The following is a story set in the fictional universe created by Bernard Doove, aka  Goldfur and Bob Reijns. This includes character concepts and general ideas. For more details, please visit their official site at http://furry.org.au/chakat . The present story and its characters are from  Ben Zider The illustrations for this story were made by  sethtriggs

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CHAPTER 9 REUNION

“Hello Esteban!” The renzar greeted me, as usual, with a tight hug.

“Ouch! Good to see you. How was the celebration?” I replied.

“Oh, it was very good! You should have gone Heh heh,” he replied, smiling.

“Are you still working?” I asked when I saw him still in his uniform.

“I just finished my shift. Now I'm going home. I stopped by to say hello and well, to tell you that...you were right.”

“Eh? About what?” I queried, intrigued.

“Natany and the Amistad police, inquired about what happened in the tournament, and discovered that—indeed—there was psionic activity. In addition, Brend confessed to having associated with a group that was looking to gain an advantage in the tournament. They were all caught, including a skunktaur.”

“Really? Wow.”

“What I don't understand is how you found out. My sister, who has been in the police for years, also does not understand how she did not notice. By the way, she is also very grateful and she sends you many greetings.”

“Uh? Hey. Thank you,” I answered with a smile “Well. I told Natany that something was wrong with you because I noticed your previous moves in previous fights. You had a pattern. When you faced Brend, you changed. You shook your head and you were a little static. However, I was not one hundred percent sure; it was more of a hunch. I was afraid you might get distracted because of me and lose the tournament.”

“Hmmm...you're quite observant,” Regt commented, frowning. “Actually, at no time did I feel strange." But without a doubt, I would have lost if it hadn't been for you...thaaaanks...grrr...” He exclaimed, as he lifted me from the floor with a new bear hug.

“No...problem!” I said, breathing hard.

“Heh heh...I'm sorry. I forget that humans are fragile. Well, to celebrate such a successful rescue, Sorah and I invite you to dinner tonight. She has prepared an exquisite dish typical of our home planet Grom. Natany and other friends of hers will also be there. Sorah insisted for me to take you with me. She is very grateful for what you did. Hahaha.”

“Well, in truth, I...” I was going to say, when suddenly, my personal phone rang. “Excuse me Regt.”

“Yes of course, son, go ahead.”

“Thank you,” I replied, before pulling away a bit to answer...it was Lorel.

“Esteban? I've been trying to locate you all day sweetie, are you okay?”

“H... Hi Lorel. Excuse me, I was outside the hotel and left the communicator in the room.”

“Esteban, I'm sorry you left like this. I'd like to talk with you. I think you deserve an explanation.”

“Yes...I...I'm also sorry I was angry. Sorry to run away like that.”

“Prrrr...What do you think of you coming to the bar and we clarify things? I am here now.”

“I agree. Give me a second.” I said, and then approached Regt.

“Hey Regt, I'm sorry. I won't be able to go to your home. I had a...last minute matter.”

“Oh...what...too bad” he said with an afflicted tone. “You are leaving tomorrow and I thought you could share with us, before traveling.”

“Yes it's correct. Tomorrow afternoon, I will fly to the Archipelago. Ummm...well, I don't know what to say Regt. Just, thank you very much for your kindness.” I said, a little upset.

“Ehhh...well. My wife would have loved to say goodbye to you. And I...well Esteban, by Grom I'll miss you puppy,” he said excitedly, before giving me another tight hug.

“Good luck son,” he finished, crestfallen.
As Regt walked away towards his vehicle parked in the distance, I was thinking about the many things Vroeg had told me. ‘The most valuable thing you have is your time and energy. Choose very well who you give them to.’ ‘Sometimes we don't realize how we influence others. When we stop thinking about ourselves, to think about others, the darkness begins to be transmuted into light ...’ ‘I'm stupid,’ I thought.

“Lorel, are you still there?”

“Yes, honey.”

“Listen to me. I can not go now. I have an important commitment. But I promise you that tomorrow, before I leave the city, I will visit you at your home.”

“What? Are you still angry? Come on Esteban. You really are special to me.”

“I'm not. And so are you, Lorel. So, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“It's okay sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow.” Shi said goodbye before disconnecting. Then I ran to catch up with Regt, who had already climbed into the transport vehicle to leave.

“Regt! Wait!”I yelled, beckoning him to notice me. The renzar was surprised to see me come to the side of him.
“Esteban, what's up?”

“Forgive me,” I gasped, “I'm going with you to enjoy that delicious bite of Grom.” My friend's face lit up, outlining a huge smile.

“Great! Heh heh, come on up son!” He exclaimed, opening the passenger door. And just like the day I arrived in Chakona, I again set out with the huge renzar driver, in his great transport, this time, heading to his home.

When we arrived, Sorah, Natany, and a couple of city police friends—one chakat and the other morph—were already at Regt's house. It was a very cozy place. For obvious reasons, it was a larger than average construction, made for chakats or humans. Everyone was happy to see us arrive.

“You brought him, Regt!” Sorah exclaimed. “It's good that you could come Mr. Esteban!” She added after receiving me with a tight hug.
“Hey! Here is our hero!” Natany said in turn. “Colleagues! He is Esteban, the human who thwarted the dirty trick of the tournament.”

“Mr. Esteban, it's a pleasure. My name is Chakat Joel, I am a police constable. Congratulations on helping us in this case. Thank you.”

“Same here, sir. I'm Greden, Natany and Joel's colleague. It's a pleasure.”

“The pleasure is mine,” I greeted politely. Sorah, like a good housewife, ushered us all into the dining room, which was spacious and with large chairs. They had to put a pad so that I was at a good height from the table. We sat down and after pouring ourselves a smooth liquor, Regt wanted to make a traditional cultural toast in my honor.

“Dearly, I wish to toast my friend Esteban, so that the path that he undertakes tomorrow, at the university, is full of success and prosperity.”

“Cheers!!” they all said, in their old way. I was surprised by those words. I never thought that such strange and different creatures could make me feel so welcomed, in a place as far away as Chakona. Then it was Natany who spoke.

“I want to thank and congratulate Esteban for noticing the trick in the tournament. I admit I was too euphoric to realize it on my own. Thank you Esteban, for protecting my brother.”

“Cheers!” we all responded. Sorah was also very happy; it was the first time since I saw her at the town hall that she had seen her smile.

“Well. Thank you all very much,” I interjected, “But the truth is, I want to toast Regt, for the tremendous fighter that he is. And for having won the tournament.” Everyone was silent, looking at each other. Suddenly, the Renzar earnestly pointed.

“Esteban, I must inform you that, because of you, the tournament was canceled...” I began to go pale.

“Uh...I...I'm sorry...” I said, embarrassed. Suddenly, everyone present burst into loud laughter.

“But it doesn't matter son! I'm still the current champion! Ha ha ha!” added Regt. I felt tremendous relief.

“For me, you've always been number one,” Sorah suddenly said tenderly, while kissing her husband on the mouth.
After sharing the initial drinks, Sorah and Natany served us Grom's native steaks, stuffed with an exquisite sauce. It has been a long time since I had such delicious food. It was much better than the one served in the hotel casino. So I let the lady of the house know.

“Thank you son,” she replied.

“Could you give me more?” I asked almost spontaneously, extending the plate out to her. In that instant, Sorah's face suddenly changed. Her eyes began to water, and suddenly, she left the dining room, going out to the garden of the house. Almost immediately, Regt, ran after her: “Sorah! Love!” I heard him say before leaving. Looking at them through the window, I watched the female cry, covering her face, while Regt tried to comfort her with a hug. At that moment, I did not understand what was happening; I thought I had offended her. Not knowing this race, I was not sure how to interact with them. Suddenly Natany sat down next to me. And without looking away from the window, she spoke.

“Excuse Sorah, Esteban. She still suffers for the loss of her son,” she explained.

“What?...her son?...but what happened, Natany…?” I responded, anguished. After a deep sigh, the Renzar said:
“Sorah and my brother, they had a son in Grom. They lived in a medium-sized city and led a quiet life. Regt was working on a construction site. One day the little boy accompanied his father to work. And in an oversight, a scaffold on the construction site accidentally came off, crushing several workers, including Regt and his son.

“When they were rescued from the rubble, my brother and the rest of the adults survived, but the little one lay lifeless. After that, Regt and Sorah decided to come to Chakona, to start a new life. I lived here years ago, and I helped them move out. But Sorah has not been able to fully recover. And I suppose neither does my brother, although he tries to hide it. He has always blamed himself for the tragedy. I can still see the pain in his eyes...” Natany said sadly. I was shocked. My mind was a mess of various sensations. A knot began to tighten my neck. I felt like it was hard for me to breathe.

“Natany...I...I'm so sorry...” I said with tears in my eyes, to which she replied, “Sorry to make you sad.”

“No. Thanks for sharing it with me.” I responded, after which I stood up and—without thinking—also went out to the garden. I approached the renzar couple who were still embracing.

“Esteban, I'm sorry,” Regt said when he saw me, but I was only thinking about the pain they both shared. The pain of losing a child, like the one I felt from losing my parents, little by little.

“Sorah,” I said in a tremulous voice. My legs were shaking as I got closer to them.

“Sorah, I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry...I'm sorry!!” I screamed in despair, falling to my knees to the ground. I started crying like a child, in a way I didn’t years ago. I felt my soul empty in an instant. Suddenly, I was lifted off the floor. It was Sorah, who had reached down and was stroking my forehead with her soft hands. Her hairy face was a sea of tears, just like mine. I threw my arms around her neck and we cried together. And gently, I constantly told her that I was sorry, as I stroked her cheeks. From my back, I felt the heat of another body. It was Regt, who, crouching in the same way, hugged us both effusively.

After a long time, the three of us stood up. Natany and her friends were standing in the doorway, watching us. They too welcomed Regt and Sorah with a hug. Words weren't necessary, in creatures as sensitive and empathetic as themselves.
After re-entering the house, Sorah apologized and told me that her child used the same words and gestures when he wanted to eat more. I also apologized. I told her that it was not my intention to make her sad.

“I know, son. And you don't have to. I'm happy that you came,” she told me with that soft voice that she had, unexpected from someone of her size and appearance.
The occasion inspired me to tell them everything about my long-suffering childhood and the loneliness that I lived since I was a child. Without wanting to, I ventured little by little, even more than with Vroeg. They strongly empathized with me and I felt welcomed. I had forgotten what it was like to live in a family.
The hours went by. It was getting late and I had to go back to the hotel. Tonight would be my last night at Amistad. Tomorrow afternoon, I would finally fly to the Archipelago...to Dewclaw...to fulfill my dream.

“It's a shame you have to go so far,” Regt told me. “If you studied here, in the capital, you could stay with us. This way you would save money.”

“Really, it's a great deal. And I would love to stay. Amistad is very cute. And you are wonderful. But I'm afraid that what I'm looking for is only in the Archipelago” I answered.

“Stay with us tonight, Esteban. Tomorrow Regt can take you back to the hotel,” Sorah hastened to suggest, taking my hands. I wasn't sure whether to accept, but the sweetness on her face was a plea that I couldn't ignore; I stayed. And when Natany and her friends left, we went to sleep. The Renzar invited me to share the bed, as families often do in Chakona. I lay down in their midst, like a puppy with his parents. Excitement, once again, flooded my senses.

We hugged in our sleep. Despite their size, they were careful with me. I felt that I caressed their souls with that gesture. And they caressed mine. I remembered, again, how in magical experience, when I was with my parents on Earth, and when I was a baby, they slept together with me. In that instant, Vroeg's voice rang out loudly, when he spoke to me of forgiveness. “Give your parents a second chance.” Now I thought I understood the meaning of those words. I smiled. Being like this, huddled with the renzar, healed my wounds and made me happy.
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Thanks to  sethtriggs by the help to translation and grammar corrections and the wonderful drawings