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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The sound of the male Barbic's voice shut off the waterworks with a single spooked gulp.

"Pull yourself together or you won't hear a Gum thing I say." Gritty waited a moment, then nodded approval. He offered a small smile to hopefully reassure the cub. "I sure hope you don't turn out as stubborn and tempered as Ursa."

"Gritty... What's happening to me?"

"Knew you were smart enough to realize something was wrong. Growth spurts for Barbics aren't just muscle and bone, Buddi. As you get bigger, your temper's getting shorter. I don't think Ursa sees it yet but you're growing up. I'll make sure she knows it, but you have to do your part. You _never_ let your temper take control, got me, Buddi? Yeah, it got away, but these are the years a Barbic learns the greatest control. Self control. See, it's part of being a Barbic, just like any custom. It's a body custom. Can't change it, so live with it. You might find Ursa hard to be around for a while, til you get settled, but that's part of learning. See, if there were other cubs your age around, we'd encourage you to practice for koura. Sorta like the things you did in the Test of Bearhood but suited more to older cubs. 'Cept there aren't any other cubs, and competing with adults'd make you blow up even more. Koura's supposed to let off steam, not build it up."

Buddi just stared at Gritty, an overwhelming desire to hear more pushing him closer to the large Barbic. And shock that such things had never been told to him before.

"Yeah, I was wondering myself when Ursa might bring it up." Gritty said, easily reading the younger's face. "In a way, this haiana'll be tougher on you than most. First, it's usually for older Barbics. Second, it's a test of physical and mental strength. Yer gonna be unbalanced at the beginning of the journey. Your goal is to come out like a performer on a wire."

Oh, he recognized the look in Buddi's eyes more and more now. Went through it himself. The cub immediately latched onto him as a role model, without question, pushed by some unknown yearning to be more and still be happy with himself. He was honored, but secretly felt nobody was a better Barbic than his role model. Urnri,... father.

"So whatever you gotta do, Buddi, you calm down and get some sleep. Play that flute of yours. In fact, take it with you. Yeah, I know Ursa doesn't approve, but I know that's the quickest way you calm down when there aren't any trees to climb."

"Gritty?"

"Yeah?"

"How long does it last?"

"This one? Oh, till your next birthday." He grinned at the cub's groan. "Don't worry. It'll pass. And don't be surprised if yer fuse is shorter around girls."

"Aw, why me?" Buddi pleaded, standing as soon as Gritty rose. "I hafta go on a haiana with one, and she's my elder!"

Gritty chuckled. "If she's smart, she'll take Grubbi with you. It'll be her first, too, kid." That last was spoken quietly, and obviously wasn't meant to be repeated. He started back down stairs but the cub tagged after him like a puppy. He was feeling the inclination to stick close to male Barbics. Buddi's rapid progression into his growth spurt didn't encourage any. He only hoped Ursa could keep her head, and learn a thing or two. They could both learn from each other. Most of 'em didn't know but he'd been on a haiana. He didn't want to talk about the reasons behind it, and so never brought it up. Better they didn't know anyway.

He turned and looked at the eager face of Buddi and sighed. "C'mon." He led the cub back to his room and warned him if he didn't see him asleep in an hour, he'd call Ursa. That got the cub afraid enough to detach himself from his presence. Gritty shut the door but didn't leave. He waited. The sound of Buddi's flute wafted out, muted because of the door, but heard at the hall's window. Buddi must be playing out his bedroom window for it to carry so. Better go talk to Ursa now before she comes down to commandeer the thing.

The party spent, the other Barbics long gone to wherever they had to be, Sunni wished Zummi goodnight. He was the last one departing for his room, right behind Grammi. What a crummy birthday... She clutched Buddi's gift like a talisman, willing it to work and give him a break from whatever wrath Ursa might have in store. Sunni admitted to herself that she'd never seen Buddi angry before. Not like what they'd heard in the kitchen. What was it Grammi sometimes said? "Always a new day around the sun"? Maybe if she went to sleep now, tomorrow would make today just a bad dream she could wake up from. With that resolve in mind, Sunni mounted the stairs to join the suite of rooms assigned to the Glens; she was sure, not by chance away from the Barbics' rooms.

As she changed into her bedclothes, she caught the soft fluting of Buddi and smiled brightly. If he was playing, he was fine. Much heartened, she fell asleep to the gentle trilling of his music.

"Ursa?" Gritty peeked into her room, having looked everywhere else for her.

She sat on her bed, rubbing at her temples. "I am losing touch with him, Gritty. It's that Glen. I know it!"

"Ursa!"

Brought up sharply by the smokey-furred bear, her eyes flashed angrily but she kept quiet.

"Don't you see? He's growing up, Ursa."

"Of course I see that! I'm not blind!"

"And with a Barbic's growth comes a short fuse. You remember _that_?"

She'd already formed a comeback. That melted into a groaning sigh as she hung her head in her hands. "Gum above, how could I forget..."

"Because..." Gritty moved to her side, changed positions to massage her tense shoulders. "He's your baby."

"Gritty!"

He only chuckled at her shocked response. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna say it again. But that's why, isn't it? You can't see past the bright eyes of the kid."

"Well... Probably."

"So give him a little break every now and then. You weren't very far behind my growth spurts. I remember your blushing temper real well. You couldn't even stand to be around other females, let alone males; and they you."

"Gritty..." she growled the warning.

"Just a little reminder. Keep it in your head on the haiana and I won't have to remind you again, eh?" He stopped his massage with a slap to the back and jumped away before she could react. He was out the door, the weight of his sound advice settling her back in her bed.

She was tired. She didn't want to think about any of that. Didn't want to go on this haiana probably as much as Buddi but she would, for him. Unlike the cub, she knew that any Gummi participating in a haiana would be affected. That meant herself. That meant Gritty. And especially Buddi. Her little Buddi. She hated seeing him grow up...

Ursa shucked off her clothes and pulled the covers over tightly. Only one Gummi besides Buddi knew she liked to snuggle into the covers, and she didn't wanna see either one again tonight.

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