"You guys! I'm so worried!" Poppy wailed to her friends. "I haven't seen Branch for days- I mean it's been at least a week. It's so weird."
"Well Branch is weird." Creek quipped, earning him a hurt look from the Princess. "Oh no, " he backtracked, "what I mean is , well you know darling, different. Maybe he's hibernating or something hehe. Don't worry Poppy I'm sure he's fine."
"Maybe he had enough of us and left." Satin shrugged her shoulders. Poppy was horrified at the thought. "No! Branch wouldn't leave - not without saying anything he just wouldn't!"
"Ok Poppy, just calm down. Satin didn't mean it like it that." Said Suki as she attempted to sooth the Princess. "Sorry Poppy!" Satin looked at her feet sadly. "Oh no I'm sorry Satin, I overreacted- I just really need to find Branch. I'll see you guys later."
"Hey I'll come with you, " called Suki. "And me!" Yelled Cooper followed by Fuzzbert. The rest of the Snack Pack watched as the four friends raced off.
"She's really worried about the sulky grey lump isn't she?" Sighed Chenile.
"Hey why don't we look for him too?" Smidge suggested.
"Yea that's a good idea she'll be so happy when we find him." Satin agreed as Biggie nodded excitedly.
The group searched for a while and soon found themselves near the edge of the village.
"Guys ... what exactly are we doing here anyway ?" moaned Creek, "He'll be fine off doing his own thing and if you ask me Poppy could use a break from him. His toxic vibes cloud her mind and - look there he is right over there picking berries. All this negativity and worry for nothing."
The Snack Pack cheered happily. "Lets go tell Poppy we've found him !" Cried the Satin .
"Good idea," said Guy diamond "you girls go find Poppy and tell her she can stop looking now."
As the twins raced off, Guy turned his attention back to where Branch was standing in the distance. "Maybe we should go ask him what he's been up to. " he smiled.
"Eh let me handle this one, love !" Creek hastily proposed, "I just wanna have a little chat about manners with our grey friend!"
Branch was staring at the bushes with his open backpack in his hands as Creek sidled up beside him.
"Alright Branch, how are things with you then?" The purple troll smarmed. "You know, our Princess has been terribly worried about you for some ... strange ...reason. Now, I keep telling her that you're a big boy and you can look after yourself but she just cares too much for her own good. "
Guy Diamond narrowed his eyes . Something wasn't right. Branch wasn't responding to Creek or making eye contact. He didn't even recoil when Creek snaked his arm around his shoulder.
"So mate , " Creek continued, "How about this then: next time you fancy doing a little disappearing act, do the decent thing and maybe leave her a note or something? Just a little something for you to think about eh? Eh? Assuming you know how to write that is?" Branch stumbled a bit as Creek poked him playfully in the chest, but the purple troll didn't relent. "Aw what's the matter, love? Have we had a little falling out or something ? You're so quiet today. You usually have something hideously unpleasant to say to me by now." Branch didn't reply but let his bag fall by his feet.
"Ok Creek that's enough." Guy Diamond interrupted sternly. Creek rolled his eyes. Biggie watched with interest, without Cooper and Poppy around he wasn't sure who to side with. Creek was smart and confident but Guy was kind and caring.
"Aww mellow out, Guy!" Creek whined, "This is our thing- what's a bit of banter between mates eh? Branch gets it don't you Branch?" He tugged on Branch's cheek before Guy Diamond grabbed him and pulled him away.
"Look there's obviously something wrong with him!" He hissed.
"What else is new eh?" Creek sniggered. Biggie laughed nervously, but stopped when the glitter troll shot him a dirty look. Guy sighed and walked back over to Branch.
"Hey Branch?" He said softly "are you picking berries today?"
Branch nodded silently as he turned to face him. He was gaunt and disheveled looking. His eyes were glazed and beads of sweat peppered his forehead even though he was shivering. "Smidge go get Dr Plum." Guy said quietly. Smidge looked Branch up and down before nodding and running off. Smidge was small but she was very fast.
Guy picked up the bag before turning back to Branch. "I'd like to pick some too. Can I share your bag?" Branch grunted in response.
Seeing what Guy was doing , Biggie approached softly. "Come on, Branch," he said taking the stricken Troll by the hand and pulling him gently towards a log. "Come and sit here for a minute." He stumbled a bit but Biggie managed to guide him. When Branch was seated securely next to the giant blue troll, Guy Diamond approached with a ripe and unripe berry.
"Branch, which berries should I choose ? The green or the red"
"...Red..." Branch panted. Guy smiled "Well done Branch. I'll get you red berries. "
"What do you think is wrong with him?" Creek enquired with a hint of concern in his usually nonchalant voice.
"I'm not sure." replied Guy placing his hand to Branch's forehead. "Definitely a fever - but at least he can answer a simple question. Hopefully he hasn't hurt his head or something."
"I need ...berries ... Berries heal." Branch tried to stand but Biggie's hand holding on to the back of his vest prevented him.
"It's ok, Guy is getting the berries" the large blue troll said in a calming tone.
"I'll help too !" Creek joined in.
"Now see the boys are getting the berries for you. You just need to sit here and keep me and Mr Dinkles company ok?"
Branch stared transfixed on the yellow worm for a couple of minutes before lurching forward suddenly and shaking uncontrollably.
"Oh shoot! Give him room. " yelled Guy, his auto tuned voice taking over. When Branch was finished the fit he vomited.
Creek rummaged through Branch's bag and pulled out a cloth and a small jar of water. He passed them to guy who gently cleaned the grey trolls face.
Biggie managed to sit Branch up again. "Look there! " gasped Guy as Branch's leaf vest hung to the side slightly.
"Ugh what is THAT?" asked Creek covering his mouth in disgust. Biggie lifted Branch who was now floppy and his eyes were rolling back in his head. "It looks like some sort of spider bite."
"Come on let's get him to Dr Plum if we're lucky we'll meet her half way." Guy cried. The trolls hurried off.
When Branch woke up he was lying on his side in an unfamiliar bed. It took him a few moments to register his surroundings, a deep purple pod and an overly clean smell. "Oh no not Dr Plum." He groaned to himself.
"Well well well, you're awake." the good doctor's voice rang out suddenly.
Branch hated Dr Plum for reasons he wasn't even sure of anymore but he knew by now to just grit his teeth and nod when she lectured him. It was not worth the argument and it wasn't very often Branch backed away from an argument.
"So you've been a very naughty boy, haven't you?" Branch didn't answer her. "Just how long ago did you get that spider bite then ? A week?"
"About that I guess." Branch said quietly. "Well you really should've come to see me straight away. It got infected, which gave you sepsis which led to a fever and that caused your convulsions. "
"Convulsions?"
"A fit. You had a fit. You're very lucky it wasn't more serious. Thankfully your friend came and found me in time. You must remember to thank her won't you?"
"Oh no Poppy must have found me." Thought Branch. "My uh ..friend?"
"Yes your friend , Smidge. "
Branch breathed a sigh of relief. It took him a minute to remember which one Smidge was but at least it wasn't Poppy.
"She brought me to where your other friends were carrying you. " Dr Plum continued but she could tell from his blank expression he had no recollection of any of it. "Biggie, Guy Diamond and Creek. And even luckier for you they had even gathered up some berries which you know have healing purposes. Now I'll be back in a moment with the medicine I've made from them. Your friends are outside and want to see you. Oh and before I discharge you I'll be giving you your full annual check up- you seem to have missed the last few. "
"Yippee. " Branch muttered. As the doctor left, Guy Diamond and Biggie entered. Branch was just relieved Creek wasn't with them.
"How's the patient? " Biggie greeted him cheerfully. "Uhm fine." Branch mumbled as he tried to sit up a bit.
"Hey, it's ok don't try to move," Guy said softly, "we just wanted to make sure you were ok. You gave us quite a shock."
"Yea sorry about that ... I'm fine really... look does Poppy know I'm here?"
"Oh honey, look behind you." Giggled Guy Diamond as he handed him a mirror he'd pulled out from his hair.
Branch used the mirror to look over his shoulder and gasped in horror. A pink glittering sea of cards, flowers, teddies, fruit baskets and a huge banner saying "Get Well Soon Branch!" assaulted his eyes.
"Oh no!" he groaned. "Just how much trouble am I in here?"
"Oh a lot. As soon as that spider bite is better she is going to hug you so much- you are gonna be squeezed absolutely silly mate!" Chortled Biggie.
"She kept a vigil. She didn't want to leave your side." Guy Diamond explained . "Creek only just managed to convince her to go get something to eat. She's going to want you to come stay with her for about a month! I've never seen her so worried."
"Any chance you can sneak me out of here before she comes back?" Branch asked hopefully, giving the two trolls the closest thing to a smile they'd seen from him in years.
"Sorry mate, Poppy would kill us and we're more afraid of her than we are of you." Replied Biggie.
"Anyway" said Guy "we should let you rest before she gets back. She's bringing her guitar- you've been warned."
"Yea we should get going. Take it easy mate eh?" Biggie said clapping his hand on the grey Trolls shoulder.
"Uhm listen ... Uhm I wanna say thanks for uhm... you know?"
The two trolls smiled. "Anytime mate." Biggie shrugged.
"Just maybe stay away from the spiders from now on." Guy Diamond advised giving a wag of his finger.
"It's ok. I won't do anything to worry Poppy again." promised Branch.
The two trolls left as Dr Plum re-entered the room. "Now young man, let's get you checked out."
"Lucky me." Moaned Branch, but for once he wasn't being 100% sarcastic.