The charmed garden : Poppy and branchs journey of friendship

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬)

Poppy and branch had began their adventure towards the garden. It was not far at all, just being beyond the trolls forest of course.

As they moved forward, Poppy eagerly retrieved the map from Branch's backpack. Unfolding it with a flourish, she pointed confidently and declared, "We should be here about ...now! " The two trolls looked up and spotted the warning sign, its message was both inviting and cautious.

its cheerful pastel like colors to the solemn words carved upon.

Branch read out loud:
"Welcome to Troll Forest , where enchantment and mystery intertwine. Tread with joy, but respect the whispers of the wild."
Branch thought it was a lighthearted warning, inviting travelers to visit the forest's wonders while gently nudging them to be mindful of its hidden number of predators who would easily feast upon Trolls if they could.

With a shared nod of understanding, they stepped into the forest.Minutes had gone by, hours ? As they wandered deeper into the forest, Branch and Poppy had been ambling along, their conversations went  from Branch's brothers' latest antics to that new cafe in town everyone's been raving about, Poppy could not remember a day that Dj Suki ranted about their grilled cheese.

The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to close in around them."You know, for someone with hair that bright, you sure have a love for diving into dark places." Branch laughed.

Branch, often found himself quickly glancing  at Poppy's infectious smile. His feelings for her were as deep as the roots of the ancient trees surrounding them and that was true yet he wrestled with the fear of revealing any of that. Poppy was without a doubt his rock , the one constant in his life who seemed to have never left his side no Matter  what ,  the thought of losing her companionship made his heart racing each time.

"Well, Branch, it takes more than a few shadows to dim this glow!"

Branch found himself a few feet back but ran back up while poppy bursted into a song randomly holding a stick as a microphone.
"You know, Poppy, if your concerts had intermissions, we might actually reach the garden  before nightfall." Poppy, unable to help herself, would burst into laughter, the sound echoing . "But Branch, singing is what I do—it's my gift!" she'd say between giggles.

Branch, with a mock-serious tone, "And what a gift it is. Just maybe one we can save for when we're not trying to outrun the night, Yea?"

"Ughh fine fine fineee but You're doing that thing again where you worry too much. Everything is going great!" Poppy swung her shoulder over branch. "You don't stop worrying like that and all your lil hairs will  fall out." She joked, and branch snorted a little.

"That'll probably happen anyway because of my brothers, they literally had an argument over ketchup yesterday." Belch joined in, and they both laughed. He felt some of the tension begin to leave.

they're interrupted by the deep, rumbling chuckle.
As the laughter echoed, Branch and Poppy instinctively clutched each other, must of been shielding them self against the unknown. Realizing their closeness, they sprang apart, cheeks flushed, hiding smiles.

" I thought we were alone.." "so did I?"

As they ventured further, a towering, gnarled tree loomed ahead, its twisted limbs casting ominous shadows. The air grew still, charged with a foreboding silence that seemed to say danger. Suddenly, a deep, rumbling laugh shattered the awkwardness sound. the tree amused by the snippets of Branch's sassy remarks it had overheard. Branch, unfazed, shot back with a grin, "What's so funny? Never heard a truth-teller before?"

The tree spoke. "Oh, little Branch, always so prickly eh? Are you a thornbush in disguise?" Branch's face heats up with annoyance, but before he can retort, Poppy steps in, holding him back with a giggle, "Easy, Thornbranch, let's not get 'tangled' up in a war of words ok?"