Moonlit Horns (Trollhunters fanfic)

Chapter 20, A New Life

"He's breathing, but it's faint. And his heartbeat grows ever slower."

Bular tensed at her words. He put a hand on her back gently, looking at her and trying to think of the words.

"Please.. is there anything we can do to help him? He's my little brother... And I wasn't there to protect him. I've always known he wasn't strong enough for this kind of mission..."

Bular got choked up, standing and pacing around to calm himself.

Sereya sighed softly, looking over Jim's features. He really did take after her. She was devastated the day he disappeared from her life.

But how could he have just wandered off in such a short amount of time?

Jim groaned, gaining the two's attention once more.

"Brother! Can you hear me?" Bular knelt beside the smaller troll, eyes flickering back and forth on Jim's features to see if Jim would move again.

For some time, he didn't. But when Sereya checked his pulse again, her eyes lit up.

"His heartbeat has gotten better! But how..?"

She and Bular sat puzzled for a moment, but Bular soon had an idea. The Heartstone. He must have still retained some after their father's attack.

"I think he's been saved by the powers of the Heartstone."

Sereya looked up at the large troll quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"He was in Trollmarket for a while. He drained the Heartstone as per father's request."

"But how did he get there? He is a Gumm Gumm after all."

Bular paused. Not sure of what her reaction would be next, he inched away slightly.

"The Trollhunter had taken him in when he was a whelp... -but I took him back a few days later, of course."

The half trolls face became gloomy and dark, and Bular backed away some more without raising attention to himself.

Sereya mumbled something to herself but stayed by Jim's side.

"But if you took him back while he was young then how did he get back in when he was older?"

Bular was about to reply when Jim's eyes suddenly flickered open and he looked around slowly.

"Jim! The two trolls shouted in unison, starting Jim as he sat up and held his head.

"Loud..." Jim mumbled.

Both flinched and apologized quietly, then took turns looking him over. Jim rubbed his bruised throat and sighed. He then looked up and tilted his head.

"Wait, who are you?"

His eyes were glued to Bular in curiosity.

"I.. I am your brother, Jim..."

The half troll blinked and just nodded softly. Bular glanced at Sereya who returned his worried gaze.

"Why has he forgotten me? What did that troll do to my little brother?!"

There was a panic in his voice. Sereya scoffed. "Half trolls like us can get injuries you big hunks of rock don't. He probably sustained some brain damage from the lack of oxygen."

Bular looked back at Jim who was spacing out, still on the ground. Bular scooped him up and held him close. Jim had no reaction to it, and Bular seemed to feel a phantom pain in his chest.

Would Jim recover his memory at all? Or would it be like a fresh parchment? It might be good though. With no ties to Gunmar, jim could be happy, and be who he wanted to be. Something that was unattainable for Bular.

"Hey Jim? How was your nap? Do you feel better?"

Bular smiled when Jim looked up at him. Though he said nothing in return he gave a tiny smile to Bular.

Sereya noticed how gentle Bular's words were, and glared at him.

"I know what your plan is, but he needs his memories back."

"Maybe so, but I just want him happy. And a life without father will surely do that."

Bular began to walk deeper into the forest as the sky began to lighten. He disnt get far when an axe flew past him and struck a tree, embedding itself deep within the bark. He glanced back at Sereya.

"I'm not letting you take him from me. You can both live at my hut. Let's go."

Bular grumbled and waited for Sereya to yank her axe out of the tree. Then they headed back to the mud hut.

When they did, bular scowled.

"It's too small."

"Then we will make it bigger. Jim can help too."

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The three worked to gather up the mud-clay mixture to make up the hut, and were now in the process of extending it set that Bular could fit inside too. Jim was having fun with it, his large smile said so.

He didn't have any old memories resurface yet, but he had started getting to know his mother and brother all over again.

His playful side that had been mostly buried before was making its appearance now as he threw mud at Bular. Bular chuckled and then returned a larger glob of mud back to Jim.

The hut was finished and was now just waiting to dry and harden.

Everything was alright, except for the clash between mother and son. Jim was off wandering nearby, but was within view of the other two.

"I know your trying to make new memories and all, but he needs to remember, or at least relearn some of his skills. You can't keep him helpless likes he's a whelp again. He needs to know how to fight."

Bular growled at Sereya's words.

"Fighting is what got him in this predicament in the first place!"

"But you cant leave him defenceless!"

"He's not defefencless, I am here and I'm all the defense he needs!" Bular slammed his fist into a tree, then took a deep breath.

"Do you realize how you sound?"

Bular growled at Sereya's words and stomped off to go find Jim who ended up wandering off.

Yes, Bular knew he sounded way overprotective, but he couldn't help it. Well, maybe he could help it, but rather he didn't want to.

"Jim, what did I say about going across the creek?"

"Sorry brother, I just thought I saw someone."

Bular was instantly on high alert, scooping him up and crossing back over the creek, starting into the forest across.

Jim just stayed quiet in his brother's arm, cuddling up to him.

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Bular sighed. Jim looked up from his food curiously.

"What's wrong brother?"

"Nothing is wrong Jim. I just wanted to give this to you."

Bular reluctantly handed Jim the Amulet.l, who took it and looked at it in awe.

"Its very pretty."

Jim said as he tried to bite it, quickly realizing that wasn't a good idea. Sereya glanced at Bular, who met her gaze with a scowl. She simply nodded to him and resumed eating.

"I'm going to train you starting tomorrow, Jim."

"Train me?"

Bular nodded.

"Yes, so rest up. And keep that amulet close at all times. It's very special."