A New Life. Chapter 5. Revelation.
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 Mark Sanders, Emily Foxtaur and Delfina belong
Marksan
The illustrations for this story were made by
sethtriggs
CHAPTER 5 REVELATION
The next morning, Chakat Lorel arrived early at hir bar, located in downtown Amistad. After greeting some of hir employees, shi headed straight to hir office inside. Upon entering, shi turned on the television, where at that time the continental newscast was delivering the morning report.
“In the hours of last night, a human engineer—a Dewclaw student—was grievously wounded in an attack by two skunktaurs, in the parking lot of the Berdoovia Civic Hospital. The individual, named Esteban Melinao, suffered mental injuries as well as to his body, when attacked by skunktaurs and from his own companion, a Renzar, who was manipulated to attack him. The skunktaurs, whom also attacked a nurse of their same species, were detained by the Berdoovia police after being brought down by the victim, after recovering hys will...The police also indicated ...”
“What?!” Lorel exclaimed, as shi dropped the coffee cup to the floor. “Esteban!” shi cried, as anguish washed over hir. “This can not be!” The noise alerted Liner, who also rushed in.
“Lorel, what is it?” Shi asked.
“It can't be, Liner, watch the TV. Esteban. He was wounded in Berdoovia.”
“Esteban? The human engineer you met some time ago?”
“Yes. Oh Liner, I fear for your life. Those damn skunktaurs, I've never trusted them.”
“Lorel, don't talk like that. They are not all the same.”
“I'm sorry, but after this, I can't think of anything else,” added the chakat as shi hugged hir partner.
In another part of the city, Jhonny, Lorna and Vera were about to enter the Capitol as tourists, when Lorna found out what happened with Esteban through a press release on hir communicator. The three friends and colleagues couldn't believe it. Lorna, the most affected, began to sob in concern.
“Nobody answered our calls,” Jhonny said in frustration.
“I don't know about you, but I can't keep calm while I'm on tour, while Esteban is seriously ill in Berdoovia,” Vera declared.
“Me neither,” said the human.
“Let's go to him!" Lorna suddenly exclaimed.
“Okay!” the other two responded in unison. “I will notify the course director. It is likely that if we go now, tomorrow we will not be on time for classes.”
“That's the least important to me,” Lorna added. “Let's go right now, to the UHS train station.”
At her Amistad home, Delfina noticed that her husband, Mark Sanders, was absorbed, more than other times, watching television. She walked slowly over to the couch where the man used to sit staring at the set. She put her hands around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
“Good morning my love, did something happen? You are very quiet today,” she said quietly. But he did not reply. He was still focused on what the television was saying. Paying attention, Delfina realized that it was the news that had caught the attention of her husband.
“Everything is as always, nothing has changed!” The man suddenly exclaimed, then added, “All our baseness and mistakes are in them...damn skunktaurs.” Upon his declaration he clenched his teeth and hands, and a couple of tears ran down his cheek.
Emily, the man's foxtaur wife, had overheard everything as she walked in from the hall, and paused silently.
“But you are wrong, my love, I know some of them, they are wonderful and loving creatures...” Delfina said, but Mark looked at her silently, with a sad and neutral, stone-faced expression. The woman fell silent with a deep sigh and went into the kitchen with Emily, who followed, leaving Mark alone. The human slowly turned his head and continued staring at the screen. Emily, looking sad, sat at the table with her ears pressed to her head.
“That, it shouldn't have happened like that, you're wrong...” Delfina muttered.
When Lilethe was able to return to the hospital after washing hymself of hys repellent secretions defensively, hy entered the room where Regt was sitting awaiting medical reports on Esteban's health. The Renzar looked at the ground with his hands on his head. He still couldn't take in what had happened. How, from one moment to the next, his life was engulfed by tragedy, once again.
“Regt. Apologies for the wait. I had to clean up and then the police interviewed me” said Lilethe.
“Yes, they also questioned me.” the Renzar answered.
“Did the doctors tell you something?”
“The forecast has not changed. He is still very serious and may die. Sorah and Natany are on their way, and my wife calls me from time to time asking about Esteban...and I...I don't have the courage to tell her how bad he is...” Regt replied, with tears in his eyes.
“Quiet. I'll go talk to the doctors.”
“Grrr... Don't ask me to calm down! You still owe me an explanation about all this Lilethe...why did it happen?” growled the furious Renzar. Lilethe seized with emotion; hy fell to the ground, crying. Hy felt deeply responsible for what happened.
“Sorry Regt...I...I didn't want this to happen. I tried to push Esteban away, to solve my problems by myself. I didn't want to keep him on my mind so Ugkar couldn't hurt him. That is why I did not respond to his calls or his messages. But...by pulling him away from me, inadvertently, I began to connect with him. And even though I fought to avoid it, my mind sent my emotions to him. I was afraid of Ugkar and Doren. And I wasn't sure I could get rid of them.”
“Grrr... Lilethe, didn't you think that would attract Esteban more? I don't know humans, but this boy started to worry precisely when he didn't know anything else about you. And when he came to look for you, I offered to accompany him, to take care of him, but instead...I almost killed him myself,” concluded Regt, slumping to the ground, in a sea of tears. Lilethe walked over to him and they both hugged, crying together. They stayed like this, for a long time, until one of the hospital's chakat doctors approached them.
“Excuse me. Lilethe. Mr. Regt. I regret to inform you that we have done everything possible, applying the latest technology to reconstruct Mr. Melinao’s damaged neural networks. But it was not enough. Currently his condition is critical. There are no improvements. Have his relatives arrived?”
“No, but they're on their way,” Regt pointed out, standing up.
“Well, I think it's good, so they can say goodbye to him. I'm... sorry. "
"Noooo ! This cannot be true! Doctor!” Regt yelled, as he held the doctor against the wall.
“I'm so sorry,” the chakat repeated. “We did what we could.”
“Doctor, there have to be other ways,” Lilethe pleaded.
“You know about these things, Lilethe, you know better than anyone. Sorry,” shi reiterated to hym before leaving.
“Grrr...grrr...No! He is my son! Esteban!” exclaimed the Renzar, immersed in pain and tears. Lilethe clung to him as tightly as hy could, to contain him. But to hymself, hy felt hys soul shattered.
After a few hours, Sorah and Natany arrived at the hospital. Some time later, Jhonny, Lorna and Vera, their friends from the university, did as well. They were all in a larger room, waiting to see Esteban. They were accompanied by some doctors from the hospital and other nurses.
“Grrr... You! It was all your fault!” Sorah suddenly yelled as she lunged at Lilethe, managing to hit hym across the face. Natany and Regthar hugged her trying to calm her down. The skunktaur, to avoid further trouble, left the room. Sorah couldn't stop crying—neither did Lorna, who chased after Lilethe.
“Wait! I know you are suffering Lilethe. This was not your fault,” the chakat said with sorrow. Lilethe, without saying a word, grasped hir and began to cry bitterly.
“This is crazy!” Jhonny said suddenly. “Esteban is a good person and he did not deserve it. He came here to fulfill a dream...if the inhabitants of this planet still hate us for being human, it means that our ancestors failed to create them free from our miseries! They are no better than us!” The human exclaimed, and then left the place, with a mixture of pain and anger in his heart.
As the rest of those present waited patiently to enter to see Esteban, an alarm sounded in the next room. Several doctors and nurses rushed in. Regt, Natany, Sorah and the others did not understand what was happening.
“Stay here,” ordered one of the nurses. Lilethe was still being held by Lorna in the hallway outside, when suddenly, the skunktaur looked up and hy fell heavily to the ground, unconscious. The chakat asked for help and a couple of nurses came quickly to help hir.
*
When he woke up, Esteban felt a cool breeze on his face. He opened his eyes and saw some clouds in the sky. He realized that his head rested on the warm furry body of a skunktaur.
“Hey! So you are sleeping again. If you do it every time someone talks to you, you won't get very far in graduate school, son...heh heh!”
“Huh? Vroeg? What time is it?” Esteban said, confused.
“It's early. The sun has not set yet.”
“I see,” said the human, sitting up. “Vroeg. I had a strange dream...I dreamed that I had a family in Chakona. And I also dreamed that you...were dying...”
“Huh? Me? Die?...heh heh ... No son. I don't plan on doing that,” replied the skunktaur.
“Vroeg, it was so real!” Esteban responded in surprise.
“Wasn't it someone on your planet who once said that life is a dream?” Vroeg said.
“Oh yeah I think so, but I don't remember his name,” replied the boy, scratching his head.
“Vroeg, are you sure it's early? I have to prepare for the flight to New Bletchley this afternoon.”
“Oh...you young people, always living in a hurry. Doing things and more things! Relax and breathe a little, boy. Time is your most valuable treasure. Don't waste it with worries.”
“Vroeg. You smell pretty good! Can I continue to lean on you? I like it more and more. I do not get it.”
“Heh heh...of course! I got used to being your pillow. Besides, I like your company,” hy answered, smiling.
Esteban noticed that hys fur shone more intensely in the sun's rays than he had seen before. Also, he noticed that Amistad beach was full of people that day.
“Wow. Today a large number of people have come,” he declared.
“A lot of people always come, Esteban. You just haven't been paying attention, heh heh” Vroeg replied. In fact, the boy could see chakats, morphs, skunktaurs, and even humans, gathered in groups, greeting each other and happily sharing. Suddenly, the skunktaur said, “Come, Esteban, come with me. I feel like walking.”
“Where?” Esteban asked out of curiousity.
“I want to dip my paws in the ocean.”
“If you want to take a shower, you can come to my hotel room,” said the human.
“Oh no son. I just want to get my legs wet. Do not worry.”
“It's okay,” Esteban acceded. They both got off the mound together and began to walk slowly towards the sea. The skunktaur took Esteban by the arm, saying, “I'd like you to stay longer. But I know that college awaits you. However, I must tell you that I have seen you take control of your life little by little. You're doing it right. You've grown up, boy. Not everyone has the opportunity to achieve it during a single existence. Many have fallen into the sea from the surfboard and sadly drowned, overwhelmed by the turbulence of life. I feel sorry for them...you know, my heart aches for not doing more for my skunktaur brothers. How many have been lost like this?” Vroeg finished with a sad voice, while a chakat and a skunktaur greeted them as they passed. The latter were dressed in white, like hospital workers; Esteban found it familiar.
“Thank you Vroeg. Without your help I would not have been able to progress, in such a short time, as you say,” said the human. “And sure, you have helped many people in your long life. Also, it's not your fault. Each one must learn for himself.”
“There is a maxim in my world that says, ‘If you save a life, you save the entire universe.’” Esteban said when he reached the seashore.
Vroeg, with a sigh, replied, “Look at the crowd, Esteban. Sometimes I have lost myself in it, in my long walks through life, forgetting about the most important beings. I have a pain in my soul that I could never mitigate. I have not been a perfect person, nor a perfect father.”
“Hey! Don't worry, Vroeg,” said the boy, taking hym by the hands. “I remember the first thing you told me when I met you...that parents always forgive their children, when they are wrong, and children also forgive their parents, when love is true.”
“That is something you should always keep in mind, Esteban. Now I ask you to help me connect with HYM... Will you do it for me?”
“I will, Vroeg. You are my friend and you have become my mentor.”
“Oh, Esteban. I am so proud of you. Thanks a lot. You have discovered the wise inner being that each one has. Always listen to it, son,” said the skunktaur with tears in hys eyes. “I love you so much!”
“And I to you Vroeg” Esteban answered giving him a big hug. As the waves wet their feet, an energy of love began to surround them and spread across the beach. The people around them turned to them, smiling. The human, with tears of emotion, pointed.
“Oh, Vroeg. I am so happy here with you.”
“I know, son. Me too. But you have to travel, complete your studies, and reach your goal. Always remember that this is just an obstacle. Get up and get back on the road.”
“Thank you Vroeg... Vroeg... Vroeg…!” Suddenly, a scream was heard from inside the recovery chamber. The connected devices began to ring, alerting the nurse on duty and Lilethe, who had voluntarily been by his side for days.
Both nurses approached the capsule and could see that Esteban had woken up. Lilethe noticed that the human was sobbing excitedly and breathing on his own. They rushed to call the medical team on duty. Lilethe couldn't help but be amazed and glad to see hys lover with wide eyes once more.
In the lobby of a central Berdoovia hotel, there was Rogar, who had traveled from New Bletchley, hys niece Rena and Esteban's classmates, Lorna, Vera and Johnny.
“Greetings to all,” hy said in a serious voice. “Rena, guys, I hope you slept well.”
“Yes. The children and I slept well,” Rena declared.
“Dean Rogar. Lorna, Vera and I are going back to Amistad this afternoon. We were informed that classes will resume tomorrow. We have been in Berdoovia for five days and we sincerely wish we could do more for Esteban,” Jhonny said sadly.
“Yes. I understand guys. Thanks for coming. But I must tell you that this incident has caused a stir in the world government. The Chakona authorities are very concerned about this direct attack on a citizen of Earth and another from Grom. A couple of days ago, the council met in the capital and will take action against those who use psionic abilities.”
“Measures?” Rena asked worried.
“Yes, but I don't really know what they will be. The council is actively debating the issue. Perhaps nothing will happen, but the authorities of the Skunktaur Archipelago were also summoned. Possibly the prime minister of Chakona will come to speak with Esteban's family and with us.”
“I understand,” Rena replied with concern.
“What's up Rena?” Rogar asked.
“Esteban's mother, Sorah, is very upset and doesn't want to know anything about us skunktaurs. And his father Regt is emotionally broken. I want to help and comfort them, but they don't allow us to get close to them. Only Natany has been more gentle and reasonable.” Rena answered with tears in hys eyes.
“Easy, little one. It's natural. We have to have a lot of patience and empathy with them. They are suffering a lot.”
“Yes OK. The first day I said things that I shouldn't have said. I had anger in my heart. But I understand that the culprits are only those two.” Jhonny said while Lorna and Vera hugged him.
“Oh Johnny, in the same way, we understand your pain. My family and I love Esteban very much, and we also suffer because of this as you cannot imagine.” Rena answered, while everyone merged into a group hug. At that moment, Rena's personal communicator rang.
“Hello?”
“It’s Lilethe. Esteban came out of the coma spontaneously a couple of hours ago! The medical team is evaluating his condition and I have been preliminarily told that his general health has improved dramatically these five days. Some doctors are surprised!”
“That's fantastic Lilethe! Thanks for letting us know!” Rena responded excitedly.
“Esteban has spontaneously awakened from the coma!"
“That's wonderful!” Lorna said excitedly.
“Then we won't move from here! Truth?” Vera exclaimed.
“We’ll stay!” Jhonny said with conviction.
“Thanks guys. Now we’ll go to the hospital. I guess Esteban's family already knows it,” Rogar said. "Lilethe said they're already there," Rena concluded.
“Doctor, tell me, how is my son?” Sorah asked the doctor chakat who received them.
“Examinations show that damaged neurological connections have improved significantly since the patient entered our hospital. The treatments and timely measures we take are paying off, ma'am.”
“Oh thank you very much doctor,” Sorah replied.
“Doctor...and his body? It's fine? Will he be able to walk again?” Regthar asked impatiently.
“Fortunately, the broken rib did not pierce his lung. It was wedged into its place with surgery as soon as he arrived. Do not worry. Although his recovery will be slower, his son will walk again. Being an active athlete, running every day, will help a lot with that.”
“It's a great relief, doctor, thank you very much,” replied the Renzar.
“Doctor, and when can we see him?” Natany asked.
“In another hour, he will be in the common recovery room and he will be able to receive visitors. With your permission, I must go,” said the chakat, to then leave the place.
“Oh, Regt, Sorah, calm down both of you, everything will be fine!” Natany said excitedly as they hugged, relieved.
At that moment, through a side door to the living room, some chakats and a pair of skunktaurs entered. None of them wore white, so the Renzar assumed they weren't hospital officials.
In the recovery room, the nurses were doing the last checks on Esteban. Lilethe—keeping hys distance so as not to interfere with the work of hir colleagues—watched the scene with anticipation. When the last of the nurses was going to leave, Esteban suddenly grabbed hys hand and with a little voice said to hym, “Na... Natany. I want to see Natany, please...please…”
Lilethe was about to get closer, but when hy heard that, hy stopped in disappointment. Both nurses stared.
"I...I'll go find her, don't worry," Lilethe finally said before leaving the room.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks to
sethtriggs by the help to translation and grammar corrections and the wonderful drawings
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 Mark Sanders, Emily Foxtaur and Delfina belong
MarksanThe illustrations for this story were made by
sethtriggsCHAPTER 5 REVELATION
The next morning, Chakat Lorel arrived early at hir bar, located in downtown Amistad. After greeting some of hir employees, shi headed straight to hir office inside. Upon entering, shi turned on the television, where at that time the continental newscast was delivering the morning report.
“In the hours of last night, a human engineer—a Dewclaw student—was grievously wounded in an attack by two skunktaurs, in the parking lot of the Berdoovia Civic Hospital. The individual, named Esteban Melinao, suffered mental injuries as well as to his body, when attacked by skunktaurs and from his own companion, a Renzar, who was manipulated to attack him. The skunktaurs, whom also attacked a nurse of their same species, were detained by the Berdoovia police after being brought down by the victim, after recovering hys will...The police also indicated ...”
“What?!” Lorel exclaimed, as shi dropped the coffee cup to the floor. “Esteban!” shi cried, as anguish washed over hir. “This can not be!” The noise alerted Liner, who also rushed in.
“Lorel, what is it?” Shi asked.
“It can't be, Liner, watch the TV. Esteban. He was wounded in Berdoovia.”
“Esteban? The human engineer you met some time ago?”
“Yes. Oh Liner, I fear for your life. Those damn skunktaurs, I've never trusted them.”
“Lorel, don't talk like that. They are not all the same.”
“I'm sorry, but after this, I can't think of anything else,” added the chakat as shi hugged hir partner.
*In another part of the city, Jhonny, Lorna and Vera were about to enter the Capitol as tourists, when Lorna found out what happened with Esteban through a press release on hir communicator. The three friends and colleagues couldn't believe it. Lorna, the most affected, began to sob in concern.
“Nobody answered our calls,” Jhonny said in frustration.
“I don't know about you, but I can't keep calm while I'm on tour, while Esteban is seriously ill in Berdoovia,” Vera declared.
“Me neither,” said the human.
“Let's go to him!" Lorna suddenly exclaimed.
“Okay!” the other two responded in unison. “I will notify the course director. It is likely that if we go now, tomorrow we will not be on time for classes.”
“That's the least important to me,” Lorna added. “Let's go right now, to the UHS train station.”
*At her Amistad home, Delfina noticed that her husband, Mark Sanders, was absorbed, more than other times, watching television. She walked slowly over to the couch where the man used to sit staring at the set. She put her hands around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
“Good morning my love, did something happen? You are very quiet today,” she said quietly. But he did not reply. He was still focused on what the television was saying. Paying attention, Delfina realized that it was the news that had caught the attention of her husband.
“Everything is as always, nothing has changed!” The man suddenly exclaimed, then added, “All our baseness and mistakes are in them...damn skunktaurs.” Upon his declaration he clenched his teeth and hands, and a couple of tears ran down his cheek.
Emily, the man's foxtaur wife, had overheard everything as she walked in from the hall, and paused silently.
“But you are wrong, my love, I know some of them, they are wonderful and loving creatures...” Delfina said, but Mark looked at her silently, with a sad and neutral, stone-faced expression. The woman fell silent with a deep sigh and went into the kitchen with Emily, who followed, leaving Mark alone. The human slowly turned his head and continued staring at the screen. Emily, looking sad, sat at the table with her ears pressed to her head.
“That, it shouldn't have happened like that, you're wrong...” Delfina muttered.
*When Lilethe was able to return to the hospital after washing hymself of hys repellent secretions defensively, hy entered the room where Regt was sitting awaiting medical reports on Esteban's health. The Renzar looked at the ground with his hands on his head. He still couldn't take in what had happened. How, from one moment to the next, his life was engulfed by tragedy, once again.
“Regt. Apologies for the wait. I had to clean up and then the police interviewed me” said Lilethe.
“Yes, they also questioned me.” the Renzar answered.
“Did the doctors tell you something?”
“The forecast has not changed. He is still very serious and may die. Sorah and Natany are on their way, and my wife calls me from time to time asking about Esteban...and I...I don't have the courage to tell her how bad he is...” Regt replied, with tears in his eyes.
“Quiet. I'll go talk to the doctors.”
“Grrr... Don't ask me to calm down! You still owe me an explanation about all this Lilethe...why did it happen?” growled the furious Renzar. Lilethe seized with emotion; hy fell to the ground, crying. Hy felt deeply responsible for what happened.
“Sorry Regt...I...I didn't want this to happen. I tried to push Esteban away, to solve my problems by myself. I didn't want to keep him on my mind so Ugkar couldn't hurt him. That is why I did not respond to his calls or his messages. But...by pulling him away from me, inadvertently, I began to connect with him. And even though I fought to avoid it, my mind sent my emotions to him. I was afraid of Ugkar and Doren. And I wasn't sure I could get rid of them.”
“Grrr... Lilethe, didn't you think that would attract Esteban more? I don't know humans, but this boy started to worry precisely when he didn't know anything else about you. And when he came to look for you, I offered to accompany him, to take care of him, but instead...I almost killed him myself,” concluded Regt, slumping to the ground, in a sea of tears. Lilethe walked over to him and they both hugged, crying together. They stayed like this, for a long time, until one of the hospital's chakat doctors approached them.
“Excuse me. Lilethe. Mr. Regt. I regret to inform you that we have done everything possible, applying the latest technology to reconstruct Mr. Melinao’s damaged neural networks. But it was not enough. Currently his condition is critical. There are no improvements. Have his relatives arrived?”
“No, but they're on their way,” Regt pointed out, standing up.
“Well, I think it's good, so they can say goodbye to him. I'm... sorry. "
"Noooo ! This cannot be true! Doctor!” Regt yelled, as he held the doctor against the wall.
“I'm so sorry,” the chakat repeated. “We did what we could.”
“Doctor, there have to be other ways,” Lilethe pleaded.
“You know about these things, Lilethe, you know better than anyone. Sorry,” shi reiterated to hym before leaving.
“Grrr...grrr...No! He is my son! Esteban!” exclaimed the Renzar, immersed in pain and tears. Lilethe clung to him as tightly as hy could, to contain him. But to hymself, hy felt hys soul shattered.
After a few hours, Sorah and Natany arrived at the hospital. Some time later, Jhonny, Lorna and Vera, their friends from the university, did as well. They were all in a larger room, waiting to see Esteban. They were accompanied by some doctors from the hospital and other nurses.
“Grrr... You! It was all your fault!” Sorah suddenly yelled as she lunged at Lilethe, managing to hit hym across the face. Natany and Regthar hugged her trying to calm her down. The skunktaur, to avoid further trouble, left the room. Sorah couldn't stop crying—neither did Lorna, who chased after Lilethe.
“Wait! I know you are suffering Lilethe. This was not your fault,” the chakat said with sorrow. Lilethe, without saying a word, grasped hir and began to cry bitterly.
“This is crazy!” Jhonny said suddenly. “Esteban is a good person and he did not deserve it. He came here to fulfill a dream...if the inhabitants of this planet still hate us for being human, it means that our ancestors failed to create them free from our miseries! They are no better than us!” The human exclaimed, and then left the place, with a mixture of pain and anger in his heart.
As the rest of those present waited patiently to enter to see Esteban, an alarm sounded in the next room. Several doctors and nurses rushed in. Regt, Natany, Sorah and the others did not understand what was happening.
“Stay here,” ordered one of the nurses. Lilethe was still being held by Lorna in the hallway outside, when suddenly, the skunktaur looked up and hy fell heavily to the ground, unconscious. The chakat asked for help and a couple of nurses came quickly to help hir.
*
When he woke up, Esteban felt a cool breeze on his face. He opened his eyes and saw some clouds in the sky. He realized that his head rested on the warm furry body of a skunktaur.
“Hey! So you are sleeping again. If you do it every time someone talks to you, you won't get very far in graduate school, son...heh heh!”
“Huh? Vroeg? What time is it?” Esteban said, confused.
“It's early. The sun has not set yet.”
“I see,” said the human, sitting up. “Vroeg. I had a strange dream...I dreamed that I had a family in Chakona. And I also dreamed that you...were dying...”
“Huh? Me? Die?...heh heh ... No son. I don't plan on doing that,” replied the skunktaur.
“Vroeg, it was so real!” Esteban responded in surprise.
“Wasn't it someone on your planet who once said that life is a dream?” Vroeg said.
“Oh yeah I think so, but I don't remember his name,” replied the boy, scratching his head.
“Vroeg, are you sure it's early? I have to prepare for the flight to New Bletchley this afternoon.”
“Oh...you young people, always living in a hurry. Doing things and more things! Relax and breathe a little, boy. Time is your most valuable treasure. Don't waste it with worries.”
“Vroeg. You smell pretty good! Can I continue to lean on you? I like it more and more. I do not get it.”
“Heh heh...of course! I got used to being your pillow. Besides, I like your company,” hy answered, smiling.
Esteban noticed that hys fur shone more intensely in the sun's rays than he had seen before. Also, he noticed that Amistad beach was full of people that day.
“Wow. Today a large number of people have come,” he declared.
“A lot of people always come, Esteban. You just haven't been paying attention, heh heh” Vroeg replied. In fact, the boy could see chakats, morphs, skunktaurs, and even humans, gathered in groups, greeting each other and happily sharing. Suddenly, the skunktaur said, “Come, Esteban, come with me. I feel like walking.”
“Where?” Esteban asked out of curiousity.
“I want to dip my paws in the ocean.”
“If you want to take a shower, you can come to my hotel room,” said the human.
“Oh no son. I just want to get my legs wet. Do not worry.”
“It's okay,” Esteban acceded. They both got off the mound together and began to walk slowly towards the sea. The skunktaur took Esteban by the arm, saying, “I'd like you to stay longer. But I know that college awaits you. However, I must tell you that I have seen you take control of your life little by little. You're doing it right. You've grown up, boy. Not everyone has the opportunity to achieve it during a single existence. Many have fallen into the sea from the surfboard and sadly drowned, overwhelmed by the turbulence of life. I feel sorry for them...you know, my heart aches for not doing more for my skunktaur brothers. How many have been lost like this?” Vroeg finished with a sad voice, while a chakat and a skunktaur greeted them as they passed. The latter were dressed in white, like hospital workers; Esteban found it familiar.
“Thank you Vroeg. Without your help I would not have been able to progress, in such a short time, as you say,” said the human. “And sure, you have helped many people in your long life. Also, it's not your fault. Each one must learn for himself.”
“There is a maxim in my world that says, ‘If you save a life, you save the entire universe.’” Esteban said when he reached the seashore.
Vroeg, with a sigh, replied, “Look at the crowd, Esteban. Sometimes I have lost myself in it, in my long walks through life, forgetting about the most important beings. I have a pain in my soul that I could never mitigate. I have not been a perfect person, nor a perfect father.”
“Hey! Don't worry, Vroeg,” said the boy, taking hym by the hands. “I remember the first thing you told me when I met you...that parents always forgive their children, when they are wrong, and children also forgive their parents, when love is true.”
“That is something you should always keep in mind, Esteban. Now I ask you to help me connect with HYM... Will you do it for me?”
“I will, Vroeg. You are my friend and you have become my mentor.”
“Oh, Esteban. I am so proud of you. Thanks a lot. You have discovered the wise inner being that each one has. Always listen to it, son,” said the skunktaur with tears in hys eyes. “I love you so much!”
“And I to you Vroeg” Esteban answered giving him a big hug. As the waves wet their feet, an energy of love began to surround them and spread across the beach. The people around them turned to them, smiling. The human, with tears of emotion, pointed.
“Oh, Vroeg. I am so happy here with you.”
“I know, son. Me too. But you have to travel, complete your studies, and reach your goal. Always remember that this is just an obstacle. Get up and get back on the road.”
“Thank you Vroeg... Vroeg... Vroeg…!” Suddenly, a scream was heard from inside the recovery chamber. The connected devices began to ring, alerting the nurse on duty and Lilethe, who had voluntarily been by his side for days.
Both nurses approached the capsule and could see that Esteban had woken up. Lilethe noticed that the human was sobbing excitedly and breathing on his own. They rushed to call the medical team on duty. Lilethe couldn't help but be amazed and glad to see hys lover with wide eyes once more.
*In the lobby of a central Berdoovia hotel, there was Rogar, who had traveled from New Bletchley, hys niece Rena and Esteban's classmates, Lorna, Vera and Johnny.
“Greetings to all,” hy said in a serious voice. “Rena, guys, I hope you slept well.”
“Yes. The children and I slept well,” Rena declared.
“Dean Rogar. Lorna, Vera and I are going back to Amistad this afternoon. We were informed that classes will resume tomorrow. We have been in Berdoovia for five days and we sincerely wish we could do more for Esteban,” Jhonny said sadly.
“Yes. I understand guys. Thanks for coming. But I must tell you that this incident has caused a stir in the world government. The Chakona authorities are very concerned about this direct attack on a citizen of Earth and another from Grom. A couple of days ago, the council met in the capital and will take action against those who use psionic abilities.”
“Measures?” Rena asked worried.
“Yes, but I don't really know what they will be. The council is actively debating the issue. Perhaps nothing will happen, but the authorities of the Skunktaur Archipelago were also summoned. Possibly the prime minister of Chakona will come to speak with Esteban's family and with us.”
“I understand,” Rena replied with concern.
“What's up Rena?” Rogar asked.
“Esteban's mother, Sorah, is very upset and doesn't want to know anything about us skunktaurs. And his father Regt is emotionally broken. I want to help and comfort them, but they don't allow us to get close to them. Only Natany has been more gentle and reasonable.” Rena answered with tears in hys eyes.
“Easy, little one. It's natural. We have to have a lot of patience and empathy with them. They are suffering a lot.”
“Yes OK. The first day I said things that I shouldn't have said. I had anger in my heart. But I understand that the culprits are only those two.” Jhonny said while Lorna and Vera hugged him.
“Oh Johnny, in the same way, we understand your pain. My family and I love Esteban very much, and we also suffer because of this as you cannot imagine.” Rena answered, while everyone merged into a group hug. At that moment, Rena's personal communicator rang.
“Hello?”
“It’s Lilethe. Esteban came out of the coma spontaneously a couple of hours ago! The medical team is evaluating his condition and I have been preliminarily told that his general health has improved dramatically these five days. Some doctors are surprised!”
“That's fantastic Lilethe! Thanks for letting us know!” Rena responded excitedly.
“Esteban has spontaneously awakened from the coma!"
“That's wonderful!” Lorna said excitedly.
“Then we won't move from here! Truth?” Vera exclaimed.
“We’ll stay!” Jhonny said with conviction.
“Thanks guys. Now we’ll go to the hospital. I guess Esteban's family already knows it,” Rogar said. "Lilethe said they're already there," Rena concluded.
*“Doctor, tell me, how is my son?” Sorah asked the doctor chakat who received them.
“Examinations show that damaged neurological connections have improved significantly since the patient entered our hospital. The treatments and timely measures we take are paying off, ma'am.”
“Oh thank you very much doctor,” Sorah replied.
“Doctor...and his body? It's fine? Will he be able to walk again?” Regthar asked impatiently.
“Fortunately, the broken rib did not pierce his lung. It was wedged into its place with surgery as soon as he arrived. Do not worry. Although his recovery will be slower, his son will walk again. Being an active athlete, running every day, will help a lot with that.”
“It's a great relief, doctor, thank you very much,” replied the Renzar.
“Doctor, and when can we see him?” Natany asked.
“In another hour, he will be in the common recovery room and he will be able to receive visitors. With your permission, I must go,” said the chakat, to then leave the place.
“Oh, Regt, Sorah, calm down both of you, everything will be fine!” Natany said excitedly as they hugged, relieved.
At that moment, through a side door to the living room, some chakats and a pair of skunktaurs entered. None of them wore white, so the Renzar assumed they weren't hospital officials.
*In the recovery room, the nurses were doing the last checks on Esteban. Lilethe—keeping hys distance so as not to interfere with the work of hir colleagues—watched the scene with anticipation. When the last of the nurses was going to leave, Esteban suddenly grabbed hys hand and with a little voice said to hym, “Na... Natany. I want to see Natany, please...please…”
Lilethe was about to get closer, but when hy heard that, hy stopped in disappointment. Both nurses stared.
"I...I'll go find her, don't worry," Lilethe finally said before leaving the room.
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Thanks to
sethtriggs by the help to translation and grammar corrections and the wonderful drawings
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