Chapter Seven: From Beyond the Blue
Calla let out a deep breath. She was exhausted. To her shock, her body had known how to do it. But it had been exhausting. Sweat was pouring down her face and her hair was matted to her forehead. She turned to Cavin.
He was asleep, sweat soaking his bare body. Calla smiled. It had been duty at first, when they were nervous. Then when she and he had begun to kiss, the emotion rose up. Emotion so deep and so pure it scared them. Calla knew now that she was meant to be his. Had he been a poor peasant instead of noble blood, she would have abandoned her throne to have his love.
Cavin felt Calla put her arms under his and caress his exposed chest. She traced over his torso, encircling his nipples with her fingertips. Cavin was stunned. He was stunned by the night before. It had started so reluctantly and then the love had become involved and duty had become a forgotten thing. Oh how he loved her.
Cavin turned to face his wife. She had sweat coating her face, which had turned a cherry red and her bright eyes were shimmering with love and loyalty. He took her fingers and kissed them. He had given into the act so easily and in actuality it sort of scared him. Granted, because humans did not live as long as gummies and were supposed to do this much earlier than even he and Calla had, it felt odd. But he shoved that aside, he loved her and that was just one way of displaying it.
"Cavin?"
"Hmm?" he asked. Calla sat up. Her chest was bare as was the rest of her from the night before and she reached over and stood up. Cavin felt no shame and he knew by the way she moved that she did not feel it either. The girl went into the bathroom, and splashed water on her face.
Returning, she crawled back under and closer to Cavin. She sat a little ways up, letting the sheets shield her from any outside view and said,
"You realize that this one time may not have worked?"
He nodded. She smiled. "Will Tuxford bug us until it does?"
Cavin smiled, "Probably." Calla sighed.
Cavin smiled and grabbed her by her waist. She let out a cry of shock. Cavin tickled her a bit and she laughed. He wrapped his arms over her chest. She laughed and turned to face him, her eyes shining. Cavin started at her, hands on her upper arms. Calla took his hands, determined to feel their touch on her again.
She moved her husband's hands down to her breasts, where they rested. Cavin was a bit stunned by this but did not reject or move them. He used this as a support as she leaned towards him and he clasped his lips against hers. She was passionate and rubbed herself closer, until Cavin had to move his hands to her lower back as her chest was ironed against his. She wrapped her hands around his bare back and closed her eyes.
Cavin returned the gesture and they pressed themselves back onto the bed and let the emotion exhale itself through kisses, hugs and murmurs of devotion.
* * *
Buddi stirred and opened his eyes.
"Welcome to the Waking World, Buddi." A voice chuckled.
The cub looked upward with his eyes.
Ursa was looking down at him, his head in her lap. He sat up immediately, his cheeks burning. Ursa laughed and put her hand onto his head, gently. Buddi glared at her and she stopped her laughing. Instead, she stood and said,
"Well, Buddi. Today's the day. The Ancients are coming back. They said they should be here by sunset today last time they signaled."
Buddi stood, "What happened?"
Ursa smiled. "Well, we drank and ate and made fools of ourselves until about midnight when we started to calm down and drifted to talking." She grinned. "But I guess we were pretty boring, because you laid your head in my lap and fell asleep." She sat down on the ground by him and said,
"I slept a little but not much. I thought about putting you to bed but," she slapped his cheek playfully, "you looked too cute."
Buddi groaned, "Uuurrssaaa!"
She smiled at him and got up, stretching. "What?"
"Will you stop that? You're embarrassing me!"
Ursa laughed out loud again, "Am I?"
Buddi crossed his arms and pouted, "You do it on purpose."
Ursa merely shrugged. "Get dressed Buddi. I've been dressed a while. Once you get some clothes on, we'll start for the beach."
"Who's all coming?"
"You, me and Gritty."
Buddi ran off to his room to get dressed. Ursa shook her head and yawned, she was tired.
"You're beat aren't ya?"
Ursa turned. Gritty smirked and handed her a glass of hot tea. It was the only caffeinated drink they had. The adults usually drank it in the morning but they couldn't get into Buddi unless he was sick. Then he had to drink it, doctor's orders. It had some healing properties if the right herbs were added but by itself it was an excellent way to help them wake up.
Ursa answered, "You could say that, I guess."
Gritty grabbed her by her shoulders and massaged them a bit. Ursa smiled. Gritty could always tell when she was stressed.
"How do you do that?"
"Practice, I grew up with you, Ursa. I know by now."
He smirked, "So does Buddi."
Ursa rolled her eyes, "That I don't doubt. He's about the closest you'll get to me,"
Gritty smiled, "I know. You've got a wall about a mile high around your feelings."
"Can you blame me? Barbics are fighters. Emotions are weak."
Gritty rolled his eye but didn't reply. There was no sense arguing with her.
"Ursa, it's all still about Vinci isn't it?"
Ursa jerked away and glared at him, "Shut up! It never was and never will be!"
Gritty put his hands up, "Whoa, I just asked."
Ursa sighed deeply. Vinci still had left a piece of her heart betrayed. Oh she had put up a wall around her feelings anyway but when he betrayed her…stabbed her in the back like he had….
Ursa shook her head. She'd put that behind her. But now when she thought back, it still hurt. She'd trusted him…and he'd treated her like scum.
Gritty watched Ursa as she walked away and stood by the window. Her hair blew in the wind. He watched her. She was his best friend, like a sister. He'd known when Vinci'd broken her heart. Her face, although at a lack of tears, had been distorted, twisted in an expression of pain and anger.
He had never seen her look that way before…of all the years he'd known her.
He growled, he'd confronted Vinci about that…
Flashback: 17 Years Ago
Vinci turned as the door flung open.
Standing there was a black Gummi, heavily muscled. He was about sixteen. He wore a tunic, made from deer hide. Vinci swallowed. It was Gritty, Ursa's best friend.
The Barbic stormed over to him,
"Listen to me, you nisha."
Vinci didn't know Barbic but knew nisha was anything but a compliment by the tone of the Barbic's voice. He crossed his arms.
"Can I help you?"
"You used my best friend!"
"Your point?"
"Leave her alone! Damn you! You're so callous!"
Vinci raised an eyebrow, surprised at this male's protectiveness.
"Well you should know about being callous, you're a Barbic. But if I didn't know better, I'd think that you had a thing for Ursa."
Gritty jerked his face back. The comment stirred a reaction he hadn't planned on.
He blushed. Then the nisha in front of him sneered and went on.
"Yep, I'd say so. And as I told Ursa, she was fun for a little bit but Gritty she was a little too tough for me. I got bored. Why don't you go cheer her up?"
Gritty swung his fist, breaking the gummi's nose. Vinci clutched his face, cradling the injury. Gritty grabbed the younger Gummi and punched him three times in the stomach. He nearly hit him again but an older hand grabbed his. Turning, he saw Grubbi.
"Gritty!" the older Barbic's tone was stunned, "What are you doing?"
"What I should have done when this nisha first showed up!"
Grubbi pulled the younger Barbic away. Grubbi tugged the teenaged cub out but did glare at Vinci.
"Gritty! What in-"
"He deserved it. You saw Ursa's face!"
Grubbi sighed, "Gritty, I know but don't blow up like that. It'll only get you in trouble. Like it just did. You can clean the weapons' room."
Gritty smirked as he remembered Vinci's pain. Pain he more than deserved.
"It was worth it."
Grubbi sighed.
Present
"Gritty! Ursa!"
The two turned as Buddi ran in, dressed. Ursa took a final swallow and then said,
"Well?"
Gritty watched her walk a minute. Her long hair fell down her back, over one of her shoulders. Everyone who saw Ursa thought she was a callous warrior, just a fierce and dedicated leader. Only the Barbics knew otherwise. When she'd been a teenager, about fifteen, she took an interest in her looks, if only temporarily. Gritty had gotten sued to saying,
"Ya look fine, you're pretty."
He started walking. That hadn't been just a statement.
She was pretty.
* * *
"Ursa!"
Ursa turned, her eyes narrowed.
"What Gruffi?"
They had arrived a few hours ago and now the gummies were scattered around the beach, waiting. The cubs played in the ocean. The Glen adults were waiting. Gruffi had left and walked over to her. Gritty had left to watch the cubs. The two leaders were alone.
"I wanted to say, do you think that Celina can be beaten?"
Ursa turned, surprised. Gruffi had a scowl on his face; apparently he was not enjoying this.
Ursa shrugged, "To Buddi I would say absolutely. Honestly? I'm not sure."
Gruffi nodded. "The knights of Gummadoon could help."
"Yes," Ursa replied.
There was an awkward silence. Ursa spoke,
"I know there is a chance of war."
Gruffi nodded. Ursa looked out towards the cubs. Gruffi followed her glance.
She spoke in a light voice, soft, very alien when compared to her usual tone,
"They're so innocent."
Gruffi nodded and looked up at the taller Gummi.
Her eyes were smiling as she watched the cubs play. Gruffi realized then that it was truly the first time he'd seen her smile he looked towards her target.
Buddi. He was dunking Cubbi under the waves. The younger cub came up sputtering but laughing.
"Ursa?"
"Yes?"
"You know if we work together we've got a good chance of winning?"
"Maybe."
"Are you pessimist?"
"No, but I don't get overconfident when it comes to battle. Last time someone did, I lost my parents."
Ursa turned to the short Gummi, "But I won't let that bitch touch a hair on my cub. The cubs will survive this. That's a vow I'll die before I break."
Gruffi nodded in agreement. They stood in silence for a moment.
Gruffi finally said,
"We were…warming up to each other for a minute."
Ursa nodded and said slowly, "Yeah I guess we were-"
The short Gummi interrupted her,
"I didn't like it."
Ursa nodded firmly, "Right back at ya."
* * *
Cavin and Calla had just finished dressing when the door opened. It was Sir Tuxford.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness! We have ships approaching, should I order an attack?"
Calla and Cavin shook their heads.
"No Tuxford." Cavin stated, "Investigate but don't attack."
The knight nodded. He was stunned by how quickly and naturally the two children had accepted their new roles. Walking out the door, Calla turned to her husband,
"Cavin, you think-"
Cavin nodded and they both walked out towards the courtyard towards their horses.
* * *
Gruffi and Ursa approached the ocean. They saw ships in the distance although they were merely faint dots. Gruffi turned to Ursa,
"Please tell me that you Barbics at least teach your cubs to be obedient."
Ursa narrowed her eyes, "Buddi knows when to listen."
"Well you seem to be too stubborn to listen yourself…"
"Shut up!"
Gusto turned to Grammi as they listened to the conversation, "Should have the known the peace wouldn't last."
Grammi shook her head, "Never does with that Gruffi."
Gruffi turned as Gritty joined Ursa. He called to the two cubs,
"Sunni! Cubbi! Get out here!"
The two cubs turned and groaned, "Do we have to?"
Ursa chuckled at that as Gruffi hit his forehead. Ursa turned to her cub who'd turned when his two friends were called. She smiled and called,
"Buddi can you come here for a minute? You can play some later."
The cub swam towards shore immediately. Ursa usually meant that; he'd get a chance to play later but she needed him now. He climbed out and ran to Ursa.
"Yeah?"
Ursa merely pointed. Buddi turned and then turned back to Ursa with wide eyes. She was looking through a telescope. The cub, with uncharacteristic excitement, the type Ursa hadn't seen in years, started to tug on her dress,
"Is it them? Huh? Huh? Is it them? Tell me!"
"I can't tell if you don't let me look!" she said with a laugh. She smiled as he let go and pouted,
"You always ruin my fun Ursa!"
"Oh poor baby," she said in a sarcastic pitying tone.
Grammi smiled at Zummi. They weren't used to seeing that kind of playfulness with the Barbic cub and leader.
Buddi pouted but didn't say anything.
Ursa frowned, "They're still too far away to tell."
Buddi snatched the scope from her and ran out into the water. Ursa shook her head.
Gritty turned her head, "No used to that anymore?"
She shook her head, "Nope. He hasn't been like that for at least four years."
Grammi stepped up to her, "Hard to think of him like that?"
Ursa shook her head, "No, but well, just…different and-"
"Ursa! Ursa!"
The female turned as Buddi flew through the air, slammed her in the chest, knocking her onto her back. She shook her head. Gum's sake it had been a long time since he'd done that!
"They're coming Ursa!"
"Great, now can you get off? You're not as light as you used to be."
Ursa noted the Glen cubs were excited too, running around like…like a bunch of cubs.
Buddi blushed and climbed off. He'd used to do that when he was seven or so but the excitement. Sunni smiled at him and ran over to him. She was so happy…. the Ancients were coming home!
Buddi delayed her jump at him a bit but without his full strength, she easily knocked them both down. Now Ursa was looking at him on the ground instead of the reverse. She smirked,
"How do you like it?"
Sunni got up and pulled her boyfriend up, smirking.
"You should build up those muscles, Buddi. You're supposed to catch me."
"So sue me."
Any further arguments were ceased. The ships had docked. Buddi as well as the rest of the cubs stuck close to the adults, hugging their legs. Sunni and Cubbi chose Grammi and Gruffi while Buddi clung to Ursa's left side. The doors opened and gummies gradually departed.
Buddi and Ursa stared in shock. There were adults, children, of all colors and sizes. They stared at their Gummi cousins before turning as two gummies came down the ramp.
One female, one male both a cherry red. The female wore a long green dress with golden designs at the neckline. She had a silver crown atop her head. The male had on a black tunic with golden designs at the torso and waist. He wore a crown. The gummies smiled and introduced themselves. Gruffi and Ursa stepped forward, each representing their clan. The male shook Gruffi's hand while the female approached Ursa.
"Allow me to introduce myself," she said in a soft voice, "Queen Kaori of New Gumbrea."
Ursa nodded and swallowing said, "Ursa Barbic."
The females shook and then turned to the males.
"King Katai of New Gumbrea."
Gruffi nodded and as he shook stated,
"Gruffi Gummi of Gummi Glen."
Ursa's keen ears picked up horses. She drew her sword hissing,
"Humans."
The gummies turned towards the sound. Knights from Dunywn rode into view. They stopped, stunned.
"Gummi Bears?"
Buddi stuck close to Ursa.
Unwin, by Sir Tuxford, said, "Don't they have treasure or something?"
The squire nearly started forward when two new horses trotted by and stopped in front of the knight. One black, one white. Calla leapt off the white, Cavin off the black.
"Your Majesty! Your Highness!" It was Sir Tuxford. "What should we do with these-"
"Do nothing!" Cavin and Calla commanded as one, "Stop where you are, that's a direct order from the King and Queen."
"But-" Sir Tuxford began, but Cavin interrupted them.
"They've done nothing to us. Our own ancestors began a war but Calla and I won't!"
Calla spoke out, "Our first order as King and Queen is this: leave Gummies alone, they are citizens in our eyes. They merely wish to live their lives as we do. Leave them alone!"
Cavin spoke out, "We know what they're like, we've known them. The small pink cub is my best friend. Calla's is the yellow child. No one is to harm them or provoke them. We will have peace!"
Calla and Cavin turned to the Gummi rulers as their knights backed off. They did a bow and curtsy of respect and the Gummi rulers did the same. Calla spoke first,
"We know you want peace and we're doing everything we can to ensure that. I know about what our ancestors did. I'm pulling out all the stops to make certain history does not repeat itself. I hope we can be friends, allies."
Cavin spoke out, "We know you may be unwilling, because of the past. We can't blame you. It's the smart thing to do. But we hope you're willing to try. A trial period?"
The King and Queen Gummies exchanged glances. Then they peered at the Glen gummies. Every one of them nodded. They knew Cavin and Calla were good at heart. They knew they would do everything they could. The Queen turned to Calla.
"My dear, you seem sincere. But it will take us time to earn trust."
Calla nodded. "I know. I'm not asking alliance. I know trust be earned before that. All I'm asking is a promise for attempt. That we try to earn trust. Please…let's not let the past prevent a possible future?"
She extended her hand, as did Cavin.
The King and Queen of the Gummies smiled.
Grasping the human rulers' hands, they said softly,
"Yes young rulers. We will try. We will try."
End of Book Four
To Be Concluded in Book 5
