Gummadoon Kitchen
Have you ever cooked before? Sir Plucki asked him once theyd reached the kitchen.
Uh, no. Cubbi admitted. But Im real good at eating!
Plucki chuckled. That I can well believe. Never fear, young squire. I may not be a fancy chef by trade but I can make a hearty stew to fortify our crew. Grab that stool there and collect carrots, potatoes, and onions from the pantry. Ill start the water.
One-on-one time with Sir Plucki... Itd be perfect if he didnt have the threat of Emi on his mind. But, this was his rest week with the knights! Couldnt he take even part of a day to just be a kid? Would Tavi forgive him?
Lady Banes Castle
Lady Bane smirked, eyeing the bubble-like container holding the soul of the dead gummi. In response, the hostless corpse belonging to the soul smirked, also staring at what it once housed. If souls could shudder...
Well, now, this is better. Lady Bane walked up to the body and placed her hands on its shoulders. She grinned evilly at the caged soul. And you cant utter a sound in all your agony or sorrow. Oh, poor thing, she mocked. You may be in hell, you wretched bear, but I am in heaven. She kneeled down and lifted the chin of the green-furred body. Ready to wreak havoc, my meat-puppet?
~Unknown Location~
She was flying, or floating. Hard to tell which because she couldnt at first see. Then she heard a voice calling for help in the blurred darkness. She floated that direction, curious and wanting to help. She looked down at her hands as she floated, saw that they glowed slightly. A gold color. She looked down at her body. She was glowy gold all over. Was this a dream? Could it be a dream if she was asking herself if it were a dream? Tavi shivered, unsure.
The gummi girl followed the faint wails until she found a smudge in the blurry darkness. Or maybe it was a clear in the blur. All Tavi knew was that it stood out. She hovered near.
Hello? she asked in a hushed voice.
Help me! I cant get free! Please!
Tavi cringed. So afraid! She couldnt tell who it was who was trapped. Oh no... Could it be Emi?
Are you there? Please help me! The voice was beyond desperate.
Tavi took a deep breath and let it out. She didnt THINK this was Emi. It didnt sound like her, or how she thought shed sound, even though such a powerful magician could probably change her voice. And even if it was Emi, how could just one gummi let her out easily? That is, IF she could help this person out. She was also assuming it was a gummi. She BELIEVED it was. So Tavi bravely- or recklessly- stuck her hands into the warp in the darkness.
She jumped when someone clamped onto her hands with a steely grip. She panicked and yanked them back, yard. The person did not let go and was pulled out of the darkness mire. Tavi cringed at first but when no harm came, she opened her eyes. There lay next to her a shivering gummi lady. It was Karleni, Tonis mother!
Are you okay? Tavi asked, reaching toward Karleni.
The gummi lady faded from Tavis sight and was gone.
Gummadoon Infirmary
Sarrika was at a loss as to help the gummi further when suddenly the vitality poured back into her. Karleni shot up in bed, her eyes wide with terror, screaming, yet no sound came from her open mouth.
Karleni? Sarrika was at her side in a heartbeat. Youre in the infirmary. Youre okay.
Sarrika sat at the bedside. Karleni looked at her, imploring, and slumped against the healer, crying her eyes out loudly. Sarrika sighed inward. Well, at least she was aware now.
Gummadoon Library
Tavi woke with a start. Whoa...
She got up and raced out of the library, through the halls, down corridors, and to the infirmary. There, she peeked in and saw Sarrika holding a bawling Karleni. Not just a dream... What happened? Where had she gone? Shed saved somebody! But... How? How did I know where to go to find her? Tavi shook her head. The medallions again, for sure, but what did they do? She better go find Corvi and Cubbi and tell them what happened.
She turned and ran right into Sir Gumlittle.
Hey there, little miss. Whats the hurry? he asked.
Oh, er. Sorry. Um, do you know where Cubbi or Corvi are?
Sure do. Theyre with us, in the courtyard right now. I just came back to check in on Toni.
Oh. Thanks. Drat, she thought, walking away. If theyre with the knights, then it must be the start of that rest week thing the knights always planned. They dont get called together too often except for training and thatd been called off for now. And even if it wasnt the rest week, she couldnt very well go into the courtyard and drag the two boys off when they were doing squire stuff. She sighed and went back to her room to think until supper. Maybe find a book or two from the library to do more research on.
Sir Gumlittle shook his head at her departure. Always in a rush, that one. He sighed, then walked in on Sarrika holding Karleni. I was hoping shed be okay soon.
Sarrika eyed him. Shes far from okay, but this is an improvement, yes.
Can I go see Toni?
Yes, but do be quiet in case hes sleeping.
The knight nodded and went to the next room. Sir Ramsei, currently reading, had been sent to watch over Toni. As he entered, Gumlittle nodded to his fellow knight. Ramsei got up and left, taking his book with him.
Toni lay quietly staring at the ceiling.
Its not a dream. Any of it. the boy said.
Gumlittle shook his head. Im afraid not.
Is that my mother crying?
Gumlittle wondered if the noise woke the cub, if Toni was in a daze. Gumlittle wondered a lot of things these days. It is. Shes... She is better than she was.
Toni glanced at his stuffed fish, propped up between the wall and his bed. He reached toward it but his bandaged hand gave him pause. He lifted his hand to his eyes, squeezed the bandage with his other hand, threw back the covers and felt the bandage on his leg. It hurts. Everything hurts so much, Gummie. Tears leaked from his eyes as he looked over at his mentor.
The knight sat at the bedside and put a hand tenderly on the cubs forehead. But we all heal, Toni. All of us heal in time.
Gummadoon Courtyard
Birds sang, bugs scampered, and cubs romped when finally Cubbi and Sir Plucki arrived with the stew. Cheers rang out amongst the pages and squires, much to the delight of the knights. Yes, this rest week was well deserved and well needed.
After lunch, the cubs broke up into groups as to which knight they looked to. Cubbi felt both honored and very lucky to be Sir Pluckis only squire and the knight had no pages under him, so it was just he and Sir Plucki again, currently headed to the knights room.
I did say you might be shown some secret things, Sir Plucki tempted, grinning at his squire. He opened the door to his room and let Cubbi enter first.
Back to the bed, Sir Plucki led his charge. Under it, actually. The knight-captain pulled out a small wooden box and opened it. These were my toys when I was a lad.
Cubbi looked inside with reverence but then frowned. There were only three toys: a tiny clay gummi knight figure which had been hand-made by little and unskilled hands, a blue glass marble, and a slingshot. They were pretty simple toys for someone as great as Sir Plucki.
Not very impressive maybe but it shows that everyone you admire started out just like you - a child.
Unbidden, the thought of Emi Gummi as a cub, happy and carefree, before becoming some kind of crazed monster, rose in Cubbis mind. He shuddered.
What is it? Sir Plucki, always observant, asked.
Oh, uh... Think of something quick! Um, just cant wait for tonights stories! He grinned big, hoping to fool the knight he worshipped. He wanted to know the story of Emi Gummi, and knew the knights knew it, but asking them to tell that story tonight would ruin these just-started good times. He couldnt do that. At least not yet. Hed ask Corvi when maybe he should bring it up, if they were allowed to ask them to tell any story. It was a great opportunity to get answers. Then why didnt he wanna do it? Cuz it was depressing a he just wanted to be a kid and learn and be around Sir Plucki and get to be a great knight just like him! Why couldnt he just do that, if just for a little bit? Emill still be there. She wasnt getting out yet. Right?... Cubbi couldnt even convince himself of that and just tried to focus on Sir Pluckis stories about each of the three toys and told himself hed ask Corvi what to do next as soon as he saw him again.
Plucki could tell something was bothering Cubbi. It was plain as day, yet the cub said nothing. Should he bring it up yet or wait for Cubbi to speak up? Perhaps tonight during the round of tales Cubbi might reveal what was bothering him.