As he had expected Branch had a sleepless night and it was not just coming from the burning hungry that he felt. No, it was because of her, the now fast asleep princess that always found some way to hurt him even more then he already was. Her words were like weapons yet she looked so sweet and kind when she slept. Why couldn't she open her eyes and see that he was not much different than her or any other troll in the village? He sat up and let out a heavy sigh just as Poppy turned over, it felt like his heart stopped for a second. He did not want her to wake up and start saying horrible things to him again, he wasn't in the mood.

"Please don't wake up," he said in his head as he watched her carefully but luck was on his side because she stayed asleep. Branch sat in silence for a long time as images from his past began to enter his mind.

"There's my handsome little boy," his mother said with a smile when he entered the room where she and his grandma were waiting.

"Mom," he replied shaking his head "I'm ten years old now, I'm not much of a little boy anymore."

His mother's smile widened "No matter how old you get, you will always be my little boy."

"Oh, come now Daffodil," Rosiepuff said calmly "don't embarrass the boy."

"Fine," his mother replied with a pretend pouting face and giving her son a quick wink "how about we head into town and let you pick out a treat for your special day?"

"A birthday treat?" Branch repeated happily.

"That's right," his grandma added "after all ten years old is a big step in a young troll's life. You are no longer a single number age."

"Neat!" Branch exclaimed "I'm going to pick out the biggest cupcake I can find!"

The next few memories were kind of a blur for the young grey troll because one minute he was laughing and having fun with his family and the next a group of hooded trolls surrounded his mom and grandma. Branch tried to protect them but they were a lot stronger than a kid. Everything happened so fast… his mother hugged him close to her but the hooded trolls shoved them apart. Branch tumbled to the ground and his grandmother quickly rushed to his side to help back to his feet before she too was taken away leaving the young troll all alone and scared. Branch remembered feeling his color and happiness just fade away and just how cold he felt or when he tried to get help but no troll seemed to care, they all turned their backs on him.

So, when a group of troll kids offered their help he believed them but that quickly faded when they led him to a clearing. "I think your mom and grandma is just through those bushes," a young female troll said pointing at a wall of tall shrubs.

"Well aren't you going to go see?" the male troll that had offered to help asked "Or are you scared and want me to go first?"

Branch stood there staring at the bushes as the male troll stepped forward, he walked over to the bush pushed the leaves aside and stopped. "I think I see something," he lied as he turned back towards the other trolls who were just watching him. A part of Branch told him not to go but then the other part was hoping he was telling the truth. The grey troll slowly walked toward the green troll that was still holding the bush limb aside so he could see but when he got closer he saw nothing.

"I don't…" was all he got to say before the green troll thought it would be funny to let the limb go so it could come back and slap the poor troll across the face. The sting from the slap brought tears to the young troll's eyes as he stumbled back with his left hand cupped over his cheek. The sound of snickering filled his ears the group of trolls found his pain to be funny.

"Did you really think we would help you?" the green troll asked smugly before giving him a hard shove backwards.

Branch could feel his heart start to beat fast with fear as the group of troll kids surrounded, his head told him to run but his feet seemed to be frozen on the spot. He blocked as much as he could until his legs decided it was time to get out of there and so he ran away as fast as his legs let him. He ran until he hit something solid, he stumbled back and looked up to see it was the female troll of the group. Her expression was not like the others and she stepped aside to let him pass.

"Hey Ugly where'd you go!" the green troll voice called from somewhere close.

Branch quickly ducked behind a rock and closed his eyes….."Suki have you see where he went?" the green troll asked the female troll.

"Nope," she lied.

"Fine," he sighed "let's just go, we'll get him next time."

Xmxmxmxxmxmx

Poppy let out a loud snore that pulled Branch out of his thoughts, he took in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. The grey troll laid back down, closed his eyes and fell asleep. It felt like he had just closed his eyes before Roselyn was waking him up.

"Morning big brother!" she said happily.

"Hi," he mumbled feeling an enormous headache setting in from not having enough sleep.

"Well I'm leaving!" Poppy's voice chimed as she hurried towards the exit.

"What so soon?" Branch asked sarcastically as he sat up.

The pink troll stopped and looked back at him, she felt really awful for the things that she had said but was too embarrassed and head strong to say she was sorry. Her step-mother would be so upset if she knew that she wanted to apologize to a grey troll. Yes, she may have said she was sorry in the past to him but actually mean it would be something else.

"Bye Roselyn!" she said as she gave the young troll a quick wave before heading on her way.