Sven tossed dirt with how fast he was racing at Kristoff's urges.
The harvester didn't know how long it had been since Hans was abducted, and whoever had taken him could be anywhere at this point. But Kri wasn't going to give up hope.
Not if he could help it.
It was strange, though. Suddenly feeling the need to rush after the prince like this, after all that he had done. Even his family seemed to like him. What could Kristoff do to compete with that?
But they are a bunch of rocks… No … That's mean. They aren't just a bunch of rocks, they are his mother, father, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, cousins—they are the ones that raised him, and taught him to live in the mountains. If they thought Hans was truly cold, and not worth salvaging – they would have said so.
There is a bit of hope for the prince, as crooked as he turned out to be… There should be just as much of a glimmer for Hans to lead on a life in that case!
Kristoff didn't know why he had to justify it to himself, he was already galloping through the trees like a rampant animal or an idiot.
The harvester sighed and called Sven out.
" Hey buddy—Slow down… Let's just take a breather here. I don't want us to charge in the wrong direction, and make us lost or lose sight of where Hans could be taken to…"
They stopped and Kristoff sat on a large boulder, wondering if maybe he could reason as to where the abductors may be heading, or hopefully find some clues.
Staring at the ground… It was hard to be able to see anything! It was dark, and Kristoff had put the torch out so he could hang on to Sven, which is when he felt a strange sensation rattle through him.
The boulder beneath him was moving!
"Agh!" Standing up, though not quite balanced Kristoff yelped out to Sven before falling back on the moving rock—which caught him.
" Hey! WHAT is the big idea sitting on people like that? Don't you have any manners?!"
Kristoff didn't take long to realize that he had stumbled across another rock troll, though he had never seen this one before…
FAR bigger than his moss covered relations that he advocated for. The love experts were severely outdone in size by this one. Why, he must be old in order to be this great.
The harvester lost control of his jaw, as it fell nearly to his chest in surprise and awe.
He could only be pulled out of this frightened, excited trance by a nedge from one of Sven's trusty antlers.
"Oh! Eh—Wh… a? Who are you?"
Kristoff stared up at the troll, putting has hand on his head to keep the hat from falling off .
"Name is OB—Human, and I am the type who don't like bein' sat on. "
"Sorry—I uh… But you are a rock troll, aren't you? Shouldn't you be with, you know—the other rock trolls on the other side of the … valley? "
The troll stared at Kristoff a moment. Then resolved, intending to move on and leave the scene.
" You ask too many questions. Now excuse me—Some of us, with manners have lives that need to be lived. Away from humans, especially the kind that try and move us, or bleed, or vomit, or try use us as furniture~"
Kristoff wondered why this troll had such a vendetta against his type, going on and on about being used like furniture. Kristoff only remembered lightly sitting down it wasn't like he was attempting to—Wait! Had he maybe seen the ones who had taken the prince?
"Wait, just a second. Eh—sir… Erh… Oh Boulder-ly Obby. "
"Ob."
" Yeah!
Ob Eh—I was wondering if you had perhaps seen a bunch of men come through here, recently?"
Kristoff did his best to keep himself from wanting to give up and walk off in aggravation or run away. He needed to know if this troll could help point him in the right direction to find Kristoff. It was his only lead.
" If I did…. Why does it matter? Why should I tell you? Hm?"
Kristoff folded his arms, sighing and pressing a glove to his chin.
" Do you like carrots? "
" No. I don't eat Earth's vegetation. Just …. human flesh!"
Trying to seem creepy to Kristoff, but the harvester just flinched and stepped back. Not leaving, not until he got an answer about Hans.
" Oh! Come on! Grand Pabie and Bulda raised me, I'm like their son! Just not made of a rock or … anything."
" Pabie? You mean… My brother that my father favored over me and my sisters. Please"
" How was I supposed to know you, a giant boulder, had a rough past with the one family who could vouch for me in this stubborn argument you are giving? Please, I'm just trying to find my friend who was kidnapped. I want to know whether he was taken through here, and what direction he was being taken in… That is all!"
Kristoff threw his arms up, trying to explain himself but the rock troll remained unmoved and winced his eyes on the harvester.
" Alright. I'll tell you … BUT you must do something for me…"
" Uh- Okay?"
" Answer a series of riddles and prove yourself. "
" Shoot—"
Kristoff murmured, unfolding his arms and readying himself for some sort of high-intellectual battle. Hoping he may be smart enough to get past this. He was losing time. Which could mean Hans' life.
" What are … Some… things you can never eat for breakfast?"
" Hm… Well I only eat carrots… So… Something that you'd eat at lunch or dinner?"
" Is that your answer? Lunch and dinner? "
" Well uh—"
" That was… correct. Surprisingly. Hm, Smarter than what your hair leads on."
Kristoff wondered if the reasoning this troll had was actually genuine. He happened to mutter out his answer, and the troll took it. Perhaps it would be easy! Kristoff smirked and leaned forward ready for the next riddle.
The next riddle not what he'd expect.
"What's orange and sounds like a parrot?"
Really? Kristoff lifted an eyebrow. If an answer for any riddle were to ever come to him, and be the best. This would be it.
Thinking himself funny, he pulled just what he thought the answered was from his pocket.
Taking a bite.
" Is it a carrot?"
" No…"
Kristoff spit his bit and frowned, only to have the troll take it back.
" No… You are right—Yes it is a carrot."
Throwing the rest to Sven, just one more riddle and he'd find out where to go.
" What age goes up and never comes down? – NO no… Wait a second. WHAT goes up and never comes down…?"
Kristoff couldn't believe it, but this troll who seemed incredible was ruining his own riddles. Pitiful.
" Age?"
" That's correct"
Once Ob unfolded his arms, Kristoff realized he had passed and looked at the troll intently. Wondering if he had seen Hans.
" Alright. So did you see anyone?"
" Yes. There was a gang of large harvester-type men. They didn't have any ice, though. But they were very loud, and one of them got his blood on the ground right over there.
Kristoff softly inhaled, like a gasp—but kept the reaction to himself. And murmured the prince's name under his breath. Worried about what they had done to him. He was already bleeding… He nodded.
" And the direction they are heading in?"
" I think they were heading north. If you go that way, and can solve any more riddles you may run into more like me who might be able to help you. Or myself. Ob is not just here. Ob is everywhere."
Interesting. The harvester took that into account and nodded. He turned to Sven, ready to mount him—and take off. Just before doing so, Kristoff turned around to see Ob.
" You know… Your riddles are great. I think you should ask them more often when people come through here."
"Really?"
" Yeah—Like a toll. It is a good idea. Alright then.
Thanks!"
The harvester turned, leaving a almost smiling boulder behind him as he set off in the direction that Ob said he had seen the men go in. Hoping to find him in time.
There was only so much of a human that could be healed, physically…
Please be okay.
