Branch had lost track of how many days he sat and waited with little Roselyn for her daddy to come get her. Some days he would bring things he found in the forest to eat but it never satisfied the hungry that burned in their bellies. Branch was starting to fear that maybe Roselyn's daddy had suffered the same fate as his mom and grandma. Though he hoped that he was somehow wrong but things seemed pretty weird. Oneday Branch went to go meet with little troll so he could sit with but she was nowhere to be seen. His heart sank as he feared that something bad may have happened to her.
"Look what I got!" he happy voice exclaimed as she hurried over to him holding up something.
"What is it?" he asked
"Mr Baker troll gave me a cupcake," she replied smiling
"Really?"
"Yep!" she beamed before holding up a second cupcake "And I asked him for one for my brother."
Branch did not know what to say as she handed the taller troll the small cake.
"I know you are hungry just like me," she exlained
"Thanks," the grey troll said quietly as he slowly took the small cake from her. They both sat down and slowly ate their treats. The burst of the sweetness danced around their tastebuds as they savored each and every bite. Branch couldn't remember the last time he had something that tasted this good.
"Yummy," Roselyn said right after she took her last bite "I wish had another one."
"Thanks again," Branch said before he finishedoff his cupcake.
"Your welcome," the little girl beamed before sitting in silence for a long time.
"What is it?" Branch asked out of curiousity when he noticed his small friend deep in thought.
"Are you going to change back into your right color?" she asked tilting her head to the side. "Because if you did the other trolls won't treat you different."
"It's not that easy," he sighed "I don't want to be his color but I can't help it."
Roselyn than reached forward and patted the grey troll on his hand "Don't worry Branch...someday your color will come back, I just know it."
Branch smiled and nodded but deep down he felt like nothing could ever make him happy again. He felt cold inside, how could Lady Abilene been so cold hearted enough rip familes apart the way that she had for no reason at all. He wanted his family back and for his young friend to find hers. He looked down at his grey color and he could not help to feel hurt. The trolls of the village refused to sell him anything even though he some money that was left from his mother.
"Your money is no good here!" they would snap before chasing the young troll away or a couple times a nasty troll would just take his money and not even give it back. When Branch would ask for the money back they would say either say "Your a liar...you never gave any money!" or "Why do you need it ugly?"
Their words cut deep but their punches hurt the most. Sometimes a group of teen trolls related to the trolls Branch had tried to buy from would come out looking for him. When they found him they would mock and tease him before becoming violent. Branch learned the hard way that it was best not to hide from them because when had they found him they made it hurt so much more. That is why in the dead of the night when ever troll was sleeping he was busy building a bunker where he knew he would be safe.
"My Daddy's not coming back...is he?" Roselyn asked pulling him out of his deep thoughts.
Branch looked at the young troll "I'm not sure," he replied "He might."
Roselyn looked down at the ground and sighed "I wish he was here right now. I miss him."
Branch could tell that she was sad and he did not want her to turn grey like him. He had become like a brother to her and he cared deeply for her. She was the only troll to show him kindness in his lonely world and he was not about to let anything happen to her. So he remembered what his mother use to tell him about his father.
"I bet your Daddy is on a secret mission with mine," he told her.
Her eyes lit up "Your Daddy is on a secret mission?"
"Yeah," he replied
"Cool!" she exclaimed
Branch smiled knowing she was happy with that answer just like he had been when he was younger.
Meanwhile a young Princess Poppy was learning about all the dangers of the outside world beyond the palace gates. Lady Abilene told her everything she needed to know about the outside world. "You see my Dear," she said softly "Our kingdom is made up of beautifully colored trolls and everthing is perfect."
The young princess smiled as she listened to her step-mother "However as much as I try to keep things perfect in the kingdom we still have imperfections."
"Imperfections?" Poppy repeated tilting her head to the right..not knowing what she meant by that word.
Lady Abilene nodded "Let me explain," she said giving a quick pause "Sometimes the kingdom suffers from nasty grey trolls."
"Why are the trolls grey?" Poppy asked
"They are bad trolls that want nothing more than to rip you apart," she explained "and if you ever come across one you must scream on the top of your lungs."
"How come they want to hurt me?"
"It's not just you but everyone, besides in their dna to do so. They are not like you or I," Abilene replied "A imperfection must be taken care of as soon as possible because you can't turn your back on them."
Poppy gasped as she hugged her toy close, if she ever ran into a grey troll it would be sorry. "Can I go visit my Dad tonight?" she asked changing the subject.
Lady Abilene let out a long sigh "I don't think that is really the best thing right now. You father is terribly ill right now and seeing him not in the best interest right now. You understand don't you?"
Poppy nodded "I understand."
"That's my girl," she said smiling "Now why don't you go run along and go play."
"Yes Lady Abilene," Poppy replied because she was forbidden to call her anything other than that.
"I tell you what," Lady Abilene said standing up "Tomorrow I will take you into the village to buy you a treat."
Poppy smiled and nodded, it would be her first time in the village and she did not know what to expect. She was so excited to get out and see the world beyond the walls that she only knew. Yes tomorrow was going to be a good day, she just knew it.
