First scene - Branch's bunker

„Branch?" The grey troll skipped around. Peppy, the king of the trolls himself, stood behind him, well… now infront of him.

„King Peppy, what is it?" Branch was nervous. What could his king want? He was about to follow Poppy. She wouldn't make it on her own and Branch was worried.

„Are you going after her?", Peppy asked, but didn't wait for a confirmation. „Watch out for her and come back safely. Both of you. I don't want to loose another Troll."

Branch didn't know, how the King had figured out what he was up to, but just nodded. „I will bring her home. And if it's the last thing I'll do.", he promised and was about to vanish. A thought stopped him. „Do you know „Can't stop the feeling"?", Branch asked and faced the king again.

„The song? Of course. Why?" Peppy lokked puzzled.

„When we return, that will be the signal to come out of here. Unless you hear this song being sang DO NOT COME OUT!", Branch emphasized the last part word for word. „I mean it. Not for anything at all. Not a call or a scream or Poppy's bell. Stay here. „Can't stop the feeling" will be the call for a safe return. Otherwise, we come just down here."

Peppy nodded. He was the king, but this was Branch's home. And with the bergens finding them, he trusted the over-careful troll's judgement.

Branch nodded back and crawled up one of the secret tunnels leading to and from his hideout. At least he started to, but turned around again. „If we are not back in two weeks and your supplies run out, relocate. If we make it later, we will find you."

Peppy didn't like that idea and judging from the grim look on the grey face in front of him, Branch didn't like it either. But then the grumpy troll gave a kinda-smile. „I will get to her… and she will come back. I make sure of that.", he promised and left. The space was tight and dark. But Branch knew every little part of his bunker like the back of his hand. It was his home after all and he built it. For a stranger, it would be a nightmare to get around. But the grey troll had never had a problem with it. And so he made it to the top and started his journey following the stupid, brave, overly-positive, annoying, strong and brash princess. And, even if he would never say it, he was feeling a little bit of hope, they would make it.

Scene two – Branch finds Poppy

Branch spotted Poppy after she just kinda jumped out of a forrest creatures mouth. The thing just looked like a giant hill, but Poppy -unknowingly- had stepped on its mouth and fell -after balancing on its tongue for a sec. Branch's blood froze, fearing that he would fail his king and the pink princess. But Poppy surprised him. She somehow managed to catapult herself out of the mouth. But she was just so… ugh… naiv! Seriously? Eating a berry, she didn't know? Rolling farther, without seeing where? Branch had troubles to keep up. Damn it! Poppy wait! But then he stopped dead in his treks. Spiders! Huge, nasty, agressive and hungry spiders! And Poppy, wrapped, unconscious and surrounded! Branch fought with his fears. Then he slapped himself. He would NOT fail another troll!

Silent and careful, he slipped down the tree he had been standing on and to a distance, where he could reach Poppy as quite as he could. Branch, wrapped his black hair around the branch above him and swung himself forward, landing silently on a big pink flower… seriously? Pink?... Form there he rolled of and landed on the grass a few meters away. He made it right on time. As one of the spiders was about to charge, he jumped in, wrapping his hair about the cocoon and pulling it out.

I just thought, Branch is soooooo prepared and he doesn't trust anyone except Poppy ans himself, he would prepare for Creek's betrayal. What would happen then?

It's just an idea I had in my mind since I read "Taken". It's also on and it's sooooo worth checking out. Next chapter will be up soon.

Love, Prim

Ps: Reviews are always welcome.