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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"Milady? May I get you anything else?"
Sunni turned and smiled at the girl servant who had led her to her room. She was only a little older than Sunni. She looked about fifteen or sixteen. She had light indigo fur and long black hair which she kept in a ponytail braid. Even in a ponytail, it fell to her waist. But it was her eyes that were the most enchanting by far. It reminded Sunni of Prince Yen-Moon's eyes, the narrow shape.
Sunni jerked her head away as she realized she must have been staring. "No...no thank you."
The girl laughed kindly. "You may call me Macki."
"That's different."
"Yes. My great grandparents were part of the alliance that aided the Far East."
"Oh! So that's why-"
"Yes, that's why my eyes are different."
"You're…very pretty."
Macki smiled and said, "May I run a bath for you, Milady? Since I'm here…"
Sunni was exhausted and the thought of warm water was intriguing. She nodded, "Please."
Macki gave a polite curtsy and said, "Will you be joining our celebration tonight?"
"I...I don't know."
"Surely a girl like yourself can't wait to get onto the dance floor!"
"I...I have no clothes for it-"
The girl tugged Sunni to the closet and led her near the back, near the bathroom. She pointed to a rack of clothing. Sunni gasped. She had not taken the time to really look the clothes over. Now she glanced over her selection. She was at a loss. Macki giggled and then said,
"If I may, Milady?"
Sunni gave an awed nod. Macki took a look at Sunni, studying her features. She darted into the bathroom; this room was one of the few that had a bathtub within it, which meant Sunni did not have to walk to the bath chambers. Only a few rooms, the knights', and the council members had them. She started the water and then darted back in. She finally gave a yelp and grabbed one dress from the rack,
"What about this one, Milady?"
Sunni studied the dress. She fell in love immediately. It was dark violet velvet and had long sleeves as she had seen on most of the others' dresses. It had a golden rope sash about the hips and a low cut top, v-shaped. Inside the sleeves were patterns of indigo and violet flowers. She nodded.
Macki removed a pair of dark violet shoes, the same shade as the dress, obviously intended to be worn with it. They had a heel but not so they were difficult to dance in. Macki pulled out a small necklace as well, with amethysts. Not too many, as it was not a flashy necklace but the right amount to set off her eyes. Setting eyes on the last item, Macki removed a tie with violet beads and golden lace.
"I'm usually called the 'fashion expert,'" the girl explained. "Usually, the knights will call me when we have a big party. I went to Sir Blastus' tonight."
Sunni smiled, "I like it."
"Good, now let's get you washed and then I'll help you dress if you like."
"I would like that."
Buddi meanwhile, had just finished his bath. One of the servant girls, Raspberri, had repaired his tunic. Emili was occupied but Raspberri had washed his tunic and stitched up any holes. She said it looked very formal. All she kept saying was that he should go to the party. Buddi insisted he was not the type.
Right now, the cub was sitting in his room, thinking. He was stunned by the chambers he was given. They looked more fit for a prince than him. But then, Buddi had always been modest and shy. But the room was elaborately furnished and had a dark green theme. It was actually a little sad. The green always reminded him of Barbic Woods. But the bed and furniture was comfortable enough.
His room was huge, much bigger than his one in Ursalia, although not much larger than the one had once had at Barbic Woods. The thing that most bothered the cub was the fact that it had no windows. Buddi loved windows, loved looking outside. His first room in Ursalia had been huge but it had had no windows so Ursa had finally let him choose his current one.
He was close to Ursa. She was the room to his left, Gritti to his right and Grubbi was across the hall from Ursa. Still, it was quite odd. He didn't know where Ursa or the others were.
"Buddi!"
The cub gasped, choked, "S...sunni?"
The girl chuckled and nodded, "Are you coming?" she asked, spinning about to display the dress. Buddi's hands went clammy, his mouth dry. Swallowing, he stammered,
"S...sure."
"You're suggesting what?!"
Ursa and Gritti were struck dumb. They…these gummies wanted them to dance? Such an act for Barbics was only done after marriage, the official mating ceremony. What were these bears implying?
Emili smiled, "yes, you two look like-"
Two dark glares silenced her.
"Barbics dance on one occasion…no others!"
Emili looked beyond them now and laughed, "You sure?"
Turning, the two adults spied Sunni and Buddi on the dance floor.
Buddi was not an excellent dancer but he knew how to slow dance, simply from watching the others. The rest that he didn't know, Sunni guided him along with. She was a good dancer, at least in Buddi's eyes. She…she was also so…
Gum's sake! She was gorgeous.
The few adults who had stopped dancing to rest watched the two cubs with a smile. The basic idea was, 'young love.'
The song sped up in certain parts and Buddi merely sped up to meet it. He spied Cubbi out of the corner of his eye, with a slightly younger girl. Buddi laughed to himself. He didn't know Cubbi could look so uncomfortable. Probably the way the girl was looking at him. She liked him. The girl was dark red, with maroon colored hair. But she was hardly comfortable in a dress. One could tell it by her eyes.
The song was ending. Sunni smiled up at Buddi, laid her temple on his chest. Buddi gazed down at her. She shifted her eyes up and grinned gently. Buddi felt an odd pace steal his heart. He felt like…well, he couldn't well describe it. It just felt odd.
That feeling gave way to fear in an instant. He looked up…caught Ursa's murderous eyes. The song ended. Deciding to make the most of this, seeing as he was dead meat anyway, the cub dipped the girl on the last note, planted a kiss on her lips before darting out the door.
Far Past
"She'll live."
Ursa breathed deeply, a sigh of pure relief. Malachi, the elder version, said softly, "Can I see her?"
Ursa's dark eyes chilled his heart. She had the adult's younger self in her lap, stroking his hair. He claimed her scent was 'like Sissy's.' No surprise really, considering they were related. But she didn't much trust the cub's elder self. Still…
Randi turned to Ursa to answer; amazing that they had adopted this young Barbic, not even thirty yet, as their leader in Kuriani's absence. Ursa turned to Malachi,
"Five minutes."
Near Past
It had been easy enough to get past the Barbics. Buddi was on a mission. He had to find his mother, although he truthfully had no clue where to look. He knew she wouldn't be in the familiar territories. He would have to take a chance and move into the 'dark' parts. Mama Ursa would have come home had she been close enough to be in familiar territories.
The cub took a breath before darting through the branches, until he no longer could see the huts. It was dark in this part of the wood.
"Mama Ursa!"
No reply but the whispering of the wind and the flap of various bird wings. He pressed on, walked about another five yards and then screamed,
"Mama Ursa!"
Again…nothing. His young face scrunched in determination. He ran, ran until his lungs hurt. He screamed again. This time he got a reply,
Hoots, growls, hissing.
The cub looked up. A black shape dove and clawed at his hair. Bats!
The cub ran, tripping over a raised root. He felt a clawed creature squirm over his back. The cub screamed, leapt up, scrapping at his back. Terrified, the cub turned back. Or so he thought. In reality, the cub headed towards the east which was further away. He heard growls, cries, hoots, hisses.
"Mama Ursa!"
He wanted her. He began to wish he had waited as Gritti had said. Then he would be safe. But now, the more he ran, he realized he was hopelessly lost. Oh and what a place of the woods to get lost in! The cub grabbed the branches of a tree and scrambled up into its limbs. He found a solid branch and curled into a ball, sobbing.
"M-am-a Ur-sa!"
Present
Cavin had not even gotten to the remains of Gummi Glen when he heard someone behind him. Turning, he saw nothing. Making note to keep his guard up, he walked on, his hand on his small dagger. He had not gone far when he heard it again, footsteps.
The page whirled, raised the blade.
"Cavin!"
He gasped as he saw who had spooked him,
"Calla!"
Buddi had managed to lose himself in the halls of Gummadoon. He was putting off Ursa's anger as long as he could. He walked past a few knights, Blastus and Gumlittle on second glance. Apparently, they were taking a break, probably using it as an excuse to check their weapons…yep! That's where they were headed. The cub gave another thought to it as he heard,
"She didn't have to make such a scene! Are all Barbics that hot headed?"
Two cubs up ahead, one yellow, one green, looking about eleven and fourteen. They were talking about Ursa. Anger clouded the cub's vision.
In trouble or not, _no_ one insulted Ursa! Not with him around. He stormed forward, his fists clenched and his anger spurts bubbling to the surface.
"Blastus!"
"Qui?"
"Two of the bolas are missing and one of the staffs."
"What? That's impossible! We checked them yesterday! How could they be gone!?"
The knight came to Gumlittle's side. They had figured they best check the weapons so that they would not have to do so in the morning. Coming over, the French knight saw that Gumlittle was right. Two bolas and one staff, near the bottom…
"Wait," the knight said, thinking. Past events flowed through his mind. He looked at which ones. "Near the _bottom_?"
Gumlittle was confused a moment before he said, "Yes…"
Gumlittle spied the movement first, near one of the racks. He nodded.
Blastus slammed the weapons' room door. Both knights' eyes clouded over with the rare expression of anger.
"TAVI Gummi!"
A small red head peered out from behind one of the racks. The same girl who had been Cubbi's sole dance partner. She giggled and waved shyly, nervously. Her maroon hair fell down to her shoulders. Her dress had been shredded; the bottom was gone so she had a skirt. It only went halfway down her thighs and she had cut slits up the side. Her sleeves had been torn off as well, deliberately. She walked out to stand before the two adult knights, a staff in one hand and two bolas in the other. She bowed her head, hoping they would go easy on her…
But this was the third time. She looked up at them nervously, wincing under their anger-ridden eyes.
Blastus and Gumlittle were glaring down at the seven year old. Gum's sake, she _knew_ only knights were allowed in this room! Every Gummi did! If this had been the first time…but Tavi had tried this three times already, in one week alone! Her soft eyes did nothing to dull their anger.
She bowed her head.
"Hey!"
The two Gummi cubs turned as that Barbic cub stormed towards them. He was angry…hmph! Just like the hotheaded older ones.
"Yes, may we help you?" the elder one asked,
"You can stop trash talking Ursa!"
"What business is it of yours?"
"She's my mother! I don't go trashing yours!"
"No material to work with!" the little one giggled. Buddi's eyes drove into him like daggers. He swallowed and hid behind the older Gummi, his elder brother. The fourteen-year-old stood up,
"Deal with me, not my brother! Hot head!"
"Buddi!"
That was Cubbi. The young knight came around the corner. He had taken a break from dancing. Now he had heard Buddi's voice and decided to see what was up. He knew the temper Barbics had. The last thing Barbics needed after Ursa' scene was something else for the Gummadoonians to distrust Buddi's clan. He stood between the two.
"You're friends with Sir Cubbi? Wow!"
The elder cub had not meant that as an insult. But in Buddi's heightened sensitivity and anger, he took it for one. He swung his fist, blindly.
Cubbi let out a yelp and went spiraling onto the ground, face down. The two cubs gasped. Buddi froze, horrified.
Cubbi sat up, tears in his eyes. His left eye was sealed shut, turning black already. His knees and elbows had slid across the stone floor. They were bleeding. Not too badly, but enough. He could tell the three cubs were staring. He blushed, ashamed of his tears. He couldn't stay here. His eye and head were burning, throbbing. He hadn't had his helmet on. That hit on the floor had not been a love tap.
The two cubs ran off, not about to be in the same place where a knight had been hit. They would keep quiet; they had started it in a way. Though they felt the Barbic cub was the main cause. They wouldn't bring it up. Cubbi wouldn't, not with his pride. If the Barbic cub was smart, he wouldn't either. Buddi backed up, horrified. Was he this much out of control!? First the Troggels, now this!
"Cubbi!" the cub tore by Buddi, determined to wash his cuts off before anyone saw them. He would not cry out of pain…he wouldn't.
But Buddi took it as rejection.
"Cubbi! I'm sorry!"
Cubbi ran about the corner, down the hall. Towards his room. But he could not judge distance nor see very well anyway with a black eye.
With a loud crash, he bumped into someone, went sprawling onto his backside. Then he heard that voice, the one voice he had prayed would not find him like this,
"Lad!"
Determined not to look weak, he opened his left eye. But the pain was intense and he slammed it shut again, covering it, not without a low whimper of pain. He winced as he felt someone move his hands, look at him. He could see better now with his right eye. Those yellow hands, that familiar voice, that knight uniform. He sighed,
"Sir Plucki…"
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