Branch

Prologue

The darkness of the night was nothing compared to the shadowy sorrow filling the old Troll's heart. She stared down at the little boy resting just beside her, snuggled up into the warmth of his covers with a little stuffed animal squeezed in his arms. His bright blue cheeks were slightly damp from all the crying he'd done today.

It had been a horrible day. Trollstice, a holiday created by the evil ogre-like monsters who lurked right outside their tree called Bergens. Every year on this particular day, the Bergens would gather around Troll Tree to eat Trolls. You see, they were depressed creatures who did not have a talent in singing and dancing and showing friendliness like the Trolls did. So, to feel happiness, they ate Trolls, hoping their sweet blood would spread throughout their bodies and grant them the positivity they did not have in their lives. It was a horrible, cruel day for every citizen of the village.

The old purple-skinned Troll reached out with her hand to rest it on the blue boy's shoulder. He was her grandson. Today his parents had been stolen from him, eaten by the Bergens along with many more of their friends. She sighed and lowered her face towards his, gently pecking his cheek in a tender, loving kiss before pulling back just slightly. She rubbed her thumb over his soft blue skin, feeling so sorry for the little Troll. He had been so happy and energetic and when she saw him crying from all the grief that had been thrown down on him, she hardly recognized him. It was as if the clone of him had come, switching places with him.

"I'm so sorry, my sweet little Branch," she muttered, nuzzling his face gently. She rose to her feet, staring at the sleeping little boy with a rather sorrowful gaze before she turned, leaving the room and heading towards her own bed for the night. She had no idea what was going to happen now.