Cubbi put the shovel away bounded up to the rest of the unicorn stables; grinning at the first one he saw which happened to be Vite. He stood up on his tiptoes and rubbed the unicorn's nose. The small stallion whinnied and then snorted in friendly greeting, nuzzling the cub's hair. Cubbi laughed out loud and stepped up, using the slats of the gate to boost him up.

"Hi Vite!" he grinned. "Guess what? Blastus is gonna be better soon!"

Maybe it was an odd thing, talking to a unicorn but Cubbi had grown up among forest creatures and spoke to them the same as he did anything else or anyone else. His reward for such behavior was making a great many animal friends, including all the Gummadoon stallions in recent days. Vite as well as Sharpsight seemed to be particularly fond of him.

This day, Vite seemed to appreciate the news and neighed with pleasure, stomping one hoof. Cubbi beamed,

"You want out to the field?"

Now, this was usually an adult-only task but it seemed to Cubbi that since Vite was so obedient to him that there was no reason why he couldn't lead him the little distance to the field. After all, he was not the type of stallion that would run off. He stood up, leaning over and unlatched the gate, laughing as it swung open. As Vite walked out, Cubbi jumped off the gate and walked over to the stallion's side.

The small unicorn snorted, throwing his head back and forth then stopped. Cubbi looked up at him and the unicorn bent down slightly, almost all the way to the ground and snorted at the child again. Cubbi stared a moment then asked "you want me to ride you?"

Vite snorted firmly and Cubbi took hold if his mane gently and pulled himself onto his back, bareback. Vite stood up and continued onto the field. Cubbi blinked but then laughed slightly. It was a little like riding a rama but smoother. Vite didn't make such sudden movements. The unicorn stopped by the gate, turning long ways beside it, allowing Cubbi to lean over and unlatch it. The sun had dried much of the rain but the grass was still damp, making for a wonderful smell as Vite made his way over the fields. Several of the other unicorns had been let out to graze. Vite kept away from them, content to gallop lightly.

Cubbi kept his eyes focused, unsure for one thing. He knew he wasn't supposed to guide the unicorns himself but Vite had not given him any trouble and in many ways, the stallion had asked him to ride him out into the field. Still, the young squire wasn't sure if the knights would appreciate it. Oh well…nothing to be done about it now.

"You've a talent with him, child."

Cubbi turned, stunned and found Timothi and Sarrani watching him from the side. Cubbi blushed in the cheeks. "Sorry, I thought--"

"You're certainly jumpy." Sarrani commented, swinging herself up onto the fence. Cubbi rolled his eyes mentally. She and Timothi had gotten mushy and now she was acting like Sunni did: giddy and weird. Cubbi still didn't understand why girls got like that but he opted not to ponder it too much. He'd learned a long time ago it just made his head hurt.

"Well, I don't wanna screw up again." He said quickly. "I want to help out though-"

Timothi smirked, regarding the cub gently. "You're doing fine. Blastus won't care you took Vite out. He lets Corvi all the time."

Cubbi breathed a sigh of relief at that and patted the unicorn's neck who snorted with pleasure. Timothi pulled himself up onto the fence. "You know kiddo, we just received word that you can head back to the palace tonight. Sarrika's doing the final checks for illness but we think it was confined to Blastus."

Cubbi's heart leapt. "Does that mean Blastus is all better?"

"My sister," Sarrani assured him, "Is keeping him overnight for observation, just in case but yes. He's already complaining he wants up, she says and that's always a good sign."

Cubbi beamed, relief covering his face. He didn't want to mess up, he hated doing that. And this meant he got to see Plucki tonight! Though he was relieved Blastus was alright, his heart leapt most at knowing he got to go back to Plucki. Cubbi didn't understand why he was so attached to the Gummadoon Captain but he was. Plucki managed to make everything okay, no matter what it was.

The cub gave Timothi a grin then eased Vite into a slow gallop over the field.

Gummadoon Palace

Toni blinked, coming to and then sat up, rubbing his aching head.

"You're here early, lad."

Toni's ears perked and he turned, finding Plucki knelt next to him, holding the ice on the lump over his eyes. "And already getting into mischief I see." Plucki teased him gently, knowing all too well how accident prone he could be. Toni was pretty klutzy at times, he'd hit that stage. All the squires had hit it at some points and Toni had never been overly graceful but it was worse as of late. So, when Josai had brought him in with a large lump on his head, it didn't surprise the knight.

Toni's eyes widened "Plucki?"

Plucki chuckled, moving the child's hands "Here, hold it there." He said firmly but gently. "It'll keep the swelling down."

"Plucki, you left sickbay, does that mean-"

"Yes, Blastus is better."

"Can I see him?"

"I don't know lad. He needs rest still-"

"Just for a minute." He said honestly. He felt a fool, first for shedding all those stupid tears and now for this lump on his head. Deserved every inch of that pain. He didn't even deserve this ice but Plucki would make him keep it on or he'd hold it himself. Just like him to cause them more problems…

No time for that! He reprimanded himself. What about Gumlittle? Was he with Blastus? Or had he…was he…

"Can I see Gummie too?"

Plucki eyed the cub, a little surprised. Toni was always one that tried to be 'overly mature.' He had stopped using "Gummie" a while ago. Still, given the stress of the recent days, the Gummadoon Captain dismissed it. He smiled. "Well, Sarrika says we aren't contagious anymore otherwise, I wouldn't be here so I don't see why not."

Toni beamed and before Plucki could say a thing, the child plowed past him and he could hear his feet slamming up the stairs. His mind was on Gumlittle and him alone. Mother had started to be cruel and cold so did that mean Gumlittle's death was coming soon? His heart beat erratically, with fear, just thinking of it. Gumlittle, one of the few gummies he held so close to his heart.

The cub froze as soon as he reached the hallway, slamming on his breaks. What right did he have? He was…he'd already given Plucki problems and he hadn't even been here for three hours. Perhaps it was better for him to remain in his little hole of a room. Hidden away and thus unable to bring them anymore trouble. Still, that dream ate at his heart. He had to at least know if Gumlittle was alright, then he could run before he did them any trouble or harm.

Slowing to a tiptoe, the cub stuck his eyes around sickbay's doorway.

Gummadoon Sickbay

"Mon Dieu, I see…" Blastus mused.

Gumlittle smiled at his brother from his bedside. "Yes, you gave us quite a scare. We almost thought we'd lost you."

Blastus chuckled "Come on, did you think me that easily conquered?"

"You're stubborn, that's certain enough."

"Has served all three of us well." Blastus reminded him. Gumlittle laughed; glad to hear Blastus' sense of humor. His heart had dreaded that he would never hear it again. Death had visited them a great many times, each time narrowly passing them over. Only once before could Gumlittle remember death really cutting deep…no, three times he realized now.

Aldi.

Lucki.

Yaci.

Suddenly overwhelmed with relief, he pulled Blastus into a tight embrace. Blastus blinked, more than a little surprised but he laughed and patted his brother's shoulder. "Mon ami, I'm fine."

Gumlittle didn't answer, lots of possibilities rushing through his mind.

What if Blastus had wound up sharing all those loved ones' fate? The thought almost snapped Gumlittle's heart in two. Lucki and Aldi had been so young when they'd died and that had been a time of utmost sorrow. He remembered that well enough. Though it had been years ago, Aldi's death had cut Gummadoon deep through each and every one of them. Gumlittle, Blastus and Ramsei had been second only to Plucki.

Gumlittle tightened his grip slightly just remembering it. They're returned from sealing Zorlock only to receive horrific news. While they'd been gone Illsi and Aldi had each fallen ill with a mysterious illness. Illsi had succumbed almost overnight. Aldi had lasted a little longer but he had died within the past few hours. Oh, that news had crumbled Plucki more than any attack could.

Gumlittle closed his eyes slightly, remembering all too well. It had taken he and Blastus days to get him to even come out of his quarters. Understandably, the loss of his family had crumbled his heart but like Plucki was known to be like, he'd refused to crumble under it though his eyes had lost a great deal of their spark. In the recent year, with the addition of Cubbi as his squire, they'd seen his eyes light up like they hadn't in years. It had taken time.

Then there was Yaci. Though an adult when he died in this past war and a knight of his own right, Gumlittle had trained him, in both the ways of knighthood and the ways of life. He'd taught him much, ranging from simple things about battle tactics to complex things about life that he had acquired in his many years. Knighthood, war and growing up had taught the Gummadoon knight much and he had wished to equip his squires with as much as he could.

He had done well with Yaci. He'd grown and become strong, smart, and dependable. Gumlittle remembered well enough watching the child change from a cub into a bear, a little at a time. Perhaps that was why his heart still ached for him. It was the price being a mentoring knight had. Unlike human knights, gummies became extremely attached to their trainees and to their fellow fighters in general. They created an extended family of sorts. Brothers, sons…linked in the heart. It made the gummi forces far more formidable than the less in tuned human forces but it also made them suffer more from their losses.

Lucki…

A greater tragedy, Gumlittle was sure, had not yet been generated than Lucki's death. The boy had been young, younger than even Corvi. He'd just turned eleven about a month before the war broke out and Gumlittle had just started to let him train with the weapons. The younger squires trained with practice weapons but Lucki had then taken to a real bow like he was born to hold one. Oh, his aim was far from perfect and he had a bad habit of holding the arrow in the middle rather than near the feather but his determination more than made up for it.

Gumlittle did not feel ashamed to admit that many a time, he had returned to the boy's empty chambers and simply sat there, eyeing his things. The old mind teasers he used to love, the books he used to read and yes, the toys he used to have, mainly animals. That had been one of Lucki's strengths. He was one with animals most of the time, using them as both a hobby and to enhance his training. He'd taught his little sister how to ride when she was only four. His parents had been worried about that but Gumlittle knew Lucki wouldn't let anything happen to her. He'd taken to being a big brother like he'd been doing it his entire life.

Yes…being a big brother was something Gumlittle knew all too well.

He smirked down at Blastus and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We knew you were too stubborn for this."

OOO

Toni regarded Gumlittle and Blastus from the doorway silently. He lowered his eyes and his ears drooped considerably though his heart felt lightened. Gumlittle was alive and that gave him a sense of hope. He pulled away, lest he disturb the two. Surely the last thing anyone wanted right now was his pitiful fur around. The boy turned to dart down the hall but the pain in his leg made him stumble a little and Blastus caught it.

"Mon ami, I think we have a petit visitor, n'est-ce pas?"

Gumlittle stuck his head out in the hall. "Toni? What are you doing here so early?"

The boy glanced up, forcing his face back to its usual attitude but he couldn't resist throwing his arms around Gumlittle's waist. He took an inhale, trying to convince his mind that indeed his mentor was alive and well. Gumlittle's strong grip returned the hug after a moment and Toni smirked, feeling Gumlittle stroke his hair a little, his deep chuckle making Toni's heart leap.

"Well, hello to you too, lad."

"I missed you, Gumlittle!" the boy replied, looking up with a wide smile, his first genuine one in days.

Gumlittle chuckled, ruffled the child's white hair. Toni closed his eyes, grinning, letting the elder knight's touch bob his head from side to side gently. Toni finally said, "So, is Blastus better?"

"You could say that, mon ami," the deeply accented voice called. Toni beamed and ran in, happy to see Blastus as well. Though his dreams did not include Blastus' death, he was reassured to see the knight nonetheless and rushed him, flinging his arms around his neck. Blastus laughed out loud and returned the cub's embrace before releasing him. "Qui, Ol' Blastus should be up and about by tomorrow if Sarrika does not find any hiding illnesses."

Toni beamed, "Did Ramsei tell the others?"

"Oh, I'd imagine not yet as it is fairly early." Gumlittle replied. "In fact, I'm surprised you're here so early Toni."

The cub's face fell. So…it seemed Gumlittle didn't…did he not want him around as much either? No, that couldn't be what he meant. Gumlittle cared about him. If nothing else, Toni could always depend on his mentor. Hearing this was a fierce blow to his heart for a moment until Gumlittle spoke up again, smiling as he gave the cub's hair another jostle.

"You should get some more sleep, lad. Ramsei'll most likely do a little training today but tomorrow, we'll be back and about." He smirked. "And knowing Blastus, he'll give you boys a bit of a break to have some fun and regroup."

Toni beamed. Inwardly, though, he kicked himself. He was being selfish! Blastus was better and here he was, stealing his time with his brothers away! The cub drew away, nodding. He walked out of the room, laying against the hall wall a little bit, sighing.

Gumlittle was safe so the cub trod back to his self reclusive hole, secure with the knowledge that his beloved Gumlittle was alive.

Forest Just beyond Gummadoon

Sweat pouring off his forehead, Corvi rested his head against the shovel. This was not a chore he liked in the least and the fact that it was his own mother made it a thousand times worse. He had managed his mother's body out to the forest without detection and thus, here, where she'd set up a memorial to his father, he'd buried her. It had taken a great deal of time and he was grateful to Morri for keeping an eye on Cori.

The boy knelt, more like fell, to his knees on the freshly overturned dirt, his eyes still so deeply coated in tears that it was hard to see straight. Every second he was digging, preparing his mother's body and then, as just now, overturning the dirt back, it didn't even seem real. He kept staring at the ground, just imagining that it would vanish like a bad dream and his mother would return from the house, scolding him that he would catch his death out here but nothing of the sort happened.

It never would again.

Corvi laid his forehead against the shovel, tears leaking out of his eyes but he didn't cry, not verbally. Rather, he led the tears seep out. He couldn't afford to break down and wail. He still had his brothers and that gave him a sense of pride and of motivation, determination. Though his heart still burned with pain, he stood, looking back towards the house and an odd sense of courage flooded his soul and he strode back, head held high despite the tears that still continued down his face. He would not let this conquer him or his siblings. He refused to be broken by it.

Strangely, he could almost hear his mother laughing behind him, saying "You're just like your father."

Lady Bane's Palace

The ancient sorceress leaned backward in her chair, ignoring her bumbling Troggels. She could see Gummadoon through an elementary visionary spell. She saw the day fade away with swiftness, saw the squires return and saw that child-knight rush his mentor with such sickening affection that it made her retch mentally. Aside that image, her eyes went to two others.

The blue squire was one. He kept to himself, did not emerge from his holed up room when the other squires rushed out for breakfast. Or lunch. Or training. In fact, the Gummadoon knight Gumlittle was looking for the squire when he didn't show up for dinner, given that they had given the squires leave to return about midday.

She scowled, ignoring it. It wasn't important right now…soon but not just yet.

Rather, she turned her attention to the little girl wizardess.

She frowned. There was more to this than met the eye and it dripped with opportunity.