No Way!
Part XIII
The knight's rode through the familiar sight of the forest schedule when patrolling it, they were still a long way from Gummadoon and felt very weary.
They had been riding nearly all morning and hadn't slept since the night before, Cammi had woken up during the journey but had soon fell back to sleep again seeing where they were. They rode along at a steady pace and they would soon be at Gummadoon.
Sir Plucki was anxious to get back to Gummadoon but then something caught his attention and he stopped his unicorn there was just no way it couldn't be his youngest knight, Cubbi.
A small pink cub clad in the same things Cubbi wore about eight years old was picking berries occasionally complaining how boring it was. The cub grabbed a handful of berries then turned round to place them in the basket when he noticed the knights.
"Sir Plucki?" the cub said completely shocked.
"Cubbi" he answered bewildered.
"Hi, I'm Cubbi, my grandfather was one of your knights wasn't he?" said Cubbi happily.
This was his youngest knight's grandson he'd forgotten how much time had passed, but was the Cubbi he knew still alive?
"Where is your grandfather?" asked Sir Plucki.
"He's inside" replied the cub.
"Do you want to see him?" the cub asked a few seconds later.
"If you don't mind"
The other knights looked completely shocked Cubbi's grandson was an exact replica of him physically and spiritually.
"Cubbi" a young female voice called.
"Yes, mother" replied Cubbi.
"Who are you talking to?" she asked.
"The Knights of Gummadoon" he replied.
The bushes parted and a young female gummi of about twenty-six walked through. She had light pink fur, deep red hair, and dark, blue sapphire eyes and wore a long white dress her feet were bare. She took one look at the knights then looked at Sir Plucki and said, "I'm Milli"
"Pleasure to meet you, Milady" they replied.
"Would you like to meet my father?" she asked.
"Yes, if it's not to much of an inconvenience" replied Sir Plucki.
"Please follow me then," she said smiling then started to walk off.
Cubbi ran along at the knights side asking questions most of the way to the Glen. He constantly asked about details on his grandfather's visit to Gummadoon and about Cammi.
They tied their unicorns up outside the Glen then walked in to find the place full of gummi's, the ancient gummi's had returned.
With Igthorn and Lady Bane dead and Calla's son on the throne the ancient gummi's thought it safe to return, but they were so far unaware of Tarquan.
The knights walked across the main hall cubs stood all the way up the stairs peering over the banners looking at the knights to shy to approach them while the adults stood momentarily shocked.
"Sir Plucki" a finally familiar voice called out.
"Sir Cubbi" he replied.
An elderly male pink furred gummi came forward dressed in a brown tunic and clasped hands with Sir Plucki.
The two were immediately engaged in a deep conversation as Sir Cubbi led them off into another room where they could talk. They mostly talked about what had happened in one hundred years since they last saw one another.
Sir Cubbi mostly talked about his family and what happened to Igthorn and the Ancient gummies from New Gumbrea. He also listened intensively to what they had been doing for the past ten years since they had become visible again and was interested in Cammi's upbringing since he knew that Sir Plucki did not have children of his own or at least he didn't when he was there. They talked for several hours mostly about this new threat, Tarquan and how to deal with him and how Cammi was involved.
Towards the end of the conversation Cammi slouched down in his chair adult conversation were so boring, especially when they went on for hours. He was happy thinking about what he would do when he got back to Gummadoon that it startled him when he heard his father speak to him.
"Cammi, why don't you go and play with the other cubs"
"Huh, okay" said Cammi.
He got up and left the room he wasn't overly keen on going and making friends with the other cubs because he didn't know them or their parents and he was shy of people he didn't know, but luckily he ran into Cubbi on his way to the Great Hall.
"Where ya going?" asked Cubbi.
"The Great Hall" Cammi replied.
"Hey, you wonna meet the others?" asked Cubbi excitedly.
"Sure" replied Cammi.
Cubbi ran off to the Great Hall with Cammi in pursuit when they came in they went over to a group of seven cubs between the ages of ten to fourteen.
"Hiya!" said Cubbi
"Hey" they replied.
"This is Cammi" Cubbi replied.
"Cammi, this is Leylaniel and Clarissa" he said pointing to two pink female gummi's about twelve years old.
"And this is Alfie" he said pointing to a tall brown male cub about thirteen years old.
" Sammi" he said pointing to a reddy brown male cub about eleven.
" Stanney" he said pointing to a golden brown male cub about thirteen.
"And finally this is Lilli" he said pointing to a white gummi about fourteen.
Cammi stared at her the longest of any of them she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"Hey" he said distantly.
She giggled which made him blush how long had he been staring at her for?
He felt hot so he pulled back his hood and through his cloak behind his shoulders then looked puzzled when all the cubs gasped.
"What?" said Cammi.
"You've got a sword," exclaimed Cubbi
"Yeah" said Cammi unsure what to make of that comment.
"Can you lift it? Said Stanney bitterly.
Cammi unsheathed his sword and held it infront of him for the cubs to see all of them seemed impressed except for Stanney who just sunk into the shadows.
"Can I hold it?" said Cubbi eagerly.
Cammi stood a moment considering the question for a moment the said " Sure, as long as your careful"
"Cool" replied Cubbi.
Cammi handed the sword to Cubbi and as soon as he let go Cubbi dropped it onto the floor.
"It's so heavy," exclaimed Cubbi.
Cammi smiled then took the sword from Cubbi and sheathed it. He chanced a glance at Lilli and saw she was looking at him with admiration while Stanney just seemed to get more annoyed.
His father's voice stopped them from saying anything more and got the attention of all the cubs.
"Sir..Sir Plucki" said Sammi.
Sir Plucki looked at the group of cubs then noticed how happy Cammi was looking he'd never looked this happy with the cubs in Gummadoon so why were these so different.
"This is my dad," said Cammi to the other cubs.
All the cubs looked surprised even Stanney then they turned to look at Cammi.
"We have to get back to Gummadoon" said Sir Plucki.
"Ok" replied Cammi following his father.
When they reached the door he turned round and looked mostly at Lilli and said bye then took off after his father.
TBC…
End of Part XIII
Part XIV coming soon!