptile's snout as she set down the basket and opened it, her long banded tail waving happily behind her, under the tie-die sarong she wore around her waist. It was a wave that the fish mimicked, his barbells trilling in the breeze as he kneeled to the basket. His tanktop whipped around in the same breeze, board shorts getting a bit of sand on them as a result. "FBA Angels are some of the worst gossips, you know," he chided, grinning up at the snake and brushing off the excess sand. "Hey, I'm all about keeping information, and love, free." The sturgeon smiled, reaching out for the bathing-suit-clad rookie guard of the Hawaii Kahunas, and pulling her into his embrace, gazing at her. "So should I be jealous?" he asked, grinning wider. Aurora Goldshine grinned back at the rookie center for the Texas Lone Stars, her tail slithering around his waist with incredible finesse. "Not in the least. I'm YOUR hummingbird," she hissed softly, her snout nearing hers. "And I'm your snugglefish," replied Ahti Nereus, as the two embraced in a kiss. Their tails waved about - if one were watching the athletes' tips, one might note the bandages on both of them. It was clear that in the game, Ahti got injured with a tail laceration and had to have a bandage placed on the end. After the game, Aurora went to the Kahuna's infirmary, got some gauze, and wrapped her own tail, to match the injury, so that both would be unified. It was a very appreciated gesture. Both of them broke the kiss and Aurora smiled. "Mmm... what a wonderful day today has been. And the game... so close! I think it was the best you've ever done!" She leaned back, gazing through the iconic rose-sunglasses she constantly wore. "Twenty points? I've never seen you so vibrant, and full of mana!" She opened the hemp basket - a gift from her commune-mates - and pulled out a bottle of wine and some glasses. She set them down, followed by a box of chocolates and some cheese and crackers. Neither of them had eaten, but tonight, they had a different hunger assail their minds. "Mana?" asked Ahti, confused as he opened the crackers and cheese, and sampled one. "Whuf few meah?" Ahti coughed a bit, as bits of dry cracker flew out of his snout. Aurora laughed as she took a napkin and dabbed his mouth clean. He was blushing from the sudden expulsion. "Sillyfish. You're supposed to drink with those crackers. Here,..." Shi still had him firmly around the waist with her tail, presumably for anchorage, as she leaned over to pour two glasses of the icewine she had imported from other friends near Portland. It was ever so sweet, but not as sweet as her snugglefish, claimed the cobra-ess. "Mana, to answer your question, is a name for the life essence that Gaia gifts to us. It is what creates the auras, the energies that surround us." She offered a glass, holding the other in her hand. "And your mana was very... manly," she purred out with a sibilant hiss, clinking the glasses together. Ahti was still blushing when he accepted the glass. "You were on fire too, wildflower!" he countered, sipping the wine to flush out the last of the choking cracker chunks. "Hitting those threes like that - you deserved your POTG tonight," he admitted, his other hand reaching for Aurora's, fingers closing over hers. "We BOTH deserved it," he finished, a little disappointed that he couldn't bring home another much needed win for the floundering Lone Stars. The snake let out one of Ahti's favorite sounds. The short, empassioned 'hiss' that was repeated in rapid succession. The 'hishishis' that Aurora made whenever she was excited. Or happy. And in this case, she was both. She closed her hand around Ahti's and squeezed, bringing up the other glass to his snout. "Mmm. you'll always be MY player of the game, dearfish." she said, winking. Ahti's sound was more like a wet grunt, like gills having air forced through them. He let it out when he was happy. And with Texas' recent string of losses, with daylight only recently beginning to break, he hadn't found many reasons to be that way. Any other game, this loss would sting intently. But here, now... the game was but a means to the end, to be here with Aurora. He wasn't just happy - there was no other adjective that could describe it. Except perhaps, ecstatic. That, however, would come later. "And you are mine, sweetsnake." The couple entwined their arms around each other, sipping the wine from their own glass while their arms were linked, their eyes not leaving each other, not for a second. After the sip, they disengaged, and put down their glasses into the sand. Aurora snuck her tail around Ahti's, and lightly held it in her appendage's embrace. Still holding hands, she turned to face the water, which had been obediently lapping at the base of the beach. "I almost wish we didn't need to have played each other tonight. Valentine's day would have gone much better if one of our teams didn't have to lose." Aurora said, sadly, her hood drooping a bit. "But without that game, we wouldn't have been blessed with time together afterward. A necessary evil. I don't 'mind this loss, really." With his drink on the ground, Ahti's freed hand pulled Aurora's snout to face him, resulting in a few more short hisses, and a big smile. Ahti beamed and started to speak. "You know what made me do so well tonight? All through the game I was thinking..." "...of making you feel proud of me," finished Aurora. Ahti wore a surprised look, though the sturgeon shouldn't have. They often finished each others' sentences. Aurora claimed their energies were melding with each visit, each expression of love making it happen quicker. "That's what kept me going all through the game! Of course, I wanted to help the Kahunas too. We've been having a real rough time, just like Texas." Ahti just stared at her, his eyes lidding a bit as he wiggled his tailtip against her left thigh, his smile getting wider if that were possible. His Lone Stars were furthest from his mind right now. "It's almost eerie how in synch we are." Aurora nodded softly, her grin equally wide, almost showing her fangs. She DID have fangs, as all cobras did, but even with her upbeat demeanor, she tried not to show them. People tended to be a bit on edge with a fanged cobra around, even if they knew Aurora's gentleness. "It's a merging of auras. We're so, like, receptive to each other's primal energies, that we can't help but overlap!" Ahti took another sip of his wine, nearly draining it. "Mmm. Primal energies, huh?" he growled with a wink. "Those are some of my favorites." Aurora blushed almost immediately at the insinuation, and gently worked her snout in to rub against Ahti's barbells, making another whooshing grunt come from the sturgeon. They stayed like that for a few minutes, as the sun became half-engulfed by the horizon. The two sipped the rest of their wine down, with Aurora taking the empty glasses to her right, off the blanket, and Ahti pushing the basket and foods to the other side. The buzz of the alcohol was swimming around their brains, as the two sat, legs pulled up in front of them, and gazed at the sunset. "Blessed be you, Gaia, for your bounty and your beauty." Aurora murmured, folding her arms against her bikini top, gazing through the sunglasses. Though a few more minutes, and she wouldn't need sunglasses at all. She caught Ahti's gaze, not at the sunset anymore, but back at her, those lidded eyes, that happy wine-fueled smile. "What?" she asked, her grin widening. "Just thinking to give thanks for your beauty too, sweetsnake." he said, in a low, soft voice. Another blush crept over the snake's cheeks, short hisses squirming out from between her hidden fangs. Her tail snuck itself around Ahti's, winding around, holding it gently as she gazed up at his eyes. She could lose herself forever in those beautiful browns. "Happy Valentine's day, Snugglefish." "Happy Valentine's day, Hummingbird." In the last moments of the sun dipping under the horizon, with the last of light bathing the two lovers, the two athletes, the two snuggled closer, and wrapped their arms around each other, gazing back into the approaching evening. Where they would be hidden from light. And be able to participate in truly 'free love'. As long as nobody was looking. Tanya would get some VERY juicy details tonight!