Gath was so pleased when everyone arrived in one big group. Clearly Tenuk had gone around in his fancy bus and picked everyone up so they could all have a drink. They arrived at the door, smiling and carrying gifts, and Gath and Retvik both beckoned them in.
The house, the building that was once the old Dessaron headquarters and was now just a home, was decorated with strings of lights and fake candles scattered around. The smell of cooking meats filled the air.
Retvik welcomed everyone in and sat them around the table, while Elksia rushed off to help Gath with drinks. Everyone seemed incredibly happy. Conversation and laughter quickly bloomed as the drinks and appetizers arrived.
“This is wonderful!” Gath beamed, carrying a tray of crunchy salted skins to the table. “Delightful!”
“Yeah, this is really nice!” Elksia also beamed. She seemed already slightly drunk. “I love this holiday!”
“Vrekans don’t celebrate?” Kohra asked.
“Not really. We don’t celebrate in winter…” Elksia quickly changed the subject. “But yoooou! How’d you break yourself like that!”
Kohra wanted to shake his head, but that action hurt. He was wearing a neck brace and his right arm was immobilized. “Uh… long story…”
“We have time!” Gath smiled as he stirred several large pots. Not only had he done large chunks of meat, but he’d also cooked starchy vegetables and rice for those who weren’t complete carnivores. “We all like a good story, yes?”
Kohra eyed Kayen nervously. Kayen though smiled and nodded. He too was a bit battered, with bruises on one side and a broken wrist.
“It’s a silly story, but we’ll share!” Kayen shrugged. “You want the long version or the abridged version?”
“I don’t know what abridged means, so we’ll have that!” Elksia bounced up and down excitedly. “Tell us!”
“Please do,” Tenuk asked politely. “I consider it my duty to keep track of the gods and even I have no clue what was going on.”
Kayen leaned back in his chair. “Well, it all started with the Voidborn being kicked out because he was acting like a prick. At the same time, Arkadin decided to just up and disappear. So Kinisis basically asked me to go and find him.”
“Did you?”
“Of course!” Kohra interrupted. “Because we’re awesome, right?”
“Yep!” Kayen continued. “Basically, we looked all over the place and found him in an ancient Threavok city that used to worship him. But when we found him, he was well pissed off.”
“Also Kinisis kinda sort of used you as a portal to get to Arkadin fast…” Kohra added.
“Yeah…” Kayen trailed off. “But yeah, Arkadin wasn’t happy. Because when the Voidborn was exiled, he threatened to hurt Arkadin if he tried to spend time with Kinisis and the Voidborn would return. And Kinisis appearing and seeing Arkadin meant that Kenon suddenly appeared. Kenon was pissed as well and he had like, four big, mean copies of the deities and was saying shit about how the gods don’t treat Kinisis right.”
“Then everything fell on us and we were kinda trapped under rubble…” Kohra sighed. “Hence the broken parts.”
“Luckily Arkadin came and saved us, but after that, we have no idea what happened. He took us to a hospital and then probably did something horrible to Kenon because he’d hurt us.”
“Do you know where any of them are now?” Tenuk asked.
“Nope!” Kayen grinned this time. “And good riddance to them all. They nearly ruined our Macromera!”
“You’re all fine though, right?” Psiksi asked, looking rather concerned. “And what about… what about the rumours about the K-Class leader.”
Kayen and Kohra glanced at each other.
“I dunno anything about that…” Kayen shrugged. “Wasn’t anyone else there, as far as I remember.”
“Huh…” Psiksi muttered.
Suddenly, massive plates of food arrived on the table.
“No more time for rumours!” Gath bellowed as the food arrived. “It is time to feast!”