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. As always, the illustrations were kindly done by  sethtriggs
I hope you enjoy it.

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CHAPTER 03


At the Kenet home, Lilethe was finally able to clean up after the embarrassing incident with hys fluids. As hy gently soaped hys fur, the young nurse admitted to hymself with shame that hy had never lost hys temper like that. However, a satisfied smile appeared on hys face as hy felt that this rascal had received a well-deserved lesson for daring to outrage hym. What really hurt hym was that hys lover, Esteban, had witnessed that affront.
After finishing rinsing, Lilethe began to emanate a pleasant aroma as hy relaxed his mind. When hy left, Esteban was already waiting for hym and hugged hym lovingly in his arms.
“I feel so much better now, my life,” hy murmured, laying hys head on his shoulder.
"I am glad love. Mr. Kenet said we could tour the house if we wanted.”
Yeah! I want to do it! Come, come with me” hy took him by the hand and together they remembered every corner, awakening old childhood memories in Lilethe. Hy could vividly see hys father coaxing the lazy puppy to go to school, or hys mother humming a song while hy cooked while wagging hys voluminous tail. Hys eyes moistened as hy felt again the colors and aromas of hys childhood.
Esteban kept a respectful silence, also perceiving those images thanks to their mental connection. After a thoughtful pause, Lilethe spoke:
“I never considered myself very nostalgic. When we moved to Berdoovia, I quickly forgot about this place. But now, an emotion arises that I never imagined..."
Esteban surrounded hys waist, both looking at the old children's bedroom.
“I know you don't like to talk about your parents, but if you want to remember them, I'm here, and so are Sorah, Regthar and Doren…”
“Thank you, my life,” hy snuggled next to him. “It's not that I don't like it, it still hurts. But by reliving my childhood here, the pain becomes more bearable.”
“That's called overcoming stages. Maybe you are ready to face your loss with fortitude. Life is a spiral; We always return to the same places, but from a higher perspective. Vroeg used to say it, and by Grom! That old fool was right!”

“Heh heh... it's funny that you talk about Vroeg. As you know, hy knew my parents. I remember hys visits to this house when I was little,” Lilethe smiled wistfully.
“It's amazing how my life is so connected to skunktaurs. Old Bram kept reminding me by calling me Eugene. I hope hy is well there in the Archipelago.” Esteban added.
“I'm sure hy will be fine. Living with a family that loves you, even if they are not your species, is better than being in an asylum. We know it well. The Renzars love us infinitely, and I perceive it every day with emotion,” hy added.
Rengo and his wife then approached from the living room: “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yes, Mr. Kenet. Thank you very much for letting us tour the house, it has been something very meaningful for me” said Lilethe wagging hys tail.
“You can come back as many times as you like, dear,” Harriet smiled gently. Back in the dining room, they struck up another brief conversation.
“My dream is to referee in Grom, the birthplace of professional Khudok.”
“Your wishes are possible, Mr. Kenet. I came from Terra to perfect my engineering in Dewclaw and I succeeded. I hope you fulfill your dreams” Esteban responded.
"Thank you. Speaking of which... have you thought about refereeing? Humans and morphs are appreciated for that work. You could start as an amateur…”
“Rengo, Esteban already has his profession. If he liked Khudok, Regthar would have motivated him, right?” Harriet intervened helpfully, rocking little Nathira.
“I like Khudok. Dad practices with me, sometimes he talks to me about it. I had never seriously thought about it, but it could be interesting! Although it is also a great responsibility,” Esteban quickly noted.
“Heh heh heh… That's right. Many things depend on us field judges. It is exciting to feel the enthusiasm of the public, the strength and tenacity of these great creatures in each match. I admire the Renzars a lot and you two are very lucky to live next to them.” Rengo said with a voice full of emotion. Lilethe and Esteban exchanged a knowing smile.

“We know it, and we are very grateful. They are wonderful people,” Lilethe said. Then, in a joking tone, hy added, “With your luck, honey, the wrestlers could crush you in your first match as a referee.”
"Ha ha! It's true! With your history, you better not even risk it!” Rengo also joked.
“Darling, don't disturb our guest,” Harriet scolded him affectionately.
“Well, you're right... but refereeing Khudok sounds interesting,” Esteban admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
"You're very joking today, aren't you?" he mentally scolded Lilethe with a frown. Hy just winked at him and playfully stuck hys tongue out at him.
They continued the pleasant conversation while little Nathira moved her ears curiously. Soon Lilethe and Esteban considered it was time to say goodbye.
“Thank you again for such kind hospitality,” said the skunktaur as they prepared to leave.
"It was a pleasure. Esteban, say hello to Regthar and Natany for me. We'll see you in three weeks for the tournament,” Rengo said goodbye affably.
“I will, Mr. Kenet,” Esteban responded and after an effusive farewell, the couple resumed their walk through the streets of the neighborhood, so familiar to the young skunktaur.


***

Regthar's PTV arrived home bringing Sorah along with his in-laws Avik and Varta. Upon entering the main room, everyone was surprised to see Hajo playfully riding on Doren's back, while various objects floated weightlessly around him. The little boy, ecstatic, telekinetically levitated a book, a frying pan and a stuffed animal, among other things.
“Wow, just look at Hajo. It's amazing what this kid can do,” Avik exclaimed in wonder.
"Welcome home. I was just about to prepare lunch before going to work,” Doren greeted them affably.
Regthar and Sorah exchanged an awkward look.
“Doren, that telekinesis… it's yours, right?” Regthar asked, scratching his chin in disbelief.
“Oh no, daddy bear. It's Hajo who does it, I just teach him how to direct and control levitation," the skunktaur replied.
But Regthar insisted:
“Come on, Doren. Everyone here knows that you are the magical skunktaur. Don’t try to trick me.”
Sorah then, taking her husband by the hand, declared:
“Honey... Hajo can use telekinesis. I hadn’t told you before because of the whole thing with Lilethe and Esteban.”
Stunned, Regthar looked at the group. Then he said:
"Are you serious? I never knew of a renzar with that power…”
“I think it's kind of charming,” Varta said, taking the little Renzar in her arms.
“I guess after everything that's happened, I shouldn't be surprised,” Regthar mused, scratching his head.
"Don't worry, love. Our son is fine, he's having fun," Sorah soothed him.

“Okay, calm down. If you say our son is fine, I believe you.”
"In any case, telekinesis would be advantageous in the Khudok," Avik joked.
"Those powers would not be useful in real combat. I have verified that they are short-range," Doren noted, heading to prepare the food, wagging hys fluffy tail. The Renzar females followed to assist her, taking little Hajo with them.
Now alone with Avik, Regthar spoke seriously:
"Using special abilities is prohibited in the Khudok."
"I was just joking," the old renzar apologized.
Regthar then remembered his difficult fight with Faise. After reflecting for a moment, he said:
"Avik, come with me. I want to give you something."
He led him to the last room of the house, which was used as a small family cellar. There he pulled out the saber he brandished in his fight against Faise and Grosh. The weapon was wrapped in a sheath decorated with colorful symbols in the Marlock language.
"This saber belonged to my father. Now I wish for you to carry it," Regthar said solemnly.
The old Renzar looked at the weapon, speechless with astonishment. Receiving custody of such a family object implied a high honor for any renzar.
"I can't accept it... I don't deserve it," he muttered, backing away.
"Please, Avik. If we really bury our conflicts, accept it."
The mute Renzar understood the importance of that gesture.
"It means... you see me as a father too..."
Deeply moved, Avik let out a deep sigh before nodding:
"It will be an honor to guard this noble weapon. Thank you, son."
They both melted into a fraternal hug. Regthar then thought of Esteban, and how he would have longed for that gesture with his human father despite everything. He understood that forgiveness is a difficult exercise, a virtue that he would never have achieved without the example of the boy who came from Terra.

***

After visiting hys parents' old home, Lilethe with Esteban continued walking, remembering episodes from hys childhood and youth in every corner. Old friends, games in the park, afternoons on the beach in Topaz Bay...

“It must have been difficult to you to lose them like that,” Esteban murmured, holding hym to his chest.

“It was... I cried so much, I cursed fate. I thought I would die when it took my parents from me. In my daze I clung to the first skunktaur clan in Berdoovia, ignoring the aggressiveness of Ugkar and Doren. I needed company no matter what,” hy mused, contemplating the foliage of the park with longing.

“I'm sorry you had to go through that, my love. If you want to talk, I'm here,” he comforted hym, caressing hys cheek.

Lilethe exhaled deeply, letting the breeze ruffle hys hair and the hairs on hys fluffy tail.

“I don't know... When I was unconscious in the accident, I saw my parents, smiling at me. As clearly as I see you now...

“Maybe they were happy to see the beautiful skunktaur you've become,” Esteban suggested, taking hys hands. “You overcame the grief, you came out stronger from the adversity.”

Hy gave a weak smile.

“Yes... despite everything, Ugkar and Doren helped me at the beginning. Meeting you and the Renzars boosted my spirits. Sorah and Regthar's love filled the void left by my parents. You have all helped me, but you are the most important thing now, Esteban.”

“You flatter me, my love,” he whispered, kissing hym softly.

“I guess talking about them does me good. This neighborhood, its streets, trees... everything here brings them back. We moved to Berdoovia when I went to university. Dad sold this house and bought a smaller one near campus to make it easier for me to get around. Now that I live with the Renzars, I think I should sell that property,” Lilethe commented thoughtfully.

Esteban looked at hym excitedly:

“Would you like us to buy our own house, love?”

"Are you serious?" she was surprised.

"Completely. I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, start a family…”

Lilethe lowered hys ears, embarrassed.

“Esteban, I would love to have children with you, but... we are incompatible species to procreate.”

“We will find a way, you'll see. If we really want it, it will come true!” he assured, optimistic.

Lilethe felt Esteban's burning longing flow through their mental link.

“The genetic geniuses who could help us are not in the Federation, but out there... Maybe in the League we will have that opportunity,” he suggested.

“But traveling outside the Federation is difficult and expensive…”

“As Vroeg said, you are dead if you give up on your dreams. We are young, we will fight for our own!”

Esteban's enthusiasm infected her. Smiling, hy hugged him tightly.

“Okay, let's do it together,” hy whispered before kissing him.

“It will be done, my pretty nurse,” he promised, hugging hym again, making hys giggle playfully.

“What do you want to do now?

“Hmmm… Is it okay if we spend the rest of the day at the beach? In my fanny pack I bring with me a swim bra that I hope you like. What do you say love?”

"I think it's great! Whatever clothes you wear, they always make you look good!” Esteban responded, and then gave hym a heated kiss on the lips.

“Heh, I also saved a tiny swimsuit for you. I can’t wait to see you with the job!” Lilethe finished with a mischievous giggle, as they headed together to Topaz Bay.