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

CHAPTER 6 FORGIVENESS

“Madam Sorah, Mr. Regtnar, I am the prime minister of Chakona,” said one of the newly arrived chakats.
“And I am the head of government of the Skunktaur Archipelago. It's a pleasure to meet you,” added another of those present, a skunktaur with abundant black and white fur. The Renzar looked at each other and then greeted the authorities warmly. Then the prime minister, in a soft voice, declared, “We deeply regret what happened. I want you to know that the federal government will file charges against those responsible for this attack, and that the government will bear all the medical expenses for the recovery of young Esteban. You should not worry about that.”
"Thank you, Minister," Sorah answered.
“On the other hand, in the Archipelago, we will enforce the full weight of the law on the skunktaurs who have dishonored our species. Make no mistake about it.”
“Mr. Governor, with all due respect, it is incomprehensible that skunktaur individuals capable of cowardly attacking and manipulating live free in our society. Personally, I had already been attacked by one of his kind this year. Tell me, what measures will you take so that this does not happen again?” Regt asked seriously.
“Yes. We are investigating Mr. Regthar. I assure you that we will get to the bottom of this matter. The police are collecting all the background information,” hy responded.
“I want you to be calm. Chakona is still a good place to live,” said the prime minister.
"Apparently not, if there are any of them nearby," Sorah declared, pointing to Rena and Rogar, who had arrived on the campus with the students through a side door.
“I understand your concern, Mrs. Sorah, but believe me that those skunktaurs who have abused their abilities, have been few exceptions during our history. The vast majority of us use them for the benefit of others. Please don't think badly of us,” the governor skunktaur pleaded. But Sorah fell silent, folding her arms.
“Sorah, please. The governor is right,” Regt told her, taking her by the hands.
As the authorities spoke to the Renzar, Lilethe sidled up next to Natany, and speaking in a low voice, hy told her, “Natany, come with me. Esteban asked to see you.”
“What...is he awake?” She asked with surprise.
“Yes. And it seems that he needs to talk to you. I guess in private. So, join me.”
“Agreed.”
They both left the hall and headed for the recovery room. Once there, Lilethe ushered Natany in, staying outside. Two chakat nurses were on the other side of the room guarding vital medical devices. When Natany saw Esteban awake, she couldn't help but be moved to tears. The human, with a wide smile, spoke her name.
“Natany!”
“Oh Esteban. I wish I could hug you. But being in that bed, I can't.”
“Hahaha. Quiet. It is enough for me that you are here. Sorry to worry. And Regt and Sorah?”
“They...they are outside waiting to see you...” Natany said, sobbing.
“Okay...okay...keep calm big girl. I'm good. I will recover and go home to you. You'll see.” Esteban said with a slow voice. Natany caressed his cheeks tenderly, giving him soft licks. Esteban took her face in his hands, losing himself in her huge red eyes.
“Natany, listen to me. I need to ask you for two favors. First, get me a locking headband. I don't want any skunktaur to get into my head and find out what I'm going to tell you.”
“Oh don't worry. As a precaution, I brought yours. I have it here with me.”
“Perfect! Put it on me now, please.”
"Okay!" Said Renzar as she took out Vroeg's diadem and put it on her head.
“Thanks Natany. And the second thing I want to ask you is...”
The nurses, who were on the other side of the room, checking the monitoring devices, were startled by Natany's thunderous exclamation.
“What?! You… Did you go crazy? Esteban! You can't ask me that!”
“Natany, you're the only one who can help me. Please. This is very important to me. And it has to be as soon as possible. Do not tell anyone. Much less Sorah and Regt. I beg you.”
“But Esteban. We can get in trouble. It is very risky, especially for you.”
“Do not worry about me. I'll be fine. Please, Natany.” the boy pleaded again. The Renzar didn't know what to think. It was true that the only one who could help Esteban in her request was her, because she was a police constable. But at that moment, her head was a sea of doubts.
“Ma'am, you can't yell like that in this place,” one of the nurses reprimanded, approaching the stretcher.
“Oops! Sorry, sorry,” Natany answered ashamed.
“The patient needs to be calm. Visitors will enter the room one at a time.”
“Okay, understood. Thank you,” the renzar affirmed.
“It's okay, Esteban. Sorah and Regt want to see you, so I'll go outside. I can't promise you anything.”
“I know you'll help me Natany. Everything will be fine. Don't worry,” Esteban finished off. After Natany left, it was Sorah's turn to enter. Excited to tears, she leaned over Esteban's chest, while the boy caressed her. She kissed him, sweetly licked his face and kissed his lips.
“Calm down, Mom. Please. Don't blame Lilethe or the skunktaurs for what happened. Lilethe is a good person. Everyone here is. I love Lilethe very much and it would hurt me if you hated hym.”
“I know, little one. I do not blame them. I was just angry. I had anger and grief. But I don't hate them. Much less Lilethe.”
“Thank you mother bear. That relieves me. Love you.”
“And I you, son.”
After leaving, Sorah gave her place to Regthar, who entered the room, very anxious. When he saw Esteban lying on the stretcher and convalescing, his hands began to shake and he could not stand. He fell to his knees, exploding in a cry that Esteban had never seen in him. One of the nurses present helped him to his feet and offered to give him some calming medicine. But Regthar refused.
“Don't cry dad. This was not your fault.” Esteban said mournfully.
“Sorry… For Grom, forgive me son… I… I didn't mean to do this to you… I'm so sorry.”
“Calm down dad. I already told you. This is not your fault. You defended us, remember? You finally managed to subdue those two skunktaurs.”
"Esteban son… I feel so bad for what I did to you!"
“Regt! Father. Come closer to me, please,” Esteban said in an attempt to calm him down. The Renzar put his face within the boy's reach. He wiped his tears with his hands, and with a smile, he said, “Calm down, big boy. You forgive me for worrying, and Sorah. I'll be fine. You will see...”
“E...Esteba...I'll understand if you don't want to continue living with us. I'll understand if you hate us. I can only say that I am very sorry.”
“No! I don't want to leave you! What are you saying! You are my family. And I love you all.” Esteban said enthusiastically. “I love you dad.”
“Oh...Esteban,” Regthar replied, as he gave the human a kiss on the forehead.
*
Outside the room, there were crowds of people waiting to learn of the human's health, including the prime minister of Chakona, the Skunktaur Archipelago governor, his advisers, and the director of the Berdoovia hospital. Also there were Rogar, Rena and hys kits, Esteban's classmates, Jhonny, Lorna, Vera, and Natany. In a corner, away from everyone, was Lilethe, trying to be inconspicuous. Hy was tired; hy had stayed day and night with hir hospital colleagues for five days caring for Esteban. Hy didn't understand why this time, he hadn't asked about hym. And hy did not understand not why he had put on the diadem. Apparently, hy didn't want to feel hym close.
Hy was so focused on hys thoughts, Lilethe didn't realize that Sorah had approached hym. Without saying a word, the renzar reached down and took the skunktaur’s face in her hands. Tenderly, she began to lick the side where days ago, she herself had attacked hym.
“Forgive me daughter,” she whispered, with tears in her eyes.
“Sorah!”
“Forgive me Lilethe. I shouldn't have been mad at you. You protected Esteban and then took care of him while he was in a coma.”
“Sorah… I… I'm so sorry. I wanted to do what was best for him. Forgive me...” said the skunktaur, before starting to cry.
“I know, daughter, I know. Come, let me hug you,” said Sorah excitedly.
“Thank you for everything you've done for him. I want you to know that we are all grateful!” Sorah concluded as she hugged Lilethe. They stayed like that, for a long time, comforting each other, while the others waited to enter the recovery room to see Esteban.
“Rogar! Rena! Nice to see you. I'm sorry you worried about me.”
“Esteban, little one,” said Rogar. “We found out from our link.”
“Link?”
“Yes,” Rena explained. “We believe it is a legacy of Vroeg. Hy made you part of us, as you were hys last companion.”
“Wow, I'm sorry I scared you like that. I… I didn't send any thoughts.”
“We know, son. It was something spontaneous. You did it unconsciously.” Rogar said. “Somehow my brother managed to link you to our family. But that does not matter. The good thing is that you are on the mend.”
“That's how it is. Dad had highly developed skills. It's good that you're better.”
“Thanks to both of you. Rogar, what I regret the most is that I will be late in my postgraduate studies.”
“Oh don't worry about it. The university authorities decided to support you in a special way, you and your classmates. We will give you leveling classes, to update you.”
“Classmates?”
“Yes. Jhonny, Lorna and Vera decided to stay in Berdoovia with you. And so that you are not alone and have your study group, they will study with you.”
“Are they here?” Esteban said with emotion.
“Yes, they are outside waiting to see you.”
“Wow, they are crazy.”
“They love you very much.” Rogar said. “Rena and I will go out so that they can enter. We love you very much Esteban. You'll be fine!”
“Thanks to both of you. I love you too. Rena, say hello to your kits and your partner.” Esteban requested.
“I will do it.”
After leaving, it was the turn of his classmates, who in the same way, were excited to see the boy conscious and smiling.
“Esteban. I've already cracked the code Lilethe sent you. Didn't hy tell you?”
“I haven't talked to hy yet, Jhonny.”
“Okay. It was in Morse code. It was a simple ‘I love you.’”
“Really?” Esteban said, surprised.
“Yes,” Lorna interrupted. “When are you going to formalize your relationship?”
“Eh?? Heh heh… I don't know.”
“Heeeey! Come on Esteban, don't be an idiot! After what you've been through together, are you going to let her go?”
“Lorna, I… You remind me of Vroeg.”
“Oops! I'm sorry,” said the chakat, while everyone started to laugh.
“Well, visiting hours are over. They must leave the room,” directed the nurse on duty.
“Yes. Thank you. We're leaving” Vera replied “Well Esteban, we'll see you later.”
“Yes, take care of yourself, brother,” Jhonny said in turn, while Lorna said goodbye with a kiss.
After his friends left, the last to visit Esteban were the authorities, the prime minister and governor. Esteban asked to speak to them alone. From outside the room and through a window, Lilethe watched the scene curiously. Regardless, hy was glad to see hys dearest friend recovering.
*
When night fell, a group of policemen arrived at the Berdoovia hospital, entering through the main entrance. Some went up to the floor where Esteban was. One asked the nurses on duty to go to the bathroom in his resting chair. As he left, he slipped down the corridor towards the exit of the suite, where Natany was waiting for him. When he arrived, the Renzar covered Esteban with a blanket and pushed the chair toward the elevator. Upon arrival, the police officers escorted them downstairs and into a large vehicle, then hurriedly left the hospital facilities.
Lilethe, who was on duty at that minute, wanted to visit Esteban on her usual rounds, to try to talk to him. When hy got to her room, hy was surprised to see it empty.
*
In the city prison, the skunktaurs arrested for the incident were in separate cells. Ugkar was handcuffed and chained. He had a device on his head to mitigate his psionic power.
“Hey, you! You have visitors!” one of the morph guards guarding the cell announced. They all wore a blocking headband as a precaution.
Upon opening the door, a gaunt figure in a chair made entry with difficulty. The visitor asked the guard to close the door. Ugkar did not recognize him at first. But he did eventually, seeing the figure more closely.
“What do you want?”
“I came to tell you that I will not press charges against you. Nor against your partner.”
“Bah! What about that? Needless. Everything is recorded by the cameras in the parking lot. Do you want me to thank you?”
“No.”
“So tell me human, what more do you want!”
“Forgive me.”
“Eh?”
“I beg your forgiveness for all the pain that my ancestors caused yours.” Esteban said, getting on his knees.
“Hahaha. It's stupid! How can I forgive you for something you didn't do?”
“For the same reason you hate me… For something I didn't do.”
The skunktaur was silent looking at the human. Hy did not understand the reason for this dialogue. Still, hy decided to play along.
“And what more do you want from me?” hy exclaimed with disdain. But Esteban was silent. After a few seconds, he raised his head, and looking directly into Ugkar's eyes, removed the diadem from his head.
“Eh? What are you doing?” asked the surprised prisoner. “Don't you know that I can fry your brain if I wanted to?”
“I know,” the human answered, and then, outlined a smile. Ugkar was surprised. Hy noticed that the boy was not afraid of hym.
“Why… Why do you expose yourself to me like this? Are you crazy?”
“Because, if I'm asking your forgiveness, I do it sincerely. And it's not just me who asks for it.”
“Ok… Go crazy boy. You are just a kit. I don't want any more problems,” replied the skunktaur, looking down.
“Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Our parents too. I hated mine. But one day I understood this truth.”
“What do you know? Now go, I will not repeat it to you.”
“Ugkar, give yours a chance,” Esteban concluded, before standing up with difficulty. The pain in his body was at times very hard. As he took a few steps forward, the boy stumbled and fell to the ground. The skunktaur was surprised. Hy didn't expect the human to come to hym, after what happened. As hy watched, a thought suddenly arose in hys mind.
“Wait...you!” hy exclaimed, opening hys eyes. “Why? It can't be...!” hy said astonished, dropping down and throwing hys body heavily on the floor. Esteban, who had finally managed to stand up, approached him leaning on a crutch. He stared at the skunktaur, but now, he saw hym from above. With a smile, the boy crouched down and threw himself on the cold floor of that cell. He crawled up to seat his head on the skunktaur's body.
“You have a smell very similar to your FATHER,” Esteban said with a smile. Ugkar was stunned. A chill ran through everything. Hy felt like running away, but the chains and the human leaning on him prevented him. Suddenly, and unintentionally, tears began to run down his cheeks. In his mind hy began to visualize the old skunktaur before him.
“No… No… It can't be… Perhaps you… Dad?” hy asked sadly, before closing hys eyes and going unconscious. Esteban also closed his and smiled. He knew inside himself that he was doing the right thing.
After about ten minutes, Ugkar woke up. With tears in his eyes, hy looked around. Hy was still in that cold cell in chains. With surprise, hy saw that Esteban was still resting on him.
“What... What happened? You... What more do you want from me?” Asked the skunktaur.
“I want nothing more than to feel your smell. It is comforting.”
“How... How can you say that after what I did to you...”
“The past is dead. Rescue only what works for you and the rest, it's not worth it.” Esteban said as he took hys hand. The skunktaur flinched once more. Hy closed his eyes and stayed like that for a long time. Hys tears did not stop flowing. At one point, hy squeezed Esteban's hand, and hy smiled again.
The human and the skunktaur remained together until the sound of a buzzer in the cell indicated that visiting hours had ended. Esteban opened his eyes and again struggled to his feet. The skunktaur looked at him from the ground and asked.
“Because you did—why did you come here to tell me?”
“Because after everything Vroeg did for me, how could I not do something for his son? I owed it to him, Ugkar. Besides, hy hurt me so much when hy left, that I wanted to meet you. You smell like hym. I told you that I was not the only one who wanted to apologize.”
“But I...I didn't know you met hym.”
“I did not know that you were hys pain, until you left me on the brink of death. That's where I knew who you were. What a crazy coincidence don't you think?” Esteban said.
Ugkar smiled, for the first time since the talk began.
“Now I understand why you could reject my power. Hy was with you.”
“I don't know Ugkar. I only raised my hands against you, because I wanted to protect Lilethe.”
“Oh... Lilethe. I guess hy is not going to forgive me.”
“You will have to ask hym. Forgiveness...it's not something simple, I suppose… If people could forgive more,” Esteban said.
“Tha...thanks for coming.” Ugkar said, looking down.
“If you really want to thank me, forgive your dad. I know it's hard. I still struggle with it. But you will feel lighter. Believe me.” Esteban finished before leaving.
“Take care of Lilethe,” the skunktaur finally sighed.
“I'll do better than you. I can guarantee that to you.” Esteban answered without looking back.

<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks to  sethtriggs by the help to translation and grammar corrections and the wonderful drawings