In Search of Home

Chapter 73

Korat'ska's stall was one of the first ones they encountered when entering the wood-based goods section. It was an unassuming stall, blending right in with the others. There were no bright splashes of color along the fabric covering the top or along the walls of the stall, like many others. It did not cry out for attention or attracted anyone's gaze like the other stalls tried to do. 

Maybe that was why Vok'Rul liked it. He adored shiny things, sure, but most of his house was decorated plainly. Minimalistic.

"Korat'ska!" Vok'Rul called out cheerfully. The alien running the stall turned around. He was older, having lost much of the vibrancy that Vol'Rul or Thruul still held. He was a pale red, almost pink. He was extremely short.

"Ah, little Rulshkka," Korat'ska returned. "I have not seen you since the last festival. How have you been? Have you found a mate, yet? Where is your sister?"

"I am not little, Korat'ska, and I haven't been for 200 years," Vok'Rul muttered fondly, voice thick with embarrassment. His voice was light, though. Happy. "I am well. Rukka is with her mate and hatchling." Viktor noticed he avoided the question about a mate. He suppressed a cheeky smile. He wished he could see Thruul's face, right about now. 

Korat'ska hummed, gesturing something that had no meaning to Viktor but did for Vok'Rul because he leaned closer to the stall. Viktor leaned away as far as he could. The movement attracted the alien's attention.

"Oh," Korat'ska said, blinking at him owlishly. Viktor eyed him back warily. "Who is this?" 

"This," Vok'Rul said, almost proudly, and lifted Viktor a little higher in his arms, "is Kohgrash. Haven't you watched the holos? I have been told he is frequently on there." 

Korat'ska made a grumpy noise, "Holos!" he scoffed. "You know I don't watch that nonsense. I have better things to do. Where did you get him?" Korat'ska was inspecting him intensely. He held none of the greedy, malicious intent that the ringmaster had looked at him with, though. Instead, he was simply... observing. He followed Viktor's every movement. Which wasn't very much. Viktor held himself as still as a statue.

"Well," Vok'Rul started. "It's been a little over a year since we had taken them from their dying planet." Viktor could hear some of the guilt in Vok'Rul's voice. Carefully, watching Korat'ska, he patted the alien's arm comfortingly. Korat'ska watched him back. "You might have seen some last year?" 

Korat'ska hmphed. "Yes, I saw them. And throughout the year. My neighbor has one, you know." 

Oh great, Viktor thought. Another alien who thought humans were nothing but vermin. Already his face was falling into a self-righteously angry scowl, brows furrowing. Vok'Rul didn't seem to mind his friend's harsh tone, though, taking it entirely in stride. Unlike speaking with his mother, Vok'Rul's expression didn't even flicker to annoyance when speaking to this alien. It made Viktor wonder just who this Korat'ska was to him. 

Vok'Rul nodded. "Kohgrash was illegally stolen and trafficked to the Ring of Wonders." He paused here, and Viktor saw Korat'ska wince, face growing sympathetic. He felt something similar to anger swirl in his gut. He didn't need anyone's pity! "Surely, you heard that we finally took it down four months ago?" 

Korat'ska gave a nod of affirmation, saying, "Yes, and was I glad to hear it! That place was nothing but rotten. I cannot believe that Krrkh of all Vokkrus ran it. He had been such a moral businessman, that one. What happened to him?"