In The Wild

Chapter Nine: Anniversary

About two years later, the village went back to its normalcy. One day, Viva went back to her baby's grave.

And found Clay there.

" What the fuck are you doing here!?" Viva shouted.

" Viva I-" But before Clay could say anything, Viva wrapped him in a hug.

" I'm sorry, Clay." She mumbled." I'm so so sorry."

" I know." Clay muttered back. " Me too."

. . . .

In a few weeks, it would be the twentieth anniversary of the trolls' escape from the bergens. The trolls always had a big party to celebrate their freedom. Viva had put Poppy in charge of the festivities. She and Branch were talking about the party on one of their dates on a tree outside the village.

" And there's gonna be glitter everywhere!" Poppy exclaimed.

" Poppy, that is way too much glitter." Branch chuckled.

" Hmmm, no such thing, Branchifer." Poppy booped Branch's nose and giggled as she peered at the view in front of them.

" Branch," Poppy asked. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like if  we never found the other trolls?"

" Yeah," Branch replied." Of course I do, but I'm glad you ruined your to-be friends' barbecue."

" Me too, Branch." Poppy muttered.

Just then,  the two trolls heard a loud thump in the woods. Poppy and Branch's heads turned as they heard the noise.

" What was that?" Poppy asked.

" I'm not sure." Branch answered." Maybe I can see it if I use my binoculars." Branch then pulled out his binoculars and saw.....

" Oh no."

" What's wrong?" Poppy mumbled.

" I..I saw a bergen."

Not wasting a moment to hear him further, Poppy grabbed him and ran to the village.

. . . .

" Viva!" Both trolls shouted." Viva!"

They quickly found her  with Clay.

" Viva!"

" What is it?" Viva asked.

" We-we..." Poppy tried to catch her breath.

" Well?" Viva barked." Spit it out!"

" Branch saw a bergen." Poppy whispered.

Viva expression turned from annoyance to fear in an instant. She looked to Branch.

" Branch," She asked calmy." Are you sure you saw a bergen?"

" I swear, I  saw one." Branch answered.

" What do we do?" Poppy asked, feeling more scared than she'd ever been before.

" Well," Viva responded. " Poppy Branch, would you mind sharing your bunker?"

Poppy and Branch looked at each other.

" Of course."

. . .

It was decided that the bunker would have more rooms added to fit all of the village with doors spread around for easy access.Branch was a bit hesitant at first, but Viva told it only just if a bergen did come, but that didn't really calm his nerves. In addition to the bunker expansion, bergen sized traps were added in the outskirts of  and in the village. No one was allowed to leave the village, and excessively wild parties were banned. Many trolls were annoyed by this.