A/N: Guess what? I have a new laptop!!!!! Well, it's actually my moms but I know she's still not gonna use it anyway XD

I haven't checked this chapter yet if it's okay. And yeah it's fresh out of the pan. I know it's against the rules if its freshly made because there will be typos and whatnot but I assure you I made it typo-free... If my judgement was correct when I was in the middle of battling sleep at 3 in the morning. Yeah I think the chapters fine. Except for the... How do you say it? Subtle? Dull? Boring? Hmmmmmmmm... I don't know. It's a questionable chapter, yeah. Without further ado...

Enjoy!!!! With spears and swords and a lot of bloodletting! I'm kidding XD but seriously though

Enjoy!

Chapter 21

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Branch cherished every moment as they walked. As the village was coming closer so was the guilt in his heart grew heavier and heavier by the second from what happened with Nor. He yelled at him and it really was a rare thing to happen. He was just there to support him but he only pushed him away. Nor went through a lot. Much more than he ever did. The least he could do was to accept his advice at the moment.

The further they walked Branch could distinguish that feeling that he's being watched from behind. Because of his heightened hearing he heard a faint sound of a low purr of an animal. He quickened his pace and Poppy, thinking that he maybe he just wants to get home faster, picked up her pace as well. Seconds turned to minutes as they walked down the lonely path.

Poppy felt his grip tighten as his shoulders looking tense while his ears would twitch in every direction, trying to find any sounds that may be of suspicion. She was about to ask what was wrong when a growl was heard not too far from them. The two stopped in horror. Branch looked around the foliage fervently, unable to find which direction the sound came from.

"What was that?" Poppy whispered as she also looked around. "I don't know. It's a predator that's for sure" he confessed as he brought out a dagger from his hair. Poppy's eyes widen from his weapon and looked angrily at him. "Why do you have a knife with you?!" She asked loudly.

"Don't shout!" He whispered. Poppy let down her voice as she asked again "Why do you have a knife with you?!" Branch gave her a deadpan look as he explained. "Poppy, I'm a survivalist. Of course I'll need it with me whenever I go somewhere. Plus, I'm not going anywhere without some protection-" he stopped when she suddenly gasped in horror.

"Are you planning to kill yourself with it!?" Branch grimaced in bewilderment. Although, that was just a speculation, it could be true from what happened and to what she saw from him just a couple minutes ago. Still, it was a silly thought. Why would he kill himself? For him... He didn't know as well but behind all that he knew he couldn't kill himself now with Poppy by his side once again.

"No, Poppy. What do you take me for? I've got responsibilities. I'm a king for pity's sake. I need to stay alive until-"

"ROOOOAAAAR!!!"

A black furred terol came out from a bush as it gazed at them with hungry green eyes. It's slick tongue licked its lips as it growled with hunger. The two froze in fear and Branch being the protective troll he was, quickly stood between Poppy and the beast with his dagger in hand. He didn't know what to do if they'll get out of this but he knows he needs to protect Poppy at all costs.

"Poppy... You need to run"

"What?! No! I'm staying right here with you-"

"You don't understand. This is not a ralven, Poppy. This is a terol. One of the most feared predators in the forest. I'm gonna buy you some time to run but I don't know exactly how long-"

"ROOOOOAAAR!"

"Go! Now!" He told her as he lightly pushed her towards the road to the village. But Poppy, tried as she might, she just couldn't seem to run. The pain of leaving him behind for her own life made her dead in her tracks but it's either one stays alive or the two of them dies. Poppy couldn't run.

She can't leave him.

But Branch's mind made up for his own his decision. No matter what. He will protect her even if it costs his own life. With that in mind and seeing Poppy not moving an inch, he then pushed her more forcefully up to the road. "Go. Just go..." He whispered.

Tears welled up in her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck in fear of losing him. "Don't die on me... Please" Branch smiled at that. "I won't" he reassured her as he then again encourage her to go and run.

This time she listened and ran to the village. Branch watched her leave and turned to the menacing look of the beast. Sweat slid down from his forehead and he shakily stood up in a defensive stance as his mind echoed to the thought 'Oh please, by the name of the mother troll tree. Don't let me die now.' The growl of the terol gave him goosebumps as it then slowly made its way up to him.

Poppy ran as fast as she could. She needs to get help. If she can go back to the village, call help and make it in time then there's nothing to worry about. Branch will be fine. He's a brave and strong troll. He can fight unlike her. 'He'll be fine, Poppy. Have faith in him. He's gonna be fine-'

"Aahh!" She suddenly screamed as a terol appeared in front of her. She fell down to the ground in horror as it then slowly went up to her while sniffing the air. She closed her eyes when she suddenly heard a yell.

No... A lot of yelling. Like a yell from a crowd as if a battle cry itself. She opened her eyes and even the terol was confused to the sudden sound. There, she saw the villagers with wooden spears and torches. "What in the-?"

"Poppy!"

"Look, it's Poppy!"

"It's her!"

"She's being attacked by a terol!"

"Everybody charge!" She saw Creek leading the villagers. Even unsupervised kids ran with small sticks in their hands as they closed their eyes not knowing where they're going. It made her laugh but the breath of terol grew closer as it started to lick her. "Hey!" She yelled.

The villagers used their hairs and stopped the terol from getting closer and made it lie down to the ground. The beast shook violently from the grip but the trolls were too strong and it only growled and started to bite. Creek ran to her side with Rumble behind and asked if she was okay.

"Yes. I'm fine, Creek." She glanced towards the terol as it whined and its ears down as if it was afraid of them. "Branch! We have to get him-"

"Nor, already went to get him. He used a shortcut"

"How?"

"Saves me. He just said he's going to Branch and ran to the woods." He helped her up and Poppy thanked him gratefully but she wondered to how did they get here so fast and how did they know they were there. Thankfully, Creek wasted no time answering as he told her that after they both split up to find Branch, he alerted everyone in the village of the missing troll. He also met Nor along the way and told them he's not at home and they should search to the woods.

"... That's when he told everyone he found Branch and we followed him"

"And he brought you all here." He nodded. But how did Nor even knew? Did he saw them out here somewhere? She's definitely gonna have a long talk with him if she wants to quench her curiosity this time. Her thoughts were interrupted when villagers said they were about to kill the beast to prevent it from further harming anyone again.

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Branch held his ground as the beast growled. He tried to find a way to maybe injure the black fury but it was all in vain. He had no loopholes. No chances. No openings. He gulped as the terol walked around him, taunting him of his vulnerability and uselessness. Either way, Branch didn't show his fear. He held his chin up and glared back at the beast.

In a sudden moment, the terol attacked as it swiped its claws to him. Branch quickly made a dive to the other way and used his hair as a whip, hitting the beast to the eyes. It whined to the pain but it got more angrier and started to bite. Branch tried his best not to be caught by its jaws but out of his field of vision it used its claws for another attack to his way. Branch was hit and blood drew from his arm, chest and his left leg. In the process, he was thrown away to the nearby tree.

Painfully, Branch's back was hit too hard and was knocked unconscious as he fell to the ground. The terol howled in victory and walked it's way to retrieve its new prize and meal. Before it could, a knife was hurled at its way and it hit right to its muzzle. Blood dripped down from its mouth to the floor and growled in anger as it roared at whoever dared interfered.

"You're a big one, ain't ya?" Nor commented as he snickered and pulled out a sword from his holster. The terol charged without hesitance but he held his ground found the right moment. In a split second, Nor sliced the front leg of the beast. It was a deep cut and in between pain and fear, the terol ran away limply back to the forest. He placed his sword back to the holster.

With the terol gone, Nor ran to Branch's side and addressed to his wounds. "Branch! Come on, man. Sit up!" He told him and Branch grunted in pain "Easy for you to say. You're not the one bleeding to death"

Nor laughed at him and said as he chuckled "Stop exaggerating and get up. You don't want to make Poppy get worried on you, right?" Branch snickered as he threw his arms out to the floor, preventing Nor from carrying him easily. "Although, it would be funny to see her expression if she hears I died-"

"Hey!"

"What?"

"Nothing's gonna kill you and not today!"

"I'm gonna get a doctor for this, Nor. Don't worry about it"

"Yeah, you better will. Cause I got a metal leg and a lot of blood bags that I know you won't like if you want me to be your doctor. Why? Do you want me to be your doctor?" With that in mind, Branch shook his head quickly as his mind imagined how that will go if that'll ever happen. Nor scoffed and replied "So get up before I change my mind of getting you a decent doctor." Branch tried to sit up but the sharp pain that suddenly struck him made him lie back down as he choked out a scream. The cut was too deep it seemed and with nothing else to do, Nor sighed and placed Branch's left arm around his neck as he half carried and half dragged him back to the village.

"Man, you're heavy! What do you eat?!" He complained as grinned. Branch glared at his way as he pressed down his wound. As time passed by, Branch couldn't take the silence any longer with his guilt screaming at the back of his mind. In a low tone he told him "I'm sorry, Nor... For everything." Nor smiled as he messed up his hair.

"It's fine, grumps. I didn't take it to heart so don't push yourself too hard" Branch, although, a bit annoyed at what he had done to his hair, smiles in content. A weight has finally lifted off from his shoulders and the pain from his wound lowered down to a minimum as they walked down the road home.

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Hearing the commotion and plans of the villagers she pushed Rumble aside but not too hard, out of the way "What?! No! Everyone, stop!" She told them and everyone stopped dead in their tracks and she quickly stepped up in front of them all. "Guys! We can't just kill a living being-"

"But, princess. You gotta understand. The reason we still stay in our part of the forest is because of them. They need to be put down where they will never hurt anybody else ever again" Rumble, the same troll who fought with Branch, said as he took out a sword he brought from home, also using the same nickname everyone uses her to remind her of their own concern for her well being. To give her some thought about the situation.

"They killed my granddaddy!" One old troll said as he waved a stick around with his three grandkids beside him with worried and sad looks.

"They destroyed my crops!" A farmer said angrily as he held up a moldy berry. "They scared off all the critters I need to help me farm!" His wife added as she held up her shovel.

"They were the reason for my husbands broken leg years ago! Now he can't walk without his cane." One woman said as she carried a trolling by the arm. Poppy also felt remorse for their losses and misfortunes in life but this wasn't the way to treat others. The people cried for their own problems because of the terols and it gave her more determination to protect this species even more.

"Everyone, settle down. Please..." She said and everyone quieted down. "Now, I know you lost loved ones" she gestured to those who've had losses. "And acquired problems because of them" she turned to the right with an empathic smile. "But don't you think killing them will do us any good in the end?" The people began to murmur of either confusion or disagreement but she still continued to her speech.

"Think of it this way. Yes, they killed some of our species. Yes, they gave us very unfortunate misgivings in life but don't you think killing them will make us different from them? They kill to survive and we defend to survive. Whatever we do... We know we can't just kill. They have families too. They have children. Like us..."

Everyone was silent as they listened and from their faces, they showed guilt and remorse for their faulty actions.

"They want to live... But we also want to live. But that doesn't mean we need to kill. Of course, there will be times that you have to" she recalled to what happened with the ralven earlier. Although, she felt sad for the bird she couldn't really do anything about it anymore since the gertin ate him first before she could make out a plan to do anything. Maybe she should talk to Branch about that also later. It was his plan to feed the bird to the stubby giant.

"But we also need to lessen and prevent ourselves to do that way. We should find a new way around that if not... Then that will be the time to kill... If we have no choice at all." She looked over at Creek and she saw him smile as he listened. She brought her gaze back to the crowd and with a loud voice she ended.

"We are trolls. If someone wants a hug then we embrace them. If someone's in trouble, we help. But most of all... If someone wants to feel love, we give it. If they don't know what that is then we show it. No matter what may have happened. Because that everyone is how we trolls should live... With love and of course... Showing the importance of ones life no matter what species they are or what they've done. We can't blame everyone by the wrongdoings of one"

The crowd was dead quiet until a wounded Branch from behind clapped along with Nor, also accompanied by Creek by her side. Then everyone in the area cheered. From their excitement they suddenly forgot about the lingering terol, whom they tied down by their hair. Poppy noticing the look of pain by the beast slowly went up to it.

At first it growled in anger and frustration as he struggled from the strong bind. When she was at mere meters away the terol began to whine in fear as it laid it's head down in defeat, howling and crying. Branch wanted to run and stop her from going too close to it that'll maybe the cause of an even more bad event but Nor gave him a pat on the shoulder, silently telling him it'll be alright.

She soothed the beast as she slowly but gently placed her hand on its nose. Stroking and patting its nose very carefully. The terol began to sniff and whiff off her strawberry scent. It lingered on its nostrils tempting to bite her off but her sincere and kind energy gave it a more reason to show a little trust. It slowly let out its tongue and gave her hand a small lick of approval.

Everyone gasp at the scene. Branch's mind panicked even more as he kept on trying to even just place a step toward her but the troll beside stopped him from doing so. Creek was also at his own wits end of running to her aid as the beast licked her slowly but a lot more this time. Poppy moved upwards as she gave it a little pat on the head. She moved her gaze toward Branch with a more concerned look. He saw her and encouraged everyone to get ready as the others would disentangle their hairs away from the terol.

Everyone nodded and the male trolls circled around the terol. Rumble, with bitterness got himself also ready as he stationed in front of the animal. Creek silently went up to the task at hand as Nor kept telling Branch to stay behind because of his injuries. Poppy walked away from the beast as the others slowly slid their hair loose. But as looser it got... The terol didn't move. Instead it lay there with its eyes fixed upon her as its nose twitched with every scent it smelled. Breathing rather hard as it gently rose up and walked closer to her.

Everyone started to panic but Poppy held her both hands out to stop them that'll make the beast be too overwhelmed to the ever growing numbers of his once prey. It sniffed her hair all the way down to her clothes. It's wet nose caressing her soft skin enticing it even more to kill but it halted its senses from the craving sensation.

Poppy gave the beast another pat on the nose but in a sudden moment the terol bit the top most part of her hair and bolted. Branch couldn't take it anymore as he ran but the sudden pain of his left leg from his earlier fight made him kneel. "Poppy!" He screamed as Nor and Creek whipped their hairs in attempt to grabbed the terols leg.

Fortunately, Creek got hold of its right leg but the strength of the terol almost made him fall. Thanks to Nor and the rest of the villagers tugging as they quickly whipped their hair to Creek's and pulled with all their might. In a split second the beast fell to the ground and Poppy was free but experienced a hard fall from the impact of the floor. But not severely injured, none the less.

When the creature finally understood that it cannot outsmart or fight back against this many trolls by itself, it ran back to the woods with sheer terror and never looked back. The people cheered in delight but hurriedly went to her side to aid her. Branch, who was already limping from the bad fall still got his way to her first than the others.

"Hey... You alright?" He asked as he raised her up a little to sit.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She stood up and helped Branch to stand up as well. Rumble walked up to her as he snickered knowingly "See? Didn't I told you? They need to be put at their place." His smirk showed only but of pride and arrogance and Poppy didn't like any of that.

"So you don't believe in me?" The question put him off track as his smug fell to shock. What is she talking about? His throat forced out a chuckle as he said exasperatedly "Of course I believe in you"

"No, you don't, Rumble." The simple point made him fell into silence as people from behind him cheered of Poppy and everyone's safety. Everyone was happy and from the crowd someone suggested of going home since it was getting late and tomorrow's the last day of the festival. They all agreed and Branch reluctantly went home with Nor and Naira but he knew this'll be Creeks chance of getting to her. He hated for Poppy to love another guy but it's only fair. Plus, his injuries were getting its toll on him and he needed them to treated immediately. Grimly he bid Poppy good night and that he'll see her tomorrow.

His bunker wasn't part of the village and was a bit far from there so Poppy waved him goodbye. She walked behind everyone else and Creek walked with her. It seemed the prince was eager to gain her attention just for tonight. As the rest of the villagers chatted to pass some time, Poppy though, kept silent. It was not like she was completely harrowed by the events but she merely wanted to spend sometime in a more quiet way for a change.

Her companion beside her noticed her silence and it confused him why she was so quiet despite her very energetic and hyper attitude. "You alright?" He asked. She nodded happily but immediately fell into deep thought as she stared to the horizon. She's not alright. Something's bothering her and it made him worried. "You seem to be quiet for tonight" he commented as he looked away from her and into the trees.

"Well, I'm just thinking-"

"That sounds dangerous"

"Hey!" She gave him a knock on the shoulder that made him confused but other than that happy. "I didn't know you're an abusive person" he said as he rubbed his arm.

"It's not abuse, it's justice"

"I think that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard this time of the year."

"Well, you're gonna hear a lot more than that if you'll stay with me for a long time"

"I think I know what Branch feels like now whenever he's with you"

"So he said things about me?"

"No, not really" he denied. The atmosphere was getting a bit subtler, oddly for him but none the less it was comforting. Poppy was again back to the reality and now that Creek has gotten her attention and she can't seem to go back to her thoughts, the only thing she could do was to continue what he had started. "As I was saying... I was just thinking." She said as kicked dust from under her feet.

"About what?" He asked. She looked up to sky with serene smile as her eyes glimmered from the shining stars. "About... Mostly everything that happened these past few days. If I think about it, everything is just too fast and too sudden. It's like a dream... But a dream that I don't wanna wake up to"

"Is it because of a... Certain someone?" He asked innocently as if he didn't know the answer already. But Poppy noticed his change of tone and pace of his walk. His shoulders were tense and he was constantly avoiding her gaze. "Look, Creek. I-"

"You don't have to be my girlfriend, you know" his answer made her stop. "What?" Everyone else didn't notice they stopped following them and they kept on with their walk home without them. Creek also stopped, abashed for his rash answer. "I mean that... I still... Want to be friends with you though. I know you'll still pick Branch either way and I understand. I guess... When I asked for your hand, I didn't really tried to understand your feelings at all. I kept doing what was right in my eyes and I didn't know that I was actually just messing up my chances with you"

He turned away from her and realized that he was showing weakness, he quickly straightened himself up and placed both of his hands to his back as he cleared his throat "I'll be fine. It's not everyday I'm rejected. Soon I'll be sitting on my fathers place-"

"But you'll need a queen to do that too"

"There's always a way around it. Loopholes" He stole a quick look at her way and saw her face, full of admiration and respect. Her smile poisoning his mind as if no tomorrow. Teasing its way through his veins up to his brain. His heart pumped loudly but he thought against of loving her. Her heart's already taken and he couldn't do anything what's already been taken. Unless he could...

His mother would hate him for it.

The two walked home together with Poppy started to tell him things. At first it was just a random question about his favorites until she talked about her favorite things then her friends favorite things, then it went to the story of an old troll she met while delivering flowers for a friend. It was weird but it made him internally laugh.

She's... Just too innocent.

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A/N: I feel like I'm dying! Ugh! Migraines... Again the chapters too late for more than one week. I tried... I really did. I messed up my schedule the other week and now everything's a mess. I'll see what I can do this weekend if I can sort it out though. Next chapter, I will make it interesting.

Oh! Yeah! I just remembered! OH MY GAH!!! Next chapter, I know you guys will definitely hate me for it but I just got to! I have to! Or not... What's the point of putting up the story then if it's not interesting?

Thank you so much! Oh and for the new follower of the story. Thank you following. I appreciate it very much. It gives me more motivation for updating. Please review though cause I don't know what I'm doing actually. And for those who are having trouble with spelling errors, grammar errors, and etc. know that I am now an official beta reader.

That's right! IM A BETA READER! Please visit my profile if you want me to help ya out in any way I can for you... For free. HahahahaXD I know it's against the rules but hey... Even if paying wasn't illegal in this website, I'll still do it for free anyway.

Again thank you and have a beautiful, great, gorgeous, happy, wonderful, beautiful wait... Uh... Day! Yeah I forgot about that one.

Bye bye :)