This book completes the trilogy about Chakona, its inhabitants, the interaction of the chakats with some humans, skunktaurs and other races, such as the renzar and the rakshanis. All framed within the universe created by  Goldfur It's been almost two years of continuous work and it's fair to mention such important people  sethtriggs  Marksan  Wolfbane115 and all the people from Tales de Chakona Discord for fans.
The drawings, as always belong to my talented friend  sethtriggs
I hope you enjoy.

<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>

CHAPTER 62

Chakastra was at the height of Amistad when Ugkar appeared in the hospital. After presenting himself at the reception, hy went up to the fifth floor of the building, where Lilethe was. As hy walked down the hall, hy watched nurses and doctors go about their business. Suddenly hy found hymself thinking of hys dear Aldorah. For several days hy had left Vika, and hy began to miss her. Hy wondered what task hys wild cat was doing right now, under the supervision of Doctor Petra Picha.

“Someday, my love, Vika-B will have a hospital as big as this one. We are building the foundations” hy thought. And deep in hys heart, hy wished that hys telepathy was powerful enough to tell her how much hy loved her. But that was impossible. In that instant, hy turned towards the end of the corridor where Lilethe's room was located. Entering, Ugkar saw Esteban by the bed, holding the skunktaur's hand, who was still lying unconscious.
Ugkar thought hy saw, for an instant, a luminous aura around the human. Hy stood still so as not to interrupt the moment. However, hy soon realized that Esteban was sobbing silently. The skunktaur was not used to comforting others, but hy instinctively came up behind him and took his shoulder.
Esteban, noticing it, turned around and immediately pounced on hym. Ugkar felt that embrace like a plea, a deep prayer to the universe, with an overwhelming flash of energy. Words were not necessary, because mentally each one knew what the other was thinking and feeling. They remained embraced for a long moment, in silence. For Esteban, hugging Ugkar was like feeling the scent and softness of Vroeg again. And for the skunktaur, to have Esteban so close, was to be together with the brother that hys father had chosen for hym, and also the great person responsible for the turn that hys life had had. The feeling of love emanating from the boy was so strong, that Ugkar's heart was touched. Emotion began to overwhelm hym and a couple of tears involuntarily flowed from hys eyes.

“Now… Now I understand the true nature of the power… Esteban… It's not my talents, but the energy that I can feel at this moment. It is the power of love that my father left in you, for me and for others. It's like feeling that hym is present, still." Ugkar said with the thought. Esteban responded excitedly:
"Oh Ugkar. I feel the same when I'm with you. You don't know how much Vroeg loved you, and I always hoped to be a worthy recipient of hys love for you, ever since I found out who you were. I am very glad that you have found happiness with Krim.”
"Boy. I... I still can't get rid of all the hate in my heart. Because I… wanted to kill Faise… But you… Once again, you have shown that you are worthy of my father's love, because you did something that I still cannot do, and that is to forgive someone who has hurt me deeply.”
Ugkar declared, before taking Esteban's face between hys hands and wiping away his tears. In a fit of tenderness, hy kissed him gently. Hys body shuddered as hys lips touched the human's, as if subtly shaken by a current. Esteban, at that unexpected gesture of the rude skunk, smiled, and hugged hym tight again.
“One of the things that Vroeg taught me was that a hug had the same healing power as a thousand words of comfort. Thank you Ugkar for coming so far. Thanks for saving my life. And forgive me for making you worry about us, separating you from your beloved Krim."
“Esteban, I… I am proud to call you brother. You didn't hesitate to risk your life to save Lilethe from that bastard Faise. You kept your word to take care of my clan, along with Doren. And besides, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have this happiness that I now cultivate in Vika with my dear Aldorah."
"Ugkar, but, it seems that what I did for Lilethe was not enough... I couldn't stop Faise from hurting hys mind, and I'm afraid that hy won't be able to wake up..." The boy said in grief.
"Esteban, look at me! Look me in the eyes! My father's confidence and serenity are in you. I am the one who asks you now not to despair, little brother."
Ugkar said pulling away from him. At that moment, a group of people slowly entered the room. The first of them was Dean Rogar, together with hys patner Neftor. Esteban's heart gladdened to see the old skunktaur again. He approached hym and received hym with a tight hug. Behind hym, was Rena, along with hys lifemate Hesper, whom he also greeted with joy. In addition, their daughter, young Holly, accompanied them. And finally, Bram Skunktaur entered, who had traveled from the Archipelago with Rogar and hys new caretaker, Professor Ben Zider.
Esteban was deeply moved to see all of them together. Ugkar looked at each one and mentally asked the skunktaur of the red paw house to join hands and form a semicircle around the bed where Lilethe lay. Rogar, Rena, Ugkar, Bram, and Holly took position, then closed their eyes. Meanwhile, Neftor, Hesper, and Professor Zider waited outside. Esteban did not come out of his astonishment. At that moment, Doren came running down the hall, looking for hys denmate.
"Esteban! Esteban!... Come with me! I have something to show you!" Doren exclaimed excitedly. The boy did not know what to do. But Ugkar mentally told him not to worry.
“Go with Doren”
Esteban, then, went out into the corridor and the skunk didn't take long to grab his hand and throw him to the other side of the corridor.
"Doren, what's going on? Why are you so agitated? Where we go?"
"You just trust me!" The brown-furred skunktaur said. They both moved swiftly down the corridor towards a large window that overlooked the interior courtyard of the hospital. The nurses who were on duty looked curiously at the couple. Arriving at the place, Doren took both of Esteban's hands and said.
"Stephen, darling. Look out."
The boy, surprised, looked out the window. Looking down, he saw a large number of people gathered in the hospital courtyard, lined with beautiful trees. Esteban was paralyzed when he recognized each one of them. There were his parents Regthar and Sorah, holding Hajo in their arms. Next to them, Avik and Varta, both holding hands. Beyond stood the Dolkun patriarch, along with Natany and Rhealle in their police suits. Next to him were Cala, Dain, and Ulk. In front of them, Sachi greeted him by blowing kisses.Beyond, Chakat Lorel hugged Liner and Gret, smiling at him. Next to them, Jhonny and Vera raised their hands as a sign of joy. So did Chakat Lorna, hand in hand with Chakat Rockshie. And beyond, Gerak-Nee was seen, raising his prosthetic thumb, leaning against a tree. On one side, Mark Sanders with his wives Delfina and Emily looked at him with a smile. And behind a bench, Travis Archer hugging his lifemate Chakat Serenity and Baiyoshai Skunktaur, greeted him too.
Esteban couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.
"But what is this? Why is everyone here?" he asked, puzzled.
“It was Regthar and Ugkar's idea. And mine too… heh heh. Regthar called all your friends and asked them to come. Our Lilethe needs all the support we can provide." Doren responded excitedly.
"But..." Esteban was going to say, still puzzled, when a voice behind them interrupted him.
“Boy, we never know for sure how much we influence the lives of others without realizing it.” Turning around, Esteban and Doren saw Professor Zider standing next to them with his hands in his pockets.
Doren, in turn, added. "Esteban! They are here for you and for Lilethe. They are here to tell you that you are not alone. Everyone esteems you and in some way, each one has been touched by you. Now, they want to give you back the good vibes, so that Lilethe gets better soon!”
Esteban looked at the professor, not knowing what to say.
“Listen to your denmate skunktaur. They are very wise." Ben added with a smile. Esteban, as if waking up from a dream, responded.
"Yeah! I know! I know!... They are my life!” He exclaimed with tears in the eyes. At that moment, one of the chakat nurses in the sector quickly approached them and said.
“Mr. Sivem. Your skunktaur friends need you in the patient's ward, please." Esteban and Doren looked at each other and hurried after the chakat, leaving the professor by the window. The human's heart was beating a thousand times. When they arrived, the skunktaurs were still holding hands. They were all silent with their eyes closed. Suddenly Bram, in a calm voice, declared.
"Eugene, get in the circle!"
Esteban looking puzzled, he obeyed and slowly approached Lilethe.
“Son, we have cleared the way. Everything is calm for you to bring hym back. Call hym, and surely hy will listen to you”, Rogar said suddenly. The human, after nodding, whispered softly.
“Lilethe, Lilethe, listen to me. From the first day, I still love you more than my life. Come back with me"
In that instant, Doren also reached out to them and took Lilethe's other hand. Esteban, seeing that his lifemate did not react, laid his head on hys chest and declared:

"Please come back"
The boy closed his eyes feeling the heart of his beloved lifemate in hys chest. After a few moments, Lilethe's breathing deepened and Esteban felt a hand caress his hair. Looking up, he was met with beautiful green eyes that looked at him sweetly. Those same eyes that dazzled him with their brilliance, from the first time he saw them when he arrived at Chakona.
"Esteban, you're here" Lilethe said with a sigh, waking up from hys long sleep.
"I was always here, my love." Answered him, shedding tears of joy. Everyone present was moved when they heard Lilethe's voice. Rogar hugged Ugkar and Rena did the same with Holly. Then Bram, with a smile, approached Esteban and told him.
"This time, you did well, friend."
All the skunktaurs welcomed Lilethe, stroking hys hair. The nurses, amazed by what happened, did not take long to call the medical team. The doctors fully examined Lilethe confirming hys recovery of consciousness. Everything was joy at that moment. Even the same nurses who had seen the boy watch day and night with Lilethe, wept with emotion and hugged him.
After a few minutes, the doctors ordered the room vacated to better serve Lilethe's needs. In this way, Esteban and the skunktaurs went out to the hospital patio to greet and thank all the people who had come to support them. Everyone present rejoiced upon learning of Lilethe's recovery. Esteban, seeing his friends and family together, suddenly remembered when he arrived in Chakona, full of anguish and loneliness. And now, his spirit was filled with emotion upon receiving such a beautiful gesture of brotherhood. His knees trembled and he thought he fell to the ground. But Jhonny and Vera hugged him and held him between them.

"I don't have enough words to thank each one of you for being here... I love you all very much!" he said with tears in his eyes. Each of those present greeted him with affection, hugging him and licking him everywhere.
Meanwhile, from the fifth floor, Professor Zider and old Bram watched the scene from the window.
“That boy is very lucky. Don't you think Bram? Friendship is something worth more than gold. And good friends are not easy to find.” Commented Professor Ben.
“Hmmm… Eugene made a lot of us suffer. And Esteban paid dearly, until now. Did you notice, Ben? But, in the universe, nothing is eternal and Eugene's debt is paid. I assure you that he will not make the same mistakes. Now, he can walk easy towards the next level.”
"Bram, you're always so enigmatic," the professor teased, scratching hys ear.
“And that reminds me that we have to walk to the next coffee shop. I'm starving." Said the old skunk wagging hys tail.
“Hmmm… You're always hungry, Bram. Now I understand why Fadu complains so much about you." Replied the professor taking hys arm and then heading together to the hospital restaurant.
Outside, meanwhile, the light of Chakastra seemed to shine brighter, in the hearts of all of Esteban and Lilethe's friends and family who had come to support them and witness their miraculous recovery. The hugs, congratulations and greetings generated an atmosphere of positivity, like Esteban had never experienced before in his life.
The engineer felt like the happiest man on the planet. Finally, it seemed that this time, happiness was here to stay.