Chapter Ten: Making a Difference
Ursa let out a low moan and sat up slowly, rubbing her chest. She coughed a bit then started gasping. Her lungs still hurt. She felt someone grab her and steady her. She turned and Gritty met her eyes. Grubbi walked over, grabbing her by the shoulders.
"Can you breathe, Ursa?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay, just a bit winded. What happened?'
Gritty answered, "They overwhelmed
us. Now, we're prisoners in our own home." He gestured around them. They were
in one of Ursalia's prison cells. Ursa growled under her breath and stumbled to
her feet, shaking a bit but growing steadier.
"Come on, surely we can break those
gates!"
Gritty nodded as he stood. "We were
waiting for you to come to, Fearless Leader."
Ursa nodded. She had become
accustomed to that nickname. She suddenly grabbed Gritty.
"Gritty! What if they find Buddi?"
The Barbic didn't reply, just looked
at her sadly. He knew as well as Ursa what they would do and he could not say
it either. But the whole knew.
They'd kill him.
Ursa tore from gritty and ran to the
door. Then, when she was about two feet from it, a tremendous force shocked
her, with the force of a bolt of lightning. She let out a cry of physical pain
and surprise, was lifted off her feet and flung backward. Gritty ran forward,
opened his arms and caught her as she fell.
"Ursa!"
Ursa opened her eyes, wincing.
Gritty and the others were staring at her. She waved them off, and slowly
climbed to her feet. But the shock had aftershock and she lost her balance and
collapsed. Gritty knelt and held her still. Grubbi quickly searched out the damage
and said,
"You're lucky you weren't connected
long, Ursa. That was quite the shock you got."
She nodded and immediately regretted
it. "No. She's holding us in. I can't get to Buddi."
Ryo spoke, just a statement,
"Did he wake up?"
Ursa fought her tears and shook her
head. Gritty held her, both to help the pain in her body and the pain in her
heart. Ursa sighed. She had never felt so helpless and weak. She pushed Gritty
away and tried to fight her way up but Grubbi wouldn't have it. Besides, with that
barrier, there was nothing they could do.
They were trapped.
* * *
Buddi crept around the corner and
peered down into the courtyard. He was in the old horn tower, using his small
size to his advantage. The other Barbics could not have hid here, as they were
too tall. But when he got onto his knees, he was practically invisible.
But his heart was heavy.
There were too many! The ogres had
taken over the courtyard. Only Toadwart could sneak into the buildings. But
there were so many. Buddi fought tears of desperation. How could he do this?
How?
Unconsciously, he slid down to sit
on the floor and buried his face into his arms. He sobbed silently, scared to
death. His voice came out slowly and softly, and sounding every bit as young as
he was.
"Ursa…help me. I…I don't know what
to do!"
Then, all at once, he felt arms wrap
around him, and squeeze reassuringly. He looked up. Tears slid down his cheeks.
"Alina..Missy. Help me. I…I can't
think. I'm scared. I don't know what to do."
The white furred girl looked about
the same here as she had in his mind. Her eyes were crystal clear, shining. Her
fur was bright white and soft against his. She had switched outfits though.
This one was a simple spaghetti strap dress, snow white. And she was
transparent. But he could feel her.
"Shh," she pressed her finger
against Buddi's lips. "Be calm, little Buddi. You can do it. I know you can.
Remember what Ursa said?"
"What?"
"That's something you can take pride
in Buddi, your ability to plan." She reminded him.
Buddi still looked nervous and
scared, a child that felt lost and alone. Alina hugged him tightly.
"Buddi…I'm a spirit now, I guess an
angel-trainee." She smiled. "So I can go where I wish. But right now, I'm going
to take your mind to where your family is. Ursa's saying something you need to
hear."
Buddi felt dizzy, weak. Then he
heard Ursa's voice in his mind. She was saying something to Gritty.
"I know that Buddi's young,
Gritty. But, he's strong. He'll break back to us."
Her next statement made Buddi's eyes well up with tears of happiness, of self-worth.
" I believe in him."
Buddi opened his eyes. Alina smiled. Then
said,
"But, how about some help, Buddi?"
He nodded. She took his face in her
hands. "Wait. I'll be back. I promise."
She faded away, leaving Buddi alone
again.
* * *
Sunni trembled, lost and alone. She was cold, it was still raining. But more
than that, she felt a mental type of cold. In all her short life, she had yet
to feel more alone. Or so helpless. She knew the Barbics were captive. She knew
the glens were captive. She knew that she was alone. And there were dozens of
Ogres and she had one bottle of juice and she was a mere child.
Sunni could make quick decisions but
on a whole, she had no gift for strategy. She needed a leader, someone to aid
her.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Sunni…"
The girl jerked her head up.
"That voice," she said softly, tears
making tracks down her already soaked cheeks. "I know that voice."
The air in front of her shimmered. A
form appeared, ocean blue eyes, almond shaped. Snow white fur, silky. A crystal
white dress, spaghetti strapped. And that smiling face. Sunni lost her balance,
collapsed. Mud splattered her dress and arms. She managed to stammer,
"Alina."
The Gummi nodded and knelt to the
Glen girl's level.
"I aided Buddi and now I'm here to
help you too. Buddi's free. He has a plan, I know he does. But he's too
frightened to attempt it alone. He knows he needs help. As do you. Go to Buddi,
Sunni. Together you two can win."
Sunni tried to stand but could not.
She merely said, again,
"Alina."
The hybrid knelt and pulled the cub
up, gently.
"Come on Sunni."
Sunni nodded. "But Alina…you-"
Alina gave her a delicate smile. She
gently took her arm and guided her in the shadows to the tower where Buddi was.
She said softly,
"I have my limits but I'm here to
help you two. But once you're together, it's up to you. But don't worry, " she
added. "I'm watching you even if I can't help. And your families are very proud
of you two."
Sunni nodded, still shocked. Alina,
she'd come back. Even if just temporarily. A smile pierced Sunni's glum
face. They were at the base of the
tower. But the door was old. It would attract every Ogre's attention. Sunni
panicked. She could not jump buildings as Buddi could, although he was just as
scared doing it as she. She looked at her friend, shimmering in the rain.
Alina smiled. "As I said, being a
spirit, or a ghost as you may call it may have limits but I can also have a tad
bit of fun."
She slipped from Sunni and walked
through the Ogres. No one knew she was there. She walked over to the
arrangement of pans and metal swords they'd confiscated from the adult Barbics.
She winked at Sunni. Sunni caught on and grasped the door handle.
BANG!
Every metal object fell at once,
just as Sunni ran through the door and closed it tight behind her.
The Ogres were rushing to the
clatter of noise and never heard her. She ran up and towards the top. Buddi
greeted her with relief and shock.
"Sunni!"
He hugged her tightly and she clutched
him tightly in return.
"Alina came and fetched me," she
explained. "But she also said that, that's her limit. We're on our own."
Buddi smiled. "You up for it?"
She nodded. She didn't know why but
she was confident. Buddi smiled again and said,
"Then, listen. I've got an idea…"