Chapter Five: Reunion and Warning

            Gruffi and Cubbi trudged over Ursalia’s slopes. When they’d found out Sunni was in Ursalia, two of them had taken off to get her and find out what was going on. Gruffi was going without a doubt and Cubbi would go anyway even if told not to, so they saved some time and told him he could come.

            “That girl’s gonna freeze her paws off.” Gruffi had found her abandoned boots some time ago. He understood why she took them off but she could have taken the shorter routes and kept her feet warm. But that was Sunni. She was a stubborn Gummi, if there ever was one. It was her stubbornness that reminded the Gummi of Ursa and the Barbics. He didn’t like that. The Barbics were Gummies but they seemed so ruthless and heartless at times. But then he supposed anyone could be but they were always content to do things THEIR way. Sometimes Gruffi wondered how Buddi had grown up with those Gummies as caregivers.

            Cubbi looked over at Gruffi. He had that look on his face again. That look of distrust. The cub sighed. They were on good terms with the Barbics but Ursa and Gruffi never did get along. Ursa was kind to him and Sunni. In fact, all the Barbics were. And Buddi and Sunni were best friends. He and Gritty were close, like a pair of good friends. Grammi was a favorite of Grubbi’s. Zummi was on good terms with Grubbi too and decent terms with Ursa and Gritty. Gusto had only recently met the Barbics but he was already good with Buddi and Ursa. Gritty was decent and civil with him. Of all the Gummies, Ursa and Gruffi were lucky if they could get along for a half an hour, if that. It was because they were both leaders, both stubborn, and just alike.

            The cub followed his elder as they walked through the nature tunnel leading to Ursalia’s bridge. Once on the bridge, the gate opened in front of them and Sir Thornberry and a Barbic greeted them. Gruffi got right down to business and addressed Thornberry directly,

            “Have you seen Sunni?”

            “Of course Gruffi.” The knight replied. He started to count on his fingers. “Once when I visited that Glen of yours, once when you all came here to see Little Buddi take his test, once when-“

            “I mean recently ya darn fool bear!”

            “Recently? Recently what?”

            Gruffi growled and slapped his forehead. The Barbic guard laughed and said,

            “She’s here. She’s with Buddi and Ursa.”

            “Great,” the bear stormed past into the city. Cubbi turned to the guard.

            “Thanks,”

            The guard nodded at the boy as he raced into the city, on Gruffi’s heels. The grown glen Gummi stormed past the training Barbics and up into the main chamber building of Ursalia. It was here that the Barbics kept the dining room, living chambers, kitchen, and weapon room. The other small buildings were mainly deserted or used as storage.

            The door made a creaking sound on its hinges as Gruffi walked in. He was met with Gritty. Cubbi called to him before Gruffi could say a thing.

            “Hey Gritty!”

            The grown Barbic smiled and pulled the cub’s hat down over his eyes. “Hey kid. What brings you two here?”

            “We-“

            Gruffi interrupted him. “We’re looking for Sunni. We thought it most likely she’d come here.”

            Gritty nodded. “She’s here. I think she’s with Buddi. Ursa just went up to see if they wanted something to eat.”

            A voice called in, “Well met Gruffi.”

            The Glen turned as the female Barbic walked into the room. She greeted him with a smile, but the tension had already spread. Gruffi wasn’t helping. He met her gaze, serious and unfriendly almost. Ursa merely returned the gesture.

            “Where’s Sunni?”

            “Asleep. Buddi too. Let them be for now.”

            “Sunni? Asleep?” Cubbi wrinkled his nose and looked at Ursa. “Do you Barbics normally just DECIDE to sleep at late day?”

            Ursa smiled at him. “No,” her answer suddenly turned serious and she met eyes with the Glen Gummi. Gruffi let his cruel exterior drop and met her gaze with wondering eyes. “Did Sunni have any visions earlier?”

            Gruffi was shocked. Gusto had told him Sunni had fainted and seemed terrified but he had not really paid any attention. But now it sounded like Ursa was getting ready to tell him something that was not just an average occurrence. He looked at the taller Gummi and nodded. She sighed, like he’d just told her that the last Gummi had vanished from the Earth. She sighed again and then looked at both Gritty and the Glen duo.

            “Buddi and Sunni just had another-“

            Cubbi interrupted her. “Buddi has ‘em too?”

            Ursa nodded, not irritated. “Yes. They both just had another and collapsed, unconscious. They’re in bed now. Sunni’s in the first bedroom upstairs. Buddi's in his room, the last on the right. Last I checked, their breathing was steady but they’re still out cold.”

            Gritty looked at Ursa. “Do you want Grubbi to save them something to eat?”

            Ursa thought a minute and then said, “A little, yes. They probably will be out another half hour. You two,” she added, gesturing to the two Glens, “Can see Sunni. Just don’t try and wake her. I think that unless she is ready to wake up she won’t.” The two nodded, although Gruffi looked ready to argue. Cubbi pried him away before he could start. The two climbed the stairs and entered the first bedroom. Ursa sighed and flopped down in a nearby chair.

            “Stress. Wonderful, isn’t it?”

            Ursa grinned at Gritty as he walked up behind her. Before she could reject, he grasped her shoulders and started to massage them. She sighed, relieved and relaxed against his hands. It felt good. The stress and concern for Buddi was weighted on her shoulders and it felt nice to have the tense and crushing pressure rubbed out of them, if only temporarily.

            Ursa sighed again. “That’s good Gritty. You’re good at that.”

            He smiled at his younger friend and leader. He chuckled and pressed a tad deeper into her skin until he felt her feminine muscles under his fingers relax as he pushed with his hands. She groaned, slightly, and leaned her head back. Her golden hair spilled over her friend’s hands and he pushed it over her left shoulder and kept massaging a few more minutes. Finally, Ursa sat up and gently pushed Gritty’s hands off.

            “That’s enough, Gritty.” She pulled her hair back behind her shoulder and smiled. “Thanks. That helped.”

            He smiled at her and pulled her up. “No sweat. The way you worry and stress out…someone needs to knows some relaxing skills.”

            Ursa smiled and shook her head. Then, as she put her hair into a low ponytail said, “I think I’ll go check on Buddi. I’ll be back down to eat in a minute or two, okay?”

            He nodded and headed for the dining room himself as his leader took up the stone stairs and down to the last door.

            “Buddi?”

            The female Barbic entered to see the child awake but staring outside, as if in a trance. He made no note of her, did not even acknowledge her when she sat down by him. The cub just kept staring, lost in his thoughts. Finally, she clasped her hands down on his shoulders. He didn’t jump as she’d expected but did slowly turn to meet her face.

            His eyes were empty, devoid of life.

            The just as suddenly, he shook his head, hard, and his vision cleared, as did his eyes. He groaned and put a hand to his forehead.

            “Ow, if someone just told me I swung smack into a tree, I’d believe ‘em.”

            Ursa smiled. “Headache?”

            He nodded. “Either that or someone decided to use my head for a drum without my consent.”

            Ursa shook her head, with a smile. “Well, if it doesn’t fade in an hour, I’ll give you a herb for it. In the meantime, Buddi, Grubbi saved some food for you, if you want any.”

            He shook his head. “Not hungry. And…Ursa! Sunni! Where’s Sunni? How is-“

            “Whoa, down boy, down.” She said playfully, pulling his hands down to rest in her lap. “Sunni’s fine. Gruffi and Cubbi are with her.”

            Buddi raised his left eyebrow. “And you call that safe?”

            She smiled. “Yes, Cubbi seems to have some control. But I swear Gruffi is so-“

            Buddi plugged his ears. “I can’t hear you.”

            Ursa closed her eyes. “I know, you hate to hear us argue.”

            “I think everyone does.”

            Ursa arched her eyebrow. “Buddi.”

            “What?”

            She shook her head again and got up. “Never mind. But come with me. I do want you to eat something.”

            “I said I wasn’t hungry.”

            “I know.”

            “But-“

            “Nope. You listen to me. You’re going to eat something, no ifs ands buts or nos. Understood?”

            He sighed but sent her a salute, like an army general. “Yes, Ma’am.”

            “Good.”

            The two walked out into the hallway together just as the Glens came out. Buddi called to Sunni and she broke loose of Gruffi and ran to him. Clasping his hands, she said, “It was stronger this time, fiercer and it was worse than before. More-“

            “Vivid,” Buddi finished. “I know.”

            Ursa and Gruffi met eyes. For once there was no tension, only worry and concern. Gruffi met her expression and spoke sincerely,

            “Can you call the rest of the Gummies here? Could we stay here the night?”

            Ursa nodded. “Of course.”

            She pulled Buddi down the stairs. He followed, having to run almost to keep up with her long strides. She started to tell him to hurry up but instead slowed. She kept forgetting he was so tiny. His legs were shorter. Much shorter. She was at least a good foot and a half taller than him.

            He sighed in relief. “Thanks.”

            She smiled. “Sorry,” she pulled his hat down over his eyes and said, “But your legs are so short!”

            Buddi righted the hood and said, “They are not. Your legs are long enough if they reach the ground. I think you’re too tall.”

            She laughed. Lately, she’d been easing up with the cub. Normally, she would not be so lenient with his fears and fainting. But maybe it was for best. Perhaps seeing him so terrified had snapped that pride of hers or at least weakened it. She did not care either way. One thing at a time. Food came first. Then summon the Glens and then Buddi and Sunni and Cubbi would have to go to sleep.

            Sunni walked beside Gruffi and Cubbi, musing. Cubbi was sympathetic but Gruffi was having a bit of trouble believing all this. Quite honestly that did not surprise her.  He had no proof. He thrived on proof and absolute positive evidence. Cubbi was more willing to accept what someone said.

            Barbics and the Glens usually gossiped when they shared a meal and tonight was no different. But Buddi and Sunni weren’t joining in. Ursa and Gruffi would ask them things and they would just nod or shake their heads. If they got lucky they might get a ‘Yes or no.’

            Neither of the cubs ate much. Just enough to keep Grubbi from being hurt and no more. The two adults tried to get to eat more but they just shook their heads. Finally, Buddi got up and excused himself and Sunni. He didn’t know what to do but he did know that if he stayed with the adults a minute more, he’d lose it.

            Ursa and Gritty watched Buddi leave with Sunni, hand in hand.

            Cubbi watched too. He sighed. He wished he could help. Maybe he could! Both of them got the same vision. The same time too it seemed. Connection. Not mere coincidence but that was an absolute connection. Maybe if he explored a bit he could find out what. But Gruffi would never let him. He’d have to wait until Grammi got here. She’d let him, so long as he didn’t wander too far.

            Until then…

            “Gritty!”

* * *

            Grammi walked around in circles, nervously pacing. Finally she turned to Tummi who was with Cavin and Calla. The two humans had come soon after Grammi and Gruffi left Dunywn.

            ‘Well, we’ve been waiting here forever!”

            Tummi smiled. “Not much longer. Look!”

            Grammi looked out the scope to where Tummi was pointing. He’d seen it before her. A flash of yellow. A beam of yellow. She knew some of the signals. She got:

            ‘Sunni…Ursalia…Fine.”

            She breathed a sigh of relief. “Sunni is in Ursalia and she’s fine. So-“

            “Let’s go get her!” Tummi shouted, getting up. Grammi nodded. Calla and Cavin spoke out,

            “Can we come?”

            The two Gummies considered but shook their heads.

            “The Barbics still don’t trust Cavin. And they’ve never met you Calla. I don’t think it would go well.”

            The two human children were disappointed but nodded their understanding. Cavin had met the Barbics. The last thing he wanted was to be greeted with spearheads again. And he didn’t know how Calla would react to that. Calla was tough but to be greeted with twenty or so spears would put anyone on the edge of their nerves.

            The two humans watched as the Gummies raced out to the Quickcars.

* * *

            Cubbi walked along Ursalia’s mountain peaks. He grew tired of waiting for Grammi and the others so he just left. He would be back soon anyway. What would a few hours do?

            He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. He did know that if he found it to be careful. If it could make a BARBIC pass out…now THAT was scary. The Barbic Gummies prided themselves on their strength and willpower. But to have a Barbic pass out, to faint so easy as Buddi had. It didn’t make any difference to Cubbi that Buddi was a child. He was still a Barbic. Cubbi had seen the child train. He probably could have gone head on head against Sir Plucki and still not been beaten. It would have been an impasse.

            Ursa had trained him well, Cubbi could not deny that. Buddi hated it but the Knights of Gummadoom would have been awestruck by his talent. The rest of the Barbics too. But especially Ursa. Women were magicians in Gummadoom. The Knights probably would not know how to deal with a woman who fought as well as, if not better than them.

            Cubbi sighed. He missed them. He was a knight among them. But unless peace came before his time came, he’d die before he saw them again. He’d have to wait one hundred years. Gummies lived much longer than humans but not a hundred years as a general rule. Besides, he’d be too old to be a knight then anyway.

            Cubbi walked on some more. It was getting late. Cubbi realized suddenly that he and the other Glens had never told the Barbics about Gummadoom. There probably was no reason too but he suddenly wanted Gritty to know that his little ‘partner’ was in Gummi aspects, a full-fledged Knight.

            Cubbi thought to Buddi. Buddi had taught Cubbi a thing or two. But Cubbi had sworn not to tell Ursa. Buddi was afraid that if Ursa found out she might think he liked training and up the hours. Despite that Ursa kept her feelings hidden, Cubbi knew by the way she looked at Buddi that he meant virtually everything to her. But Cubbi didn’t understand why Buddi was so afraid to be himself. Ursa loved him as Buddi. She would always smile at him that way…when he played his music or was playing with Sunni. She’d have a smile of encouragement in training but the one of pride came when he was himself. True she got frustrated when he messed up but he thought everyone did. She might not understand the cub but Cubbi knew that she loved him.

            The cub was so wrapped up in his thoughts that his foot slipped. He yelped but then went silent as a sharp cliff edge took his consciousness. He didn’t even feel the hands that lifted him from the ground and clung to him protectively.