TROLLS: what if branch's brothers never left

Brozone in: infected

Poppy thrashed violently inside the steel cage, her claws scraping against the enchanted bars. Every shriek rattled the walls of the cave. Her body twitched and spasmed, her once-pink skin now pale gray and veined with black. She grinned wildly, eyes unfocused, as if she were fighting something deep inside her own mind.

"Sorry, Poppy," John Dory said, his voice shaking as he tightened the locks on the cage. "But this is for your own good."

She hissed, baring her teeth at him before retreating into a corner, twitching.

The sight was too much for Branch to take. He turned away, clutching the blanket around himself tighter.

Later that night, back inside the trollpod, the brothers sat huddled together. The warm smell of cocoa filled the air, but the mood was far from comforting. Everyone's nerves were frayed.

Branch sat quietly, wrapped in a thick blanket, both hands shaking as he held a mug of hot chocolate. He hadn't spoken much since the attack. His eyes stared blankly into the steam rising from the cup.

John watched him carefully, his own mug untouched. "Bitty B," he said softly. "You okay?"

Branch didn't answer right away. His voice came out small, trembling. "John... what do you think happened to Poppy?"

John sighed heavily, rubbing his face. "I don't know, Branch. I really don't. But we can't panic, okay? We're gonna fix this."

Clay slammed his mug on the table, glaring. "How are we not supposed to panic, John? That thing—whatever that was—tried to attack Branch!" He pointed toward the window, where Poppy's shadow still twitched from inside the cage.

"I know, Clay, I know," John snapped, trying to keep his own fear from breaking through. "But we can't rule out the chance that this is reversible."

"We don't even know if it was that bug that infected her," Floyd said, wringing his hands. "What if it was something else in that cave? The gem maybe?"

"Do we have any other options?" Spruce asked, his voice tense. "We have to find that bug. If it's still out there, it could bite someone else next."

The room erupted into argument.

"It was definitely the bug!" Clay shouted.
"You don't know that!" Floyd countered.
"Then how do you explain the bite marks?" Spruce interjected. "Same wound, same symptoms!"
"Symptoms?" Clay barked. "She's turning into a monster!"

"Stop it!" Branch suddenly yelled, his voice cracking.

Everyone froze.

He stood up, still shaking, tears welling in his eyes. "You're all arguing like this is some kind of mystery show, but that's Poppy in there! She's my best friend! She didn't ask for this!"

John got up quickly, hands out. "Hey, hey, Bitty B—calm down—"

Branch turned away, wiping his eyes. "You better fix this, John. You have to."

No one said anything after that.

The brothers sat in heavy silence until John suddenly straightened, his eyes wide with realization.

"Wait a minute, guys... I just realized something," he said, standing up so fast his mug nearly spilled.

"What now, John?" Clay groaned, rubbing his temples.

"The bug that bit Poppy—it was the same one that bit Branch," John said, his voice urgent.

Clay frowned. "So what are you getting at?"

John pointed toward Branch, who looked up nervously from under his blanket. "If that thing bit him first... how come he didn't change like Poppy did?"

The room fell silent.