Stitches(//DISCONTINUED//)

Chapter 7 The journey

Little did they know that someone was just watching them, looking at every move and step. The stranger did not saw what happened earlier but long enough to see them find the rest of the trolls. It still followed them eagerly, careful enough to not make any sound.

Branch's POV 

As me and Poppy set off to find the rest of the trolls. She didn't sing nor dance nor did she said something at all.

"Poppy?" I said because she was heading towards a cliff, absentmindley walking with her head down. 

" POPPY!" I said louder as I grabbed her hand before she entirely falls down the cliff. She looked at me suprised, then noticed that we are at the edge of the cliff.

 "Was...was I about to fall?" I nodded. "Poppy tell me the truth, are you okay?" I said very concerned because this is not normal for Poppy to be so much troubled. I'm used to Poppy as a very happy and pink troll but now...she isn't that happy at all.

"Who are you?"I asked her, she looked at me like I was crazy.

 "Who.Are.You." I asked emphazing what I said. 

"I'm Poppy" she said looking at me strangely.

 "Who are you" I said again. This time she was putting a little smile on her face "I'm Poppy" she said a little louder than before. 

"Who Are You!" I said louder.

 "I'm Poppy!"she said as the smile from her face grew larger. 

"So let's go and save everyone." I said firmly, a very little smile curled up on my lips. 

"You're right Branch" she said happily.

 "I'm always right" I smirked sarcastically.

 "Yeah, yeah I get it." she said continuing to walk. 

We continued walking for a while, stopping sometimes to get rest. I heard yelping in the bushes. 

"Who's there?Show yourself" I said going towards Poppy. The bushes started rustling and a figure stepped in. It was a small troll, not older than five. She has lavender hair and light blue skin and midnight blue eyes.

" Hi" she beamed happily. 

"Don't worry Branch it's just a child." Poppy said to me as she made her way towards the child. The child smiled, "Hello my name is Poppy and the grumpy troll over there is Branch." she said as she kneeled down at the level of the child's head. 

"Hi Poppy and Mr. Branch." she said nicely. 

"Poppy are you sure we can trust this kid?" I said unsure because I know all trolls are kidnapped by a bergen. "And that I thought all trolls were kidnapped?" I said to her directly.

"How did you escape?" Poppy said to the troll child. "What are you talking about?" she said. I got mad firstly because all trolls are kidnapped and second does this kid know anything at all!

"Hey kid!, do you know anything at all! " I fumed, the child...started laughing.at.me.really.laughing.hard.at.me.

I looked at Poppy and she started laughing too.

I stood there confused as ever. The kid and Poppy got tired, breathless even. I lost patience and glared at them. They stopped and got quiet. 

"What's so funny?" I said angrily. 

"I know that you're name is Branch and she is Poppy but why did you say I know nothing?" she tilted her head at me innocently.

 I looked at Poppy "Is she serious?" Poppy nodded.

 " I laughed because that kid's laugh is so irresistable, that made me laugh, but I'm not laughing at you." she said smirking.

"Mr. Branch, I'm sorry I laughed at you. I'm not joking, I just have a happy face." she beamed.

"Why do you call me a Mr.?" I said because why wouldn't she call me Branch instead of calling Poppy, Miss Poppy? 

"Because you look old and you have wrinkles so you look like a mister." she said. 

"I am not old kid." I spat my words to her. 

"But why do you look so old?" 

"She's old" I pointed my finger to Poppy. Poppy only shrugged then looked at the kid again.

"But you look much, much older" she said.

"Ugghh, you know just forget it." I got enough dealing with Poppy what makes me think that I could handle a child.

"By the way what's you're name?" Poppy said. 

"My name is Iris" she curtsied.

"You know Iris you should get home before you're parents worry about you." I spat.

"My parents were scooped up by a giant person it was strange though, it has red eyes and sharp but ugly teeth and it has large hands and it has green with blue hair. I think they are just playing and I know that they will come back later and besides my parents said that they would never leave me and I know they will keep their promise." she said skipping happily. 

I looked at Poppy with sad eyes. She looked shocked because this kid doesn't know about bergens and if a bergen finds us they will eat us. Iris doesn't know that her parents would be eaten with the other trolls.

"Iris? do you know what is a bergen?" I said. 

"Branch. not now." Poppy said firmly with serious eyes.

"What? doesn't she have the right to know what kidnapped her parents and you know possibly eaten?" I said sarcastically.

Poppy glared at me "Why do I need to know what a bergen is? are they important?" Iris said with  one eyebrow raised. 

"Yes they are very important. They eat trolls like us and that you're parents are probably being digested with the other trolls." I said to her with eyes full with anger. I mean who doesn't teach their kids what a bergen is that would possibly find them and eat them.

"Branch!" the pink troll who is glaring very hard at me. I shrugged "What? it's true that her parents and the others are probably dead by now." 

I looked at Iris, she is calm. I was amazed on how she handled this situation. "Hmmn" she said thinking.

 "I think it's okay, I don't know everyone that well. My parents will be dead, but I won't be very much affected by it. I already said goodbye to them because before I saw them they said to me that if they won't come back I wouldn't be sad because they died. So we said our goodbyes before they were scooped up. And now I know why they were crying. And if bergens eat trolls because it makes them happy, it's fine by me because everyone dies sooner or later, it's the circle of life." she said happily and a little joyful.

I stood there shocked, how could a child not be sad that their parents died. I...I mean...why didn't I feel happy...

"It's okay Iris, don't worry we will find you're parents, they are alive." Poppy said reassuringly. "Right Branch" she said with a forced happy face. "Yeah sure" I shrugged, I won't let this kid see my weak side.

"By the way, we should start walking faster so we would be closer towards our destination by nightfall and then stop there to rest for the night." I said with my brain functioning to calculate on how close we were to finding the others.

"Lead the way Branch." Iris said excitedly. I raised my eyebrow " You're not calling me Mr. Branch?" I said walking behind Iris. "I won't because it would make you frown." she said walking forward. "Thank you for respecting my wants Iris because someone here doesn't" I looked at Poppy. She walked beside Iris and snorted.

It's going to be a long day and with the extra troll, it's gonna be more crazy than before...

Anyone can make suggestions and Iris here is one of my make-up-imagination characters. I'm sorry if this chapter can be a little harsh. Goodbye for now :)