Hand Me Down Dreams
By: Sabella Sykes
Chapter 2
Summi followed Witti onto the Gummi constructed ship. It had been two months since the summit and seven Gummies from the different warrens had arranged to travel across the ocean. It was a team effort of the three large Gummi capitols.
Jimmi carried only a knapsack and his lute with him. There was a brimming smile on his face as he boarded the vessel. He paused setting his lute as his feet, taking a moment to absorb exactly what was about to occur. The young servant of the court was now an adventurer, an expeditionist, a worldly Gummi – he might even get to see a human in his travels. Either way, servant or traveler, Jimmi was glad to be alive. He saw everything for its benefits, its intrinsic worth – he was a positive and optimistic sort of creature. He took in a deep breath of the salty, sea spray air; bent and collected his lute and took his first step toward the new chapter of his life.
No sooner had the bear boarded and he was pummeled, getting slammed directly in the chest and falling backward against the ship's railing. He slowly pulled the hat, that had fallen over his eyes, back up so he could get a glimpse of the culprit.
"Sorry!" Came a high and energetic voice. There was a youngster planted firmly on his chest with a little bit of bounce left in her. As his eyes appeared from under the hat her wide whimsical smile vanished to be replaced with a look of fear. Anticipating the worst she shrank a little. "I didn't mean to." Her small shoulders slumped forward, but – as if by second thought – she brightened, straightened in her spot (still atop him) and jetted her tiny paw out to him. "I'm Kiddi Gummi! What's your name?"
Jimmi couldn't help but give a small chuckle at the girl. It seemed that she was just energetic and it got the best of her in the moments before she tackled him. "Jimmi, I'm Jimmi. Say, are you from New Gumbrea?"
Her little head wobbled an affirmative so quickly it appeared to be on a spring. Against Jimmi's cream and orange coat he couldn't help but notice how staunch white she was. Her nose and ears, along with her arms and legs were black; with matching black circles around her tilt and narrow dancing eyes. "But my relatives before me come from Gummi-La across the sea – to the Great East. Hey, are you a minstrel – is that your lute?" She asked eagerly, bouncing off from him and pointing at the instrument on the deck.
"Kiddi Gummi, don't ask so many questions." A tall bear, matching her coloring and tipped, almond shaped eyes scolded gently. He was strong in appearance, thick in muscle and proud in demeanor. He bore Gummi armor and a knightly crest of New Gumbrea across his chest. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Forgive my daughter kind sir, she's a curious child but she means no harm. I'm Sir Kazzi." He issued Jimmi a short bow before extending his own paw to help the boy to his feet.
"It's no trouble at all sir." Jimmi said happily. Once on his feet he gave his tunic a tug to straighten it out. "She's no bother at all; I don't mind the questions – I'm just as excited as she is. I think the only thing separating our mind sets are years. I imagine I'll be fair entertainment for your girl while we take this six week sea trek." He looked at the young small Gummi who was fidgeting with her hands in front of her as she placed the paws of her feet over one another nervously. Jimmi reached over and patted her head lightly. "It is my lute – and yes, I am a minstrel."
"Kiddi." Sir Kazzi cut in scolding her softly as he saw her face light up and a bright smile jump to her face. She felt her little cheeks get hot out of embarrassment for being scolded again in such a short span.
"Milord, it's no bother at all – really." Jimmi assured the knight. He turned to the little girl and bent next to her. He placed a hand on her small shoulder. Obviously aware of what her next question might be he offered before she could ask it. "I'd be glad to play you a song. In fact, I'm hoping it'll keep all of us entertained as much as it can on this trip. Do you know what a shanty is?" He straightened and offered the little girl his hand as he scooped up the lute with the other. He gave Kazzi a warm smile as he led the little girl over toward the mast.
"Sir knight, it's good to see you again." Witti interjected, after watching Kazzi's interaction with the two younger Gummies. "Jimmi is honest and patient. He will serve well here to keep an eye on her. He's also a responsible Gummi. Every time we've visited from Great Bearton he's been the one to look after us. If you don't trust in him, trust in me and my word."
"Sorceress," the knight turned and scooped up her hand. He placed a light and quick kiss on the back of it. "It's not her I worry for – it's his sanity I'm concerned about. Please," he kept ahold of her hand and guided her to the edge. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
She allowed the knight to lead her to the boat's railing. "It's about our additional passenger from New Gumbrea. He's been acting odd since we arrived. Privi," he bobbed his head toward a Gummi almost hidden under the shadow of one of the sails. His expression was overcast as was his posture. He was leaning against the boat's smaller sail shaft and looking out across the vastness of the ocean ahead of them.
Witti licked her lips and nodded. "Perhaps he's just come to the understanding that there's a chance we might not return. I'll keep an eye on him, just to make sure he's settling in well. My companion from Great Bearton is also worthy of mention to you, though I'd ask, for now at least, that it stays between you and I. Chari, she's nearly the same age as Jimmi – just on the brink of adulthood. She's both soft and kind, if not to a fault – gullible one might say. She's much too gentle for her own good. She's looking for a fresh start without judgment. She's going to have a cub Kazzi yet she has no mate."
Kazzi's outward reflection made no expression of what he was thinking but inside it felt as if he'd just been hit in the gut. His words followed the blow. "Witti, we haven't the resources for such a thing. There could be no bears when we arrive. We're acting on something that happened nearly a year ago. What if the Glen's been destroyed and we have no where to go. You've said it yourself, we may not return at all."
Witti reach out and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. She glanced up at him, "If there's no Glen then there's still Ursalia; either way it's our mission to make sure the Glen and all the Gummi warrens across the sea are tended to; in that we need families. Just as you've – likely unwillingly – brought Kiddi, these places need Gummies to keep them alive. Gummies of all ages. Summi and I are learned enough to deliver the cub and Jimmi is both dedicated and able to follow direction to the letter. Between the three of us we'll have no trouble bearing the child. She won't be round for months yet, she's newly in this state so she won't be cumbersome to our mission of getting to the Glen. She doesn't draw attention to herself, it's unlikely that she'll complain at all. She doesn't want to be a bother to anyone. Again I'm going to urge you to trust my word, this is what's best for us. In the long run, there's a chance there might be no one there at all and in that event it will be our responsibility to see that there's life there. This is only further evidence and proof of what we're already doing."
Kazzi resigned himself to her words. She had a point – at least where it came to Kiddi. His eyes drifted over to the child clapping merrily to a song that Jimmi was singing. The young Gummi he could only assume was Chari, the only one he didn't know at this point, had appeared next to Kiddi and was curiously listening and watching Jimmi in his song. She seemed intrigued and engaged in the song that Kiddi had already adapted to enough that she would join in from time to time. A smile fluttered across the knight's face. "Yes, I suppose you're right. This is it then – the expedition of seven…rather seven and a half." She grinned peeking back at Witti.
A knowing smile crossed her young face as she nodded in agreement. "That's right. It's a long journey. Let's settle in." Witti patted the arm she'd had her hand placed on and slipped over to wave off her mentor and friend – Brashi. She signed reluctantly. She would miss him dearly as she would their way of life. Though she had embraced what was head of them she was still a little wary of what was to come. She felt a tear well in her eye when she caught sight of the counselor, one hand resting on his heavy gut the other was high over his head waving wildly to her. She gave a fleeting look over her shoulder at the mismatched group. A knight and his daughter, a servant musician, an enigmatic reserved Gummi, a shy expectant mother, the calculating Summi and Witti herself – they were quite a group; all sharing one quest, one mission – and all taking it on boldly. She sighed in a moment of relief, she expected an adventure.
Thank you for reading, please review if you have a moment. I promise this story will be fun and it will be an adventure. I also promise Glen Gummies in the next chapter.