In The Wild

Chapter Seven: Viva and Clay

Fifteen years ago....

It was a few months after the bergen escape. Viva had lost her arm to some unruly furbies. She felt terrible. She felt useless....

....She felt angry.

" Clay?" She asked.

" Yeah, Veevs?"

" I've got a really bad meat craving."

" Well, where are you going to  get meat from?"

" I have an idea."

And that's when it started

. . . .

As soon as they re-entered Troll society, Viva and Clay knew they wanted a pod together. They've been dating for years now it just made sense.

Clay was reading a book while Viva lay beside him, staring at her arm. Clay knew Viva long enough to know her sad face.

" Viva," He said." What's wrong? Is it your arm?"

Viva's mood quickly changed from sadness to anger.

" Well, duh!" She shouted." Of course it's my fucking arm! What else could it be?"

" Jeez Viva." Clay exclaimed." I haven't seen you this moody since you were - never mind."

" Ugh, I'm sorry for shouting, Clay." Viva spoke." I'm just so sick of this!" She wiggled her amputated arm around.

" Well, how about we think of something else." Clay suggested." Like my book!"

" Clay, I don't wanna read your sad-ass book." Viva snapped." I just wanna go to bed."

" Well, ok then," Clay said." Go to bed. No one's  stopping you -"

" Good night, Clay!" Viva pulled the covers over her face, making Clay fall off the bed.

" You always were a blanket hog." Clay went to another room to read his book.

. . . .

That night, Viva had a dream or rather a replay of her memories.

Seventeen years ago

" It's okay. we'll get through this."

" Viva, you're  going to get rid of it, and that's final!"

" Clay, we need to break up. I just can't handle being with you anymore.it  reminds me of-"

" I dont want to talk about it! Leave me alone!"

Viva woke up in tears. She hated that memory. That memory of her.

. . . .

Throughout the summer, Branch and Poppy dated.  Their plan was working!  No one noticed they were together.

Well, almost no one.

Viva and Clay were having one of their weekly dinners with their siblings when they noticed Poppy and Branch  blushing, holding hands for a strange amount of time and their feet kicking together under the table.

So Viva asked the obvious question.

" Since when did you guys start  dating?"

Branch's first reaction was to choke on his lettuce.

" Hack! Hack! No, no, we're not!" Branch shouted.

" Yeah, we are." Poppy admitted.

" Poppy...." Branch whispered.