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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Cubbi walked into view and Sunni spied him immediately. She ran forward and hugged him, knocking him down. As did so, she said,

"Cubbi! Thank Gum, you're okay!" She kissed his cheek, out of pure relief.

"Suuunnni!" Cubbi shoved her off and wiped his cheek with his arm, "EW!"

The young knight got up and went to stand by Sir Plucki. He rubbed his cheek again, "Yuck. Why do girls always do that?"

The elder knight chuckled faintly and said, "Get used to it."

"Great," the cub said sarcastically before joining Plucki in greeting Ursa. Blastus and Ramsei had backed off. Ursa didn't seem too enthusiastic over Gritti's previous statement but if it kept the knights from fighting for her affections, then she would tolerate it.

"Now, Milady," Plucki said politely, yet without the advances of Ramsei or Blastus and for that Ursa was grateful, "Do you mind telling us what happened here?"

"Not at all." Ursa replied; glad to speak to a male who was not drooling over her. Yet, despite that these gummies had helped them; she kept Buddi close to her nonetheless. Buddi kept Sunni's hand in his. Sunni didn't seem hurt badly, but she was still a little uneasy on her feet. Ursa gave Buddi a glare for it but he ignored her. She made up her mind to deal with him later and turned to the Gummi knight.

"First off," she stated, "Thank you."

"Our pleasure, Milady."

"Secondly, Lady Bane apparently has summoned all your past enemies.

Gritti decided to put his own input in. "And this Lady Bane seems to be possessed or something. She called herself 'Zorlock' or something like-"

"Zorlock?" The Gummi knights interrupted. Cubbi hit his head and then turned to Sunni,

"Zorlock, Sunni?" The girl nodded. Cubbi made no reaction to the fact that everyone was now staring at him and Sunni. He went on, "But he was toasted…"

"Whoa! Whoa!" Gumlittle interrupted their conversation, "We trapped Zorlock. Was one of Ramsei's finer battles. But that was….Gum's sake, Cubbi that was long before you were born!"

"I know," Cubbi said simply, "But somehow or another he managed to slip some spell through that prison, had some monster-type-thing steal our Great Book, we went after it, Sunni, and Tummi and I were trapped but Zummi, Gruffi and Grammi caught up. They toasted him."

"Okay," Buddi intervened, "so…that would make him…dead."

"More or less," Cubbi agreed. "So, my guess is that whatever spell Lady Bane used to revive all our enemies, she also unwillingly brought back Zorlock-"

"Except," Sunni cut in, "His body was destroyed so he inhabited hers."

Grubbi rubbed his chin, "well, if she is ruthless enough to kill, as she seems to be, I'd say that we should expect further attacks."

Ursa nodded, "No doubt," and unconsciously tightened a grip on Buddi's arm. She paused, thinking, "Well, if she wants to give an attack, we'll just have to be ready."

The knights nodded in unison and Plucki offered,

"We've plenty of room at Gummadoon, Milady."

Ursa gave a nod of acceptance, as she knew she'd need a city with various weapons and more warriors to possibly win an assault. She didn't have that here. Besides, she figured Buddi and the other cubs would appreciate a nice warm bed. And quite frankly, she wouldn't mind one either. She looked at the knight and said,

"Defenses?"

"We've multiple weapons and training grounds."

"Good. If there is to be a battle, I'll need some weapons. This sorceress has threatened my and my clan's life."

Sir Plucki gave a nod, "We probably won't reach there tonight; we'll hafta camp."

"Not a problem. Lead the way."

Near Past

Finally, drawn from their shock, the Barbics began to speak at once. It was a terrible racket until finally, Grubbi, their eldest, stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly. The younger Barbics fell silent and turned to the elder Barbic, known and renowned for his wisdom. He spoke now, shifting the cub in his arms, who was still sniffling.

"Magic was involved no doubt. We don't know much but we do know that those four gummies led us to Buddi. They've good intentions. We can't go after Ursa so the best thing we can do is carry on until she gets back. Gritti, Ursa named you second-in-command a few days ago, did she not?"

"Yes…"

"Well, as of now, you're no longer second-in-command; you're leader until Ursa returns."

Gritti nodded and called to the others, "okay, resume your usual activities; we won't accomplish anything if we stand here."

The Barbics were quick to obey. Grubbi stepped up to Gritti and then the healer looked at the cub in his arms, "Why don't we get this little one into bed. I think sleep will help."

"No." the cub pouted, "Gotta wait for Mama Ursa."

"No," Gritti replied as he took the cub from Grubbi, "Come on, you need to calm down."

"NO! WAIT FOR MAMA!"

Gritti sighed deeply, "Shh. I'll send Mama Ursa to tell you she's back. But she'd want you to sleep."

"Yeah?" the cub wiped his eyes. Gritti nodded, hoisting the cub to his left hip.

"Yeah. Now come on."

Buddi clung to Gritti tightly. When the adult put him to bed, he locked his window. Buddi sat up and said,

"Gritti?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't go. I don't want you to disappear like Mama Ursa."

Gritti looked at the small child, at his large frightened eyes. He was still a cub and that cub's life evolved around Ursa. Gritti had lost count of the number of times Ursa had tended to his bloody knees or frightened away the monsters in his room. And now, that security was gone.

The black Barbic pulled up a chair and sat by the cub's bed, saying,

"All right."

Far Past

Ursa stared at Kuriani, awed by her. She looked a little older than Ursa was, maybe in her early forties, or late thirties. She regarded Ursa a moment and then said, turning, "Malachi…is that you?"

"Yes, big sister, it is."

Ursa's eyes burned again and she spat,

"This nisha's your brother?"

Kuriani growled,

"Yes."

"Then, explain this to me: If he's a Barbic why did he kidnap my son?"

"I don't understand."

"I'll make it clear. My cub is four years old. I put him to bed and your brother came and took him from his room and tried to take him across the woods."

"What?" Kuriani turned angry eyes to Malachi. "Malachi Barbic, is that true?"

Malachi glared at his sister; he was about her age now. "If it is?"

"That's against our code!"

Malachi crossed his arms, "I don't care. I know what I want and I won't stop until this magician gives it to me."

"MALACHI!"

"KURIANI!"

Ursa stared at Kuriani, "Your name…it's Kuriani?"

"Yes, Gum's sake, I forgot. Let me introduce myself: Kuriani Barbic, Leader."

Ursa took a swallow, "Ursa Barbic, Leader."

The two stared at each other a moment and then Ursa said,

"Malachi, you stole one of your descendents."

"What?"

"You know I'm from far into the future. My third great grandmother's name was Kuriani."

Present

Night had fallen hours ago. The traveling groups of Glens, Knights, and Barbics had stopped for the night. They were ready to crash but they were not ready yet. The knights had brought a few tents, knowing that with the distance they would have to camp but they did not have enough for everyone. They would have to double and triple up.

"Okay," Gumlittle looked around as they all warmed and ate by the fire. "We have five tents so some of us with have to double or triple up."

Grubbi spoke, "I'll stay with Sunni."

Everyone was stunned at that so the healer explained, "Sunni, I'm a medic and I need to make sure that you just bumped your head and it isn't anything else."

Accepting his logic, the girl nodded. Ursa spoke up,

"Gritti and Buddi and I will room together."

Ramsei added, "The twins and I can handle each other for a night."

Gumlittle turned to Blastus, "You and I are roomies, I guess."

Blastus nodded, "and I guess, mon capitain, you and Sir Cubbi are together."

The elder knight nodded and soon after the adults began to set the tents up with the cubs lounged by the fire. Sunni went into her tent as soon as it was up, exhausted. Buddi stayed awake a while longer until Ursa told him to go in. He wasn't about to protest, a sure sign he was tired. Cubbi laid by the fire, staring into it. He closed his eyes enjoying the heat. He was tired, exhausted. Before long, he was lost to the world.

Plucki cast a glance over and sighed. He saw his young knight, asleep and it filled him with a strange joy. It triggered some hidden memories, buried long ago. He walked over, leaned on his staff and just watched the cub breathe. It was tranquil. It eased his mind. He sat down by the cub and just watched.

It didn't occur to him until several hours later how long he had been there. The fire died. And the cub slept on.

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