The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 6)

Chapter 5

As Branch fell closer and closer to the growl beasts open mouth, another growl beast suddenly leapt forwards, grabbing him by the hair, taking off, wanting the little troll all for himself.

The other growl beasts followed, trying to take Branch, wanting to eat him, themselves.

They tackled the growl beast with Branch, two of them grabbing onto each of his legs, while two others grabbed onto his arms, the growl beast that had him first, still holding onto his hair.

"Ow!" Branch cried out, as they all pulled in different directions, trying to get Branch to themselves.

"St... stop!" he yelled, his body being stretched by the growl beast.

They where about to rip him in half, when Shimmer jumped forewords, snatching him from them.

He looked up, seeing Poppy on top of Shimmer.

"Poppy!" he yelled, glad to see her.

"Don't worry Branch!" she yelled down to him. "We got you!"

The growl beasts chased after them, as Shimmer ran, holding Branch by the back of his vest, in her teeth.

     Quickly, Shimmer swerved around trees, some of the growl beasts running straight into the trees.

     Finally, only one growl beast was still chasing them.

     They headed for a canyon, Branch's eyes widening, as he saw it.

     "No... no, no, no!" he yelled. "Turn, Poppy! Turn!"
"Nope," Poppy replied, holding tightly onto Shimmer.

     Shimmer jumped, leaping over the large gap.

     "AHHHHH!" Branch screamed, as they flew through the air.

     Soon, they landed safely on the other side, Shimmer skittering to a stop, as she looked back.

     The growl beast had stopped on the other side of the canyon, too scared to jump.

     It looked at them, and then growled, angrily, before turning to walk away.

     Poppy and Branch both sighed with relief, as Shimmer placed Branch on the ground, gently.

     Shimmer bent down, licking Branch's entire body, getting slobber all over him.

     "Ew! Gross!" he shouted, lifting his arms, as slobber dripped off of him.

     He wiped it off, trying to get clean.

     Poppy climbed off of Shimmer's back, hugging Branch tight.

     "You ok?" she asked Branch.

     "Yeah. I'm fine," he responded, hugging her back. "Thanks to you."

     "Good... now... what the heck where you thinking, Branch!" she yelled, pulling away from the hug, as she slapped the back of his head.

     "Ow..." he whined, rubbing where she had hit him. "What was that for?"
"For scaring me half to death! You coulda been killed, Branch! Never... and I mean never... do that again!"

     "Ok... next time I'll just let the growl beasts eat Azalea," he said, sarcastically.

     "What? No! Wait... is that why you where fighting those growl beast? Cuz they attacked Azalea?"

     "More like she attacked them," Branch replied. "I swear... that girl has no fear. She is definitely your daughter."

     He crossed his arms, looking away.

     "I'll talk to her," Poppy said. "She needs to know she can't do this stuff."
"You don't think I've tried that!?" Branch yelled, looking back to her. "She won't listen!"

     Secretly, Azalea had snuck away from Synth, and was now hiding behind a tree, listening to her parent's conversation.

     "She keeps putting herself in danger, and I can't take it anymore!" Branch continued, angrily.

     Azalea's ears drooped, hearing her father's words. He was mad at her? Did he not love her anymore? Did he not want her anymore?

     She sighed, lowering her head, as she slowly walked away, now knowing she wasn't wanted by her own parents.

     "I love her, Poppy," Branch continued, tearing up a bit. "I love her so much. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to her..." he said, sadly, Azalea no longer there to listen.

     His ears drooped, as he lowered his head, sadly.

     "I can't lose her..." he said, softly, shutting his eyes.

     Poppy hugged him, petting his back, gently.

     "It'll be ok, Branch. We won't lose her. I'll never let anything bad happen to her, and I know you won't either."

     He smiled, slightly, hugging her back.

     "I love you, Poppy," he said, softly.
"I love you too, Branch."