Crystal Facets

Poppy

Poppy watched as Branch slipped out of the hole in the baseboard, and set down her own chunk of carrot. "I'm gonna go see Trollex! Maybe all he needs is a pick me up!" She padded off towards the young king, humming a chipper tune as she did.

When she had made it to Trollex, she knelt at his side and gently shook the young troll's shoulder. "Good morning, sleepyhead! Branch's gone to get you something to feel better, but I thought I'd stop by and say a morning howdy doody!"

He gave a small shiver, then pushed himself slowly into a sit. When he looked up at her, she let out a small gasp. "Ohmygosh...! Trollex, you look like you got hit by a Caterbus! What's wrong...?" She reached her hand out, gently brushing a piece of Trollex's stray hair from his face, checking his temperature as she did.

She almost immediately pulled her hand away with a look of concern. "You're on fire...! What helps with fevers...? I-I'll go ask the others!" She stood quickly and spun on her heels, running straight for the other trolls. "Guys, guys! Trollex is sick, he has a fever!"

Trollzart shot a look of concern towards Trollex, who was rubbing his arms as he shivered. "Oh, dear boy...! Perhaps it is this new environment that has him feeling so ill? I do hope Branch returns soon with... whatever he has gone to fetch."

Barb scratched at her head, looking towards the opening. "Did anyone catch what he was running off to grab? I don't think he said, but I'm not too sure."

Prince D shook his head. "Nah, I didn't hear him mention either." He looked towards Poppy, who glanced towards the opening Branch had left through. "Poppy, does Branch know something we don't?"

"Hmm?" She blinked a bit, taking a moment to realize she had been asked a question. "What? Oh, ummm... Probably. He's a really smart troll, and always comes up with something in a pinch." She rubbed at her arm, feeling anxious without Branch here. She hadn't realized just how comfortable she'd become with his presence in this strange place.

"Yeah! He knows lots about taking care of other trolls. He probably went to get something he knows will help Trollex! He—" Cooper paused mid-sentence, standing straight as his ears turned towards the stairs. "Steven's up here, but I don't know if Branch had a chance to hide..."

Poppy felt ice settle in her stomach, and began running towards the hole. She had to check, to see if Branch was safe. If Steven caught him, she'd jump in and explain. He seemed nice, so maybe he'd understand if she just explained what had happened?

As she stepped into the light, she was forced to shield her eyes from the sunlight pouring in. She didn't have a good enough vantage point to see Branch, or even to guess at where he might have hidden, but she could see Steven.

He seemed focused on his task, stuffing odds and ends into a—"Is... that a backpack that looks like a burger? That is..." She grinned, her eyes practically sparkling. "So cool!"

That was when her eyes caught a smile spot of movement in the rafters above. It was hard to tell at such a distance, but the grey blob was definitely troll shaped. It must be Branch! She glanced towards the ledge hallway up the height of the bed, and used her hair to latch on, pulling herself to the ledge before climbing the blankets the rest of the way up.

As she made it to the top of the bed, she looked up, ready to try and get Branch's attention. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw Branch now falling from the ceiling. There was nothing she could do from this distance, and the bed was too soft for her to get a good running speed. "Branch..."

She watched helplessly as he fell through the air, landing without a sound in the backpack. She stood, and quickly began running across the bed as Steven turned away, his attention drawn by some object on the floor. She didn't make it to the bag in time though, and ducked behind a statue made of stone and crystal. She bit her lip as the bag was zipped shut, and Steven ran off with Branch inside.