Call of the Wild (rewrite)

Chapter 13

     Slowly, Branch's eyes began to blink open as he whimpered softly, beginning to look around in confusion, as he remained laying on the ground.

It was morning, and the sun was now shining high in the sky. How long had he been asleep?

     Finally, he pushed himself up, trying to stand, but a sharp pain shot through his leg the moment he put pressure on it, causing him to yelp loudly as he fell right back down to the ground.

     Poppy, who had been sleeping in the grass next to him, awoke to the sudden sound of pain, startled. That was when Branch noticed her...

     With a loud whimper of fear, the puppy troll tried to stand again, but just ended up falling right back down, unable to get up with how much pain he was in. This pink creature, whatever she was, was going to get him! Was she going to hurt him even more? He didn't want to be in any more pain then he was already in. He just couldn't take it...

     "It's ok, " the young princess said softly, seeing how frightened this child was, as he slunk away from her, his eyes wide in terror. "Don't be scared. I just stayed to make sure you were alright. You were out for a long time..."

     He looked at his leg, trying to figure out why it wouldn't allow him to stand, immediately seeing it was wrapped in a pure red cloth of some sort.

     "I should change that," Poppy informed softly, noticing the blood staining the formally white bandages on the grey troll's leg. "Your cut needs to stay clean."

     It was true... the normally white cloth was now stained red with all the blood that had leaked through it during the night. It couldn't be good to leave that on him...

     Poppy went towards the puppy troll, reaching forewords to change the bandages, but he quickly pulled away from her hand, his ears low, as he growled fiercely, never loosing eye contact with the pink troll.

     "Why are you growling?" the princess asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion, as she looked at him. She had never heard a troll growl like that before.

     Branch moved away from her again, cowering in fear. Was she going to hurt him? He was already in so much pain. He didn't want to hurt any more...

     Poppy saw his fear, and quickly gave him a reassuring smile to help calm his nerves.

     "It's ok. I promise I won't hurt you," she assured in a gentle tone. "I just wanna help."

     She reached for his leg again, and this time the puppy troll didn't pull away. The way Poppy was talking to him made him feel safe. Plus... she had freed him from that trap... maybe she wasn't dangerous after all...

     Carefully, she unraveled the bandages, cleaning his cut before putting new ones on.

     "See. You're ok," she said, smiling at the little grey troll. "I'm Poppy. What's your name?"

     He sniffed her slightly, causing her to feel a little awkward. What was he doing? No troll she'd ever met had ever acted this way before...

     Cupcakes and rainbows... she's the one he had been tracking?

     "Umm..." Poppy said, a little confused by Branch's examination of her.

     Finally, she chuckled, holding out her hand for him to shake, ignoring his strange behavior. He was a troll after all.

     Branch cocked his head, looking at her hand in confusion. What did she want him to do?

     Slowly, he looked up at her, and then cautiously licked her hand.