Lost In Stardust

Chapter Thirty

Alpha wove his way through the crowd,followed by the rest of the group. He kept his head down and distanced himself from anyone in the crowd. All around him Dax could feel warmth and happiness. Lights twinkled and flickered above him. A soft, beautiful melody danced through the air and in to Dax's ears. He loved the sound of the drums that complimented the strumming of the stringed instruments so well.

Oberonites were sitting in tiny cafes,covered in fur,laughing and sipping at their cups of hot liquid. Mist from their cups wafted up,momentarily obscuring their faces in a cloud of fragranced pear nut tea.

Alpha walked silently onward until he came to a little store in the middle of the crowded town. It was three storeys high and sandwiched between two other buildings. It was made of glass,however,the top floor was made of granite. Oberonites pushed at the tiny group,wrestling their way in to the already crowded store. Alpha cautiously walked in to the store. The shelves were covered in coats, hats,gloves and other accessories. Children tried on various hats and gloves while their mothers chatted about the terrible events that had occurred on the other side of the planet.

"So they do care",Taya hissed angrily.

Alpha turned around.
"We're here",he announced.
"Any questions?",he asked.
Taya raised her hand. He nodded at her to go on.
"Who's Poshumos?",she asked him.
Before he could reply,he was interrupted by a loud bang.

"ALPHA MY BOY",a short man with a long,white beard yelled. He made his way toward Alpha,his tiny,stumpy legs working hard to get him to his destination. He pinched Alpha's cheeks with two,pudgy hands. His cheeks were red and he just looked so happy. Alpha grinned like a little boy and this shocked Dax. He had never seen THIS side of him before. He clearly adored the old man. Alpha put an arm around the old man.
"THIS...is Poshumos",he explained.

Dax found himself being pulled in to a bear hug,the man smelt familiar.
"Cinnamon",his brain told him.
Poshumos pulled away and looked at Dax.
"You look terribly pale",he told him.
"Have you been playing tricks again",he poked Omega's tummy.

"Come,my wife will whip up something hot for us to drink",and he pulled Alpha's hand and motioned for the others to follow.

Delta slowed down until she was walking between Dax and Taya.
"Poshumos makes coats,that's why we have so many",she laughed.
"But how is he connected to Alpha?",Taya questioned her.
"Alpha saved Poshumos from being crushed in a landslide,that was a long time ago,but he's loved us ever since",she smiled fondly.
"And the building?"
"Alpha bought it under.."

"Under Navi's name",Alpha interrupted his sister.
"I knew I couldn't possibly buy property under my name,so I used Navi's name instead,it's special",he replied,looking at Delta.
"I know you told him.
His sister shrugged.
"He was gonna find out sooner or later".
"Pirates, Delta",he grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes at him then skipped up the stairs in to Poshumos' home.

"Look who I met",Poshumos announced to an old woman behind a kitchen counter.

She turned around and nearly screamed. Alpha held out his hands and she hurried over to give him a hug. She buried her nose in his chest and squeezed the life out of him. He chuckled and gently, squeezed her back.

She pulled away and announced that she will be making hot,pear nut tea before scuttering off in to the kitchen,followed by Delta,Taya and Beta.

The others settled in to the leather,couch that was placed in front of the fire.

Alpha leaned in close to Poshumos.
"Details Poshumos,was it him?"

The old man leaned back in to his chair and inhaled deeply. Everyone settled in to listen to Poshumos' grim tale as they sipped the tea.