Chuckling, Blastus prodded Cubbi awake. When the cub roused, the knight said, "Mon ami, generally we tell the stories and THEN we sleep!" Cubbi let them have a groggy chuckle of his own before slipping out of the seat. At least he hadn't missed the stories, OR the horrors he'd be listening to once everyone else was asleep. Good thing he snuck in that nap. Looking around, the pink-furred cub saw no other cubs around, nor did he smell the food cooking yet. "Where is everyone?"
"They'll be in soon, lad. Just a bit of fun in the courtyard that you missed." Gumlittle teased.
As if on cue, voices young and old erupted in the far hall and neared quickly. Knights and some of the older squires had the pages on their shoulders and were making flying sounds as they all zoomed in near the growing fire. Cubbi blinked, then his heart sank. He moped. All this Emi Gummi stuff was really killing his fun time and rest week...
OOOOOO
Gummadoon Infirmary
Councilor Wooddale took the poor gummi mother by the hand. Tears gushed from the gummi woman's eyes. "Please... Please tell me... It was a dream, wasn't it? Just a dream? What I did? What I..."
"Karleni," Wooddale started, giving the other gummi lady's hand a comforting squeeze. "You must be strong. Please try. What happened with you we believe was the result of possession. When one is possessed, they can often remember not only what occurred but also something of whom possessed them. Please try to remember anything. We may all be in terrible danger."
New horror filled Karleni's face. "It was real? What that... that witch made me say and... and do?" She looked about, frightened, as if her tormentor would jump out from the walls and overtake her again.
"Karleni, focus!" Berrybottom tried a sterner tone to rope her in. "Who was doing this to you?"
Karleni Gummi locked eyes with Councilor Berrybottom, her reply a hushed whisper, "Bane." The entire council breathed a sigh of tremendous relief. Lady Bane was someone they could deal with. Thank goodness!
"Bane. That witch spun me out of my own body. I was so lost... And then your niece came and-"
Councilor Wooddale's eyes grew round with fear. "Tavi? You saw Tavi when you were mind-lost?"
"I... Yes. She... She saved me. But where is Toni? Where's my son? Is he safe? Is he... is he well?"
Wooddale, unable to answer the gummi woman, stood and started out of the infirmary, leaving Spinwillow to make the awkward reply. She'd gotten two steps past the door when Berrybottom caught her by the arm. "Let's not be hasty, Wooddale."
Agast, she turned on her fellow councilor. "WE don't even know how to rescue a mind-lost gummi without looking it up. How in Gum did my niece accomplish it?"
Berrybottom took in a sigh and released it. "You have got to have faith, Toffi. Isn't that what Destini taught us? The magic comes from the magician. The medallions only strengthen that which we have. Tavi is a good, and obviously gifted, cub. We cannot barge in and begin accusing her of learning magic untutored. The medallions she absorbed must be guiding her. We must believe in that."
Councilor Wooddale sagged. "I'm not going to her room to accuse her, Winsli. I'm going to make sure she's alright." Clearly showing him all her worry, fear, and sorrow, he not only let go but followed her onward.