The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 5)

Chapter 1

     Branch woke up, stretching, as he yawned. He sat up, looking around, confused. Usually Azalea would be jumping on top of him to wake him up by now, but it was unusually quiet.

     "Poppy?" he called out, but there was no answer. Branch had a bad feeling. Usually when it was this quiet, it meant his family was up to something mischievous.

     "Oh no," he grumbled to himself. "What are they up to now..."

     He went to Azalea's room, but it was empty. He went to Twig's room, but it was also empty. He looked around the whole bunker, but no one was there.

     "Where are they?" Branch mumbled to himself, starting to get worried. What if something had happened to them?

     Quickly, he ran to the elevator, heading outside, but they weren't there either.

     "Poppy!?" he yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Azalea!?" There was no response from either of them.

     "Twi... AHHHHH!" he screamed, suddenly being scooped up off the ground by a giant bird.

     He panted heavily, as he looked down at the ground, far bellow his feet, panicking.

     "Put me down!" he yelled, his voice shaking. "Put me..." he looked up at the bird holding onto him, and cocked his head in confusion. "Uueeka?"

     Uueeka twisted his neck down to look at Branch, who he held in his talons, and smiled.

     "Huna!" he yelled excitedly. It had been a long time since he saw the little troll.

     "What the heck are you doing here!?" Branch yelled. "Put me down, you oversized bird!"
"Synathin!" he corrected, letting go of Branch.
"This isn't what I meant!" Branch screamed, as he plummeted towards the ground.