Trolls and the Mystery Creature

Chapter 16

     Several times on their walk, Branch completely forgot what was going on.

     He stopped walking, beginning to look around in confusion.

     "Where are we?" he asked. Poppy and Ariana both looked at him, Poppy sad to see him like this.

     "That's the twentieth time you've asked that," Ariana said, getting annoyed with Branch. "It is?" Branch asked, not remembering.

     "It's okay, Branch. Just keep walking," Poppy said softly, as she began walking again, Ariana following behind.

     "Uh..." Branch said, still standing still. "Who's Branch?"

     Both the trolls stopped, looking back at him in fear.

     "We're running out of time," Ariana whispered to Poppy.
"We need to keep moving."

     She grabbed onto Branch's hand, beginning to walk again, as she pulled him with her.

     Soon, Ariana began to recognize her surroundings.

     "I... I know where we are! I'm almost home!" she yelled with joy. "It's this way! Come on!" She started to run, Poppy following behind, but she stopped, when she realized Branch wasn't moving.

     "Branch?" she said, turning to look at him. He was staring blankly at the ground, not moving at all. "Branch!"

     Ariana heard Poppy yell, and turned around, seeing her running back towards Branch.

     "Oh no..." she whispered, realizing what was happening. Quickly, she began running over to help them.

     "Come on Branch. Look at me," Poppy said, raising his head so he was looking at her.

     He stared at her blankly for a moment, before his head dropped back down to look at the ground.

     "No... Branch!" she yelled, trying to get his attention, but he just wouldn't move.

     Ariana ran over, looking closely at Branch.

     "He's still breathing. We still have time."
"He can't move," Poppy cried. "How are we going to get him there?"

     Quickly, Ariana turned to Zenid, who knew immediately what her owner wanted.

     She grew, so that she was twice the size of Branch, and then walked over grabbing him in her mouth, by the back of his vest.

     "Come on," Ariana said. "We need to hurry."