Trolls Fanfic - Branch to the Rescue

(II) The Journey

For years, the trolls lived inside their little sanctuary. The younger ones did not know about the outside world, and the older ones had already forgotten the dangers that the forest hid. Since they arrived at that place, there was only one troll who was "stubborn" enough to leave the safety of the village. That troll was Branch.

Branch had ventured on his own many times into the woods around the troll village. At first glance, anyone could think that the forest was a heavenly place. Full of bright colors where sunlight illuminated every corner. But the danger may be present, even in plain sight.

Branch had "experienced" many of these dangers firsthand. The troll had many marks on his body that corroborated it, but that was something that only Branch knew, since he hid his scars and marks under the clothes he always wore. His most obvious mark was a huge burn he received from a peculiar flower on one of his dangerous adventures.

----Flash Back----

It was a hot summer day. Back then, Branch was younger and did not have much knowledge of the creatures that habited the forest. The troll was dedicated to collecting materials and resources for his bunker, which was still barely two levels deep. Branch knew that the forest was a dangerous place, and he was always alert, but even he could not foresee what was about to happen.

Branch was walking very carefully under some bushes, unaware that there were a pair of eyes watching him. The troll was collecting small branches or whatever was useful to him, when he heard a strange noise behind him. Branch turned around scared and saw a peculiar round being that was following him closely.

The creature was purple, with eyes that bulged out of the top of its head. Its half-open mouth showed its sharp teeth while saliva fell uncontrollably from its jaws. The creature growled with a chilling tone that made every hair on his body stand on end, but that was just the beginning.

The creature opened its mouth and Branch could see a strange light at the end of the being's throat, but without warning, a flame erupted from the monster's jaws. Branch instinctively turned around and protected his face, but this did not prevent the flames from reaching him, burning his back, part of his right shoulder, his neck, and part of his scalp.

Branch rolled on the ground to put out the flames, even so, they were strong enough to leave a hideous mark on the troll's body. Still with little strength, and with deep pain throughout his body, Branch stood up and ran towards his house. Fortunately for him, the monster was a type of carnivorous plant, and he couldn't chase it. Still, it was an experience he would never forget.

Branch finally returned home and immersed himself in water in his bathtub. His body burned like hell, yet the embittered troll did not ask for help, nor did he tell anyone what had happened. Branch only stayed at home for a few days, without showing his head, curing his body with medicinal plants and treatments that he himself had discovered.

No one visited him, since no one was attached to him. Only Princess Poppy knocked on his door sometimes to find out if something bad happened to him, but as was the custom, Branch always invented an excuse to be alone.

----Flash Back's end----

Branch's experiences in the forest were not very pleasant, but at least they gave them enough experience to survive such an arduous journey. At this point in his life, the embittered troll knew every corner of the forest, as well as the dangers that lurked at every step. And by traveling alone, he was able to reach the Bergen's town in just a few days.

Branch knew that trying to cross the town would be suicide, and that surely Poppy and the others must be held in the palace. - If they were still alive, of course. - But he had to think of a way to get there without being seen. The trolls were small and could go unnoticed, but Branch wanted to avoid taking unnecessary risks. It was then that he had an idea.