One day Briar woke up and did not feel well. She decided to check her temperature and saw it was very high! She gave a squeak and sat back down, beneath her blankets, on her bed.
“Mom! Can you come here?!” Briar called her mother and ruler.
A few minutes later Cloud came in writing on her small board. She looked up to say something and dropped her board as she saw Briar with a thermometer and in bed. She picked the board up, set it on Briar's dresser and sat down on the edge of her bed.
“What happened, Briar? Are you sick?” Cloud asked woriedly
“Yeah. At least, I think so, the thermometer said-'' Briar stopped as she broke into a racking cough.
“Can we get a doctor?! Briar is sick!” Cloud hollered urgently over Briar’s coughing, “And don't let word of this get past the gates.”
Soon Cloud found herself surrounded by servants. Some were attending to what her daughter needed. Others were trying to usher Cloud out of the room. When they got to Cloud’s rooms, the servants left and shut the door. Cloud sat thinking on her bed and had an idea.
“I know! I can take Briar and some servants to find Luna, the Great Gummy bear!” Cloud said excitedly as she sat up.
Cloud got up and opened her door and was surprised that she didn’t see many servants. She shook her head and headed to Briar’s room. She was quiet as she eased the door open to find only one servant with Briar. The servant quickly got up and moved to leave but Cloud stopped her.
“Emma, isn't it? Could you wait by the door please?”
“Of course your majesty.” Emma nodded as she stood beside the door.
“Hey Briar. I figured out what to do about your sickness.” Cloud said softly.
“Really mom? What is it?” Briar said weakley.
“I was thinking we could find Luna the Great Gummy Bear.” Cloud replied.
“Oh! That’s a great idea. But how do we find her?” Briar doubted they would be able to find Luna.
“I don't know, but we have to find her.” Cloud said, turning to the servant by the door, “Emma, would you like to come with us? We’ll probably need one more person though.”
“Of course, I would your majesty.” Emma said bowing, “And I think you should tell Tinley about this. Briar is her daughter as well after all.”
“Great! Let's go ask Tinley then.” Cloud said cheerfully.
“Sure! It sounds like a fun adventure.” Tinley said enthusiastically.
“Great, could you and Emma gather things like food and water and camping gear? I'll grab clothes and get Briar.”
“Of course!” Tinley and Emma said together as they walked off to start getting things.
Cloud smiled as they walked off before heading the other way to get Briar and some clothes. She then realized something bad. She didn't have anyone to watch the empire while she was gone. She caught a servant passing her.
“Could you find my Head Advisor Helena please?” Cloud asked urgently.
“Of course your majesty,” he said, bowing.
“Thank you!” Cloud said as she started down the hallway to Briar’s room again.
A few minutes later, her Head Advisor, Helena entered Briar’s room. Cloud was just finishing with putting Briar’s clothes up. She quickly stood up and shook her advisor’s hand.
“Thank you for coming Helena.” Cloud said before she bent down to double check everything.
“Of course, Cloud. Now what did you need me for?” Helena asked, smiling.
“Well, I am going to find Luna to heal Briar. I'm taking Briar, Tinley, and a servant with me. So far, I don't have anyone to watch the kingdom while I'm gone.” Cloud explained, before asking “Do you have any advice?”
“Well, I could always watch the kingdom for you.” Helena suggested, “Or Advisor Ava.”
“Really?! Thank you, Helena!” Cloud said, straightening and hugging Helena.
“Of course, Cloud.” Helena smiled as she hugged back, thinking about how much Cloud cared for her subjects and friends.
“We’re ready, Cloud,” Tinley said as they arrived at the gates to the castle.
“Alright let's go!” Cloud said, as she helped Briar along and they headed in the direction of the Candy Cane forest.
A few hours later they began to see the forest. They decided to set up camp where they were since it was getting dark.. They thought it best to tackle the forest in the morning when it was light.
“Finally! We’ve been walking non-stop for hours!” Emma muttered to herself, as she began to set up the tent, then asked, “Tinley? Can you help me set this up?”
“Sure thing!” Tinley said as she walked over to help.
“While you guys set up the tent I'll make food.” Cloud said as she gently set Briar down to get to the food.
Tinley and Emma turned to nod then got back to making the tent. Briar kept glancing at the forest then at everyone else. It was my fault we have to live in the wilderness and I’m not doing anything, she kept thinking. She would sigh before turning to Cloud.
“Mom, do you need any help making the food?” Briar questioned.
“Nope! You just sit and rest Briar. We don't want you to get worse.” Cloud smiled before resuming her cooking, not noticing the down expression on Briar’s face.
At dawn the next day, they packed everything up then headed towards the forest. In an hour they had reached it. Briar insisted that she could walk on her own and headed inside first. The others followed worriedly, and cautiously.
“Guys, I think I found Luna’s paw prints.” Tinley said as she crouched down, looking at the ground. The others came up and agreed. It was Luna’s pawprints. No other gummy bear had paw prints that big.
“Let's follow them!” Briar said eagerly, bouncing on her feet, ready to go.
“We will, but be patient. We should mark where we’ve been so we aren't lost when we are heading back.” Cloud smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm.
“Ok” Briar sighed, and began wondering what Luna would look like. Obviously huge, she thought.
A few minutes later, Briar eagerly led everyone along the trail of paw prints. Night had fallen when they came to a ravine. Briar wondered if they would ever be able to cross it as she yawned and coughed.
“Let's get camp set up. It's too dark to try getting over the ravine now.” Cloud said as she slid her backpack off.
“Can I help?” Briar asked, but she already knew what her mothers would say.
Both Cloud and Tinley smiled as Tinley said, “You just rest, Briar.”
Briar sighed as she sat down and crossed her arms. When can they stop treating me like I'm helpless when I'm not? Briar wondered.
Briar was first to wake when dawn came. She had already thought of a few ideas to get across. She couldn't wait to see what the others thought of her ideas. Well, what Emma thinks. It's not like my moms are going to care. They'll just think of something else. Briar sighed then put on a smile as Cloud, Tinley, and Emma came out of the tent.
“Good morning!” Briar said with a cheerful tone, “I've thought of a few ways that we can use to get across the ravine!”
“Good morning to you too! What are your ideas?” Emma asked while Cloud and Tinley starred in surprise.
“We can cut down a few candy canes and use them to walk across. Or we could use rope.” Briar said, pleased that Emma was interested.
“Oh? Those are wonderful ideas, Briar!” Emma exclaimed.
“They are, but let's save them for another time. We’ll think of another way to get across” Tinley said with a cold glare at Emma who looked down and backed away. Briar gave a grunt in response then stalked to a rock to sit down.
When they were over the ravine, having climbed down and up, Briar collapsed. That took so long! Briar thought, it would've been quicker if we used one of my ideas. She took out a bottle of water and took a few sips before grabbing her little knife and a stick. She began whittling on the stick down to a sharp point humming as she did so. Her mothers watched worriedly before glancing at each other.
“Briar dear, could you hand us that knife?” Tinley asked.
“Uh sure.” Briar said as she handed it over.
“Thanks dear.” Cloud said as Tinley put it in her bag, producing a sigh from Briar. “I'm sorry dear, it's just not safe.”
“Mom! I'm 12! I think I know how to handle a knife without cutting myself.” Briar said exasperatedly. Cloud and Tinley said nothing in response until…
“Your majesties, with all due respect, Briar is right. She can take care of herself. And you don't need to be so protective.” Emma said, siding with Briar.
“Maybe you're right… but we can't take any risks.” Cloud said before beginning to set up the tent. “Tinley, could you help me with this?”
When Cloud and Tinley had fallen asleep, Briar excited the tent to find Emma awake, and walking off with a pack on her back.
“Emma! Where are you going?” Briar asked softly as she ran towards her.
“Briar? I’m just going for a walk. Bringing this if I get hungry or lost.” Emma said, indicating the pack. “What are you up to?”
“Me? Oh I was going to go and try to find Luna on my own. I don't want to be treated like I'm helpless anymore” Briar said, her tone having a slight edge of anger.
“Oh? Would you like me to come with you for company?” Emma asked.
“Sure!” Briar replied and off they went, into the night.