Chapter Two: Taken Too Far
Sunni tried to cover. She took a
breath,
"Guys, it's not what you think…"
"We saw what we saw, Sunni Gummi."
Ursa hissed acidly.
Sunni shut her mouth. Gruffi stormed
to her and snatched her by her arm and tugged her away. Buddi watched her towed
away before a sharp pain shot through his right ear. He yelped in pain. Ursa
merely tightened her grip.
"Shut your mouth. You, to your room
now. Gritty and I have quite the lecture for you."
Buddi let out another wail of pain
as Ursa tugged him towards his chambers, by his ear alone. Gritty's anger
didn't help. The black Barbic opened the door and Ursa shoved Buddi in and
gritty slammed and locked the door. Ursa took a breath and then Buddi spoke,
trying to cool Ursa and Gritty's fierce tempers.
"Ursa, Gritty…I…"
His answer came from both adults at
once,
"SHUT UP!"
Buddi sat back down swiftly,
determined not to let the tears come. He knew that tears would not help. In
fact, in this situation, they would worsen his position. Gritty and Ursa looked
at each other and nodded. Buddi backed up until he reached the wall, trembling.
"No, please…"
In answer, gritty grabbed the cub by
his ear and tugged him forward until he was looking them both in the eyes.
"Buddi Timba Barbic, I knew you were
getting too close! I gave you the benefit of the doubt and let you hang out
with a glen. I knew when we first met them, they were a bad influence. I should
have trusted my instincts."
Gritty glared at Buddi with a glare
that could have halted an army. Buddi closed his eyes and lowered his head.
Gritty's voice came out colder than ice.
"Look. At. Me."
Buddi slowly looked up.
"Ursa's right. We trusted you and
you ignored our warnings and now you're starting to get too damn close!"
Ursa smacked Gritty upside the head.
As angry as she was, she didn't need Buddi picking up foul language. She glared
at Buddi. The cub glanced up.
"Can I speak in my defense?"
Ursa nodded.
"I didn't mean to. I mean, it
started out as a friendship but…"
"But you ignored our warnings and
purposely got involved too closely." Gritty accused. Before Buddi could say
anything, Ursa gestured him to stand.
Buddi knew they were right about his
disobeyed them as he had stayed away with Sunni longer than Ursa said. He knew
Ursa didn't approve of his close friendship with the Glens.
"But Ursa…please no…"
In answer she nodded at Gritty. He
scooped Buddi up, loosened his belt and pulled his slacks down. Buddi continued
to beg,
"Please, no!"
Ursa merely took her belt off. Buddi
turned snow white and started to whimper. Although he normally took a belt over
Ursa's hand, Ursa's belt was a whole other story. Hers burnt like fire.
The only thing he feared more was a sword paddling. Like most gummies, the
Barbics had a paddle for when the child really acted up. The Barbics would have
the cub stand bent over and unsheathe their sword. Then the flat side would
connect with the cub's backside, once for each year of their age. Although it
seemed dangerous, Barbics knew exactly how to aim the sword and they always
used one that was worn and not sharp.
Buddi knew the only reason he wasn't
getting a paddling with the sword was because they didn't have a dull sword. As
angry as they got when he received that kind of punishment, they would never
risk him getting cut.
Buddi whimpered as Gritty held him
still.
Ursa swung her belt and the buckle
connected with Buddi's backside. Buddi let out an involuntary yelp of pain.
Ursa smacked the cub 5 more times
before she stopped and Buddi was allowed to pull his slacks up. He sat down
reluctantly. It hurt.
Ursa sighed, "I don't want you and
Sunni together anymore without an adult in view."
Buddi opened his mouth to protest
but Ursa's icy glare silenced him. He fell silent and stared at his hands. Ursa
was calming but was still beyond angry.
"I want you to stay in this room the
next three days. You are not allowed to come out unless it's to shower or go to
the bathroom. Your dinner will be brought to you. I'll be taking your flute for
a month. Understood?"
Buddi nodded. Ursa pinched his
cheeks and lifted his head so she was looking into his eyes,
"Understood?" she repeated.
"Yes, Ma'am."
The two adults stood and walked out,
Ursa slammed the door behind her.
Buddi buried his face into the
pillow, unaware that Sir Plucki was observing from the window. The elder Gummi
bit his lip with sympathy as he heard the cub cry,
"Since when was love a crime?"
* * *
Sunni backed up away from Gruffi.
She had never seen him so angry.
"Sunni Gummi, I've got the mind to
take off my belt and give you the buckled end,"
Sunni winced and closed her eyes.
Gruffi was very close to doing just that when a voice broke in,
"You'll do no such thing Gruffi
Gummi!"
Sunni turned as the brown haired
Gummi, Grammi stormed in. she put her hands on Sunni's shoulders supportably.
She sent the brown Gummi a glare,
"If you touch one hair on her,
you'll answer to me, Gruffi Gummi!"
The Gummi countered,
"You weren't there! Sunni and Buddi
were practically rolling on the floor."
Sunni spoke out, "We were not! It
was just a kiss!"
"You're only thirteen!"
"Nearly fourteen! In three months!
Buddi in one!"
"But still-"
"Shut your trap, Gruffi Gummi," Grammi
interrupted. "Thirteen is perfectly normal of children to fall in love. There
is nothing wrong with it. Leave her alone."
"She's with a BARBIC!"
"Buddi is Buddi," Sunni interrupted.
"I just see a boy who's sweet and sincere. Not a Barbic."
Gruffi was about to say
something but a glare from Grammi halted his words.
He walked out but said,
"Be careful Sunni, Ursa's none too
happy. It would be unwise to arouse her or myself any further."
"What are you saying?"
"Grow up. You and Buddi are going to
divide our clans forever."
"You don't know what love is."
