Gummadoon Stables

Cubbi wiped the sweat out of his eyes and set back to cleaning and repairing the reins and saddles of the unicorns. It was still dark outside and nearly dawn but he had found it nearly impossible to sleep. He had gotten maybe an hour or two in before he had awakened and been driven to work again. Ramsei would probably yell at him. He didn't care. He had to do something. He felt so useless just sitting there.

"Ow!"

Cubbi yanked his hand away and sucked his fingers. The leather had cut his pointer and thumb finger. He winced and looked at the injury. It wasn't too bad. It tasted bad mainly, like hay, mud and oil. Probably cause of the cleaner he was using on the leather. Plucki had showed it to him shortly after he'd moved in. It tasted horrible but he ignored that fact. Small droplets of blood trailed down his arm.

"Drat…" Cubbi walked over and ran water over the cut. It wasn't serious enough to demand any other attention. Without even thinking about covering it, the cub set his mind back to finishing up this last saddle and rein set before moving onto the unicorns' hooves. They needed cleaned every so often and they were filthy and clogged. After some looking, Cubbi located the tool used for such a purpose and started on Plucki's steed.

Eyes heavy, Cubbi denied sleep. He still had the rest of the unicorns to do. His stomach protested, yelling at him. He ignored it. He didn't wanna go eat. If he did that, he'd be reminded of the potentially dangerous situation. There was no tutoring to day but he hadn't gone to the classes yesterday either and Ramsei hadn't made him. Cubbi was glad for it. The tutor was supposed to send home reports soon for each of the knights to go over and he dreaded his. It wasn't that he didn't try. He tried with all his might. But the facts were…he pretty much still couldn't read. He could read a few words but sounding them out was horrible. With everything going on, he'd never really learned completely. He knew enough that he wasn't seen as stupid but he'd seen how the tutor looked at him. What had she put on that thing? He shook thinking about it and the too slipped, brushing the stallion's leg.

A fierce whiney brought Cubbi back to reality. He swiftly patted the stallion's neck as he'd seen Ramsei do and sure enough after a moment, he calmed. Wincing, the cub said "Sorry, Sharpsight." He grinned and the unicorn nuzzled him. He patted its nose and set back to the task at hand. It didn't take too long to clear out the unicorn's shoes and feet. He moved onto the next stall, then the next and the next. The sun was high in the sky, almost midday by the time he finished the last unicorn. He thought it would have taken him longer but it didn't.

Taking a towel off the stable door, Cubbi wiped the sweat off his forehead. He winced and looked down at his hands. They had about five new blisters but he ignored them. It wasn't that didn't hurt but he wasn't about to weighed down by them. He walked over to a chart the knights kept on the stable's walls, listing everything that had to be done every day. He'd done most of them already: the brushing, the cleaning of the hooves, and fixing the saddles and reins. He had the struggle to read the rest but he managed it, slowly.

"Today we bathe the unicorns, kiddo."

Cubbi whirled around.

Sir Timothi cocked a brow at him. "Kiddo, do you ever sleep?"

"Can't sleep right now. So I work."

"You're crazy, cub."

"Fine. I'm crazy."

Timothi laughed. "Well, you can't bathe the unicorns alone. Want a hand?"

"Sure…"

Timothi chuckled and showed the cub to the platform where they washed them, directing him to get buckets of water and soap and fill the small trough-like container off to the side. Cubbi, always anxious, ran off in that direction and brought back bucket after bucket, soaking his tunic in the process. His little hands looked horrible but if there was one thing Timothi had learned it was that nothing was gonna change this cub's mind. Better not to try and waste his breath.

Leading the first out by the lead rope, Timothi tied the rope fast and then lifted Cubbi up and let him dump the first bucket of water down the stallion's back. Cubbi loved this although Timothi, for the life of him, could not figure out why. Still, it was nice to have a helping hand, even if it was a little helping hand. Setting the cub down, Timothi handed him a brush and let him scrub the unicorn's legs, flank and rear, although reminding him to be mindful of the hooves. Cubbi followed every instruction to the T. In fact, Timothi couldn't remember another time the unicorns got cleaned so well and so fast! He hardly noticed how quickly they went from one to the next. Timothi did put his foot down on Cubbi bathing some of the wilder ones but the cub wasn't dismayed, merely went to the next chore, mucking the stalls.

Why would anyone do that willingly? The knights would try absolutely anything to get out of that chore and yet here was a cub doing it by will alone. Only Corvi of the squires had to do that but Cubbi needed no prompting for it. He didn't make a face or anything, despite how dirty his bare hands and feet became throughout the process. It was well after sunset when the boy finally finished. Taking a breath, he turned around and ran directly in Ramsei.

"sir Ramsei!"

Ramsei didn't say anything but walked past the cub, inspecting his work no doubt. Ramsei didn't act like he wasn't either. He would mutter to himself or make odd 'hmm' sounds in his throat. After what seemed like an eternity, he returned to the child. Cubbi stood there, drenched in sweat and smelling like it too, waiting like a cub eager to see if they would get out of trouble or not. Finally, he spoke.

"Excellent work, Sir Cubbi."

Cubbi beamed and Ramsei, despite his gruff exterior could not help but give a faint smile back. "You do good work, cub."

"what else can I do?"

"you need to eat dinner and get some rest."

"can't I-"

"I've been watching you lad. You haven't eaten lunch or breakfast, nor did you sleep very long. I'd have to be convinced to call what you did have a nap it was so short."

Cubbi sighed "I tried. I couldn't sleep. Please…one more chore, please…"

Ramsei sighed. He commended the cub's determination but honestly, how could this child keep going like this!

"Please…"

"Very well cub but if you're tired or hungry later, you fend for yourself. Nor will I be explaining your exhaustion to your mentor. That will be your job."

"Understood Sir."

"If you want to clear the fields and pastures, you can deposit the waste into the holding pen for the other knights to make into compost tomorrow."

"Okay! Which fields?"

"Right now, do the two on the left. Once the unicorns are brought in from the remaining two, you can clear them as well."

"'Kay! Thank you, Sir Ramsei! I'll do it right! Promise!"

"I've no doubt of that, cub."

Cubbi tore off into the distance and vanished. Ramsei shook his head, closed the gate and walked back to palace to see how the closing duties were coming with the other knights.

Corvi's Home

"Big Brother! Big Brother!"

Corvi grinned, dropped to his knees and embraced his three year old brother, Cori, tightly. The small cub squealed and Corvi tossed him up, catching him. He'd been out today, tending to the farm around the house but now it was time to turn in. Morri snuck around the corner, his seven year old brother, and he opened his arm to him too.

"Corv." Morri said softly. "Mama's worse."

"Worse?"

"Yeah…she couldn't even get outta bed this morning! I fixed Cori's breakfast."

"Good. I'm proud of you. Did you two have dinner?"

"Nu uh."

"Thought not. Brought you some fruits and dried meats and cheeses from market."

"You did that?"

"Yep…with my leftover credits."

"You spent your 'lowance on us, Big Brother?"

"It's no big deal. I'll get some more when Blastus gets better."

"He will get better right?"

"Of course."

"And Mama…?"

"Let me see her, okay? You two start eating."

Cori tugged on Corvi's pant leg. "Brother…You change me?"

Corvi blinked. "Still haven't got the hang of potty training yet, huh?"

"Nu uh…"

"You'll learn. Morri, can you do that while I tend to Mama?"

"Sure Corv."

Corvi slowly pushed open his mother's door. "Mama? How are you doing?"

She smiled weakly at her son. "I wish I could say better. Thanks so much for your help, sweetie…"

"Aw, they're annoying but they're my brothers, Mom!"

"I know. You're so good to them."

"Mama? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Oh, I'll be fine. It's just annoying, sweetheart. You know I hate having to call on you to do some much."

"Don't worry 'bout it Mom. Just rest."

"I intend to. Don't worry so much. Corvi…you're so much like your father that way…"

Toni's Home

"Antonius!"

Toni jumped and ran down the hall. Mother had been very cranky as of lately. Heck, she'd swatted his backside for simply breaking a dish as he tried to help her. She'd always been a believer in spanking but he'd never really gotten many from her. He got more from his mentor than her! She usually ignored whatever he did, just doing it herself. Gumlittle had swatted him once or twice; he'd really spanked him only once when he'd gotten into the weapons' room after being told not to. The other squires teased him for it because he was the only squire who'd ever gotten that type of punishment from their mentor. The knights usually used chores or other things.

"yes Mother?"

"You call this clean!"

She pointed to the floor. Toni blinked. He'd washed it as best he could which was hard because the cleaner was harsh on his hands and nose. His mother had asked for his help so he'd given it to the best of his ability. What was wrong with it? He dared to ask her that.

"WHAT? You have to ASK?"

"Yes…Mother…how should I clean it better?"

"I can't believe you're so…so…so STUPID you can't tell!"

Toni's throat clogged. She'd called him many things over the years…

…but never "stupid."

"Stupid Antonius! That's all you are, stupid, stupid, stupid!" She threw the bucket of cleaner at his feet where it splashed over the sides and burnt his feet. He winced and looked up at her.

"Now do it RIGHT!"

"Yes, Mother…"

He got down on his knees and started scrubbing, hoping she couldn't see his tears. She turned off and stormed down the halls, scoffing about,

"I didn't even want a cub and I had to get the DUMB one…"

Gummadoon Sick Bay

"His fever's lower, that's good."

Sarrika was very matter-of-fact with the two knights, a trait Plucki had always loved about her. No beating around the bush with this gummi. She said it like it was. That was very helpful in this situation. Gumlittle and Plucki wanted to know the truth, nothing sugar-coated. So far, Sarrika was giving them hope. She gave them a smile and adjusted the ice cloth on the small knight-turned-cub's forehead.

"He does better with you two here. I think he knows you're here."

"He knows." Came the unisonous answer.

She nodded. "If it drops much more, he'll be out of the danger zone."

The two knights only responded with a nod. They knew that meant he could either get much better or much worse. He wasn't out of the danger zone yet. War had taught the two to never celebrate until there was a clear view of victory. Gumlittle sighed, burying his face. Plucki tried to maintain a chipper tone. "Don't worry Gumlittle…you know as well as I that Blastus is too stubborn to succumb to this. We'd never stop pestering him for it."

" P'ucki... "
Sir Plucki jerked to attention as did Sarrika, whirling around and rushing to the young cub's bedside. Small, fevered eyes creaked open. Upon seeing Sarrika, he screeched and dove off the bed, hiding underneath Plucki's feet. " NO! No Med'cine! Nasty! Big Brother save me! " Wrapping one secure arm around his "brother's" leg, the young Sir Blastus stuck one thumb into his mouth and looked up at the two adult knights, pleading.