The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 5)

Chapter 28

"POPPY!" Branch and Pansy both screamed in fear, as Poppy plummeted down towards the ground.

"AHHHHH!" she screamed, not knowing what to do.

"Stop!" Branch cried, looking up at the head hunter. "Save her! Save her now!"
"No... I don't think I will. It's fun watching you suffer."

He looked back at Poppy, as she got closer and closer to the ground.

"Please!" he begged. "I'll do anything! Do whatever you want to me! Just leave her alone!"
"I was gonna kill you, weather you let me or not," he said, smirking down at Branch.

Poppy landed on the ground, Branch's eyes widening in fear, as he cried hysterically.

"NO! POPPY! NO!"

The head hunter nudged the bird with his foot, telling it to let go of Branch.

It lifted it's foot, Branch jumping up, and running over to Poppy.

     "Poppy..." Branch whispered, putting her head in his lap. "Please wake up. Please."

     He looked back up at the head hunter, crying.

     "Please," he begged. "Let Uueeka heal her. Please."

     The head hunter, smirked at him, crossing his arms.

     Quickly, Branch picked up Poppy, running her towards the Synathin, but before he could get her there, the bird flew over, ramming into him, and knocking him to the ground, as it held its foot around his throat.

     He struggled, trying to get away, as he gasped for air, unable to breath.

     The head hunter climbed off the bird, walking over to Branch with his hands behind his back.

     "Don't worry," he said, Branch looking up at him in fear and sadness. "I won't let her stay dead. It's not her I'm mad at."

     "Why... are you... doing this?" Branch managed to say, as he struggled to breath.

     The bird tightened its grip on Branch's throat, cutting off his air ways even more.

     "You took everything from me, Branch. My friends... my respect... my girlfriend..."

     He looked up at him, confused.

     "Oh... I'm sorry. You don't recognize me, do you? Here... maybe this will help."

     Slowly, he reached up, beginning to pull off his mask. Branch's eyes widened, as he saw who was underneath.

     "Creek..." he struggled to say, the bird tightening its grip again. He grabbed onto the birds leg, trying to push it away from him, but he wasn't strong enough.

     "You took everything from me, Branch. And now I'm going to take everything from you."

     He looked at Creek, tears in his eyes, as he continued struggling to break free.

     Slowly, his eyes began to blink. He was finding it harder, and harder to stay awake.

     His hands fell away from the bird's leg, landing on the ground beside him.

     "Good bye, Branch..." Creek said, smiling evilly down at him.

     Branch's vision became blurry, as he looked up at Creek. He could feel himself slipping away, when suddenly something rammed into the bird, knocking it off of him.

     He coughed, gasping for air, as he slowly sat up, looking over to see Uueeka fighting with the bird. He had chewed through the ropes, and was now trying his best to save Branch... to save his family...