In The Wild

Chapter ten: Journey

Viva walked solemnly along the forest. She knew these woods like the back of her hand. She lived there for fifteen years after all.

But she sensed that something was wrong.

Very wrong.

" I know you're up there!" Viva called out.

Then Poppy Branch and Clay sprung out of the trees and to the ground.

" How did you know?" Poppy asked.

" Uh, are you forgetting who taught you how to climb trees?" Viva said." Now go back. It's not safe for you out here. That bergen could come back any minute. "

" No!" Clay shouted." We're not leaving you!"

" Yeah, no troll left behind!" Poppy shouted.

Viva wanted to leave them, but she couldn't. She also didn't have to waste arguing.

"....Fine," Viva sighed." I guess it's too late to take you back anyways."

" Yes!" Poppy exclaimed in victory.

" So wait! do you know where we're going?" Branch asked.

" Well, Bergen Town is gigantic, so we'll. probably know when we see it." Viva said.

" I knew you were going to say that," Clay acclaimed. " Good thing I brought a map!"

The map was quite illustrated,  and it showed that they weren't too far away from their destination.

If we keep on this way, we should make it to the tunnels in two days. " Clay explained. " But it's a bit too dark to see anything right now, so maybe we should set up camp?"

" I second that! My dogs are barking!" Poppy said, rubbing her feet.

" We've only been walking for ten minutes." Branch griped.

"But I'm tired!" Poppy wailed.

" Clay's right." Viva stated." Let's set up camp."

. . .

Poppy gave Branch a smug look as they set up camp. Clay Branch and Poppy brought tents with them and set them up fairly easily.

Branch and Poppy fell asleep quickly, wrapped up together like they always were. But Clay and Viva stayed up, worried about the days to come.

" Viva?" Clay asked." You don't think those trolls have already....been eaten, do you?"

Viva didn't know what to say. If she said yes, she would prove  that she was a terrible queen. This was all her fault. Clay probably thought he was a bad queen already. How could he not?

" No," Viva finally answered." I'm positive they're still alive. We just need hope."

" Yeah," Clay said rather unenthusiastically." Hope."

Then the couple heard a scream.It was from Poppy and Branch's tent.

They immediately went inside and found Poppy holding Branch even more tightly than usual.

" What's wrong, Poppy?" Viva asked.

" I'm - I'm fine," Poppy muttered, her eyes already red with tears." I just had a nightmare. But I'm good now!"

" Are you sure -"

" I'm fine!" Poppy insisted." I promise."

" ....Alright." Viva muttered as she and Clay left the tent.

" Poppy?" Branch whispered." Your nightmare was about the bergens, wasn't it?"

" Yeah..." Poppy replied." Aren't they always? Let's just go back to sleep, okay Branchifer? "