Today was the day Lilac would make her great escape and she was more than nervous.

She was on the verge of an anxiety attack.

The only time Creek would leave the cabin, was when he getting low on the food supply. He would usually collect things such as vegetables and berries, and he would get just enough to last him for weeks.

All she wanted right at this moment, was to get away from him and that stupid accent of his.

As she put some more clothes into her bag, Lilac began to hear footsteps down the hall. In an instant, she quickly hid her bag and climbed into her bed. When Creek finally opened the door to her bedroom, she scrunched her eyes shut, and prayed that he would go away.

Eventually when he left, she grabbed her backpack from it's hiding spot and darted down the hall.

She watched from the window as he began to disappear behind the trees.

Lilac waited a couple of minutes before departure, mainly because she didn't want to get caught. When the coast was clear, she quickly made her way over to the window and lifted it up with ease.

She wasted absolutely no time climbing through it and getting as far away as she could from the cabin.

I might actually get away with this! She thought happily to herself.

The grey troll wrapped her hair around a branch and started to swing herself from tree to tree. She only did this to prevent herself from getting caught.

If she traveled by foot, she'd have a greater chance of getting caught by the purple troll. And that would completely RUIN all of her plans. Since the cabin was deep in the woods, It would take her at least two whole days to reach her destination.

Since it was already nightfall, Lilac figured it was time to hit the hay. She dug into her bag and pulled out a sleeping bag and a pillow.

She was very lucky that it was very warm outside, otherwise she would have to make a fire.

And that was something she definitely couldn't do.

As she started to get settled in her sleeping bag, Lilac heard a strange rustling sound in the bushes.

She was frozen with fear.

What If Creek had come back for her!? Oh, how terrible that would be. Especially since she made it this far.

It wasn't long before a troll with light green skin and yellow hair emerged from the bushes. He was wearing a black cloak and dark brown pants.

He looked like he was around her age but she wasn't too sure. She couldn't see his face very well because it was pretty dark outside, but glow bugs began to brighten the forest for her.

Now that she could see his face better, she was pleasantly surprised to see how attractive he was.

But that was last thing she could even think about.

When the strange troll started to approach her, Lilac climbed out of her sleeping bag before he could get any closer.

" Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." The troll assured her.

" Who are you?" She asked in a shaky voice.

" The name's Sparrow and it's a pleasure to meet you." He gave her a tight smile. Lilac still wasn't sure if she could trust him. After all, he literally came out of nowhere!

Suddenly his smile faded, " What's a little girl like you doing out here in the woods?"

She frowned at him, " For your information, I'm not a little girl!" She retorted, " I'm turning 14 pretty soon."

Sparrow chuckled with amusement, " Well, isn't someone feisty?" He teased. Lilac rolled her eyes ," Why are you here anyway?"

"The real question is why are you here?" He questioned.

Her shoulders slumped a bit, " I...can't tell you that."

Sparrow took a seat and gestured for her to sit down. Lilac was hesitant to even go near him, but she eventually sat down.

She could feel his eyes on her and she felt very uncomfortable.

" What happened to you? You look like you were beaten up by a cat!" He exclaimed. It didn't take a genius to know what he was talking about.

Her cuts and scars.

She had so many of them,and all because of that monster .

" It's a long story." She sighed. " Well, I have all night so you better start talking." Sparrow deadpans.

So she told him everything.

She told him about the punishments she received from Creek, her missing parents, and her journey to the the troll tree.

By the time she was done, Sparrow's hug time bracelet went off.

He hesitantly pulled her into a tight embrace and she refused to hug him back. So her arms just lay limp at her sides.

Lilac cringed inwardly, "Don't touch me." She replied coldly.

He didn't move , "But-"

" Butts are for sitting! Now release me." She ordered.

Sparrow pulled away from her in hopes that a smile would be on her face, but he was wrong.

Lilac was still frowning and she looked greyer than ever.

They sat in awkward silence before Lilac finally spoke up, " I think you should leave." She said abruptly.

He raised an eyebrow, " And why should I do that?"

" I bet your parents are wondering where you are, you should just go home." Lilac explained.

He gave her a solemn look, causing her to have an expression that matched his own. "What's wrong?"

Sparrow glanced at her, "I'm an orphan."

Her eyes widened in shock , " I'm so sorry I didn't-" He held up his hand to silence her, " You didn't know, big deal."

" Don't you ever get lonely?" She asked him.

" Of course I do, but I'd rather be by myself than get adopted. Why do you think I escaped from the orphanage pod?" Sparrow scoffed.

Lilac didn't say anything so he kept talking, " I was abandoned as a baby because my parents didn't want me, and all my life I've been rejected by other trolls because I wasn't good enough."

She suddenly felt really sorry for him.

She could only imagine how it felt for him to be rejected so many times. It's a miracle he didn't turn grey.

When she looked over at the green troll, she could've swore she saw a tear at the corner of his eye.

" If you want you could stay with me." She offered.

Sparrow's face lit up, " That's very generous of you, I'm tired of being alone anyway."

" I'm glad you're tagging along. I need all the help I can get." Lilac said. He gave her a bewildered look, " What am I helping you with?"

" Do you know how to fight?" She asked, ignoring his question.

" Well, back at the orphanage I took archery and fencing classes." He replied absentmindedly.

" That's good enough for me." She shrugged.

" Why are you going to the troll tree anyway?" Sparrow questioned.

Lilac wasn't sure if she should tell him anything , " Why do you want to know?" She shot back.

"If I'm coming along, the least you could do is tell me why we're going there." He pointed out.

Lilac groaned in frustration, " We're going to the troll tree because I need to warn the queen about Creek."

The green troll shifted uncomfortably under her cold stare, " Maybe we should go to bed."

Lilac nodded and got into her sleeping bag, " Do you have anything to sleep in?"

Sparrow shook his head, " I don't have anything with me." Lilac gave him a concerned look. " Maybe we can share my sleeping bag." She suggested.

He chuckled nervously, " No, that's ok."

" Fine, if you freeze to death it'll be all your fault." She huffed.

He gave her an exasperated look, " It's not even that cold outside!" Just then, the temperature dropped, causing him to shiver.

Lilac had a smug look on her face, " You were saying?" He glared at her, " Fine, I'll get in your sleeping bag."

The grey troll scooted over to make room for Sparrow, and when he got in, he was so close to her that their shoulders touched.

" Do you feel better now?" She asked him.

" I guess."

Sparrow couldn't help but feel his face heat up. He had never been so close to a female before and it was sending him into overdrive.

When he glanced over at Lilac, she had already fallen asleep and she began to snore softly.

He cracked a smile, and whispered goodnight to her before drifting off into a deep sleep.

When he awoke the next day , Lilac was nowhere to be found.

The spot beside him was warm, meaning that she left not too long ago. A frown came upon his face, because he feared she may not return.

Sparrow stood up and began to look around for Lilac, in hopes that he would spot her. And he eventually spotted her, just not how he thought he would find her.

Lilac just happened to be taking a bath in the lake with her back facing him. She was too busy singing to herself to even notice his presence.

Her singing was quite enchanting and Sparrow would've stayed longer if he wasn't so worried about getting caught.

He blushed from embarrassment as he turned to walk away, and as he did this,he stepped on a twig causing Lilac to notice him.

She looked absolutely mortified.

Sparrow wasted no time running over to their camping spot, never looking back. When he left, Lilac climbed out of the pond and dried herself with a towel.

After changing into a clean dress, she made her way over to her sleeping bag and began to pack her things.

When she heard footsteps she turned around to meet the eyes of Sparrow, who looked ashamed.

She glared at him, " You are such a pervert, why were you spying on me?"

His cheeks turned red, " I wasn't spying on you I swear, I was only going to look for you." He rambled.

Lilac gave him a look of uncertainty, " likely story."

Sparrow threw his hands up in defeat, " I would never dream of doing that to you. How was I supposed to know you were taking a bath?"

Lilac didn't respond.

" That's what I thought." He growled.

Her face began to soften, "Sparrow, I'm sorry for accusing you of spying." He gave her a small smile, " That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

For the first time in days, Lilac smiled.

" We better get going, if we start walking now, we'll make to the troll tree in no time." She grabbed his cloak and handed it to him.

" Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Sparrow laughed.

Lilac rolled her eyes at him playfully as he began to walk towards their destination. For a 15 year-old, Sparrow had maturity of an adult and the spirit of a child.

And Lilac admired him for that.

On the way to the troll tree, Sparrow told her stories of his life at the orphanage and all the dangers he encountered on the day he escaped.

His stories fascinated her and it even inspired her to become more adventurous like him.

When it was time for lunch, they found some berries and honey to eat. It was very refreshing, especially since Lilac hadn't eaten in 3 days.

While Sparrow ate he suddenly realized something.

All this time, he didn't know her name. There's only one way to find out. He cleared his throat to get her attention, " What's your name?"

" Well, my name is Lilac but my parents call me Lily." She said quietly.

" What a beautiful name." He breathed.

She tried to hide her blush, " Thanks."

" Would you like me to call you Lily?" Sparrow asked. She raised an eyebrow, " Only my parents call me that." She reminded him.

"Right."

She bit into another berry, "Just call me Lilac instead."

They sat in silence while they finished up their lunch and it wasn't long before they were back on their feet again.

" Do you think we'll make it by dark?" Sparrow asked as he approached her. Lilac shrugged, " I'm not too sure."

" What are we going to tell the queen exactly?" He inquired.

Lilac giggled, " You're a curious one, aren't you?" Sparrow raked his fingers through his hair ," What can I say?"

" I was only going to tell her that Creek was going to come back, I guess." She replied dismissively.

" Are we going to stay there?" He said hopefully.

" Of course! There's no way I'm going to stay in the forest so we can rot." Lilac couldn't imagine living in the forest that long.

After all, who would want to stay in a secluded area? Creek would be bound to find her and punish her for running away.

The thought of Creek triggered some painful memories. She couldn't help but think everything was her fault.

After all, she was the one who decided to trust a total stranger.

She couldn't help but remember the first day she met him. He seemed so kind at first, but it wasn't long before she realized what a cruel troll he was.

Oh, how he beat her whenever she failed to meet his expectations.

Without even knowing it, tears began to slide down her slightly flushed cheeks and they kept flowing like a river.

Sparrow stopped walking to pull her into a hug, which she only returned half heartedly. " What's wrong?" He asked in a soothing voice.

" I'm scared he'll find me and punish me and..." Lilac's voice trailed off as she began to cry some more.

He shushed her as he rubbed her back to comfort her. " I won't let him get you, I promise."

When she pulled away from him, her eyes were bloodshot and her nose was a little runny.

Sparrow then handed her a handkerchief, which she blew into very noisily. " Do you feel better now?"

She shook her head, " I'm still worried he'll find me."

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, " As long as you're with me, you won't have to worry about being taken by Creek."

Lilac gave him a look of doubt, "I don't know about that." She sniffed.

When another tear began to slide down her cheek, Sparrow quickly wiped it away with his finger," Take my word for it."

She cracked a smile, " You know, it feels nice to have someone to depend on."

" Well I can't just let him take you." He shrugged.

In an instant, the grey troll hastily pulled him into a hug, and Sparrow was taken aback by this.

" Thank you." She whispered.

He was befuddled by this, " What for?"

She backed away from him, " For looking after me." Sparrow ruffled up her hair, " No problem."

Lilac winced, " Please don't do that."

" What,this?"He ruffled up her hair again. She swatted his hand away, " My scalp is very tender."

Sparrow nodded in understanding, " Oh, sorry."

" Eh, don't worry about it."

They began to walk again in silence. Lilac couldn't help but notice how slow Spencer was walking. Every once and a while, she'd stop walking just so he could catch up.

After it happened for the fifth time, she was beginning to lose her patience. Lilac glared at Sparrow who was a couple of feet away from her, " Can you walk any slower? We'll never make it to our destination."

" This is as fast as I can go." He replied defensively.

She rolled her eyes, " Ugh! That isn't fast enough. Why can't you just run?" He suddenly became interested in the floor.

Lilac got closer to him, " I mean come on! Don't your legs work?"

He didn't respond, instead he just rolled up one of his pant legs to reveal a leg brace. She looked a bit surprised.

Sparrow forced out a laugh, " I sorta have a ... minor disability."

She nodded, eyeing his leg brace.

He felt uncomfortable under her cold stare, " I wear this because when I was born, my leg was stuck in a weird position."

Lilac frowned, " How long have you been wearing one?"

Sparrow thought for a while, " I just recently started a leg brace. So pretty much all my life I would walk with a very bad limp."

Lilac tilted her head to the side in confusion, " I mean, I know your leg is messed up and all, but what's wrong with it exactly?"

He sighed, " Basically, I wear one to straighten out my leg." Sparrow stood up, " That's why I was abandoned, because other trolls would make fun of my parents for having a messed up baby."

Sparrow bit his lip, " So they got rid of me...for good."

She felt pity for him.

What kind of parents would abandon a child with a abnormality?

" I'm sorry, I didn't know. I promise to slow down next time." Lilac gave him an apologetic look.

Sparrow forced a smile.

When really, He was really trying to prevent himself from bursting into tears right there and then.

" I think it'll be better if I try to speed up, I don't want you waiting on me." He frowned.

She shook her head, " No way! I'll be more than glad to slow down." Sparrow looked grateful, " Thanks."

He rolled down his pant leg and began to walk with her again.

She saw how much he was struggling to walk. How come she didn't notice this before? If only there was a way for him to walk better...

It wasn't long before she got an idea.

She picked up the longest stick she could find and handed it to him. Sparrow glanced at it, " What's this for?"

" You can use the stick for support, just don't lean on it too much or it might break." She explained.

He flashed her a smile, " Wow, you're just full of ideas aren't you?" She blushed, " Well, I am quite the thinker."

Sparrow positioned the stick by his bad leg and he began to use it as a cane to help him walk, " It actually works!"

She beamed, " Let's go, there's no time to lose!"

He couldn't help but smile as she began to skip around and Sparrow couldn't help but notice something.

Her skin now had a blue-ish hue to it. Although, it was very subtle.

Sparrow now had another reason to stay with her.

So he could see her get her colors back.

AN: I know it's been a while since I updated and I figured this chapter would make up for it. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did!

Xoxo