Gummadoon Sitting Room, Late Evening
It was a dream. Only a dream. This was real. He was hot and sweating and in pain just like in the dream but Gummie was holding him and telling him everything was alright. And he wasn't going anywhere. Not anywhere. Toni held on tighter, holding on to what was real and safe and so very much everything he'd ever wanted.
"Come, lad. Let's have a seat and talk." Gumlittle said, breaking into Toni's asylum.
Toni at first resisted but soon melted under the gummi knight's gentle persuasion. He forgot himself and limped the short distance to a bench out of the way, and out of earshot.
"Now then," Gumlittle started, his arm still around the cub. Toni had yet to release his hold with either hands or arms. "I've been a patient bear I think. Something's bothering you. We try to let you cubs come to us when you're ready but I suspect it's a problem bigger than just one gummi can handle. So how about you tell me what's really going on? First, Toni, what's wrong with your leg?"
Antonius gulped, staring into the eyes of his mentor and beloved adult. How could he have limped in front of everyone!? He wasn't just stupid and worthless. He was in for it! His mind raced for a good lie, or even a bad one, but all of them fell to bitter ash in his mouth. He couldn't speak. Like a giant baby, no good to anyone, the only thing he could think to do was cry. How he hated himself for crying on Gumlittle again. Hated himself for doing it and for loving it so much. In a brief moment, he thought the most perfect thing in the world right then was if Gumlittle would do the honors and kill him real quick and clean. Dying by Gumlittle's hands was more than he deserved.
The squire beholden to Gumlittle fell asleep still crying some time later. The sight had disturbed the other cubs so Plucki called them all to join him for a game in the next room, leaving Blastus to watch over Gumlittle and Toni. No answers were available until Gumlittle gently hoisted the cub in his arms and headed for his own room.
"Mon ami, what is wrong with him?"
Gumlittle shook his head. "Don't know, but it's something big. I can tell. I'd like a look at his leg. It's buggin' him. I don't want to wake him though. If he's this exhausted, mentally and physically... I can feel the fever on him. Not just by feeling his forehead, Blastus. His whole body's gone hot. I'll watch him tonight and when he's up tomorrow, we'll get our answers."
"That is good. It is never wise for our petite colleagues to bear heavy burdens."
Gumlittle nodded.
Upon reaching his room, Gumlittle settled Toni in his bed, nearly had to pry the lad's hands out of his fur, and tucked him in. Stand watch for the night, get answers in the morning. He'd been worried about Toni before. Now, the worry was growing into fear. Fear of the unknown. Could this be just the throws of troubled youth? Or something more sinister from an enemy sorceress who refused to leave gummies alone?
Toni woke with a start. His leg's throbbing he was starting to get used to. That hadn't woke him. It wasn't a dream either. He felt bad. Really bad... Like he should run to the bathroom and hurl. That sour feeling fled when he realized he wasn't in his room, nor in his hidey hole or any bed he'd ever called his own. He was in Gummie's room! Gumlittle sat in a soft chair, asleep, his head slumped forward and slight snores pushing into his chest.
Toni slipped from the bed cautiously, and not just because of his leg. He remembered what happened last night. Everything that happened, everything he'd done, everything he'd thought.
As much as it hurts to think it, I don't deserve Gummie. I'm weak, stupid, no good for anyone. I'll poison anyone around me. What was I thinking, wishing Gummie would kill me??
Toni looked long on Sir Gumlittle, for perhaps the last time. He'd saved Gummie once but he'd poison the knight with his useless, selfish presence. Tears in his eyes, he stealthed from the room and ran as hard as he could, jarring leg and weakened body.
"Hey, Toni, what's--?"
And pushing past the only gummi to see him go. A squire or page. He couldn't tell, couldn't see very well at all. The only thing he knew was that he had to hide. Forever.
Early Morning, Tavi's Room
There was a knock. She didn't reply.
Councilor Wooddale entered her niece's room, saw the child sitting on her made bed and staring at nothing. Fear seized the councilor's breath momentarily.
"...Tavi?"
"Didn't sleep, auntie. Couldn't. I couldn't face her again. Because we don't know, do we? We still don't know?" The cub turned her face up to her aunt, eyes red and hollow, worn windows into a tired mind and body. "But I'm so tired, Aunt Toffi. I know I can't be awake forever. I waited up for you but you never came so I never slept. I kept thinking what should I do if I start to turn into a monster like Emi? What should I do?"
Councilor Wooddale sat on the bed with her niece and took her in a comforting embrace. "My child, how could you become something you fear so deeply?" She had to believe it. She had to believe it. She had to believe it with all her heart. She had to –
Tavi pulled away slightly, not lulled by the voice of comfort she'd been seeking since the Council convened last night. "Aunt Toffi, what are you REALLY thinking?"
At a loss momentarily, again, the Gummadoon councilor sat their with her mouth open to say something. Words of encouragement? Comfort? "Tavi... We don't know what to do." Words of defeat spilled from her lips. The truth, but defeat none-the-less.
"I-it's okay. At least we're on the same page." Tavi managed a weak smile but her lip quivered on the start of tears.
The ruckus of laughter and cajoling from the courtyard far below diverted their woes momentarily. Tavi got up and went to her bedroom window, gazing out and down. The boys -- squires and pages alike -- were all laughing and smiling and rough-housing in the central courtyard. Weird. She knew they should be training shortly. What was going on?
A ruckus of another kind started up within Gummadoon's walls at that same time. Gumlittle's booming voice could be heard echoing down many a corridor.
"Where's Toni? Has anyone seen Toni??"
Gummadoon Central Courtyard
Corvi shook his head, grinning and joining in at the infectious behavior of his fellows. Despite having so much weight and woe on his shoulders lately, this was well needed and he felt he could enjoy it a bit. So, he got the guys up a bit early -- not purposefully but how else could he explain slipping out to check on his little brothers and being caught slipping back in if not to tell them he wanted up early to get a head start on their free week? Wholeheartedly agreeing with this plan, the word spread and soon all the squires and pages were up and tearing around the courtyard in anxious anticipation of their mentors arrival for the much-needed holiday. Very needed. Now he'd have less need of excuses to slip away and be with his brothers. He sighed in relief and tackled the smaller Cubbi who was taunting Martinni. All three boys wound up in a pile, laughing and kicking.