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. Drawing by  sethtriggs

I hope you enjoy it.

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CHAPTER 17

After the embarrassing incident at Gerak-Nee's residence, Natany went to the apartment of her best friend and colleague, Rhealle, to tell her what had happened. Worried about Natany's emotional state, Rhealle called together her closest circle of friends to give her the emotional support she needed. Before long, everyone gathered at the place.

"Rhealle, there was no need to call the others. I feel better already," Natany said, trying hard to maintain her composure.
"You're not fooling me. You've been sobbing since you arrived! Friend, there's no need to pretend strength when your heart is hurt. I know exactly how you feel," the spotted-furred renzar replied, caressing Natany's shoulders affectionately.

At that moment, the doorbell at the front door rang. Upon opening it, Rhealle found three female Renzars waiting on the threshold.

"Dain! Cala! Sachi! Thank you for coming," she exclaimed excitedly, greeting them effusively.

"There's nothing to thank, Rhealle. It was our duty to be here. Natany is our friend," Cala stated with determination, then sat down next to Natany and hugged her.

"Thank you for letting us know, Rhealle," added Sachi with her characteristic sweet voice, while Dain settled down on the other side of Natany, also putting his arms around her.

"Grrr... That foolish Rakshani!... He'll see when he's in front of me!" exclaimed Cala, revealing her impetuous Ulkarian personality.
"No... Don't be hasty," Natany stammered, giving a weak smile.

"Listen, Natany," Dain intervened. "You know I'm normally peaceful, but this time that Rakshani has crossed a line. I'm afraid I agree with Cala this time. When I meet that wretch, I'll make him pay for this."

"Well said, Dain! No one makes fun of a renzar, especially a mangy, one-handed feline!" Cala added vehemently.

"Girls, please moderate your words. We still don't know the details of the matter," Sachi said with her usual calmness.

"Details? Isn't it enough that that fool fooled Natany like that?" Dain replied seriously.

"Please, girls. Sachi is right," Rhealle intervened. "We can't act impulsively. Maybe it's a misunderstanding. Natany hasn't spoken directly to Gerak yet."

"By Grom's sake! Don't be naive, Rhea. That guy hid from the beginning that he had a partner in Raksha," Cala retorted firmly.

"Natany, we will always be here for you," Sachi declared, taking her hands tenderly.

"Thank you, Sachi. And thank you all for being here," the policewoman replied, touched.

"Natany, we are your friends and we will always support you," Dain said in a motherly tone. "In fact," she added, "I suggest we take Natany somewhere fun right now. The night is just beginning. What do you think?"

"Yes! That's an excellent idea," Cala enthused. "Having fun with your friends will make you feel better."

"Hmm... I know a great place," Dain suggested. "There's music, good food, and... sexy dancers on a central stage!"

"Oh, a nightclub?" Sachi inquired curiously.

"Exactly. In the heart of the city," the dark-furred renzar confirmed.

"Girls, I appreciate it, but I'm still wearing my uniform. I haven't had a chance to go home to change," Natany lamented.

"Oh, honey, don't worry!" Rhealle was quick to say. "I'll lend you a suitable evening dress. You and I are the same size, so there won't be any problems."

They all got ready to leave. Natany put on a striking red dress with a low cut and, after fixing her fur, the renzars set off happily from Rhealle's apartment towards the Friendship Centre. Natany, despite her sadness, tried to smile and get in tune with her friends' festive spirit.

***

Near the spaceport, as Regthar's family prepared to leave, Esteban spotted Rena in the distance, entering through another sector accompanied by hys children. The engineer also noticed the presence of Fa Ping and Chorre with them.

"Excuse me for a moment," Esteban announced enthusiastically. "I'd like to say hello to Rena."

Lilethe, noticing the situation, offered to accompany him. Regthar, with his characteristic deep voice, suggested that they all go together.

After traveling a short distance, the group met Rena, who wore a distinctive flower in hys hair, as was her custom.

"Esteban! What a pleasant surprise," exclaimed the skunktaur, welcoming him with an affectionate hug.

Esteban returned the greeting and addressed the others present: "How are you all? Chorre, Mr. Ping, it's a pleasure to see you."

Meanwhile, Hajo, recognizing his friends Teo and Cora, quickly got off Doren's back and approached them with his arms outstretched. The young skunktaurs immediately began their games, full of joy.

“Lilethe, Doren, dad, mom. I want to introduce you to Mr. Fa Ping, Rena and Chorre's adoptive brother,” said Esteban enthusiastically.

Fa Ping, with a polite gesture, bowed his head. "It's an honor to meet you," he said.

“Doren, Lilethe. Hy is Chorre, Rena and Ugkar's brother.”

“Hello! My brother Ping also calls me ChoCho, heh”.

“It's a pleasure to meet you Chorre. I had only heard about you through Rena” said Lilethe greeting with a hug.

Fa Ping, intrigued, asked: “Esteban, so are these your adoptive parents?” while he watched the imposing renzar.

"Indeed, they are," Esteban confirmed proudly. "And I couldn't have asked for better ones."

“It's good to honor parents” answered Fa Ping with a smile. Sorah and Regthar exchanged glances and held hands.

“And what are you doing here? Are you going on a trip?” Rena suddenly asked.

“No. We came to see off my parents, Varta and Avik, who are returning to Grom” said Sorah excitedly.

“Wow! We do the same with Chorre” added the skunktaur with the flower in hys hair.

“Oh, you're leaving so soon?” asked Esteban.


“That's right. Because of my job I have to travel constantly to outer space” answered Chorre, wagging hys tail.

“But at least hy was able to visit us. And that has made us happy” said Fa Ping hugging his brother skunktaur.

After exchanging a few more words, the families separated. The Renzars, along with Esteban and the skunktaurs, boarded the passenger PTV they would use to travel to Silver Lake.

During the journey, Regthar, driven by curiosity, inquired about Vroeg's adoption of Fa Ping. Esteban, in a confidential tone, revealed:

"It's a little-known story. Fa Ping is the last descendant of an ancient Terran dynasty. Vroeg and Maine adopted him in his infancy to protect him, keeping his existence a complete secret, with the complicity of the Chakona government."

“That's fascinating! I didn't imagine Vroeg would do that” commented Lilethe.

“I think that explains why Vroeg was so patient with me when I first met him. Hy already had experience with humans and that's why he knew how to deal with me, I suppose” added the engineer with a smile.

As the vehicle moved forward, Esteban contemplated the night lights through the window, immersed in his thoughts about the ties that unite families beyond species and worlds.

***

In the heart of Amistad, nightlife was at its peak. Restaurants and entertainment centers were packed with customers eager to enjoy the varied entertainment on offer.

Natany and her friends arrived in the city center without delay. Dain, the most versed in the nightlife, took on the role of guide, leading them through the multitude of options that promised to delight the senses.

"Girls, this is the place I told you about" Dain announced with a hint of pride in his voice, pointing to an imposing building located on the esplanade between two busy avenues.

"And what can we find here?" Sachi asked, impressed by the size of the establishment.

"Whatever your heart desires, dear. From exquisite food and drinks to the possibility of meeting someone special to spend a pleasant time," Dain replied with a wink.

"Hmm, reminds me of the 'stretir' of Grom," Rhealle observed, evoking memories of her home planet.

“Exactly! What do you think? Natany, what is your opinion?” Dain asked enthusiastically.

“I suppose it will be an interesting experience,” Natany replied somewhat cautiously.

“Though, if you don’t mind, I would like to start with a nice Grom liquor.”

“Your wish is my command, officer!” Cala joked, causing a wave of laughter among the group.

The five friends entered the venue, which was bustling with activity. The interior was spacious and tastefully lit. On the central stage, singers and dancers captivated the audience with their performances, while on the side stages, artists of various species performed sensual movements charged with eroticism.
The festive atmosphere invited relaxation and entertainment. The five females sat around a large table, specially designed to accommodate large bipeds such as the renzar. The agile Chakat waiters were quick to serve them generous portions of Grom's prized liquor, accompanied by succulent dishes that included the coveted crab stew, a delicacy native to their planet.

The conversation flowed lively, revolving around each one's romantic adventures, with the veiled purpose of cheering Natany up. Little by little, the renzar began to relax, feeling the warmth of her friends' support.

On the main stage, a Chakat with spotted fur and a statuesque figure performed impressive acrobatics around a vertical bar, captivating the attention of those present. Meanwhile, on the stage closest to the renzars, a male Rakshani and a human female moved provocatively to the rhythm of the music. Both wore masks that hid their faces and dressed in minimal outfits that left little to the imagination.

After tasting the delicacies and downing several drinks, Natany and her companions were encouraged to join the dance floor, letting themselves be carried away by the contagious rhythms of the dance music.

"I can't express how glad I am that we're all here!" exclaimed Natany with genuine euphoria as she moved to the beat of the music with her friends. "Thank you for your unconditional support!"

"It's been too long since we've been out together! Grrrr!" declared Cala, ending her sentence with a roar of satisfaction.

"Natany!" Rhealle intervened in an affectionate tone. "You are an extraordinarily beautiful renzar. You deserve someone who knows how to truly value you! Don't put your trust in aliens, no matter how attractive they may seem," she added in a joking tone.

The group continued dancing for a long period. When thirst pressed, a new round of Grom liquor came to the rescue. Natany let herself be enveloped by the music and the festive atmosphere, managing at times to forget the bitterness that Gerak's deception had caused her.

After an extensive session of dancing and laughter, the renzar, somewhat tired, returned to their table. Natany set her gaze on the chakat who continued with his show on the central stage, now completely naked. For her part, Rhealle cautiously approached the side stage. Her friends watched her get up, but made no move to stop her. A chakat waiter approached with a new round of Grom liquor and, despite the renzar's well-known resistance to alcohol, the first symptoms of drunkenness were beginning to manifest in their minds.

After taking another sip of her drink, Natany noticed that Rhealle was beckoning her from a distance to come closer. Without saying a word, the police officer got up from her seat and, with a somewhat unsteady step, approached her colleague next to the stage. There, the excited customers were stroking the grayish fur of one of the dancers, who was approaching them with suggestive movements of his hips and tail. Rhealle glanced furtively at Natany and, in a sudden movement, grabbed one of the dancer's arms. Her surprise was enormous when she realized that it was a prosthesis. Without hesitation, the renzar approached him and snatched the mask from him.

"Grrrr! I always suspected it was you!" Rhealle exclaimed with a mixture of triumph and indignation. Natany, for her part, was stupefied by the scene unfolding before her eyes. Behind the mask, the makeup and the attire, was the rakshani who had managed to conquer her heart.

"Gerak-Nee!" Natany managed to utter, her voice marked by surprise. The rakshani stopped dead, and completely bewildered, stammered:
"Na... Natany! What are you doing here?"

The renzar remained motionless and silent, immersed in a whirlwind of confusing emotions that Grom's liquor seemed to amplify.
Gerak, for his part, would never have imagined meeting her in such a situation, aware that Natany did not frequent establishments of that kind. Time seemed to stand still as he gazed at the imposing brown-furred lady in a red dress. However, the Rakshani engineer was unable to notice the dark shadow looming over her face, growing inexorably until it completely engulfed his field of vision. Suddenly, the lights went out, the music went silent, Natany and Rhealle vanished from his sight, and everything was plunged into darkness and absolute silence.

"Natany! What have you done?" Rhealle's alarmed voice came, as Cala and Dain held their friend by the shoulders.

"Grrrr! Well done, Natany! That moron deserved the punch!" the Ulkarian female exclaimed with obvious satisfaction.

"We better get out of here, quickly!" Dain urged, leading Natany towards the exit. Sachi, true to her vocation as a nurse, bent down to examine Gerak, who was lying unconscious on the floor. However, Cala, showing her formidable strength, forced her to get up and leave the club. The five friends hurried out of the nightclub, their adrenaline pumping and moderately intoxicated. Events happened so quickly that the other guests barely had time to react, and many mistakenly interpreted that the dancing Rakshani had slipped.

Once outside, Sachi, still confused by what had happened, asked:

"But what exactly happened? Cala, why did you stop me from attending to him?"

"Don't worry, honey. The establishment has its own medical staff," Cala reassured her.

"Grrrr! I knew it all along," Rhealle confessed. “Remember that volleyball game on the beach? When I saw him in a swimsuit, I recognized his build. I asked him directly if he was the one working at the nightclub, but he denied it.”

“What?! Was that Rakshani Gerak?” Sachi exclaimed, surprise evident on her face.

“Please…” Natany interrupted in a tired voice. “Take me home. I feel too drunk and dazed to stay outside.”

“Ha, ha, ha! We are all in the same condition,” Cala added with a laugh, as the group walked with hesitant steps towards the nearest metro station.