The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 5)

Chapter 24

Branch struggled to unlock the cage, using his hair like a key.

The alarm continued to buzz in the background, but Branch just ignored it. He had to free Uueeka. He had already lost Poppy, he wasn't going to lose Uueeka too.

"Come on, you stupid lock. Open!" he yelled in anger.
"Goon," Uueeka said, looking at Branch.
"I'm sorry... I don't know what your saying. But don't worry. I'm gonna get you out of here."

Uueeka shook his head, nudging Branch away from the cage.

"Goon," he repeated, looking at the door. It was then that Branch knew what Uueeka was trying to tell him.

"No," he said. "I'm not leaving you. Not again."

He went back to trying to unlock the cage, but Uueeka pushed him with his head, nudging him away again. "Goon."

Branch shook his head. "No, you dumb bird. I'm not leaving you."

Before he could put his hair back in the lock, he heard a voice.

"I found him! He's over here!"

He turned, seeing hunters running towards him. He didn't run though. He kept trying to free Uueeka.

The first hunter, reached him, tackling him to the ground.

"I've got him!" he shouted out. "I am so getting a promotion!"

Quickly, Branch kicked his face with both feet, knocking the hunter off of him.

He got up, running back to Uueeka, but another hunter had already reached him, tackling him to the ground once again.

This hunter was smart enough to hold his feet down, but he didn't stop to consider, Branch's mouth.

Branch bit his hand, hard, causing him to scream and let go.

"Goon! Goon!" Uueeka shouted, twisting his head towards the door, but Branch didn't listen. Instead he ran back to the cage, trying again to unlock it.

Another hunter came, and tackled Branch again. Followed by another, and another. There was too many of them. Branch couldn't fight his way away from them.

"Nuun!" Uueeka yelled, as the hunters pinned Branch to the ground. He tried to get away, but he couldn't. There was just too many of them.

     Uueeka couldn't stand to see Branch treated this way. He had tried so hard to save him, risking his own life for him. Now it was the Synathins turn to save the troll.

     He stuck his beak into the lock, twisting his head around, until the lock clicked, falling open.

     Quickly, he pounced out of the cage, knocking all the hunters away from Branch.

     Branch sat up, Uueeka quickly grabbing onto his vest, and carrying him away.