When a young troll gets lost in the woods, and ends up being raised by Cuddle Pups, will he ever learn to fit in?
Another raised by wolves story. Can you tell I love dogs and Branch? Puppies+Branch=Puppy Branch 💕
Later that day, Branch was taking a nap, curled up in a little ball as he slept peacefully in a patch of sunlight shining brightly through the tree tops. He liked the feeling of the warmth on his skin, as he sighed deeply with content. Warm summer days were the best in his opinion, and he would always spend hours sprawled out in the sun, not having a care in the world. It was the only time he felt like he could just be himself, and not worry about disappointing his pack.
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Branch jumped back, whimpering softly, as he looked around himself, his heart racing in fear. What was coming towards him? Was it dangerous?
"Grrr..." he suddenly heard in a quiet, but threatening growl.
It was definitely the growl of a Cuddle Pup. But it sounded so vicious. Like the Cuddle Pup the growl belonged to wanted to hurt him. Maybe even worse... but... what Cuddle Pup would be trying to hurt him? He was part of the pack. The pack never attacked each other.
His heart sank down into his stomach, as he remembered what Emerson had said earlier that day... right after the Trollaphant incident...
'He's putting the pack in danger. We should get rid of him now, before it's too late,' Emerson's voice echoed in his memories. "Get rid of the danger... or I will..."
'Get rid of'... what did that mean exactly?
"Grrrrr..." he heard again, this one much louder. Much more murderous...
"H... hello?" the puppy troll whimpered softly, slowly slinking away. He didn't want to be 'gotten rid of'. What was he going to do?
"Ruuuugh!" the Cuddle Pup roared, suddenly pouncing out of a bush, launching itself straight at Branch.
"AHHHHH!" Branch screamed out in pure terror, immediately turning away, as he began to run for his life, the vicious creature chasing after him, as it snarled fiercely. "No! No, no, no!" he cried out in fear, running away as fast as he possibly could on his four legs, the Cuddle Pup quickly gaining on him. "Leave me alone!" the puppy troll begged, tears of fear streaming from his eyes, as his heart pounded right out of his chest. "Please! Leave me alone!"
Quickly, Branch took a sharp left turn, swerving around trees to try and escape, but the creature remained on his tail, suddenly pouncing and tackling him to the ground.
"AHHHHH!" he cried out in pure terror, as the Cuddle Pup bit fiercely at his ear. "Noooooo!"
"Ha, ha! Got ya!" Terk laughed, sitting on top of Branch, as she pinned him to the ground.
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Branch looked up at her with wide eyes, panting heavily, as his heart continued racing in fear.
"Ter... Terk! It was you this whole time!?" he yelled out in fear, looking up at his friend in disbelief. "You asked me to train you," she shrugged. "Escaping predators is necessary for living in the wild. Otherwise you'll be someone's lunch."
He pushed her off of him, rising to his four feet, as he shook the dirt off of his body, his fear quickly turning into anger.
"You coulda warned me, instead of giving me a heart attack!" the puppy troll yelled at the Cuddle Pup. "You should be happy it was just me," Terk chuckled, sitting down to scratch behind her ear with her back paw. "Otherwise you'd be dead right now, slowpoke. We need to work on your speed."
Branch sighed, his anger fading into sadness, as he lowered his head in shame.
"Sorry..." he apologized, his ears drooping in sadness. "I really am just a bad Cuddle Pup..."
"Hey. Don't say that," Terk said, licking Branch's face comfortingly. "It's not your fault you're slow," she laughed afterwards.
Branch sighed at his friends words, turning to walk away.
"I was joking!" Terk called out after him, as she rose to her feet, seeing Branch's sadness, but he didn't stop... he didn't turn back to her... he just kept walking. "You'll get better!" she yelled to him, trying to help him feel better.
"Yeah..." Branch said softly, continuing to walk. "Sure..."
