Chapter
Five: Discovering Innocent Feelings
Buddi threw the book down and backed
up. He never wanted to see that book again. He had gone looking for answers but
now he was petrified. He pulled the quilt tight around him and tried to force
that from his memory. But nothing worked. He wished again that he could run to
Ursa and crawl in bed with her as he had when he was little.
Buddi turned his cheek into his
pillow and tried to sleep. But his dreams were twisted, dark, scary. He kept
seeing her, Celina. He tossed constantly, whimpering occasionally. Oh Gum, he
wanted Ursa.
She smiled at him, evilly. Her voice
came sharp and threatening.
"I'll never been defeated. I'll tear
your skin off and carry it as a trophy. I'll bathe in your blood."
Tears stung Buddi's eyes. Then,
warmth spread over him and he felt his body lifted up into warm arms. Someone
started to slip fingers through his hair. Buddi opened his eyes.
Ursa looked at him, concerned.
Buddi'd never been so happy to see her. He hugged her tightly and nuzzled into
her arms.
"Buddi?"
Buddi swallowed hard and said,
"yeah?"
Ursa hugged him a second time and
said, "What's wrong? I came to check on you and you were whimpering like a
baby."
Buddi swallowed. He didn't want to
tell Ursa. So he said simply,
"Bad dream."
Ursa cocked her eyebrow, sensing
something else. Her foot hit something on the floor. She saw Buddi's face turn
white so on a mother's instinct reached down and plucked it up. It was an old
book obviously from the cavern. She took a gaze at its title. Her eyes
narrowed.
"Buddi! I told you to stay out of
the forbidden areas. No wonder you're scared. Serves you right."
Buddi lowered his head, "I'm sorry.
I was looking for answers on Celina." He paused. " I found them."
Ursa sighed. "Buddi, you could have
told me. I could have handled this better. You're still young."
Buddi nodded. "I know, Ursa. I…I
just wanted to help."
Ursa gave a sigh. "I know Buddi. I
know. So…what did you find out?"
Buddi looked at her. She took a hint
and sat down beside him, letting him lean against her. He slowly started to
talk.
Ursa listened, mystified. When Buddi
finally finished, he looked up at her, fear and shame in his eyes. Reluctantly,
he spoke,
"I'm sorry I didn't listen but I
needed answers."
Ursa smiled at him. "It's alright,
Buddi. I understand why you did it."
Buddi asked, grudgingly, "Are you
going to punish me?"
Ursa shook her head. "No, I think
being this scared is punishment enough."
Buddi seemed relieved but then
hugged Ursa tightly again. Ursa rubbed his hair. She had been stunned by the
information Buddi had told her. She had given into her motherly status lately.
Even if she hadn't been, she would have in this situation.
"Ursa." Buddi said as he looked up
from Ursa's arms, his chin against her chest, "How did you know to come check
on me?"
Ursa smiled. "Mother's intuition."
Buddi shook his head and laid his
cheek against her chest.
"Ursa?"
"Yes?"
"Can…can I show Sunni the woods?"
Ursa was stunned by the sudden
question and the change of subject but guessed he wanted to try and forget for
now. So she went along with it.
"I don't see why not. I'll send a
message to her."
"You can still do that?"
Ursa smiled. "Remember how we sent
messages?"
Buddi nodded. "The birds." Ursa
affirmed it.
"I'll send one out."
Buddi nodded and laid his head
against her chest, hiding a yawn. He felt safe in her arms. Ursa smiled down at
the cub in her arms. She started to massage his temples. Buddi in response closed
his eyes and laid in her arms, taking in her scent. Ursa smiled down at the
child and let him lean on her.
He fell asleep soon enough so Ursa
laid him back down. Covering him up, she took the book from the floor and
before she went to sleep, tossed it into a fire.
* * *
"Buddi?"
The cub groaned and turned over. His
dreams had not been great but they hadn't scared him much either. Still, he
wanted to sleep.
Ursa shook her head and shook
Buddi's shoulder gently. The cub rolled over. Ursa smiled.
"Wakey wakey, cub."
Buddi groaned and turned his face
back into the pillow. Ursa smiled and said, "I guess Sunni won't be coming
then."
Buddi jerked right up. "What?" Ursa
grinned.
"I knew that'd get your attention.
The Glens sent the bird back. Sunni'll wait for you at the river by Dunwyn's
border. You know your way from here right?"
Buddi nodded. He got up and
stretched. "When?"
"As soon as you can."
Buddi beamed. "After I get dressed,
can I go get her?"
Ursa shook her head. "No eat
breakfast first."
Buddi sighed but said, "Okay."
Ursa nodded and ruffled his hair.
"Alright get dressed and wash up. I'll be in the kitchen."
Buddi nodded and then grabbed some
clothes from his knapsack. He slipped them on and then washed up quickly before
rushing outside, grabbing a vine and swinging the specific hut where they ate.
Buddi ate quickly then raced
outside.
* * *
"Oh Buddi! You were born here?"
Buddi giggled and nodded. The woods
stunned Sunni. But then, Buddi guessed anyone not accustomed to them would be.
She had been stunned the moment she saw them. They were huge! She couldn't even
see the sky through the branches. Buddi had filled her in on the way home.
"Buddi!" Sunni grabbed Buddi's arm.
"Can you show me the upper canopy? Huh? Please?"
Buddi giggled. "I guess so. Wrap
your arms under mine."
Buddi blushed a bit as Sunni grabbed
him under his armpits and clasped her hands together across his chest. He
didn't know why but feeling her so close…it made his stomach tighten.
Buddi shook that off, grabbed a vine
and swung into the branches. Sunni gasped as the ground grew smaller underneath
her and she squeezed Buddi tighter. Buddi smiled at her fear. Then, purposely
stopped in the air. He was about fifty feet up and just hanging there.
He let go.
Sunni screamed.
Ursa and Gritty watched with smiles
as Buddi grabbed a branch and easily stopped the fall. Buddi gave Sunni a
smirk. She scowled.
"That's not funny."
Buddi merely laughed and grabbed a
dangling vine. He shot back upward and landed on the branches near the top of
the canopy. Sunni reluctantly let go of him and sat on the branch. The two
looked around a minute. Then, slowly, Sunni asked,
"Buddi? You can read Barbic right?"
Buddi looked at her, baffled, "Yeah.
Why?"
Sunni pulled out the words she'd
copied form the Great Book. "Can you translate this?"
Buddi took it and studied it. "I
think so. Let me move where there's more light."
Buddi got up and walked over the
branches into an opening where the sunlight came through as a solid stream.
Sunni followed, her knees shaking.
"Oh, Gum why couldn't this be closer
to the ground?"
Buddi giggled and watched Sunni come
to the edge of one branch. She tripped and grabbed the edge of the branch.
"Buddi!"
The Barbic cub giggled and pulled
her up.
"Generally we try to land on our
feet Sunni."
* * *
Cavin picked up some hay with a
pitchfork and threw it into the stall. As a page, it was his job. He couldn't
wait to be a squire. Maybe then, he'd get more respect. As it was, only Sir
Tuxford and the few choice adults respected him and Calla always did.
"Cavin!"
The page whirled around and saw
Princess Calla running to him.
"Yes, princess?"
"Oh Cavin, I was going out in the
forest and Father insisted I take someone with me. Would you come?"
Cavin smiled. "Sure."
He put the fork down and followed
Calla to the courtyard. She mounted a horse and Cavin followed, mounting his
own. The two took off into the distance.
As soon as they were out of earshot,
Calla said,
"I'm sorry Cavin, I had to talk to
you, alone."
"What is it?"
"I…well, I'm worried about Sunni."
"Why?"
"She…she told me about this Celina.
Celina obviously wants her life. And Buddi's. And Igthorn's been so quiet, I
don't doubt he's teamed with her."
Cavin got off and Calla followed.
She drew her arrow and bow and fired, knocking two apples from a tree. Cavin
threw his dagger and pinned them to the tree. Calla smiled at him.
"You're good Cavin. When did you
learn that?"
Cavin pulled the blade out and
tossed an apple to Calla. The Princess took a bite.
"Why didn't you get the apples?"
Cavin smiled. "Because I know you're
independent."
Calla beamed. Oh how she loved this
boy. He knew her. Not as a Princess but as a person. And she loved him back. He
was brave and used his head instead of strength. He was polite to her but he
knew what she liked. Not many people knew that, in fact even her father didn't
seem to understand.
Calla sat down and Cavin sat by her.
"Don't worry about Sunni, Calla. I
mean, do but I think that she'll do the best she can to help herself. Next
time, we see them, we can ask about it."
Calla nodded. "Thanks Cavin."
Cavin nodded. He scooped a flower up
and tossed it to her. She smiled and slipped it into her hair.
"Thank you Cavin."
"My pleasure, M'Lady." He said with
an overly exaggerated bow. Calla giggled.
"Call me Calla." Cavin nodded.
Calla's face turned serious. "I mean it Cavin. If Unwin picks on you tell him,
I gave my royal permission. I want you to call me Calla, even if it's in front
of my father. It's my decision."
"Okay, Calla. But why?"
Calla smiled. "Because I like you."
She kissed his cheek and then got up
and galloped away on her horse.
Cavin stared after her and then,
feeling giddy, followed. He truly did like that girl.
* * *
"So, what's it say?"
"It says, no that's not it." Buddi
rubbed his forehead. "I can understand everything but this last line." He
smiled. "But I know who does."
Without being asked, Sunni grabbed
Buddi's shoulders. Buddi stared at her, she tightened her grip.
"I trust you."
Buddi nodded and swung down. His
hands were sweaty but he managed to get down to the lower branches. While
outwardly he was calm, he didn't know what he was feeling.