~ The Other Side of the Storm ~

Chapter 18

(I know, I said I was gonna wait until after the Blue Whale challenge and stuff to update, but now that I've learned more about it, it's not that bad. It's only in America, most of them are trolls, and they can only get your IP if you click a link, IPs don't give your exact location, they won't actually travel to you, it's just a threat. I hope you enjoy this, it's not as good as I hoped it would be, but I did cry a lot of times.)

The group of trolls all turned to see the source of the new voice that had joined them.

Standing before them was Branch, Biggie, and Rose, who weren't even aware who they were about to save.

The cats took a look at Rose and then ran away, scared of her from the last visit. "That's right, you better fear me!"

"And stop attacking people!" Biggie shouted after the cats.

"That was easier than I expected." Branch wiped the sweat off his forehead and turned to see who was there.

The first thing he saw was Poppy's sparkling eyes. Even in the darkness he could spot her from anywhere. "POPPY!?"

"BRANCH?!" Poppy gasped and tackled him to the ground, squeezing him in to a super tight hug. "I THOUGHT I'D NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Branch was crying all over her dress, but neither of them cared. He hugged her back, just as tight. He didn't care it hurt him to do so, he was so happy he was finally reunited with her. "ME TOO!"

Mandy rushed up to Rose, "I-I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!"

"Almost." Rose chuckled and pulled Mandy into a hug.

Verdana and Acorn joined their hug, sobbing just as much.

Guy and Biggie hugged each other normally, since they saw each other earlier.

"I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" Poppy kept tightening her grip on Branch, "I don't want to lose you ever again!"

"And you won't." Branch held her hand with his good arm, "I'm never leaving your side."

Poppy squealed and kept hugging him, "I'm never gonna stop hugging you."

"I'm fine with that." Branch sighed and continued to embrace her.

"What now?" Biggie was ready to go home, assuming that Poppy and Guy knew the way.

"We have to wait for Ash, Creek, and Archer." Guy explained.

Branch and Biggie looked disappointed, but nodded, "Okay.."

"So we're staying here?" Rose fell against a tree trunk and stretched, "Finally, I can catch up on some sleep!"

Branch continued snuggling with Poppy. Within seconds, he fell asleep. He was exhausted. He hasn't technically slept in days. He's passed out due to blood loss, but he hasn't really slept.

Poppy smiled and cuddled with him, playing with his hair, "Good night."

Everyone seemed to fall asleep immediately. For the first time, nothing negative was going on. Everything was calm and peaceful. They were reunited, they were asleep, and there was no danger nearby—

"Psst."

—But of course, in this book no peace is allowed.

"Psst." Someone was calling for one of them. "Psst."

No one moved at all, everyone stayed asleep.

The hiding troll groaned, "Branch!" He whisper shouted.

Branch continued to sleep, snoring slightly louder than he was before.

"Ugh," He groaned and wrapped their hair around Branch's waist, pulling him away from Poppy and dragging him into the bushes.