A New Journey Awaits

Chapter 5

    Later that week, Jim went down to Trollmarket instead of school. There was 2 weeks left, so it was pointless, and he really didn't wanna go to school. He walked around. The trolls were out and about again- since their Trollhunter was back. There was really no reason for them to hide when Jim was in the Darklands, but they took precautions anyways. He went over to where all the trolls' body's were kept, those who had died due to the battle with Angor Rot. He didn't want to come down here, it was to painful, but he knew Blinky would be here. Mourning his lost friend. Blinky seemed sad. Just sad. Sometimes he would go crazy over the fact that AAARRRGGHH!!! had died. Other times he would cry himself to sleep, near AAARRRGGHH!!! It hurt Jim to see his friend in this much pain. It hurt him worse when Blinky got so upset he went crazy. Jim and Blinky had grown so close since he had become Trollhunter. Jim left, knowing Blinky would leave soon like nothing had happened.
    Later that day he met up with Toby and Claire after school. "Has Blinky been going to mourn AAARRRGGHH!!!'s death everyday while I was gone?" Jim asked his two friends.    "Yes, but it's healthy to mourn, instead of keeping everything locked up." Claire answered. "Well, I don't think it's healthy to mourn everyday for over a year. I just wish I could help him somehow." Jim stated.
    "We all want to help him, Jimbo, but there's nothing we can do for him right now." Toby said.
    "Maybe... you should talk to him, Jim. I think that would help." Claire suggested.
    "I'm no good at giving out advice. And it'd be weird to just listen to his problems." Jim said. "I miss the days when all I had to do was find a goblin nest, or capture a gnome."
    "We, Jimbo, I was part of that, too. It was you and me." Toby said. "I mean, awkwardly hiding the truth from Claire was easier than this."
    "Excuse me, you could have told me sooner." Claire retorted.
    "We probably wouldn't have told you if the goblins hadn't made you their next target. I only told my mom because Strickler moved in, thanks for not telling me, about that, by the way." He said kind of annoyed. They approached the bridge. Claire pulled out the horngazel, and opened the entrance. They headed down to the forge. "Draal... you were... protecting my... house while... I was gone, right?" He asked while trying to escape the large troll.
    "Sort of, why?"
    "Well, Strickler moved in with my mother at some point." Jim complained. "Must have been after I left your house."
    "Why, when did you leave?"   
    "After around 4 months. No one has ever gone in and come back out other than your gnome friend. Most of us figured you had died."
    "After four months, who kept faith?"
    "Tobias and Blinky, Tobias lost his three months later. But Blinky never lost his, the last five months he's been a complete wreck." Jim looked over to Blinky, who was leaning against the wall asleep.
    "How so?"
    "He was sleep deprived, upset, always trying to find a way to get you back. AAARRRGGHH!!!'s death didn't help much." Draal said. "That new armor is doing you good. What happened to your old armor?"
    "I have no clue. I used it to get into the Darklands, but when I came out, it was gone." Jim said, concern in his voice. Draal didn't seem happy about this, either. They continued sparring, testing each others skills.