Born to Be Free (rewrite)

Chapter 3

     Branch and Iris walked through the forest, Iris hugging her arm around Branch, as he cried softly. He was so upset about Spirit being taken. She was his best friend. His only friend.

     Suddenly, two figures ran past, hiding behind trees. Branch's ears twitched, hearing the rustling sound, of someone running on top of the leaves.

     He turned his head, but saw no one.

     "What is it, Branch?" Iris asked, noticing the concern on her brother's face.
"I... I thought I heard something. Must of just been the wind." He sniffled, wiping his tears away. "I know it's hard, Branch."
"Spirit is gone... and she's never coming back," he said sadly, looking away from his sister. Iris didn't know what to say. Branch had been sad for so long, since their grandma had died. And then once Spirit was born, it was like his spirit had come back to him. He was so happy, whenever he was with her. She missed that smile. His smile had lit up the world, but now it was gone, and she didn't know how to help him get it back.

     She hugged Branch tight, letting him cry into her shoulder.

     "It's gonna be ok, Branch. Hey..." she pulled away from the hug, putting her hands on his shoulder, as she looked into his eyes. "I know it's not quite the same as grandma's fluffleberry cake, but what do you say I make some of my fluffleberry pie. It's always helped you feel better in tuff times." Branch wiped his eyes, and nodded at his sister. That did sound pretty good. "Ok," Iris said, smiling. "Let's go home, then."

     They started walking again, but the two figures suddenly jumped in front of them, cutting the two children off. Branch, scared, hid behind Iris for protection, his tail, coiling around his left leg.

     "You kids know Thorn?" one of the figures asked, in a deep voice. They stepped into the light, revealing that they were rivered trolls.

     "He's dead. What does it matter?" Iris said, blocking the two of them from her brother. "He's got some unfinished business with us," one of them chuckled.

     The biggest one looked at Branch. He cowered away, backing up farther behind Iris.

     "Thorn mentioned having a son... said he was blue though... unless..." He looked closely at Branch. "Music trolls can turn grey, can't they?"

     "Leave him alone," Iris said, protecting her little brother. The smaller troll looked at his partner. "Grab the boy. He has to finish what his father started."
"What? No!" Iris yelled. She blocked her brother from them, but they just knocked her aside.

     She sat up from where she lay on the ground, shaking her head, as she looked up at Branch.

     "Branch!" she yelled. "Run!" He turned, fallowing his sisters orders, but the big troll grabbed onto his tail, holding him back.

     "AHHHHH!" he screamed in fear, as the troll lifted him off the ground by his tail.

     Quickly, he bit his hand. "Ow!" the troll shouted in pain, as he flung Branch away. He crashed into a tree, immediately falling to the ground, unconscious.

     "Branch!" Iris screamed, standing up, as she ran over to her brother.

     She dropped down to her knees beside him, putting her hand on his chest to make sure he was breathing.

     The two trolls approached, grabbing the unconscious Branch from Iris, as they began to drag him away.

     "No! Wait!" Iris called after them, crying. "Take me instead!"

     They froze, slowly turning to look at her. "You?"
"Yes. Thorn was my dad too. Just please... leave my brother alone."

     The two trolls looked at each other, and then tossed Branch back to Iris.

     "Branch! Buddy... you're gonna be ok. You're gonna be ok," she said, stroking his face, as he lay in her arms.

     Without warning, the two trolls grabbed Iris, beginning to drag her away.

     "No! Wait! He's hurt! He needs a doctor!" The trolls just ignored her. "Branch! I'll find a way to get back to you! I promise!"

     The sun was beginning to set, hours later, as Branch moaned, slowly sitting up, as he grabbed his head. He blinked, looking around. "Iris?" he said, looking for his sister. "Iris!" He jumped to his feet, running home, as he looked for his sister, frantically.

     "Iris!" he yelled, as he searched their pod, but she wasn't there. He ran back outside, running through the village. "Iris!" he called out, crying. "Iris! Where are you!?"

     She wasn't anywhere. He walked down to the lagoon, to tired to run anymore. He looked out into the water. What used to be a beautiful sanctuary for sea Lykers of all kinds, was now empty. All the Lykers were gone. Iris was gone. Their Grandma, and their father were gone. Branch was alone. He had no one left. He fell down to his knees, as he cried into his hands. He was all alone...