Part 11

Moon's near light, near hope

Present

The chill air and hooting of owls told Hitomi the late hour of night that her eyes could not. Timmi had returned to the dank little cave he'd held her prisoner in for a few hours then when he'd deemed fit he'd bound her hands and covered her eyes, making her dependant on him in her current state. The ever-growing swell showed her evident pregnancy at 7 months and in recent weeks she had been finding it harder to move around. Currently, she held onto his hand as he guided her somewhere new, yet strangely (if she had her bearing right) they were heading towards Gummadoon so she purposefully slowed down in the hopes of being seen. Yet, further on they went on unnoticed. Her breathe came out in clouded puffs as the night grew colder, then seemed to creep into her very blood as she felt Timmi's arm slip around her waist, supporting and guiding her on. She stumbled and tripped occasionally over the rocks and stones that littered the ground, yet each time she was caught, his arms around her protectively. She protested and tried to shove him back unwilling to go on obediently without a fight. Her hands worked slowly and best they could at rubbing at the bonds on her hands. Slowly, not to draw attention she gradually slipped them from the rope, red-raw and blistered. A sudden movement disturbed the grove of trees to her right and she felt Timmi leave her side and walk a few paces to investigate. Seeing probably her only chance of escape she dropped the rope and pulled off the tight blind as she began to run. Within less than a minute she was panting hard and a cold sweat trickled down her back and face. She was slowing she could feel it as her legs shook and ached in protest. Yet, her mind supplied she knew this part of the forest it was close to the tree-line of the forest facing Gummadoon, if she could just reach it she might stand a chance. She tore threw the bushes, yet not far behind she could hear the snapping of twigs and another's laboured breathing closing in, in pursuit of her. Rounding a corner she could see the tree-line and the glowing lights from the castle and her heart soured. A few more paces she ran, a smile on her face, when she felt something hard strike her back. She fell forward and the breath was stolen from her as she hit the ground and slid just breaking through the trees.

Now still with an impending weight crushing on top of her she lay face down in the grass plain of Gummadoon. Her breath returning slowly yet feeling a tugging and pulling round her mid-section and inching back slowly into the trees. With renewed vigour she breathed deep then, " HELP ME, PLEA…" she screamed before being cut off.

She felt herself roughly pulled into a bush, but not before she locked eyes with a young squire currently on duty before disappearing. Her hope restored and a chance of rescue Hitomi barely registered the rough-handling and the scrapes and scratches she now endured in Timmi's haste to escape. It was dawn by the time she was tossed on forest floor and observing her surrounding and herself she noticed she as in a small clearing with a large tree in the centre, but what really caught her attention was a piece of her dress had been torn. She smiled slightly knowing what comfort it would bring to her mate, that she truly had been so close and perhaps left evidence from their struggle to give them clues to her new whereabouts, she could only hope. Until that time she knew she would have to live with Timmi, who was currently making his way slowly, deliberately towards her and he looked angry, very angry.

Near past

Searching high and low over the whole entire castle, Kotori grew frustrated. Her face screwed up and she restrained herself from punching the wall, instead kept to clenching and unclenching her fists, and she thought of every other place those three cubs could be.

She had appeared in this timeline only a few days ago, appearing on the edge of the forest, and after meeting up with her friends again, she met Plucki and his friends who were now five years old.

But somehow during her conversation with Cyndi her friend had asked her a favour, and that was to baby-sit her son and his friends while she took some time off and at the time she had reluctantly agreed.

Today, now had been her turn to keep an eye on them, and for one second while she turned away to deal with something, they'd disappeared. Now she knew what the other's had to go through.

Ticking off all the places she had checked on her fingers, Kotori thought of all the place she had yet to check, then smacked her forehead realising how stupid she had been of course, where would any cub go…the kitchens.

Her goal set, Kotori headed towards the kitchen hoping she would find them or she would surely blow and she marched down the corridors passing several residents who looked at her strangely. On her way over to find the trio, Kotori couldn't help but think how the three cubs could be so quiet and yet so fast at vanishing, but then having more than mastered that skill in her time and of course now full grown adults, it was to be expected if they've done since they were cubs, and no idea had they learnt to do it at such a young age.

Stealthily she crept along the corridors knowing she was close to the kitchens and didn't want to alert the cubs, if they were in there that she was here as she rounded the corner and stood directly outside the kitchen door, which was slightly ajar.

'Bingo!' she thought and slowly and careful as to make sure it did not creak opened the door to reveal all three cubs all whom were piled on each other's shoulders and seemed to be swaying as they were trying to grasp something off the shelf.

Looking at the small cub who had a light shade of brown fur and a small ponytail at the back, Kotori knew instantly that it was Blastus and appeared to be grasping for something on the shelf. Letting her eyes travel up to the shelf, Kotori smiled at what they were trying to grasp, and she cleared her throat alerting them to her presence just as they grabbed the cookie jar.

Everything appeared to be happening in slow motion as Kotori watched them grasp the cookie jar then sway to the right resulting into knocking several little containers of garlic into the cooking pot below, which was due to be their evening meal that night.

Astonished yet speechless, Kotori acted quickly hearing the scuttling of feet, indicating the cooks were coming and she raced towards the pot, grabbed a spoon and quickly stirred the contents in it, then threw the spoon in the sink. Turning on the three cubs who visibly cringed at her thunder-struck face she grabbed two in one arm and one in the other, and she raced to the other side of the kitchen and just shut the door as the other door at the other end of the kitchen opened and the cooks came scuttling in beaming, oblivious to everything that had just happened.

Letting go of the breath she didn't know she was keeping in, Kotori lightly dropped the cubs on the floor and she took the cookie jar from them and eyed each one warily, and she scowled at them.

"Just what do you three think you're doing, hmmm?" scolded Kitoma.

Silence greeted her, and she grew frustrated.

"Well?" asked Kotori again.

"W..we..we just going to the kitchens" replied on of the cubs.

"Causing trouble, again?" said Kotori.

Again she was greeted with silence and she watched the three cubs look down at the floor their hands behind their back, and she couldn't help but think how cute and innocent they looked. But still she was not going to be fooled and she lectured them several times giving them the guilt trip when she finally asked.

"Just what have you three got to say for yourselves? Hmm?" asked Kotori her hands on her hips and she stared down at the three cubs.

Slowly she watched as each cub in turn raised their head and made eye contact with her, their eyes almost pleading, and they chorused as one.

"W…w…were sorry!" they said their voice cracking and they wrapped their arms round her legs.

"Pl…please don't tell mommy…we'll. be good…AuntK" they said and Kotori softened considerably and using her free hand she ruffled their hair in turn, thinking them now to be too cute and she chuckled at the thought if in the present they ever found that out.

"Ah, no biggy!" said Kotori loud and cheerfully causing the three cubs to look up at her, their eyes shimmering with unshed tears and they stared at her confused.

Kotori beamed at them and she knelt to their level and giving the cookie jar to them, she said softly her voice barely a whisper but loud enough for them to hear.

"Here, now run along, and don't spoil your tea" she said a glint appearing in her eyes, and she couldn't wait for the evening meal to arrive to see what the result was of putting too much garlic in one evening meal.

Blinking away the tears the cubs stared at Kotori in disbelief and beaming they took they all hugged her, then taking the jar from her hands they disappeared out of sight, and decided that they rather liked this gummi who took care of them.

Kotori chuckled as the three cubs disappeared out of sight and with a grin and a mischievous glint in her eyes she rubbed her hands together and thought about what tonight's entertainment would bring and she walked happily down the corridor.

Present

Plucki sat late in the night in the room he and Hitomi shared. A lone candle flickered dimly a top the bedside table casting rays of light across the small object in his hands. His gaze was fixed upon it intently; it was a small picture of Hitomi and Kotori. He smiled slightly at the memory of its creation, Kotori had complained the whole time yet still miraculously she'd been caught beautifully in the painting and she had grudgingly agreed. Then Hitomi, his Hitomi, she stood by her friends' side captured forever in one of the rare moments of carefree joy.

Wherever they looked in the forest there was no sign of Hitomi and Kotori was just as transparent to their grasp. It had been months since both girls disappearance and he was worried for their safety. Kotori was a full-pledged warrior in her prime and likely able to handle herself in a difficult situation, yet if they were separated then Hitomi was vulnerable to Timmi. He shook his head of those thoughts unwilling to go down that road. He placed the picture back on the table and just as an urgent knock sounded on his door. Getting up quickly he answered the door finding one of his squires who delivered urgently "Lady Hitomi, has been seen."

That was all it took for Sir Plucki to be running down the hall the squire trying to keep up as he answered his captains' questions. Once answered Sir Plucki ordered the squire to the training grounds to send Sirs Gumlittle and Blastus to him while readying every available knight and horse for a search. Walking along the battlements to where the squire had described he could a small disruption to where Hitomi had obviously broken through. He felt a pang of guilt surge through him knowing she had been so close and he had not been there. His thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of his friends and fellow knights hurrying along the battlements to him.

"Mon capitan, is it true Lady Hitomi has been seen"

"Yes, Sir Blastus, she was sighted by the break in the trees" Sir Plucki answered, using his hand to indicate what he meant.

"My friends" said Plucki looking at the both of them. "Will you help me lead this search; find this traitor and return Hitomi safely to the castle?"

"Aye. Plucki, we will" answered Gumlittle

"Wee, mon ami, lead the way" said Blastus.

Sir Plucki nodded a fleeting look of desperation on his face as he headed down the stairs his friends close behind him. In the courtyard he observed 30 knights all on unicorns in 3 straight lines, 10 in each for when they divided for the search. Mounting his unicorn at the front, his friends also on either side, he noticed Sir Ginni a couple of knights behind in his line.

The young knight's face bore a stony look, but his eyes held a great sadness for one so young, yet he didn't have the time to contemplate, he had a search to conduct.

Leading the group out steadily across the dark plain, the grass a dark cool sea and the night air biting through his garments, the moon hidden away through a blanket of cloud. Torchlight's lit there way and he hoped their search would prove fruitful.

TBC…