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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Buddi was hardly unshaken. He'd never felt pain like that before. It had felt like someone had poured hot coals into his belly. The thought of coals and fire was enough to make the cub tremble. Sweet Gum, he hated fire. Even the small fires they made for heat and cooking frightened him. He just used them to get what he needed and then got away as swiftly as he possibly could. To any other, it would have perhaps been humorous. A Barbic cub scared of something that was used to aid. But…well, Buddi had his reasons.

"Let's go."

Buddi was snapped from his thoughts by Ursa's strong voice. She helped the boy to his feet and they headed off for Gummadoon again, this time the knights taking the lead and Sunni and Cubbi trotting up to stand by them. It was close to nightfall, not terribly close, but close enough and they still had a ways to go. They would arrive just at twilight, according to Sir Plucki.

Buddi kept close to Ursa. His belly still hurt a little and he got dizzy every so often. Grubbi was not blind to this.

"You've still got that water in your system Buddi. You'll feel sick until it leaves. When we get to Gummadoon, I can make you something to take care of that." Grubbi had hoped he had not had enough water to force him to do that but he obviously did. He started to stumble after a while.

"Buddi?"

"Hmm?"

Ursa lifted Buddi up onto her hip and said, "You're tired. Rest your feet."

"No…I can't be a burden to you."

In answer, Ursa stroked his hair, "You're not. But you aren't up to speed yet and you won't be until Grubbi gets that medication in you. We'll go faster this way without you stumbling."

Buddi looked at her and she quirked her left brow at him. Buddi sighed deeply but laid his head on her shoulder and rested. Ursa smiled,

"That's better."

Buddi stayed like that for a time. Then he felt Ursa sway a bit and said,

"Let me walk, Ursa. I'm not four years old anymore. I can't be light."

Ursa chuckled, "Well, you hardly are heavy but no, you aren't light as a feather anymore. But I don't want you to walk."

Gritti took a hint. He took the cub from Ursa, letting her stretch her arms. Buddi still didn't much wanna look at Gritti but he kept his mouth shut. His anger wasn't quite as bad as before. Besides, he had to admit, it felt good to be coddled. He missed that.

Gummadoon slowly began to appear in the distance. Buddi lifted his head and said,

"Put me down. I can walk to rest of the way."

He looked at Gritti with humiliation filled eyes. Gritti chuckled, understanding, and set the cub on his feet. Buddi stuck by Gritti and Ursa as they came up to the gates. Plucki led the way in. Buddi, feeling a little self conscious, strode to Ursa's side, shyly.

In all his life, Buddi had never seen so many Gummi faces. When he was a cub, he'd grown accustomed to the Barbic faces he saw every day. Now, when a whole group of new faces crowded around them, his face burned a deep crimson. He buried his face into Ursa's side.

Ursa, meanwhile, was being greeted by gummies on all sides, both male and female. The females seemed a bit surprised by her, the males enchanted. She took Buddi by the hand and strode through them, merely giving them her name if they asked.

Plucki waved Ursa to follow them and she did so, not even taking note of the murmurs some gummies were always exchanging about her.

"Milady, we have discovered that this sorceress Lady Bane has means to revive all our past enemies. We met these gummies upon our clash with her."

Plucki waved towards the Barbics. The Council of Gummadoon stared upon the four Barbics. Ursa stepped forward, without a bow but said politely nonetheless,

"Ursa Barbic, Leader of what remains of our clan. Our cook and medic, Grubbi. Gritti, my second-in-command. And our only cub, Buddi." She waved to each as she introduced them. The two others adults gave a gentle half bow as they were introduced. Buddi merely clung to Ursa's side.

Wooddale rose to her feet, "You are welcome here gummies." She turned to some of the gummies, who were standing by the side of the room,

"Emili. Raspberri. Evi. Do show these four to the guest chambers."

Three female gummies stepped forward and gave a low bow. "Yes, Milady."

The one called Emili walked up to Ursa with a gentle smile. She pushed back her dark forest green hair. She motioned them to follow her. The four Barbics did so, leaving Sunni and Cubbi with the knights. Once they had left, Wooddale said,

"Then, we shall heighten our guards. But we've no need to panic the city. Sir Plucki, the citizens have called for the festival of revival tonight. Do you see a problem?"

The knight considered and then shook his head, "we've nothing more we can do tonight, Milady. A festival may heighten our spirits."

Wooddale nodded, "very well. I shall tell Gummadoon. I trust you will show your young knight and Sunni to their quarters."

"Of course, Milady."

"So, what is this Festival of Re…re-what?"

"Revival." Plucki filled in. Turning to Cubbi, he smiled, "We proclaimed when Gummadoon was forced to vanish that when it was brought back by Gummi sorcery then we would have a feast, dance and great celebration to mark our ability to once more live in the open."

"Is it safe for tonight, though?"

"We can't do anything more, lad."

Cubbi sighed, "I know. So what's the deal with it? What's gonna happen?"

"Well, basically, it is a festival of dancing, food and games. I'm sure the young girls will be taken with you," he kidded, with a wink. Cubbi turned to him, horrified. Plucki opened a door,

"You can stay here, lad."

"I gotta dance with girls?"

"Of course, the rest of the knights and I shall be doing so. Makes us less of a legend and more real among the citizens. Why?"

"Count me out! Not happening!"

"Why? I'm sorry, but it isn't a choice, lad. To do otherwise would be un-knightly. We were 'invited' so to speak as special guests. To not dance with at least one girl would be an insult."

"Please…"

Sir Plucki laughed out loud, "Why are you making such a big deal over it?"

Cubbi looked at him out of the corner of his eye as he walked into his room. Plucki followed, closing the door. Cubbi turned to him and said simply,

"Because I can't dance!"

Far Past

"Well, this is just great."

Randi gave Gruffi a growl and the Glen merely narrowed his eyes back. Malachi, anxious to shatter the tension, turned to Randi,

"Randi, when am I gonna be an uncle?"

"Malachi! You shouldn't blurt out your sister's secrets!"

Grammi's eyes grew wide, "Kuriani's pregnant?"

Randi turned to her and snarled, "Not that that's any of your business but…yes."

"That explains a lot." Zummi spoke aloud, thinking. Randi was about to answer when Malachi said,

"How long?"

Randi turned to Malachi,

"Not now, Malachi. Ask your sister later."

Malachi pouted but fell silent. All was quiet until there was rustling heard. The bushes parted.

Ursa walked in, carrying a bleeding Kuriani. Malachi screamed,

"Sissy!"

Behind Ursa came the senior Nevi, Pittori and Malachi. The elder Malachi had a bloodied knife. His eyes were empty, shock worn. He was staring at his hands as if he didn't recognize them. His younger self suddenly ran at him and started beating on him with his small fists, howling, "Laceso! Laceso! LACESO!"

Near Past

Buddi tossed and turned all night. At about midnight, he sat up, his heart beating harshly. He looked around.

Ursa still wasn't back. Why wasn't Gritti going out to find her? The cub's eyes narrowed,

"If Gritti won't find Mama Ursa…I will!"

Kicking the sheets off, he snuck out the window and into the dark of the forest.

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