Chapter Six: Bending Barriers

            Buddi laid down on his bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. Why did he have such a bad feeling? He turned over and tried to go back to sleep. Nope, wasn't happening. He glanced outside,

            It was nearly dawn. The cub stepped outside and sat on the balcony. He felt a tingling in his arms…the second growth spurt. He'd received it a few days ago. Ursa'd given him some cream for it but it hadn't been as strong as his first. The cub absent-mindedly rubbed his upper arms.

            "You'll get sick."

            Buddi turned and instead of Ursa saw Gritty leaning against the doorway. Buddi stood and said,

            "So?"

            Gritty shook his head,

            "You're as stubborn as Ursa."

            Buddi narrowed his eyes, "She's no help right now. She hates me!"

            Gritty stared at him, "Gum's sake, you know that's not true."

            Buddi sighed and turned from him, "I thought I was sure."

            Gritty walked over to the cub and put a hand on his shoulder. Buddi made no reaction. Instead he sighed,

            "I…I didn't mean to fall asleep. Why is she making such a big deal over it?"

            "Cause you worried her."

            Buddi laughed and turned to Gritty, "Her? Worried?"

            Gritty sighed, "more than that Buddi." He chuckled low in his throat and dropped to the cub's level, suddenly aware that cub had grown. He used to have to drop completely to his knees, now he just knelt.

            "She raised you from a little cub Buddi, from the moment you were born almost. She doesn't want to admit it but the fact is, her 'Buddeums' is growing up."

            Buddi looked directly at Gritty, "Please don't call me that."

            Gritty smirked, "See?"

            Buddi sighed, "it used to bug me a little but now it's embarrassing."

            Gritty smirked, "it's because you're older."

            Buddi nodded, "Then why won't she let me grow up?"

            Gritty smiled as he stood, "It…it's a female thing I guess. Actually any parent feels that way. But Buddi, she wants you to find another girl besides Sunni. Sunni isn't strong enough."

            Buddi growled, for the first time actually let out a fully fledged growl and hissed, "She's stronger than you know."

            He turned to the adult and narrowed his eyes. He longed so badly to tell gritty off, maybe even swing his fist once or twice. But Buddi wasn't a fool. He was a good fighter but any of the adults could floor him; he knew for fact, which Barbic would be smeared across the floor in a fight.

            The cub snarled and started to breathe heavily, almost like a rabid animal. Gritty cocked his eyebrow at him cynically. Gritty moved his hands to Buddi's shoulders.

            Buddi jerked away like Gritty's hands were acidic. The Barbic seemed stunned; Buddi'd been cranky before, in fact that was one-way Gritty had been able to tell when his growth spurts were coming. But he'd never rejected him so sharply.

            That's exactly what it was: rejection.

            "Buddi…"

            Buddi's glare stopped him cold. He turned from the adult and stared out over the forest, by the balcony. The adult walked up behind him and gently rested a hand on his shoulder,

            "Partner,"

            Jerking away from his touch, the cub hissed,

            "Don't touch me!"

            Now the adult was getting agitated,

            "Watch your tongue, cub."

            Buddi growled, "you think the same as Ryo don't you?"

            "What's that?"

            "I'm just a kid. I'm stupid!"

            Gritty looked at him sternly, "No you aren't stupid, I'm well aware of that. However, you often do try our patience."

            Buddi growled, "Leave Sunni alone."

            Gritty sighed and looked to the sky for help. Seeing none, he looked at the cub, shook his head and walked off, saying,

            "Go back to bed."

            Buddi growled but did take the smoky Barbic's advice. He was a bit cold and he welcomed the warmth of his bed. His punishment was over but he still had to train and for that he generally needed all the sleep he could steal.

            He glanced over at his desk. Opening the drawer, he removed the silver key he had found so long ago. He ran his fingers over it. It was slick and cold, everything about it reminded the cub of danger.

            He shivered involuntarily. He had to get answers, soon.

* * *

            Buddi swallowed hard and nodded to Cubbi and Sunni. He'd snuck out the next night and sent the two a message to meet him in the main hall of the Glen. He had to get back before sunrise or Ursa would scream his ears off and he probably would be released from his grounding after his fiftieth birthday. Maybe.

            The three cubs nodded, and opened the closet door. It was two in the morning. Cubbi wasn't about to miss this. He'd threatened to tell the adults if they didn't let him see. Needless to say, they agreed.

            "Ready?'

            The two glen cubs nodded.

            Buddi removed his silver key and inserted it into the keyhole in the closet floor. It fit.

            Turning slowly, the lock clicked open.