Chapter Twenty Six: The Climax of the Festival! (Part Two) -Syrus & Carl's perspective part 1/2-

"why's it a two-part two-parter?"

"ugh, check the note at the end of chapter 25, that explains the reason."

-Benson.

-emperorwolf.

the white light of the second sun graced Xlenari as the festivalgoers on the beach that served as the entrance to Agnak all welcomed the glorious majesty of the white sun that only shined over their planet during the last day of the festival, while their old planet; Xlen Prime, entered into a total eclipse of the sun shared by both Xlenari and Earth, now referred to as 'the orange sun' due to the appearance of the white sun two years previous.

all over the planet, people were bathed in its light, the warmth filling their bodies was, at one time, something one could only wish for on the cold days of winter.
and although it wasn't winter, that didn't make the white light any less appreciated.

elsewhere, as the white sun rose over Virada, Benson sat on the roof of the apartment with Lily held in a close, loving hug against his chest.
"beautiful..." Lily sighed, pushing herself against the big fox's chest "it's always a beautiful sight..."
Benson chuckled "then it's just perfect for you, isn't it?" he cooed, stroking over her body and making her purr appreciatively at his tender touch.
"ohhh... that's nice..." she moaned and iceflakes formed on her breath, a slight chill forming around her.
dispite the cold she emitted, Benson lay a kiss on her feline muzzle "don't go giving me the chills, now. can't hug you if you make yourself too cold, can i?"

Lily kept purring and smiled seductively "well, i'll need some help warming up then, won't i?"
Benson went to answer in the same suggestive manner, but a pain behind his eyes took his attention.
he groaned and rubbed his eyes with his free paw, and Lily pulled herself up, a concerned look on her face.
"Benny? are you alright?"
"i- i, well.... thanks, Lil, i'm okay..."
she climbed up to his shoulder and embraced his neck "no, you aren't... please tell me what's wrong..."
he grumbled "can't fool you, can i?"
"no, now spill it, what's the problem?"

he gently tapped her on the nose with a finger "shhh... serious things later, right now we should enjoy the festival... okay?"
she huffed in annoyance "you're incorrigible."
he lifted her from his shoulder and held her before his muzzle, planting a loving kiss on her little lips and recieving one in kind.
"you've never said that was a bad thing, though."
"no," she sighed "i love you exactly as you are... although..."
his ears perked "hm? 'although' what?"
she fidgeted within his black-furred right paw "the size difference can be a bit annoying sometimes..."
his ears folded almost instantly.
"don't get me wrong, Benny," she raised her paws defensively "i love you like this, i really do... but it does make some things... difficult."
Benson hung his head "i know what you mean... more than you know."
Lily tapped at his paw to get his attention back before speaking "hey, i'm sorry... i shouldn't bring that up, it wasn't your choice to be this size, i know that," she said with a kind voice "and for the record, i do love having my big, wonderful, soft fox to snuggle up with!"
that won a smile from Benson, who placed a small lick on Lily's nose "thank you, your kindness defies what your pureblooded ancenstry would imply."
she rolled her eyes as he stood up "i'll take that as a compliment, i guess."

benson opened the access door, turning the knob with his left paw as he cradled Lily in his right "as you should, my little treasure."

---

Bailey awoke back in Agnak to find Zenef missing, and quickly tried to wake Collin in a panic.
"Collin! Collin wake up!!" he cried out, grabbing the short fur on the white wolf's muzzle and yanking on it.
Collin stirred, and sleepily opened his eyes.
"mh... Bailey? (yawn) what is it?"
"Zenef's missing!"
Collin's red eyes turned blue, and he shrunk down to Giki size.
"okay, off me so i can get up."
Bailey rolled off Collin so he was able to stand, and the young wolfdog resumed panicking for his friend's safety in this enormous city at that small size.
a dim blue light began to enshroud Collin, and his eyes started glowing.
"Alpha? Beta? anyone at all?"

a voice came to him.
yes, this is Alpha... what's the issue, Collin?
"Alpha, thank politically-correct-god you're alright. where's Zenef?"
he's here, he's fine.
Collin growled "and 'here' is...?"
oh, right, sorry. we're on the surface, Zenef didn't feel safe down there.
Collin sighed "okay, hold on, we're comin' up."
you're finished with Agnak?
"yeah, pretty much."
then we will be waiting on the beach.

Collin disconnected the telepathic communication, which ended his glowing.
he looked over at the anxious wolfdog "Zenef's fine, he and Alpha left hours ago 'cause Zenef didn't feel safe here."
Bailey's ears folded "well, i guess i can understand that... i mean," he gestured to the huge bed they stood upon "i feel like i'm a Buki here."
Collin nodded "yeah, it's damn intimidating, just imagine being an actual Buki here in Agnak, be downright terrifying, don'cha think?"
Bailey blew a breath of exhaustion "you're right... but maybe putting him all the way up there wasn't the best idea, either."
Collin shrugged, just as Norido entered the room.
"Collin? Bailerich? you in here?"
the white wolf laughed "down here!"
the titan-panther heard him and found the two canids on the bed "ah, there you are, now where's the really little one?"
Collin sighed again "he... left."
"how'd that happen?"
"Alpha, i'm guessing."
Norido nodded "guessin' you're leavin'?"
Bailey nodded "yeah, uncle Norido... gotta get back for the festival, y'know."
the panther nodded and helped them get ready, but it wasn't until they were waving goodbye and heading up the ramp that Collin said anything to Bailey.
"why did you lie? why tell him we left because of the festival?"
Bailey hung his head as they walked "if i told him we were leaving because Zenef couldn't handle the size difference... i think it would've offended them all..."

they passed through the barrier with their breathers on, and started swimming towards the surface.

---

meanwhile, Carl and Syrus were trying to get Radin into a presentable suit.
"why do i have to wear this again?" the snow-leopard cub complained, while Syrus adjusted the black bow-tie.
"because my family is coming to spend the last day of the festival with us. my mum and dad, and my two older sisters; Donna and Rachel, are coming here, and i want you to look nice."
"can't i just wear jeans and a good jacket?"
"no. my folks are sticklers for tradition, and tradition is that we wear this kind of clothing. and, each year cycles between the whole family, last year, Donna hosted the get-together."
Carl sighed as he finally succeeded in getting the top part of the tuxedo in proper condition "this'll be the first time i meet them face-to-face... i hope things go okay between us..."
both Radin and Syrus looked at the leopard with reassuring smiles.
"Carl, stop worrying!" syrus laughed, but then he looked to doubt his own words "everything'll be fine, just... try to steer clear of Donna's husband... and maybe be careful 'round my dad... Johnno's an... anti-giant supporter... and dad isn't too happy about the past..." he said nervously.
Carl winced "what about Rachel's guy and your mum?"
"oh, don't worry, Domenic's strictly with the pro-giant commitee," the otter said enthusiastically "can't get enough of you guys, and mum's super crazy about everything to do with you guys... probably'll want to ask a ton of questions."

Carl seemed a bit nervous.
"dad? what's wrong?" Radin asked, concerned.
"uhmm.... we might have a little issue... not being funny, either..."
they looked suspiciously at him, waiting for him to continue.
"well... i kinda invited Jez over, too..."
Syrus went wide-eyed "your sister?"
he nodded.
"and Balthazar?"
another nod.
"and their daughter?"
a guilty nod.
Syrus gripped his head-fur in distress.
"oohhh this is bad, this is really, really bad... dad and Johnno'll practically go ballistic! sure, if it was just you two i think they'd hold off, but five giants...? i am SO dead..."
Carl fidgeted "a-about that... it's actually a daughter and a son..."
Syrus whimpered "Six... that's it, I. am. doomed."
Radin tried comforting his smaller father "i-it's okay... we'll behave, we'll try to stay on their good side..."
"it's harder than it sounds." syrus groaned "so much as a slight mistake and they'll be ranting at you."

a knock at the Buki-access door.

"shit. quick, get ready, and be careful."

---

Syrus' father was a black otter, he had a slight beard, and his long head fur was tied in a braid.
his mother was brown with white, much like Syrus himself, and her head-fur was curly at the sides and straight at the back, it hung halfway past her shoulders.
Syrus' sisters were identical twins, and both resembled their mother without the curls, and with black and white fur.
johnno and domenic were both greyhounds, the former litterally being grey while the latter being a more auburn colour.

the door in front of them opened and there stood Syrus.
"hey, didn't think you were coming this early..."

Syrus' father nodded "well, we're here... may we come in?" his father said bluntly.

"okay, but use Viradan, please, Carl knows gentikan, but our son doesn't".
his father groaned "my Viradan is not perfect."
his mother chuckled nervously "i think we can manage... as long as we keep simple, is this okay Syrussimus?"
"it is, and it's just Syrus, thanks."
he lead them inside, and they immediately stared at Carl and Radin.

Syrus cleared his throat "everyone, this is Carl; my life partner, and Radin; our son... Carl and Radin, these are my parents and my sisters; Donna and Rachel, and their husbands; Johnno and Domenic..."

everyone exchanged a polite, yet awkward 'hello'.

then, a knock at the larger door.

Syrus' father glared at the door "who else is here?"
the younger otter fidgeted uncomfotrably "uh.... well... carl kind of invited his sister and--"
his father scowled at him "this is not tradition."
luckily, Syrus' mother intervened "now now, tradition says family attends, and as long as Syrussimus is with..." she looked to carl "sorry, what was your name again?"
"Carlito, but i prefer Carl." the big leopard replied.
she turned back to her husband "as long as he is with carl, they are family, too."
with his father submitting, Syrus motioned for carl to let them in.

carl let the others in, the female leopard and the shaggy white-furred canine along with their children, who looked like younger versions of themselves.

"welcome, s'good to see you!" Carl said as he hugged his twin sister, then whispered to the four of them "Sy's folks are here, be very, very polite, his dad's all tradition."
they nodded and bowed to the little Revinos.
unfortunately, Balthazar flashed his teeth when he smiled.
Syrus' father growled with a surprising level of intimidation, likely taking Balthazar's mistake as a challenge.
Syrus stepped between them "Balthazar, your teeth!" he hissed through his own teeth.
the canine shut his mouth "sorry, i wasn't thinking."

the awkwardness continued at the breakfast table, both Syrus' father and Johnno glaring at Carl and Balthazar in particular as they all ate the blueberry pancakes Syrus had prepared.
"So, son..." the middle-aged otter started "...you are still wanting to marry... this one?"
"i am. but please, can we just eat?" he sighed "i don't want to go into this argument again, not now."
once again, Syrus' mother stopped her husband from making a scene as she whispered something in his ear.

Domenic struck up a conversation "so, Carl, is it?"
the big leopard nodded
"okay then, Carl, may i ask a question?"
"go ahead."
"i've not been able to ask anyone before... but why are Gikis so big? why are you so much larger than us?"
the leopard smiled "straight to the point, eh? well, i'm pretty sure it was evolution; we adapted to the terrain, which i guess meant getting bigger."
Domenic nodded thoughtfully "but what brought on this change, i am wondering... just what kind of hardship is so difficult that the only option is to grow to.... what is word? imme... imen...?"
"immense?"
"thankyou, immense size?"
Carl shrugged "no idea. now, can I ask you something?"
the auburn greyhound nodded enthusiastically "of course!"
"you don't usually speak Viradan, do you?"
"no, my use of it is bad, because my mother tongue is of Gentikan origin."
"you mean Gentikan is your 'primary language'"
"ah, thank you. i did not think i said that very well."
"okay, but what i'm trying to say is, if it gets too difficult to speak Viradan, i know enough Gentikan to have a conversation."
"you do?!"

Syrus smiled proudly "that's my handiwork, he's even got the accent right!"
now Jezebelle looked surprised "seriously? even the accent?!"
Carl smirked "simulia sechete."
she stared blankly "yeah... sounds authentic to me..."
Syrus' father raised an eyebrow.
Carl cautiously looked in his direction "um... Sir?"
"you said 'hear for self' if i am not mistaken... yes?"
Carl fidgeted "i think i did..."
Syrus smiled at his partner "you did, but you weren't as broken as dad sounds, he isn't very good at Viradan."
the older otter groaned "i began recently. it is difficult to grasp."
Carl saw his opening to gain the otter's favour and took it "if you'd prefer using Gentikan..."
"i would, but i have been asked to speak this language for your benefit, and that of the... white one."
Balthazar pointed at himself questioningly.
"no, the young cat--"
"Radin," Syrus corrected his father "his name is Radin."
"noted, but he is..." he stopped for a moment "he isn't of our blood, is he?"
Syrus scowled "blood or not, he's still your grandson, got it dad?"

"are you talking about me?"

attention went to Radin, who was halfway to putting a piece of pancake in his mouth.
"uhh..." Syrus stared, realising they'd completely cut the conversation to Gentikan in an effort to keep Radin out of it "it's fine, sorry we're being rude, Radin."
the snow leopard put the pancake in his mouth and swallowed "it's okay, it's probably none of my buisiness."
Syrus' father smiled "odizigo miet?"
Radin looked confused "i'm sorry, what?"
Syrus laughed "he's just commenting on how polite you are."
suddenly, Carl appeared to have an idea.
"excuse me... Mr Revino?"
he cast a wary glance at Carl "yes?"
Carl looked at Syrus "well... our family has something of a tradition for special events like this..."
he nodded "tradition is important, go on."
"well... maybe it's best we don't... you mightn't like it..."
the older otter stood "nonsense, tradition is tradition, tell us."
Carl shot Syrus a desperate look.
the younger otter cleared his throat "after breakfast, we play a game, dad."
Syrus' sisters looked interested, and leaned in to listen.
"we... play-hunt..."
Syrus' father's ears dipped "i... i must not have understood, i thought you said 'play-hunt'?"
Syrus regained his composure and boldly replied "you didn't misunderstand. like hide and hunt, some of us hide while others try to find us, but we play by having the big ones 'hunt' the smaller ones."
Johnno and Syrus' father looked nervous.
"t-tradition... is tradition..." the older otter whimpered meekly.
Carl smiled reassuringly "don't worry, we'll go easy on you."
Johnno gulped "w-we?"
"yes," Carl beamed, leaning in closer so his head hovered close to them "we, as in myself, Radin, and Balthazar."
Jezebelle giggled "it's more fun to leave it as a boys-game."

Syrus reassured the anxiety-drowned duo "hey, calm down, it's actually really fun, trust me."
Domenic seemed to jump at the chance "sounds exciting!"
"oh," Syrus grinned "You've no idea just how right you are!"
Carl chuckled "don't be nervous, Mr Revino, i'm not going to bite... well, i'm not biting you at least."
Johnno paled beneath his grey fur.
"oh, stoppit, you're both perfectly safe here. i'm just like you, only i'm a leopard and i'm a bit bigger than you is all, and seriously, i don't eat people or destroy things."
they jumped back in a slight bit of fright.
Syrus sighed but it ended in laughter "he means we're the same, just different sizes."

with everyone now finished breakfast, Syrus and carl removed their black overshirts "come on, if you play and still don't agree afterwards... well, i doubt you'll still disagree, but if you somehow do, we'll do something for you."
the girls and Balthazar's children sat at the dining table, spectating.

Syrus stretched "okay, there are five minutes in play, if we last that long without being caught, we win, if we all get caught, we lose."
Domenic hummed "caught how?"
Carl picked Syrus up and held him in his left paw "like so."
"okay, literal meaning, got it."
Syrus' family were cheering, shouting encouragement.
Carl set the otter down and counted down from ten, prompting Syrus to bolt, his father and brothers in law doing so in turn.

Carl's booming laughter came next "make it fun, little ones!"

Syrus laughed as well "oh, don't go thinking you'll catch me this time, you big moron!"

then, Radin spoke softly "good luck!"

encouraged by the young snow-leopard, they ran faster, out of sight of their soon-to-be-persuers.
Johnno, in growing excitement and decreasing anxiety, barely resisted the urge to call back 'catch me if you can' before the giant voice reached zero and the huge 'hunters' started after them.

(Next Chapter: part 2/2.)

(Author note: the next few chapters will be related to each of the main character groups spending the festival Climax, and will inevitably point towards the coming issue as the story progresses. it will also herald the return of an old character to the storyline... but who?
of course, i can't give that away :P you'll have to wait and see :D hahaha...)