Chapter Three: Puppy Love
Tavi looked at Cubbi from a distance. She pitied the cub. She knew it had been an accident Celina had been released. She had heard swiftly of what had happened. She felt sorry for Cubbi. He was her best friend.
She had only arrived a few weeks prior but she and Cubbi had clicked immediately. Both were adventurous and seemed to be named 'trouble.' They even looked similar. Tavi was a girl but unlike the rest of her family's females, she kept her hair short, claiming long hair got in her way. She would wear dresses every so often but more often than not, she stuck to slacks.
'Cubbi?"
The pink cub turned and recognized Tavi.
"Hey Tavi."
The girl was a year younger than he was but they went together like toast and jam, as Grammi said. And he felt better to know that one person wasn't screaming at him. He stared at her a minute. The wind was blowing her light pink hair into her face.
"You okay?" she asked in her tough voice. Cubbi shrugged,
"I'll survive."
Tavi asked cautiously,
"They didn't punish you?"
"Gruffi spanked me."
Tavi winced, "I didn't know he still did that."
"Just with me. Sunni's too old."
Cubbi turned to her and said,
"And If I don't head back, I'll really be in for it."
He turned and walked back but Tavi stuck close.
Sure enough, as Cubbi predicted, Gruffi and Plucki were waiting. Gruffi glared at Tavi,
"Go to your mother kid. I don't want anyone with Cubbi now. He's in enough trouble."
Tavi stuck her tongue out at Gruffi,
"No! You can't tell me what to do. You aren't my dad!"
She hesitated a moment and then said, "Thank Gum above! If you were my father, I'd put myself up for adoption."
Cubbi chuckled and tried to smother it with his hand. But even Plucki was snickering. Gruffi was seething. Tavi merely gave him a big gap toothed smile and winked at Cubbi before she ran off. Cubbi smiled,
Maybe he would survive.
* * *
Tavi snuck into Cubbi's room and found him sitting awake, arms wrapped around his legs. She sat on his bed,
"Cubbi?"
"I'm going to find her."
Tavi choked on her inhale. She coughed and demanded,
"What? You aren't considering…"
Cubbi removed a thin rope with weights attached to both ends from his belt. He threw it to tie up opponents. He looked at Tavi and nodded.
"I released her, Tavi."
"But it was an accident."
"Don't care. I have to do something!"
Tavi leapt up and started to the door,
"At least take help."
Cubbi's rope twirled around her legs and she collapsed. The young knight rose and said,
"This is my job. If you aren't gonna help, sorry, but ya can't tell."
That said, he left, his staff at his side. Tavi stared after him a time before screaming,
"Sir Plucki! Sir Gumlittle! Sir Blastus!"
She had to yell that three more times before the three knights walked in. Sir Plucki immediately disentangled her from her binds while Sir Blastus asked,
"Ma amie, what happened?"
"Sir Cubbi!" she turned to Plucki, "Smooth move, Plucki! You could have been less accusing. Cubbi's trying to make amends. He's gone to face Celina, alone!"
* * *
Cubbi knew this was suicide. He knew for a fact there was no chance he could destroy Celina. His plan was to perhaps find a weakness.
The hard part would be staying alive long enough to deliver the message.
"You're brave cub," a cold voice sneered. Cubbi whirled around.
In a flash of black light, Emi appeared but as a gummi bear. She growled and approached the cub, toying with her nails as she did so, she revealed not a speck of fear or worry. She was fully confident.
"Now, let's not waste time."
Emi whirled around and let a blast of fire escape her fingertips. Cubbi dodged, but still wound up with some singed fur.
Cubbi ran at her, full force and knocked her down, punching her once.
Emi, unused to this physical attack pushed the cub off. She sneered,
"That's clever but I have more important things to do, I don't have time to play."
She summoned up a ball of pure black and with a speed that left Cubbi speechless, it engulfed him. Darkness claimed his mind.
"CUBBI!"
Tavi ran from the branches of the trees, the knights close behind. She knelt by her best friend. He was alive, writhing as if in immense pain. But there were no physical pain. This was mental torture.
Emi met Plucki's gaze a moment and said,
"Guilt, wonderful isn't it?"
Then she vanished.
Cubbi didn't wake up.