Chapter Two: Twin Paintbrushes

       Missy opened her eyes slowly. She didn’t feel like she had slept at all, let alone well. She looked around her room. The Glens were kind to her but she truly did not feel comfortable. She had not felt very comfortable with the Barbics either. She had never really questioned her heritage before but now she felt out of place.

            The girl threw her covers off and stretched. Getting up, she pulled her covers back into place. They were white and satin, like her fur shade. And above the bed were drapes of white. She went to the adjourning bathroom and gave herself a swift washing. Throwing on her blue tunic, she twisted her hair up into a high ponytail. Tying it with her trademark blue bow, she darted back into her room.

            Grabbing her silver sandals from by her bed, she strapped them on and then headed out. The hallways were odd to her, confining almost. She had always been slightly claustrophobic. But she winced inwardly. She could hear the argument even before she got to the main hall.

* * *

            “And not only was going to Ursalia, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous but leaving your boots behind was real smart too.”

            Sunni said nothing to Gruffi’s shouts. She was very calm, and had no regrets. Gruffi could tell and that just made him angrier. He was one that thrived on being able to have control. But Sunni was refusing to be controlled. She just said,

            “It’s done, Gruffi. Why dwell on it?”

            He growled and then started to say something else but a delicate and shy voice interrupted him,

            “She went to her best friend for a reason Gruffi. That’s done and so why don’t we dwell on the present?”

            The group turned and saw Missy as she entered the room. Gusto hadn’t gone with the group to Ursalia as he’d been searching when they left. Then having returned, he’d found them gone and just waited for them to come back.

            So he had not met Missy.

            The girl saw this new Gummi and immediately started to back away, her shyness taking her over.

            “Come on in, Missy.” Zummi said gesturing her in. The girl crept deeper into the shadows. Gusto looked baffled. Sunni got up and said,

            “She’s shy, Gusto.”

            Then, the yellow furred girl ran into the hall and slowly brought her into the light. Gusto leapt up. She was a living painting!

            Those bright blue eyes screamed for a portrait close up. Those slender hands demanded a pose like Sunni had done, with the hair flowing through them. And her hair, so beautiful and it would be even more beautiful if it was left flowing. He started to her but she darted away.

            “Aw, my dear! I feel an artistic urge comin’ on.”

            “Great,” Gruffi slumped to the chair and put his elbows on the table. He looked out of the corner of his eye. Missy was moving from Gusto like he had an epidemic. Sunni meanwhile was fuming. Gusto never stopped work on a painting until it was finished. He hadn’t finished hers yet.

            “I…I…I…” Missy stammered. Finally Grammi intervened.

            “Enough Gusto! Can’t you tell the girl is shy?”

            “It..it’s okay.” She said softly although her cheeks were burning. Gusto grabbed her hands.

            “How about doin’ some posing for me girl?”

            “I…” she beamed. She felt like she truly was one with this Gummi. “Sure!”

            “Great, let’s go!”

            He tugged her out of the room. Sunni stared after them, biting down tears. Finally, she ran from the room, calling to Gruffi and the others,

            “I’m going to Dunywn!”

* * *

            “Thanks again for the help, Cavin.”

            Cavin gave Calla a smile. “It’s no problem calla.”

            The Princess gave him another smile as the page threw some more wood into the fireplace. The snow always called for a brief break for both the knights and pages and Calla had asked Calla to help her today. She secretly felt an attraction to the boy but did not know how to reveal it.

            Cavin meanwhile was just as glad to share the company. She was like light in a tunnel to him. But he was a lowly page while she was the Princess of the kingdom. Also, unless something happened to King Gregor in the next few years, she would claim her throne in four years as Queen Calla. A page or even a knight with a queen was rare if not impossible.

            “It’s nice to have a fire on days like this.”

            She had recently had a fireplace added and now she and Cavin were enjoying the heat. But then they heard a creak and turned. The door in the wall opened and the two stared. Sunni appeared in the entrance, tears falling freely down her cheeks.

            “Calla!”

            The female Gummi ran to her friend and buried her face into her dress’ skirt. Calla was shocked but started to rub Sunni’s hair.

            “Sunni? What’s wrong?”

            The girl made no reply. She sobbed a few more minutes before she managed to gather her emotions together. Looking up, both calla and Cavin where staring at her with concern. She swallowed, wiped the stains from her cheeks and said softly,

            “Well, it’s Gusto.”

            “What about him, Sunni?” Cavin handed her a mug of hot tea, which he had brought for himself. She drank and was amazed that despite that it made no sense, the hot liquid did make her calm down a bit. She swallowed and said softly,

            “Well, see, I kept getting visions so he said he’d paint me. But it was a con! He never wanted to, just wanted me to calm down! And now that this new girl, this Missy is coming in and he’s drooling over her like she’s the next goddess.”

            “What new girl?”

            “What visions?”

            Sunni sighed and began to tell them everything that had happened up to the present.

* * *

            “Wow, you did all these Gusto?”

            “Sure did, Missy.” The sea blue Gummi looked at the white furred one. He was showing her his paintings and she seemed interested. In fact, after he’d finished the portrait she’d asked to see more when she saw how he’d drawn her. He’d been glad to consent.

            Now as they wander along, Missy truly felt like she fit. This Gummi was her kindred spirit. They were alike. She loved to draw but did not feel she was very good. But she always carried her sketchbook. She never knew when inspiration would hit.

            “What’s this, girl?” Missy tried to protest as Gusto pulled her sketchbook from her and opened it. She felt her face go solid red. But Gusto didn’t criticize. He praised.

            “Girl, this is good!”

            “It…it is?”

            “Yes, where did you learn to draw like this?”

            “I…I taught myself. After my parents died, it was really the only way to put my feelings down.”

            Gusto stared at the paintings. There was one of a girl sitting on the crescent moon…a female Gummi. She was leaning back, her hair spilling down until it melted into the body of the crescent.

            The other was of an older woman…Gummi. She was white, like Missy. Her eyes were green and her face fuzzy like Glen Gummies. He guessed this was Missy’s mother. He knew at second glance that it was because he could see areas where tears had smeared the ink.

            The final picture was of a male Gummi. He was tall. With bright blue eyes and brown fur, he was definitely Barbic. He had the muscles and the fur was smooth and even…like Ursa and Gritty’s. Gusto had only met them briefly but he had noticed that difference. This must have been her father; the tearstains were here too.

            Gusto handed it back to her. She smiled faintly.

            “That’s good girl. You should do portraits.”

            She flushed. “Thanks.”

            The two keep walking and found a likeness in each other.

* * *

           

            “Wow, Sunni.” Calla stroked her hair. “Rough time?”

            The girl nodded and then got up.

            “I should go. Thanks for listening. I shouldn’t have dumped all this on you two.”

            Cavin shook his head, “You’re our friend Sunni. And we’ll help anyway we can, alright?”

            She smiled and nodded.

            “Thanks.” She went back into the tunnel and crept through the halls until she got home. She spied Missy and Gusto together. Then, in an urge of jealousy, she pushed her way through them.

            “Well, hey Sunners.”

            Sunni made no reply just went to her room and closed the door. Missy took Gusto’s hand and said,

            “She’s jealous.”

            Gusto nodded. Of course that portrait! He had to apologize to her. He ran to her door but found it locked.

            “Sunners? I know you’re hurt and sad but I-“

            “NO!” she screamed back. “You DON’T understand me! None of you do! Buddi does! He always listens! That’s who I want! I want my best friend! I want Buddi!”