Growing Up

The Barbics, Glens and any other Disney characters are copyrighted to Disney and we claim no ownership. However, any new characters are copyrighted to Ulisa, Silver Fox and Cheetah the Furry. This plot is a collaboration of Ulisa, Silver Fox, and Cheetah the Furry

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Sunni barely touched her own piece, preferring to pick at it. Everything was too ghastly quiet. Finally, as Sunni looked around, she saw that Gritty had gotten to his feet and treaded into the hall, obviously determined on finding Ursa. Gritty had looked upset when he returned from the kitchen but now his face was more of a mask of worry.

"Sunni…"

Turning, the cub saw Grammi looking at her, as she said in her sweet voice,

"Eat sweetie. This is your day."

"No," the girl replied, "No…Buddi…"

Buddi did not know why he even bothered to run. He knew for a fact Ursa was older, faster, and taller. So when he felt those sharp claws graze into the scuff of his neck, he was surprised he even let out a small shriek. But when he turned, he wished he hadn't…so he wouldn't have had to see those dark angry eyes glaring at him.

The cub bowed his head, his already wet cheeks becoming damper as rivers of tears fell down his face. He did the only thing he could think of,

"Ursa…I…I'm sorry. I didn't…I- -"

"Shut your trap! Of all the things-"

"Ursa!"

Turning, Ursa growled,

"Stay out of this Gritty!"

"No! Listen to yourself Ursa…you're not capable of being sensible now!"

"Don't tell me what I'm capable of!"

"Ursa-"

"Gritty, Buddi has never shown such blatant disrespect and I mean to make him remember not to do so again!"

"Ursa," Gritty's tone was gentle and pleading, "look at him."

With a snarl, Ursa did so and froze.

Buddi was trembling, his face pure white, and was sobbing, his head in her waist, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry!"

Appalled, Ursa released him almost instantaneously. Buddi backed away, still shaking as if expecting a blow to the backside or even the face. Buddi had looked on her with fear before but this was pure terror. Ursa had never blow up like that before. The cub was shaking like a leaf and did not take his eyes off hers.

Ursa turned her face away, inwardly screaming, Dear Gum, what did I do!

Gritty drew Ursa away and said, "Ursa, go calm down. I'll talk to Buddi."

Ursa merely nodded, horrified at the things he now remembered saying and doing. She held her head in her hands a moment, her hands shaking. Gritty clasped them and told her gently in Barbic,

"You lost your temper. This can be fixed. Let me handle Buddi for now. Go and calm down."

Ursa replied, "Me next. The haiana is still on for tomorrow. Make sure he knows that."

Gritty nodded, "You look like you could use one as much as Buddi."

Ursa didn't reply to that but hid her horrified gaze. How could she…to the child she loved as her own?! How could she…

She shook her head and walked away.

Gritty turned his attention to Buddi.

To his surprise, the cub hadn't left when they were arguing which he knew meant that the child genuinely regretted his words. The cub was slumped against the wall, his face buried in his arms. Gritty knelt on one knee and gently forced the cub's face up.

The child's eyes were blood-shot, wet and his cheeks were darker than usual with tear stains. He looked scared of Gritty, as if he still expected punishment from him. Gritty's soft eyes helped a little but there was also a sternness to them.

"Buddi-" he began but the cub interrupted.

"She hates me! I know she does!"

That was enough to halt Gritty's lecture. He listened to the cub with disbelief…did Buddi truly believe that? Even when Ursa was furious, he had never doubted that. In a moment, as the adult listened, he knew why.

He had gone through it himself.

The cub was growing up. If Gritty strained his ears, he could hear a break as the child spoke. It wasn't emotional breaks. The cub's voice was changing. That meant other things were happening. His temper was on a short fuse, which explained what had just happened and the recent outbursts.

As Barbic cubs approached adolescence, their tempers were put on hair trigger, they began to rebel and desire to learn where they truly belonged in the clan. And their emotions were unreadable, often even by the cub themselves. They didn't know why they felt as they did, didn't know why they did anything!

Buddi went on, "She should! Why did I…why! I know she hates me but not anymore than I hate myself!"

Gritty had heard enough. Ursa was right; this cub needed a haiana. The sooner…the better.

Grasping the cub by the shoulders, he commanded,

"Buddi Barbic! Stop it!"

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