Trolls and the Search for the Missing Mom

Chapter 13

     Poppy ran to a small pond, looking down at her reflection in the water, as she cried. She sat down, putting he feet into the water.

     Branch walked towards her, slowly, sitting down next to her.

     "I really am sorry..." he said, softly. "I shoulda just told you the truth. I just..." he sighed, looking away. "I just couldn't stand seeing you sad."
"I know, Branch. It's ok. Really. It's my dad who I'm mad at."

     He looked at her, and then put his arm around her shoulders.

     "Maybe... he lied to you... for the same reason I lied to you."
"How does telling me my mom's dead, make me happy?"

     Peppy walked through the forest, looking for his daughter. He spotted the two trolls sitting at the pond, and stopped, hiding behind a tree to listen.

     "I don't know," Branch said, softly. "But I do know your dad loves you. And you love him. If he lied to you... there has to be a good reason."

     Branch's ear twitched, as he heard a sound behind them. He turned, seeing Peppy.

     "Umm... ugh..." Branch said, standing up, as he slowly backed away from Peppy. "I was just... ugh... leaving." He started to run away in terror, but Peppy stopped him.

     "Branch, wait."

     He froze, and then slowly turned around to face him, his ears low, as his heart raced.

     "I heard what you said."
"You... ugh... you did?" Peppy nodded. "Are you going to kill me now?" Peppy laughed, slightly, shaking his head.

     "No. I'm going to thank you."

     Branch straightened up, cocking his head, as he looked at Peppy, confused.

     "Thank me?"
"For always being there for my daughter. No matter what." Branch smiled a little, listening to Peppy.

     "You are a good Troll, Branch. Even if you make a few mistakes along the way."
"Thank you, Peppy," he said, finally relaxing.
"Now... I have something I need to discuss with my daughter. Alone."

     Branch nodded, and then turned to walk away.

     "Poppy?" Peppy said, looking at his daughter, as he sat down next to her, his legs cracking a bit, as he did so.

     "What do you want, dad?" Poppy said, dryly, as she bent her knees, hugging them close to her chest.

     "I want to apologize." Poppy looked at him. "I did lie to you, and I am so sorry."
"Why? Why did you tell me mom was dead?"
"At first... I thought she was. It was Trollstice. The Bergens had just taken so many of us. I was with your mother, but we got separated. Everyone was out, calling for their loved ones, and so was I. It broke my heart, but Pansy was gone..."

     Poppy looked away, sadly. "So... what happened?"
"I thought the Bergens had gotten her, but that night... after I tucked you in for bed... I saw something..."

     She looked at him again, her eyes wide, as tears flowed down her cheeks.

     "It was a note... a note from your mother that said she was leaving us. Now that I knew she was still alive... I searched everywhere for her, but couldn't find her. She had somehow escaped Bergen Town, leaving us behind."

     "So... she just... left?" Peppy nodded, looking away, sadly.

     "When we escaped Bergen Town a year later, I continued to look for her. There was only one place left to look... here. I drew a map, and planned to come search, but then I looked at you, sleeping peacefully. I couldn't leave you. I couldn't... but your mom could. It was then that I realized, I had to stop searching. It was what was best for the both of us. I told you she was eaten by a Bergen, so you wouldn't know the truth."
"That... she left me?" Poppy asked, looking at her father. He nodded.

     "I knew it would break your heart, so I lied. I lied to protect you. I didn't want you thinking it was your fault she left."
"W... was it?"

     Peppy looked at his daughter, his eyes wide.

     "No," he said, shaking his head. "Goodness no. It had nothing to do with you."
"Then... why did she leave?"
"I don't know... that's something you'd have to ask her."

     Poppy looked away from her father, and then closed her eyes sadly. Her mother left her...