Chapter Two: Repairing Broken Trust
"I'm sorry, Ursa."
The cub had been apologizing all the way to their quarters. As a result of the danger, Ursa and Buddi were given a spare room. There were two beds so the two could be together. Ursa was too worried to leave him alone tonight.
Ursa was dragging Buddi to their room. Her mouth wasn't frowning but instead held her expressionless face. That made Buddi all the more nervous. He hated it when he couldn't tell what she was thinking. That usually meant a few nasty surprises.
"I mean it, Ursa. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"I heard you several times already, Buddi," she replied in a soft voice.
Buddi swallowed, "But…you aren't saying anything,"
Ursa turned to him with her eyes. "You fear me?"
Buddi shook his head, "No, but I do fear your anger."
He sighed, "I…I know I broke your rule, Ursa and I'm sorry. You gotta believe me!"
"Buddi," she said in a gentle voice, "I have a few things to say to you but it'll wait until we get into our room."
She led him past the library into the door in the back, which led to a series of doors. Turning into one door, she closed the door behind them. Buddi walked in and sat down on one of the two beds. The room was fairly nice, two double beds, a nightstand between the two and an adjourning bathroom. But Buddi just kept his eyes on Ursa.
The Barbic leader should have felt anger but she didn't. Just pure worry. Turning, she sat by the cub on the bed. Buddi had his arms wrapped around his legs and wouldn't look at her now. He had his head pressed against his knees. Ursa fingered his hair.
"Buddi, look at me."
Reluctantly, the teenager looked up. Ursa wasn't angry, there was no fury in her eyes. Rather, she seemed uncannily calm. That made Buddi all the more nervous. He backed up a bit. Ursa took immediate notice.
"Buddi, I'm not angry."
The cub swallowed, "You…aren't? Even after what I did?"
"No, I'm not angry. The point is that you were trying to arm yourself with knowledge. That's smart Buddi. I would have done the same thing. It was Barbic." She smiled and then looked at him disapprovingly, "Although I wish you'd have taken an adult with you."
Buddi said simply, "Ursa, I'm fourteen. I can't call on an adult every time I do something that might be dangerous."
Ursa sighed, "I know that but Buddi, there's a difference between being brave and being foolish. This was foolish. You know Celina wants you and you went down into the heart of her past alone?"
"I wasn't alone! Sunni and Cubbi were with me!"
Ursa raised an eyebrow, telling him without words exactly what she thought of that declaration. Buddi dropped his head and said,
"I know…I know. But Ursa you always seem under so much stress and I know you hate Sunni!"
The blond haired Gummi tilted the cub's head upward and said firmly, "I don't hate her, Buddi. I just don't think she is right for you."
Buddi pouted, "You'd find something wrong if I brought home the Gumess of War."
Ursa sighed, "Probably."
Buddi shifted the subject, obviously uncomfortable,
"Ursa, what now? Emi's free."
Ursa grasped her cub's face in her palms and said simply, "Now we just deal. This complicates things a great deal but we'll handle it."
Buddi looked at her. She pulled him close to her and hugged him tightly,
"I won't let that demon touch a hair on your head."
* * *
Sunni leaned against Grammi's side, letting her stroke her hair.
"I didn't know, I didn't know," she kept repeating. Grammi weaved her fingers through the girl's yellow hair. Sunni's cheeks were wet with tears.
Bonni walked over and pressed a warm washcloth against the girl's face, gently wiping away her cold tears. Sunni accepted it from the golden furred Gummi. Asking softly,
"Is..is Buddi okay?"
"He's with Ursa, dear," Bonni replied. "I'm an older gummi but I know for a fact that to get to you cubs now, Emi has to face the deadliest thing on the face of the planet."
"What's that?" Sunni asked, leaning deeper into Grammi's side. Grammi wrapped her arm around the girl's head and answered,
"Protective mothers."
A faint smile spread over Sunni's face. She nodded but didn't take her head from Grammi's shoulder. She felt safe there.
"I…I just wanted answers," she murmured.
Grammi nodded, "I know sweetie."
"It was foolhardy," Bonni said simply, "But your intentions was good."
"You're being so nice to me," Sunni noted, "Aren't you mad?"
"No," Grammi said, seriously, "Just worried."
"Really?"
"Really." The two females replied as one, smiling.
* * *
Cubbi was not having such luck. He had been the one who released Celina, by breaking the mirror. He kept insisting it was an accident but none of the adults comprehended. Not even the knights…
"I know!" Cubbi screeched, clamping his hands over his ears. "I know what happened! You don't have to play it back for me!"
He took a breath and looked at the two who were yelling at him, Gruffi and Sir Plucki. Gruffi was bad but Cubbi was used to that; he wasn't used to being screamed at by Sir Plucki. His words cut deepest.
"Cubbi!" it was Gruffi now. "You know better than to go somewhere you're expressly forbidden to!"
Sir Plucki spoke now,
"I ordered you to stay away and you deliberately disobeyed."
"I know! You should have told me what was down there!"
"Why?" Gruffi challenged, "Because you can't control your curiosity?"
That did it. Cubbi tore through the two adults and ran out through the Glen's corridors up to the surface. The cold air hit him like a wave. He ran out until he reached the edge of the forest. He started to gasp for air. Tears trickled down his cheeks.
His young hands curled into tight fists. He hissed,
"I'll make this right, even if I have to face her myself."