Trolls and the Alternate Dimension

Chapter 38

     "Branch? Branch? Wake up, Branch," Poppy's voice rung through his head.

     "Ugh..." he groaned, slightly opening his eyes.

     "He's waking up!" Poppy announced, as she and the others stood over him.

     "Come on, Branch. You're ok," she said, softly, stroking his head, gently with her fingers.

     He looked up at them, weakly, his vision blurred.

     "P... Poppy?" he said, quietly, closing his eyes again, as his head fell slightly to the side.

     "No, Branch. Don't go back to sleep. You need to wake up," she said, softly, her voice shaking with concern.

     Branch's head throbbed, his brain pounding in his skull, painfully.

     "Ow..." he moaned, opening his eyes slightly again to look up at Poppy.

     He could barely keep his eyes open, as he looked up at her.

     His eyes kept blinking shut, opening back up after a few moments.

     "Is he gonna be ok?" Poppy asked, placing her hand on his cheek.

     "I think he's just disoriented from passing out," Molly said. They looked at her confused.

     "My dad was a doctor," she shrugged.
"Ohhh," the trolls say, looking back down at Branch, who's eyes where closed again, his mouth slightly open, as his head tilted to the side.

     "Come on, Branch. Get up," Poppy whispered, stroking his cheek.

     "Woof!" the dog barked, pushing past the trolls to get to Branch.

     She leaned down towards him, licking his whole body with her tongue.

     "Wha..." he opened his eyes again, seeing the dog's face right in front of his.

     "AHHH!" he screamed, immediately jumping up.

     "Whoa, Branch!" Poppy said, as she grabbed onto him, hugging him tight, as he stared at the dog, breathing heavily again.

     "You need to calm down," Poppy said, softly, trying to calm him down, so he wouldn't pass out again.

     "D... dog... b... big dog..." he stuttered, his voice shaking, as he stared at the dog, wide eyes.

     "Shhh... it's ok," Poppy whispered, petting the back of his head to sooth him. "She's not gonna hurt you. You're safe now."

     Slowly, Branch began to calm down, his breathing slowing down, until it was back to normal. He still wouldn't take his eyes off of the dog, however.

     It towered above the trolls, looking down at them with her tongue sticking out.

     "P... please get it away from me..." he said, his voice still shaking, as the dog sniffed him, putting her nose up against his.

     Molly picked her up, hugging her close to her chest, as the dog licked her face, lovingly.

     "She's just a little, chihuahua," Molly giggled, as the dog's kisses tickled her cheeks.

     Branch shook his head, still staring at the dog in fear.

     "That thing ain't little," he said.

     Poppy helped him up to his feet, and then hugged him again.

     "Are you ok?" she asked.
"I think so. My head hurts though," he replied clutching his head with his hand.

     "Come on. We gotta get you home to rest."

     "Let's ride the dog back to the wormhole," Barb suggested with a grin.
"Absolutely not," Branch said, glaring at her.

     He tried to take a step, but he was so dizzy, he ended up falling over.

     "Branch!" Poppy yelled, bending down to him.

     "I'm fine," Branch assured.
"You can't even walk, Branch!" Poppy said, worried. "You are not fine."

     "It's ok," Molly said. "I'll carry him to the wormhole."

     She bent down, placing the dog back on the ground, who immediately ran to Branch, jumping on top of him, so she could lick him, without him pulling away.

     "AHHH! No!" Branch yelled in fear, thinking the dog was trying to eat him. "Get it off! Get it off!"

     "Shelby! Stop!" Molly said, firmly.

     The dog climbed off of Branch, sitting down, as she looked up at Molly, happily.

     Branch wiped the saliva off of his face, disgusted.

     "You named it?" he said.
"Of coarse! She's my pet now. I will take care of her forever and ever and ever."

     "Awwww!" the trolls awwed.
"Horrifying," Branch shuddered.