“Need some help, Ursa?”
Ursa looked at Gritty. She’d been
carrying Buddi for most of the way back. She normally wasn’t very caring but
lately she had been changing on that. She had been more lenient towards Buddi
and even now was being extremely motherly. She’d been motherly as he grew from
young childhood towards his teenage years but since he was eight, she’d been
pretty stern.
Barbics were tough. She’d been
kinder and softer when the child was younger because although they were raised
to be tough, she did not want a Barbic that was heartless. Besides…something
about the cub made it impossible for her NOT to love him. She still worried
about him and something told her she always would. He meant the world to her.
“No thanks Gritty.” Ursa moved the
cub a bit. “I’m strong enough.”
Gritty looked at her. “Stubborn as
always. But softer than a jellyfish with Buddi.”
Ursa glared at him. “I’m softer
towards him lately…I admit that. With these visions…you heard what Buddi said
he saw. How can I not be?”
Gritty shrugged, “It’s like
something is telling you to be understanding isn’t it? Something tells you that
Buddi needs his ‘mother figure’ back.”
Ursa froze. It was in a way. She
felt a coldness on the wind. It was wearing on her. She was tired. She was
worn. The responsibility of being leader did not weigh on her as a general
rule. But as Buddi told her about these visions…and Igthorn grew more
determined…it was straining. She was worried about Buddi…about their future.
She was a Barbic…a warrior!
But she was tired.
Ursa felt someone tap her shoulder
again. It was Gritty. He looked at her, with sympathy.
And opened his arms, for Buddi. Ursa
thought, her muscles were tired. Gritty looked at her, sternly as he had when
he liked to tease her when they were cubs. It had been playful but Ursa had
always had some respect for him. As he shared to her. She nodded, reluctantly,
and gave Buddi to Gritty.
The cub had started to yawn when
they were about ten miles from Drekmore. They had to reach the Quickcars and so
Ursa had scooped Buddi up in her arms. She normally would have told him to buck
up but he had just quite possibly saved them. He deserved a reward of some
sort.
Besides…he was just a child.
He’d fallen asleep. And Ursa had
carried him a time. But now, she felt the weight lift and she stretched her
arms over her head. Gritty laughed and shifted the cub a bit. Buddi was tired
and even Gritty knew that he deserved the sleep. He’d faced Igthorn, one of his
fears and heights…the one thing every Barbic knew terrified him unless it was
in the trees.
Buddi stirred slightly but he stayed
asleep and didn’t wake up.
It was hours later when the three
Barbics arrived back. The other Barbic shad gathered at the gates when they
walked in. Buddi was in Ursa’s arms again. Ursa met the others’ eyes.
“We have time now. At least a week’s
time. Can you ready weapons by then?”
Grubbi nodded. “Without a doubt.
But…how?”
Ursa smiled, said nothing but looked
at the cub in her arms. She didn’t have to say anything.
They knew it was Buddi’s
accomplishment.
They nodded and headed off to repair
the rest of their weapons. Ursa carried Buddi up to his room and laid him down.
He was still for a time but then, turned and laid on his side. Ursa watched him
a minute before she got up and left him, alone with his dreams.
* * *
Sunni had been sitting silently. She
had told the others that Missy had gone to Ursalia but she secretly felt a
fear, an agonizing fear. The visions had grown. They were more vivid than ever.
In fact, she had even woken up from nightmares screaming. She wondered if Buddi
was having the same trouble. She had quickly decided that he wasn’t. He had the
visions but…
Sunni leapt up. The heck with her
punishment. She’d broken Gruffi’s groundings before and she would do it again.
She had to go to Buddi. Had to. But this time, she’d take the long and safer
way. She knew that she was needed out there. That something important would
happen soon…. something that she needed to be there for.
Buddi was strong. Sunni slipped to
the hallways and down to the QuickTunnels.
“Barbics are brave. They will never
cry out in fear. Never admit it. Nothing is scary enough to make them
scream…”
* * *
“Stop! Stop! Don’t! Leave us alone!”
Buddi tried to bite the screams
down, tried to suppress them. Nightmares…he knew he was screaming and he knew
that they were only dreams. But they were horrid dreams. Dreams where he could
feel everything…smell everything…see everything…
He saw the blood, smelt it and saw
the blades…flashing digging in flesh and fur, without remorse or clemency…
“STOP IT!”
Suddenly, something grabbed him by
the shoulders and shook him hard. He heard a faint voice.
“Buddi! Buddi! Wake up!”
Buddi’s eyes flew open. He sat up,
swiftly, his heart pounding. He felt cold sweat on his arms and legs, his
sheets were clammy. That dream…that horrid scene….
“Buddi?”
The child turned, his matted hair slipping
into his eyes briefly. Ursa looked at him, baffled and genuinely concerned.
Barbics did not scream out from nightmares. Buddi hadn’t since he was seven.
Ursa had heard him scream and had come in and woken him up.
“Oh, Urs..s..a.” he stammered. “Sorry.”
Ursa shrugged. “Barbics don’t scream
out from dreams, Buddi…” she looked directly into his eyes, “Unless it’s worth
the screams.”
That was her way of asking what it
was about. She never asked directly. Buddi shuddered a moment before saying,
“I’m all right Ursa. Really..” he
added seeing her look of disbelief.
Ursa got up. “Your choice. But
you’re a Barbic, Buddi. If something scares you, you face it. And if you don’t
talk about it, I don’t expect to hear you scream again.” She paused. “Or else
you tell me right now. Understand?”
Buddi nodded. Ursa waited a minute
but Buddi did not want to reveal any weakness to her. He always was afraid that
if he showed weakness in anyway, she’d scold him…tell him that Barbics never
feared. But they did, Buddi knew that. Still, he tried everything to win Ursa’s
favor. The Barbic leader waited a moment more but Buddi made no move to reveal
the dream. Ursa cursed herself. She’d sounded too stern…too disappointed when
she should not have been. No one was fearless. No one. She nodded at the
cub though, preserving her pride, and she disappeared out his door. Buddi
hugged his knees and almost wished he were a cub again. When he’d been five and
six, nightmares would come occasionally but that meant a ticket into Ursa’s room
and a night in her bed, her comforting arms around him. He’d always felt safe
when she did that and cooed to him, stroked his hair gently.. But he was older
now and because he’d gotten growing pains that meant he was slowly becoming an
adolescent. He was too old for that.
But at that moment, staring into the
cold air he wished for the first time that he honestly didn’t care.
* * *
“Welcome back, Sunni.” Sunni gave
the Barbics a small smile and filed past them into the courtyard. It was early
morning. She had decided to come back after all, despite that she knew that she
was risking a spanking for it. She didn’t care. She needed to see Buddi. She had
to.
“Hey Sunni!”
Sunni turned to see Missy running to
her. The others had not questioned when she ran off. They trusted her. As did
Sunni. The girl had an aura of maturity and responsibility about her. But there
was always something else in her eyes…sadness. It was like she was always
weighted down with something. But she tried to have fun every second of the
day. They simply could NOT get the child to study or cook. She was either
exercising or playing with Buddi, Sunni or Cubbi. She always had fun.
“Hi Missy. You’ve been here a
while.”
The white furred girl nodded. “Yes,
I feel as if they understand me. But,” she added seeing the girl’s crushed
face, “that doesn’t mean you don’t. They just get along with me better.”
Sunni nodded. “Where’s Buddi?”
“In the kitchen. Grubbi’s making
dinner. You got here late.”
Sunni looked at her, “Did you know I
was coming?”
Missy shook her head. “Not by my
sixth sense. By common sense.”
Sunni smiled. “You figured not even
Gruffi could keep me away from my best friend?”
“Essentially.’
Sunni smiled. “You’re right.”
* * *
Grubbi put the last of the mixed
potatoes and other herbs into a pan. Sticking it into the oven, he turned to
Buddi who was watching.
“I’m glad you want to help Buddi,”
the older Barbic said kindly. “But I don’t think I need any help.”
Buddi nodded and started to get up.
Ursa and Gritty walked in and sniffed.
“I can smell those herbs already,
Grubbi.” Ursa commented. Gritty smiled.
“And they already smell great.”
Grubbi smiled. “Thanks. Oh, and
Buddi?”
The cub turned. The elder Barbic
picked the bowl from the countertop and said, “I don’t need any help but,” he
handed the bowl to Buddi. “You can lick the bowl.”
Buddi beamed. Grubbi was a great
cook at everything he made and it was rare thing that he made that Buddi didn’t
like. It never really mattered as he had to eat it anyway but Grubbi’s potato
mixture was his absolute favorite. His bright eyes lit up.
“Thanks.”
Buddi did not waste time. He sat
down and started the work that every child is an expert at. Licking every last
morsel from a bowl. Unlike some children his age would have done, Buddi didn’t
bother using the spoon. His fingers were much more efficient. They got
everything out. Although by using them, he got a stern look from Ursa. He
looked at her with his wide eyes and said,
“What? I’m a cub what did you
expect?”
Gritty chuckled and even Grubbi had
to laugh at the look Ursa gave him. Finally Ursa gave in and laughed too.
“What so funny?”
The four turned and Missy entered,
followed by Sunni.
Buddi leapt up. “Sunni!”
Sunni laughed. “Hi Buddi!”
“What brings you back, Sunni?” Ursa
asked. Sunni gave her a very serious smile, a smile that to Ursa at least,
seemed almost…barbic. Sunni gave her a wink.
“Takes more than Gruffi to tie me
down. Besides, I thought that something bad would happen as Missy just left to
come here.”
Ursa gave the two a grin. “We’ll
you’re certainly welcome here. Buddi? Why don’t you and Sunni go play?”
Buddi stared at her. Ursa…telling
him to play? Wasn’t she usually saying to go train? He looked at her, baffled.
Ursa laughed.
“Go! You’re cubs right?”
The two children exchanged glances
before saying, “Yeah! We are!” and tearing out the door before Ursa could take
a second breath. Missy was the only one watching with sadness. She sensed
danger…growing danger. Igthorn could become free as soon as the firewall slacked.
And Celina…who knew what she could do?
Missy walked out and to her room.
She had to write a few things.
* * *
“Faster Buddi! I bet that I can beat
you!”
Buddi laughed at that thought and
stepped down on his scooter’s pedal. The speed increased and he easily overtook
Sunni. She growled and tried to catch up.
The two had found the scooters that
they’d ridden together shortly after they met each other. They had ridden a
long time before they came in to eat. Delicious as always and Sunni appreciated
a little relief from Grammi’s cooking. Maybe Grubbi could teach her something,
if she was patient enough to listen. Afterwards, Sunni and Buddi were out
again, even though it was getting dark and would soon get cold.
The two cubs looked back. They’d heard
something. Looking, they saw two Barbics approaching them, Ryo and another one.
It was Ryo that spoke.
“All right you two. Ursa says in
now.”
“What?” Buddi stood up. “But she
says I don’t have to be in until ten.”
Ryo nodded. “True enough but there’s
some activity in the mountains and Ursa’s not taking any chances. She said,
‘Tell those two to come in right now.’ Aw, don’t Buddi,” Ryo added as Buddi
started to protest, “these are the words from the lips of Ursa herself and you
know that when Ursa gets mad, she’s the Barbics’ leader with strong emphasis on
the ‘Leader.’”
Buddi nodded. “We could go see what
it is.”
Ryo stared at him, “Buddi? Are you
‘looking’ for a tanning?”
Buddi inwardly shuddered and
outwardly winced. Ursa had spanked him before. An event he would love to
forget. It had only been a few months ago. He didn’t remember what he did, all
he remembered was one moment Ursa’s eyes had flashed at him and the next, she
had scooped him up and under one arm and whacked him on the rear…hard. Three
times she’d done that. Each one more painful than the next one. He did not want
to go through that again.
“But someone has to, right?” Sunni
interfered. “Besides, it’s not like we’ll do anything. Just check it out and
then head right back.”
The guards exchanged glances. They did
need to know what that was and the cubs were likely the less noticeable. The
two turned to them and directly to Buddi.
“All right. But be careful. Anything
happens to you and Ursa’ll have our heads. And be swift. You look and you come
back…understood?”
Buddi nodded and grabbed Sunni’s
hand. They knew something would happen. They had a feeling it may clear up this
mystery of the visions. And for that…to know why these terrible visions came to
them…Sunni was willing to risk anything. Buddi as well and when that included a
spanking from Ursa, that was something.
The two weren’t aware that slipping
quietly behind was Missy, her eyes empty, sad and scared.
* * *
Buddi and Sunni knelt over a narrow
ledge and peered over. Buddi stuck by Sunni. Sunni was a brave girl but
although she would never say it, Sunni felt safer with Buddi there. Although he
was only a small Barbic, a child, and probably could not do much more than she
could against a real enemy, it was always a comfort to have him by her side.
Buddi smiled at his friend. He
stared at her. Her hair was flowing in the wind, trailing behind her. Her
eyelashes were coated with some ice and her cheeks slightly flushed with the
cold. Buddi found himself staring harder. Pretty, she was pretty.
Buddi shook his head. He had a
reason to be here. And it was getting late…and cold. And he was gonna get tired
soon. He was starting to be worn but wasn’t really tired yet. But he also was
afraid. Igthorn was still contained inside his firewall but Celina could easily
get out and he put nothing past her. He didn’t know why she had not come. He
knew that she was ruthless and probably wanted her victims to suffer and lose
hope. But he refused to.
“Buddi! Down there. I think I see a
fire or something!”
Buddi looked to where Sunni was
pointing. Sure enough, there was a small swirl of black smoking rising and the
faint glow of a fire. Sunni scampered ahead but Buddi grabbed her by her foot
and yanked her back.
“Wait Sunni! I don’t trust this.”
The girl Gummi nodded and hen gently
pried her friend’s fingers from her ankle. Buddi blushed. Sunni merely smiled
and gave him a gentle punch of the shoulder. The two cubs peered closer but all
they saw was a fire. Sunni didn’t like this…it was too quiet. She turned to
Buddi.
“Buddi, I-“
“Shh! Quiet!” he hissed, holding up
his hand and covering her mouth. Sunni watched him. His ears were sharp,
sharper than hers. Barbics were trained practically from birth to be tough and
know how to survive. To make their ears sharper, they were trained once a
month, in hand to hand, blindfolded. They had to rely on other senses than just
their eyes.
Buddi listened. He heard it,
although faintly. Feet and breathing. He grabbed and Sunni and listened again.
A faint sliding sound. The sound of a knife leaving a sheath. He threw Sunni
down as a blade missed them by inches. Both cubs looked up.
The same woman they’d seen in their
dreams was looking down at them.
Sunni screamed and tears of fear
filled her eyes. Buddi didn’t scream. But his eyes grew and his heart froze.
The color drained from his face. And
that blood seemed to fill his legs, making them heavy but strong. He yanked
Sunni up and ran. Celina watched, amused. They knew that couldn’t run from her
and yet they tried.
Buddi and Sunni ran and ran. Sunni
fell and her heart felt so fast that she felt that she would die. Buddi yanked
her up but she was so scared…so frightened, her knees gave out. Buddi looked
up. Celina was starting to walk to them. They could feel the evil vibrating
from her, the ruthlessness. Not even Igthorn punched that much fear into them.
With more strength than Buddi knew
he had, he lifted Sunni into his arms and ran, carrying her.
Celina was surprised but not
terribly worried.
He was a Barbic but he was a cub.
And the child’s strength would only last so long before he was too exhausted to
even run himself.
* * *
Buddi gasped for air and put Sunni
down. Sunni stood, although shaking. Buddi collapsed to his knees and then sat
down, trying to pull air into his lungs that were burning. But so were his
arms. His growing pains had stopped for the most part but still came if he
overused them. He had just done that. Sunni had to weigh almost as much as he
did and he’d just ran at least fifty meters with her in his arms.
“I’m sorry Buddi.”
Buddi merely shook his head. “Don’t
be. I…” he stopped and took in a huge gulp of air. “I probably needed the
exercise of those muscles anyway.”
“But Ursa said you don’t use them
until the third spurt.”
Buddi nodded. “But if you’re running
on adre..re..whatever that word is. Adrenaline. If you’re going on adrenaline,
you can’t be picky. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“So your body uses them anyway. Uses
what it has.”
Buddi nodded. He rubbed his arms,
faintly. They still burned. Then, a voice made his blood run cold.
“Did you two honestly think you
could outrun me?”
The two cubs turned and saw that
woman again. She smiled. “Oh, come now, surely you expected to see me sooner or
later, yes, no?”
Buddi fought his way up and faced
her, despite the fear rushing in his blood. Celina smiled.
“You’re brave cub. And smart.” She
shook her head, “A FireWall. Very, very clever. And you knew that I
could escape it didn’t you?”
Buddi remained silent and moved so
that he was in front of Sunni. The girl Gummi looked at him. He narrowed his
eyes, bravely. Celina laughed.
It was a laugh that chilled Buddi
beyond his bones.
“Don’t you two want to know what I
want?”
“We know,” Sunni got up and stood by
her best friend, just behind him. “You want to alter the future. Missy told me.
You want to get rid of those that will turn the tide. In a war.”
Celina clapped, mockingly. “Very
good. But surely you asked yourselves: why are we seeing this? Why us?’
The two cubs looked at each other.
Celina continued and raised her hands, in a clasped form.
“That’s because the two is you two!
You two will alter the war; turn the tide for your kind. But I doubt you can do
so if you never grow up!”
And with that she let loose a blow
that made it impossible for even a Barbic not to scream in pain. Both children
screamed, howled…
“Gruffi!”
“Ursa!”
* * *
Ursa felt a twinge on her heart, like a tightening. She stopped what she was doing and ran out to the guards.
“Where are the cubs?”
Ryo and the other looked at each
other. But before they could think of an excuse not to know, Ursa was in their
face. Her eyes were narrowed and her jaw tight. Her fists were turning white at
the knuckles and her voice came at them like acid.
“Where are they?”
Reluctantly, Ryo told her.
* * *
Buddi and Sunni sat up, moaning with
pain. They fought to get up but lost. Celina was smiling.
“Don’t worry…. it’ll be fast.”
With that, she flung that final ball
of power. A blast of fire. Buddi knocked Sunni down and laid face down on the
snow-covered earth, wincing and praying…praying for Ursa.
But it never hit him. Both cubs
heard a howl of pain followed by another and another. Then, they stopped.
Sunni and Buddi looked up and their
faces went white and their voices howled, cracking.
“MISSY!”
The white furred girl tumbled
backward, to land in their arms. She was bleeding, deeply and severely. But she
was calm. She’d known that they’d need her. She’d reacted…and took their pain
herself. But she was physically weak. It was weakening her, killing her. Celina
was calm too, her face barely containing a smile.
She’d planned that.
She had to rid herself of the hybrid
first. There were things she needed before she could rid herself and Igthorn of
Buddi and Sunni. Besides, she was not a merciful killer. She liked to see her
victims suffer. And this would do for now. She took another look. Blood was
dripping from the girl’s mouth. Celina smiled…
Vanished.
“Missy!” Buddi was fighting to keep
calm but he found it hard not to let his voice crack. Missy was bleeding,
severally. They needed help but had none.
“Missy…” Sunni stared at her, tears
staining her yellow fur. “Are you-“
“I knew you’d need me.” She smiled
faintly. “Be careful. And…people call me Missy.”
She paused, and blood started to
cloud her vision. Softly, she said, “Alina. My name is Alina.”
Ali…a name that to glen gummies
meant ‘influence’ in the ancient language. -Na was a suffix in Barbic. It was a
term of endearment. The white furred girl smiled at them faintly.
“Just call me Alina.”
Then, she closed her eyes.
Buddi and Sunni stared a moment
before they started to shake her. Her body flopped in their arms. Buddi began
to press on her chest, trying to bring her back. It was after five minutes that
he had to stop. Five minutes was the absolute limit. Any trying beyond would be
futile. Tears slid down his face.
Sunni buried her face into Alina’s
hair. Buddi tried to stay strong but collapsed, crying to himself.
But both cubs heard that cold and
heartless laughter.
Her voice would echo in their ears
forever:
“Everything’s ready to go now.”
To Be Continued…