This is the fourth book of "Stories from Chakona" serie set in the concepts and ideas created by  Goldfur
The present story is titled "Ties of Life" and tells the continuation of previous three books. On this occasion, the art was done by  moogle007 (Esteban Sivem based on  sethtriggs design)

I hope you enjoy it.

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CHAPTER 08


Bluma Triny and Sorah didn't take long to arrive at the center of Amistad, traveling by metro. Hajo curiously watched the colors of the city as he rode on his mother's shoulders while they all walked towards a building near the station.
"Sorah, I don't understand why you lied to your family saying we would go to the supermarket. Why haven't you talked to your husband about your suspicion?" Bluma inquired as they crossed the building's hall.
"If everything turns out as I believe, I want to surprise Regthar and the whole family. I'm sure Dad and Mom will also be happy," the renzar replied with a smile. Bluma, with a look of surprise, blurted out:

"Are your parents still in Chakona?"
"Yes! They're staying at the Civitas Hotel. I myself am surprised by this second wind in their relationship... And that they haven't fought until now, heh heh."
"Oh, wow, maybe they need the services of a Bluma Triny in their lives to maintain their relationship, ha ha ha..."
"Ha ha ha... I don't think so. Mom is as persuasive a female as you are. If anyone is good at stoking the flame of love and passion between the two of them, it's her. I can assure you of that."
"Heh, heh, I see. And I understand. Because, between you and me, your father is a very handsome male, heh heh heh. That dappled white fur must be very soft... I can imagine what your initiation with him was like!"
"Heh, heh... That was many years ago. But as a little girl, I loved sleeping in his arms. His skin is very soft, yes."
"And will you introduce him to me someday?" the fox inquired, animatedly wagging her tail.
"Of course! But don't forget about Mom. She has a lot of experience in these affairs. And as you know, renzar females are very territorial."
"Yes, I know. And I respect that. And Varta as well, of course. But don't worry. I won't do anything to your dear father... Nothing he doesn't want, of course, heh heh heh."
"Oh, Bluma! Ha ha ha," Sorah laughed as they approached a counter attended by a chakat nurse.
"Good morning. I've come to confirm my tests from last week," Sorah said to the chakat, while setting Hajo down on the floor.
"Good morning. I suppose you are Sorah Groven. Come with me, please," the taur said, inviting Sorah to follow hym down a corridor.
"Hajo, stay with aunt Bluma for a moment and behave. I'll be right back."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him. Good luck," Bluma said as she took Hajo's hand. The little renzar made a serious expression as he parted from his mother.
"Calm down, my little neighbor. Mom will be back soon. Have you thought about how fun it will be for you if you have a new little brother to play with?" the fox said with a smile, tenderly stroking the child's head.

***

A gentle breeze swayed the branches of the trees in the cemetery. Esteban and Fa Ping looked at each other without saying a word. In the engineer's eyes, the man had an unusual appearance. Although he wore simple clothes, he possessed an elegant bearing that, for Esteban, evoked a certain air of solemnity. His black hair ended in a striking ponytail that gave him an almost exotic look. Fa Ping slowly approached him and said in a serene voice:
"You must be Esteban. Rena has told me a lot about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Eh... Rena?... But..."
"I know you must have many questions, Esteban. Don't be afraid. Today I will answer them all, if you want."
The engineer didn't know what to say. Vroeg had confessed to him before dying that hy regretted finding out about Ugkar's existence too late and not being there for hym. But hy had never mentioned an adopted human son.

Sensing the young man's tension, Ping took the initiative to start the conversation.

"I placed violets around the graves because it was Vroeg's favorite fragrance, heh heh. I remember very well that when I was a child, I 'forced' hym to perfume hymself with violets so hy would smell better. Did you notice that scent in hys fur?"

"Eh?... Yes... Vroeg always smelled very good," Esteban responded tremulously. "Especially when hy smiled," he added.
"Heh heh heh... Yes. It's a beautiful quality of skunktaurs. They smell good when they're happy."
Then, after sighing, in a more serious tone, Ping declared:
"You know, Esteban, I was able to see Maine one last time and say goodbye to hym, on the same beach where hy found me when I was a lost child. However, I couldn't be with Vroeg. Rena told me that you were with hym when hy passed away. How I would have liked to be with hym. I ask you a favor, if it's not uncomfortable for you, could you tell me what that last moment with hym was like?"

Esteban shuddered upon hearing that question. Although Fa Ping was a complete stranger, he somehow felt he could trust him. He closed his eyes and recalled that special moment he treasured like a precious jewel deep in his heart.

"I was just passing through Amistad," he began, "waiting to travel to New Bletchley to start my studies at the university. I met Vroeg by chance. Although, after all I've experienced, I doubt that coincidences exist..."

"That's understandable," Ping nodded.

"In those two weeks I was in Amistad," Esteban continued, "Vroeg spoke to me about a trip. Hy mentioned it several times in our conversations. But I didn't understand what hy meant until it was too late. On my last day, I said goodbye to hym. I confess it pained me greatly to leave hym alone on that hill. I had grown accustomed to hys company, hy had won my heart... I hired a private transport to get to the airport quickly. And coincidentally..." Esteban said, then looking at Fa Ping with a smile, "the driver was another skunktaur from the Red Paw house. It was hy who made me understand that Vroeg was speaking of hys own death. I asked hym to return quickly to the beach. When we got back, Vroeg was still there, serene, sitting on the sand.
Chakastra had already set, but I will never forget the brightness of hys eyes and the peace in hys gaze. I asked hym why hy was still there. Hy looked at me tenderly and said, 'You're a good boy... Don't cry, remember that this is just a hiccup in the long race of existence.' Then hy asked me to nestle my head against hym and said, “Take my hand, Esteban. Stay with me.'"

The young man, deeply moved, continued his story with a lump in his throat.

"I begged Vroeg not to abandon me. But hy told me hy would always be here, in my heart... And it's true, because from that moment on, I have carried hym within me..." Esteban concluded, looking at Ping with tears in his eyes.

The man rising to his full height, took a few steps towards him and, placing his hands at his sides, made a solemn bow.

"Thank you, Esteban."

As he rose again, the engineer noticed that the man was shedding tears, though without changing his kind gaze. Esteban instinctively approached him and gave him an emotional hug. Ping uttered words in an unknown language to him, and then repeated:

"Thank you, Esteban. Thank you for bringing Dad back, if only for an instant. Come, sit with me next to them. Don't be afraid. You have told me about how Vroeg died. Sit with me and allow me to tell you in return, how hy lived. I know that, from our human perspective, you and I will be able to bear faithful testimony to our life alongside the skunktaurs, and you will agree with me about how wonderful these creatures are."

Esteban, shaken by the warmth of that man, sat down next to him, in front of the gravestones of Vroeg and Maine. Ping began to recount how he had met Maine and Vroeg and why the skunktaurs had kept strict secrecy about his existence. The engineer was fascinated by what he heard, while the wind continued to sway the branches of the lush trees. Hours passed and neither of them had noticed the presence of two skunktaurs who were observing them from afar.

"Our great brother Ping was right. That boy Esteban also came here today," said Chorre with a smile.

"Humans don't have our talents, but they possess something equally unerring, what they call 'intuition'. Somehow, Ping knew Esteban would come here today. Coincidences don't exist, Dad used to say, remember?" Rena inquired.

"Heh, heh, heh. Of course I remember."
"Let's go join them. And allow me to introduce you to Esteban Sivem, son of Sorah and Regthar. And a member of our family," Rena concluded, leading Chorre by the hand.

***

When Sorah and Hajo returned home, they were surprised to see that Lilethe was already there. The skunktaur greeted them both with an excited hug.
"Lilethe! What happened? Why are you home so early?" Sorah asked.
"Nothing bad, Mom. There were simply no more patients on the schedule. Besides, I asked Sachi to let me out a few hours early because I felt very strong emotions from Esteban. I called his PADD but he's not answering."
"Strong emotions? Oh no!..."
"No! No!... Calm down, Mom. I'm sure he's okay."
"By Grom, I hope so. He mentioned this morning that he was going to the cemetery to see Vroeg. He has doubts about continuing to help Brend."
"I see. It must be that," said the skunktaur. Sorah, with a smile on her lips, approached hym and declared:
"I'm coming from the medical center... Lilethe... I'm pregnant!"
"What! Is that true?!" Lilethe exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes! Last week I had preliminary tests that were inconclusive. And now it's confirmed!" the renzar said excitedly.
"Oh by Grom! Mom, this is wonderful! Hajo, you'll have a little sibling!" Lilethe exclaimed joyfully.
"Yes, tonight I'll tell Regthar, Natany and my parents. They'll be so happy!"
"Yes! Oh Sorah, what happiness. We have to celebrate this new news. Let me touch your belly, please, let me feel it," said Lilethe, resting hys head on the renzar's soft skin. After concentrating for a moment, a revelation appeared in the skunktaur nurse's mind.
"It will be a female!"
"Oh Lilethe, are you sure? They haven't told me that yet," Sorah said in amazement.
"I'm sure!"
"So Natany will be very happy, heh heh heh."
"We'll all be happy, Momma bear. We'll all be happy to welcome the new member of the family, heh heh heh," Lilethe concluded, lovingly embracing hys adoptive mother.
Meanwhile, little Hajo had stood on his two feet, approaching the window. The child had his gaze fixed on the horizon, although the sea could not be seen from there. He sighed from time to time while babbling unintelligible words to Sorah and Lilethe. They looked at each other in surprise and commented on how much the little renzar had grown in recent years.

***

At the cemetery, Rena and Chorre waited a prudent amount of time and then approached the humans, greeting them effusively.
"Chorre, this is Esteban. Esteban, this is Chorre Skunktaur, my brother," Rena said with a smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, boy. Rena has told me everything you've experienced since you arrived in Chakona. Thank you for being with my father until the end," said the curly-haired skunktaur.
"The pleasure is mine, Shir Chorre. Rena also told me about you. But hy didn't tell me how much you resemble Vroeg," Esteban responded courteously.
"Heh heh heh... Yes. I've been told that. Just as they say Rena resembles our mother, with that flower hy wears in hys hair."

Then Chorre hugged Ping with special affection for a long while. They had theirs eyes closed and were exchanging words in an exotic language. Esteban didn't understand it, but that was not important, he could hear the tenderness in their voices. The tenderness of a true brothers.
"As our brother Ping must have mentioned to you, he is the last descendant of an ancient dynasty of Terran kings," Rena said to Esteban. "That's why the Chakonian government kept him secret for so many years, even forcing us, his family, to never reveal his existence. I'm sorry I hid it from you, Esteban."

"Don't worry, Rena. He explained everything to me. I understand the reasons very well. Even Vroeg kept the secret until the end. That shows how much hy loved to Mr. Ping," Esteban responded with a smile.

Ping then approached Rena, took out a new flower from his clothes and carefully adorned his sister's head with it. The female skunktaur happily threw hymself into hys brother's embrace, playfully licking his cheek, as they exchanged tender words. Esteban didn't need to understand the language to see that powerful bond between them. Love is a common language. Then, Rena approached Esteban and, taking his arm tenderly, inquired with hys usual warmth:

"I´m so glad you two have met. And you Esteban, how have you been my dear? It's been a long time since we talked, my little one,"

"I'm fine Rena. But I have a great dilemma in my heart. That's why I came here today" the engineer replied.

"By the way, Esteban, you came seeking my father's advice. I had a feeling that would happen, and I want to say you did the right thing. Not only did Rena tell me about you, but Vroeg did too," Ping suddenly said. Esteban, dismayed, replied:

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"Esteban, if I knew my father well, hy surely taught you to remain attentive to the universe's messages. The universe tell us many little things, from the flower that grows on a cliff, to the water that divides into two ways, so the tree that reaches the sky, if you are attentive, even the smallest thing in life can be a message.”

Ping then looked seriously at Esteban and said:
"When my mother Maine came to my palace to fight for me, I saw an old but beautiful spirit. In that room it was just hym and me. No one else was there, and no one had heard the words hy said to me, or the determination hy showed, at that moment. I believed the universe chose me to be the only person there, and to hear my mother´s determination”

Ping then smiled tenderly, while looking at the sky, said: “Only you can protect hys spirit now, do not let hym alone. That was the nessage which the universe gave me. And if you came to talk to Vroeg, I hope you find hys voice here..." he added taking an envelope out of his clothes and extending it to Esteban.
The young man looked at everyone, surprised. Rena nodded and invited him to receive the envelope.

"Take it and read it. It's the personal message my father left me before hy died," the man added. "And it's my wish to share it with you."

Esteban, with profound respect, took the envelope in his hands. He had forgotten that old family tradition. Before dying, Vroeg left a personal message to each of hys relatives and friends, even writing one for him and also for Ugkar. The envelope was very similar to the one containing his own message, which the young man cherished so much at home. But this one had a drawing of a stone with a painted face, followed by the word "stonetaur." The three siblings joined hands and moved a few meters away from Esteban so he could read the message in peace.

To be continued...