A NEW DAWN
Chapter 3
Memories Unbidden
Meanwhile, in Gruffi's workshop…
"But that's not fair, Gruffi!" Sunni protested; her eyes angry. "He can't help that he's Barbic, just like I can't help it that I'm Glen. It's not fair!"
Gruffi knew the girl would react like this. She was stubborn that way, just like her father had been. Yes, Avalon had been stubborn…stubborn enough that he stormed off and out of their lives. He didn't know where he went, or why he had never returned, but he was gone and that left Gruffi to care for his brother's heavily pregnant wife and unborn daughter. Then, Misti died, leaving her daughter behind. Oh, if only he'd been less stubborn…
"Sunshine Gummi," the older bear's voice was firm, "I swore I'd look out for you after your mother died –"
"You've never as much mentioned my mom since I was born," Sunni interrupted, "So don't even try to make me feel guilty about the promise you made. You can't watch out for me forever Gruffi. I'm thirteen years old; I can take care of myself!" And with that, the girl stormed off. Gruffi didn't try to stop her. His mind wandered back thirteen years, to the days before Sunni was born…
Thirteen years ago, mid-afternoon at Gummi Glen…
"Avalon, it's too risky," Gruffi's voice had once again taken that firm tone, only now his voice was younger, he was younger. At age 25 Gruffi was the unquestioned leader of the Glen Gummies, having taken over from his father when he died. His arms were crossed across his chest as he glared at the younger male in front of him. "We cannot forget what their kind did to us…"
Avalon Gummi was returning his older brother's glare from the other side of the table. He was 23, two years younger than his brother. Avalon had golden coloured fur with striking green eyes, and wore a green long-sleeved tunic to match. "Gruffi, we can't blame the descendants for the ancestors' deeds. What if things have changed?"
"When pigs fly," Gruffi was quick to respond, "We need to stay here where it's safe!"
"Safe, yes," Avalon snorted, "Practical…no! Gruffi, look around you! There are only a handful of us left here. We need to find other Gummies, or our entire clan could wipe out!" He stood, looking determined. "And nothing's going to stop me from proofing this to you!" He stormed out of the room, nearly bumping into another Gummi, his mate.
Mistletoe Gummi gave her mate a concerned look as he headed in the general direction of the quick tunnels. She was a young woman of 22 years, with snow white far and hair. She was expecting her first cub in but three months. Suddenly she gasped at the feel of a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she came face to face with Tamori Gummi, her best friend. The older Gummi, light pink sighed and said, "They're both right Misti. We can't forget the past, but we have to be concerned about the future. I hope that, with time, Gruffi would come to realize this too. We're all that's left."
Misti nodded at Tamori's words. She had never doubted Avalon, and apparently, neither did her friend. She shook her shoulder free then said, "I just feel so helpless when they fight. We're Gummies, we're supposed to stand together, not fight each other."
Present day…
Avalon didn't come back….as the days turned into months…months turned into years….Gruffi knew he was never coming back. Her had abandoned the Glen, abandoned Misti, who died of a broken heart, abandoned little Sunni, who had had to grow up without her parents, abandoned him. Avalon had abandoned his brother, the person who used to be his best friend.
Gruffi brought himself away from the memory. Sunni was doing the same thing her father had done – she had high trust in the Barbics, she believed that they too can learn to trust with time. Just like he came around when he first met Cavin. He came to realize that Avalon was right, on both accounts. Humans are capable of change. And they were so alone. Find the Barbics made a difference; he just didn't want Sunni to disappear as Avalon had. She was his only link to his brother. Buddi may be different from the other Barbics, but he was Barbic none the least. If Sunni and Buddi ever fought like he did with Avalon…
He was just trying to protect her. She just did see it yet.
"Oh Ursa, if only you knew how similar to you I used to be…"
Sunni's bedroom…
Sunni didn't know if what she had said to Gruffi was the right thing, even as the words had left her mouth. She knew he didn't just see her as a burden that was tied to him by his own word. If in all honestly she was starting to think that he was right. She had been spending less and less time with Cubbi, and more and more with Buddi. He must be worried about her straying from her Glen roots.
"But is that worth not seeing Buddi?"
The answer was obvious. She wants Gruffi to know that she was still connected to her Glen roots as much as he was.
In order to reassure him she'd stay away from Buddi for a few days. It was nearly time to brew the winter's batch of gummiberry juice, anyways, and Grammi will need her help. Maybe she'll even go along with Grammi to Dunwyn for the picking. She'd be able to see Calla again, at least for a little while. And maybe she'd get the others to take Cubbi along too; he misses Cavin enough that it'll mean a whole lot to him.
She'll talk to Buddi. He needs to pacify Ursa as much as she needed to pacify Gruffi. A few days isn't a whole lot.
"Then why do I already miss him when I only saw him earlier today?"
To Be Resumed...