This chapter goes into depth of the blossoming love between Baby Mumble and Baby Gloria.

Background Music = Music played in a Setting. Not Sung by any of the Characters.


Tranquility

Mumble waddled as fast as his little legs would carry him. He was going to visit Gloria today. His very happy feet were giving him quite the speed boost. He was approaching the cave fast. But when Mumble arrived he heard Gloria wailing in a full-blown cry. Maurice was desperately trying to soothe her.

"Oh honey, please don't cry. Don't cry," he pacified. But Baby Gloria still kept sobbing. She had been crying for so long that Maurice's brood pouch was soaked with tears. Incredibly desperate now, Maurice spotted Mumble at the entrance and seized his opportunity.

"Gloria, look over there! It's Mumble!"

Immediately, Gloria's incessant wailing changed to a frantic moaning, though she gave no indication that she would be stopping any time soon.

"Uh, Mr Maurice?" asked Mumble nervously, "This may not be the best of times, but I was wondering if I could play with Gloria?"

That was all Maurice, and Gloria, needed to hear. "Well, what are you waiting for, honey?" Maurice asked his baby girl. Gloria chirped happily and made her way to Mumble. When she was next to him, she made happy giggling sounds. When Mumble smiled back, she cooed with perpetual happiness and innocence. Then she shuffled off into the outside world for the first time.

"Thank you, Sir!" Mumble joyfully shouted, running after Gloria.


Background Music:
I know how the Moon must feel
(– by Hummie Mann)

I know how the Moon must feel,
Looking down from the Heavens,
Smiling at the silly things,
We put ourselves through.
Missing magic each day,
And not seeing the wonder,
That's how the Moon must feel.

I know how the Moon must feel.
Starry-eyed and contented.
Everything is beautiful,
As it all should be.
Far away from it all,
Never needing to hurry,
That's how the Moon must feel.


The two hatchlings played for hours. They played hide and seek, tag, and jumble tumble. Mumble slid down a slope and set his happy feet in action. He saw Gloria trying to do the same. He waddled over to her. "So you really like my happy feet?" Mumble asked. Gloria giggled. "Can you say my name?" Mumble inquired, "Say Mumble. MUM-BLE."

"MAM-BOL," Baby Gloria replied.

"No, no," laughed Mumble, "It's MUM-BLE!"

"MUM-BLE!" Gloria chirped in reply.

Mumble then realized that he had just taught Gloria how to talk! "Follow me, Gloria!" he called out to her, restarting his happy feet again. "Okie-dokie, Mumble," Gloria obeyed, doing her own little adorable dance. But the sun was already low in the sky. Mumble suddenly realized the horrible predicament they were in.

The two chicks were lost. It was getting dark. They were at the entrance to Emperor-Land. And worst of all, a blizzard was picking up. "We're lost…" Mumble gasped. Gloria didn't need to be told twice. Her instincts turned to words and tears.

"Mumble! Daddy!" she cried. Tears were flowing from her eyes and she shivered in the howling winds.

Mumble cuddled her with his flippers, his own instincts kicking in. He spotted an Elder, not too far away "Don't worry. I know what to do! But I need you to be brave! You have to let me go for help!"

"No!" sobbed Gloria. Her tear-filled golden eyes darkened with fear.

"She doesn't want to be alone," realized Mumble.

"Gloria," responded Mumble gently, "You won't be alone."

"I won't?"

"I promise."

Trying to be brave, Gloria let go of her best friend's flipper. Mumble nodded at her encouragingly, and then he ran off to find the Elder. "Sir! Sir!" he shouted desperately. Mumble remained calm, despite his tension. He was in the eye of the storm.


Surprised and horrified to hear a child's voice, the Elder quickly turned and shuffled towards Mumble.

"What are you doing out at a night storm, young one?! You should be with your father!" the Elder yelled, trying to make himself heard over the storm.

"My friend and I are lost, sir! I went to you for help! What do I do now?!" Mumble shouted.

"Find your friend! And come with me!" the Elder instructed. Mumble obeyed and scurried away as quickly as he could. He hoped with all his heart that he hadn't lost Gloria. The snowstorm raged on, the blizzard battering his body, snow getting into his eyes and stinging. Mumble saw white.

"No sign of Gloria!" he panicked to himself.

There were only swirling walls of white. Mumble's heart sank in guilt and despair. I promised! I promised!

Suddenly, a frightened voice whistled in the wind.

"Mumble! Mumble!"

"Gloria!"

Through the white-out, Mumble saw Gloria. He grabbed her flipper.

"Come on! We can't stay here! Come with me!"


The two hatchlings made their way back to the Elder. Sighing in relief when they came into sight, the Elder turned his attention to Gloria. Her tiny body was shivering and her fluffy down feathers were covered in a thin coating of frost and snow.

"Please help her!" begged Mumble, "I'll walk right next to you. She can ride in your pouch!"

"Brilliant idea, lad!" the Elder commended. After making sure that little Gloria was safe and warm in his pouch, he gave the order to proceed. "Let's go!"


Meanwhile, Memphis and Maurice were looking desperately for their two chicks. "Oh, Memphis!" cried out Maurice, in mental agony, "I hope they're alright!"

"They will be!" Memphis reassured, "Mumble knows what to do!"

"Yes he does!" a deep voice boomed. Startled, Memphis and Maurice spun around. An Elder was there. Inside his pouch was Gloria, and next to them stood Mumble, strong and firm. "And I'm pretty sure you're proud of him too!" the Elder continued.

"I am!" Memphis cried out, walking briskly to Mumble and snuggling him in his own pouch. Tears of joy streamed from their eyes. "I could never be prouder."

"Oh my sweet, little Gloria!" Maurice exclaimed, hugged his daughter ecstatically, "Don't ever scare me like that again!"

"Her baby down is snow-covered, but she'll get through the worst of it," the Elder reported, now leaving the two families. "Goodbye and goodnight!"

"Goodnight!" Maurice and Memphis responded.

"Thank you!" called the chicks.


"My son, you are a hero," Memphis praised. The two fathers and children were sheltering in their ice caves. Mumble blushed at his newfound heroism.

"Oh, Pa! I just did what I had to do!" said Mumble, trying not to draw attention to himself.

"I know, but I'm just so proud of my little Mumble!" teased Memphis.

"Your dad is right," Maurice smiled, "Thank you for saving my baby girl."

Gloria was thankfully fast asleep, snuggled tight in her father's pouch. Or otherwise she would have complained of embarrassment.

"Think nothing of it, sir," Mumble replied humbly.

"Well, what a day!" Memphis yawned.

"You must be exhausted," Maurice stated matter-of-factly.

"Indeed!" yawned Mumble, "Goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight, my little hero," Memphis smiled.

"Goodnight Memphis," snored Maurice.

"Goodnight Maurice," replied Memphis, drifting off to sleep.

But Mumble opened his eyes one more time to gaze lovingly and protectively at the sleeping Gloria. He whispered a small, yet heartfelt prayer to the Great 'Guin.

"Today has increased our bonds of friendship.
May me and my friend stay together, 'till the end.
May the bond between us never be broken.
Amen."


That prayer was enough.

The bonds between Mumble and Gloria only grew ever-stronger.


I recommend searching for "I know how the Moon must feel" on Youtube. It's a wonderful and magical song to listen to.