Chapter one

Branch didn't know, where to put himelf. His nerves tingled with… something. Whatever happend to him, he was not the only one. It only happend once befor and that time he had been in his bunker and took one cold shower after the other. It helped. But now he was in the village and he saw a lot of trolls looking as uncomfortable as him. Why he went to the village, he didn't know. Somehow he felt the need to go to the village, when he woke up feeling like something was crawling over his whole body. His feet itched, his head too, his stomach and his lower back tingled. It was maddening! He couldn't even describe the feeling. He felt hot and sweaty and itchy and tingly and ready to jump out of his skin! What was happening to him?!

„Hey, Branch." Guy Diamond just appeared next ro him, looking as uncomfortable as Branch was feeling. „You, too, hm?"

„Me, too, what?", Branch asked sharply. He was in a lousy mood and longed for a cold shower. He needed a cold shower or someone to just scratch away all this itchiness. It was maddening!

„It's our time.", Guy Diamond said calmly, even though he looked like he would just love to scream. That what Branch felt like anyway.

„Time for what?" Branch was confused. It's wasn't like he could think straight right now.

„Wait, you don't know?" Guy Diamond looked shocked. „The male Trolls change? What every male troll has to go through as least twice his life. Once as a teen to come though puberty and once at 24 to 27 to find their mate. If you don't in the next 3 days it will come back each year. Until you find your mate. The one ment for you."

Branch was floored. He read about it once, but he would never have guessed that. It felt horrible.

„What now?", he asked nervously. „What do I have to do?"

„Well, you and Poppy have been together for nearly two years. You where 24 when you got together. So, just go to her." Guy Diamond told Branch and pointed towards the royal pot.

„And then?" Branch felt scared.

„She will know. Trust her, because, if she is yours to be, you won't be able to think straight." That didn't calm Branch's nerves al all. He just grew more apprehensive. „Branch, just go. Poppy is probably waiting for you.", Guy Diamond said and shoved Branch towards the royal pot again.

Guy Diamond was right. Poppy sat anxiously in the royal pot, waiting for Branch to arrive.

„He should have been here by now. It has to make him crazy.", Poppy nearly shouted.

Peppy knew what Poppy meant. The change was horrible to manage alone. A male troll had to find ha female troll to help him, or he'd go crazy with all the itchiness and need. But there was a question, Peppy didn't dare to ask. Did Branch know? Did he know what to do? Did he know to go to Poppy? His instinct would lead him to the village, but there were so many femal trolls. Would he be able to arrive safely? The change threw a male troll into a turmoil of dizzyness, heat and vulnerability. They couldn't think or handle themselfs.

„If he is not here in 10 minutes, I will go look for him. The poor boy already stood next to himself yesterday.", Peppy assured his daughter. And if the blue troll wouldn't have disappeared so sudden, Peppy would have instisted, that he stayed over night.

„What if he can't make i on his own? Some changes are so strong. Maybe I sould have gone to him?", fretted Poppy and made a move to leave. Right then, someone knocked.

Poppy jumped up, but Peppy held her back. „I'll get him. If you open and it's as bad as I expect, he will freak out. Wait here.", the older troll explained and moved towards the door, after Poppy nodded her agreement.

As expected, Branch stood in front of the door, looking uncomfortable and sweaty and outright horrible. And scared. His eyes darted around and he seemed to be unable to stop moving. Yeah, he was in change alright.

„Hello, Branch. Looking for Poppy? She is waiting for you.", Peppy smiled at the young troll. But Branch didn't move. „Branch?"

„What is happening? What do I do?", the distressed young troll wispered and confirmed Peppy's suspicions. The poor lad didn't know, what's going on.

„Do you know what the change is?", Peppy asked comforting.

„Read about it.", Branch gasped out. „Shift in the hormones, supposed to lead you to your mate, yadda yadda."

„Right. And you are going though this. I could explain all the details, but you would just get worse.", Peppy tried to smooth the sweating and scared troll in front of him. „Poppy is waiting. She knows what to do and she will help you. Just trust her."

Branch nodded. Anything to get rid of this horrible feeling. He was not in control and he felt vulnerable and scared. Peppy took Branch's hand and pulled him inside the pot. The second Branch saw Poppy, all his senses went into overdrive. An electic surge shoot through his body and left him shivering and unsteady. Poppy walked up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. That was more than Branch could take. His knees gave out and he crashed into Poppy's arms. That just made is worse. Her skin sent electricity through him and he felt weak and helpless.

„Come on, Branch. We go to the bedroom. You will feel better.", Poppy wispered into Branch's ear and led him towards her bedroom.