A Fighting Chance: A Trolls Fanfiction

Chapter 12

Poppy and branch once again made their way to the outskirts of troll village, continuing their planting of the firebell bulbs. It had been a week that they began the plan that king peppy had commissioned branch with. So far more than half of the work had been done. The search party king peppy rounded together managed to find several more firebell's in the area of the kingdom. Obtaining enough to keep the frostmouth snakes at bay. Branch decided to only take what would be needed for the area, leaving the rest to bloom and add an extra punch. Branch taught poppy all he knew about the forest and its dangers, as well as its benefits. Learning how to make an anti-toxin, skin salve's and fever reducer, she surprised branch on how well she memorized them all. He truly thought she was a natural. In poppy's view, branch was a good teacher. His knowledge of plants, flowers and creatures was indispensable. With another satchel full of bulbs, the two trolls travel to the southern outskirt of troll kingdom for their last planting session. Passing by many trolls thanking them for their hard work, while simultaneously congratulating them for having done so well thus far. It made branch proud that he was beginning to be accepted by the rest of troll village so quickly. All but one had fully accepted branch. Creek. They had merely glanced and glared at one another since the day creek had seen branch with his colors. Neither had any desire to speak to one another in any way, however, branch kept a close eye on the purple troll whenever he was nearby. And creek, made sure to keep his distance until he knew poppy was alone. Which was rare anymore. 

The princess and blue troll finally reached the edge of the forest in the southern border of troll village. Placing down his satchel, he hands poppy a cloth bag full of bulbs and digging tools. "Alright pop, here's some bulbs for you to plant, I'll keep some with me. Now, I'll go around to the right side of the border where it's more open, I would much rather you be able to keep cover by camouflaging yourself in the brush if you need to. So, you should take the trails to the left. But, Remember what I told you to do if you're in trouble or see a snake"? He asked strongly. "Yes branch, I yell as loud as I can if my camouflage doesn't work and stay close to the flowers in bloom, should they be near". She sighed with a smile. She didn't expect to run into any snakes since they haven't seen any yet at all. "Exactly, just please promise me-" He stopped when he heard bushes rustle and movement continuing in the woods around them. Pushing poppy behind him protectively, he quickly armed himself with a lance he had made from bamboo and sharpened razor clam shell he kept. Poppy's heart began to pound, wondering if there was a snake nearby, were they in danger? She was afraid, but not too afraid, branch was a well known survivalist, so he knew how to protect himself from any dangers when needed. So, naturally, he knew how to fight. She was quite surprised how defensive branch was becoming, she had never seen him in this type of protective mode before. 

More rustling could be heard, only closer and closer to them. Branch braced his body for whatever was to come, body tense and face strong and fierce. As the branches closest to them began to move with the sound of wood breaking and strange sounds accompanying them, poppy held onto branch from behind him, fully afraid. Out pops a puffer squirrel. Its little round rainbow body, and long fluffy tail hopped out from the brush, squeaking with a chipper whistle like chirp. Both branch and poppy sigh in relief, thankful it was just a little critter. Poppy was genuinely afraid for a few hard moments, but ended up laughing at herself over a silly puffer squirrel. Branch lowered his lance at the squirrel, making a jab motion at the little puff ball with a light growl. "Rah"! Instantly frightened, it scampered away up a nearby tree trunk into the treetop canopies. Branch noticed that poppy was giggling to herself. "What on earth are you laughing about"? He asked her with a puzzled look on his face. "I, I'm sorry branch. It's just that I was actually really scared that something dangerous was nearby, but it was just a silly puffer squirrel! I feel so silly"! She laughed to herself, almost holding her stomach in pain, she was laughing so hard. Branch, seeing her point, began to laugh as well. After a few moments of laughter, the two trolls pick up where they left off. "ok pop, what I was saying before. Please promise me, that you won't go off too far? And yell for me if you need help, alright"? He asked her sincerely as he held her face by her chin, with a face full of worry. She smiled at him, holding herself up proudly. "Yes branch, I promise. You've taught me well, and since we haven't seen any of them yet, I think I should be ok, but we'd better hurry. The southern border is the biggest one we have, so we don't have time to waste. Alright? Let's DO THIS"!. She says as she scoops up her bag of bulbs and supplies.