Pixie Dust And Volcanic Ash

The Embers Are New

Warnings for this chapter: We start to see hints of that 'internalized xenophobia' from the tags in this chapter. Should I put a warning for fictional slurs? Well, just in case, know they are there. Only once, and no one's saying them, they're being remembered. We're getting a peak into Barb's current mindset and personal history.

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“Thank you all for coming,” Poppy said to the room of gathered leaders. “It's so good to see you all again. It's been far too long.”

Delta Dawn quirked an eyebrow, “You saw us all just two weeks ago.”

Poppy nodded, “Like I said, far too long.”

Delta chuckled and shook her head while Quincy and Essence exchanged amused smiles.

“If I may ask, Queen Poppy,” Trollzart spoke. “What is the purpose of this meeting? I assume it's more than a social gathering.”

“And right you are, Conductor Trollzart!” Poppy grinned, popping finger guns at the older troll, who raised a brow at the gesture. “As I'm sure you all know, today marks the two-week anniversary of the tribes reestablishing contact with each other—”

“You mean little Miss Spike over here,” Delta jerked a thumb in Barb's direction. “Busting down all our doors?”

Poppy faltered, “I don't know if I'd put it that way—”

“I would,” Barb said with a shrug.

Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to her, and Barb resisted the urge to fidget.

“You would?” Trollex asked slowly, giving her an odd look.

“Uh, yeah, I would. If anything, Delta is being freaking charitable about it.” Especially by Volcano Rock standards, but that was neither here nor there. “I'm not stupid, I know what I did.” And she hated it, she hated it so so much. That wasn't the point right now though, what was the point was that she owned up to her shit, thanks.

The other leaders continued staring at her with strange expressions. She felt herself bristling.

“What?” She snapped, and they quit the bizarre scrutiny. Except for Delta, who continued to study her with narrow eyes.

She glared right back.

The knife throwing was cut off when Branch spoke up. “Poppy, you were saying?”

“Oh! Um, r-right,” Poppy cleared her throat. “As you all know, the tribes have spent countless generations separated from each other, with very little contact. In some cases, unaware that there even were other tribes. Because of that, there are huge divides between us. A majority of trolls know almost nothing about their neighbors. I would like to propose that we take steps to fix that."

An uneasy silence fell over the room.

Barb could see where Poppy was coming from, but wondered if she was springing this up on them a little soon. The mess of the Tour may have been cleaned up, but it was understandable that it was still a touchy topic.