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Not A Nest (part 2)
Bright colors and noise burnished the morning with early signs of the festival. Poppy knew Branch would refuse attending a loud party so he had to be somewhere outside the troll tree. When she found him, he'd complain about being bugged and about her going where it wasn't safe.
According to Branch nowhere was safe, so, hah! She could go anywhere!
She crammed an entire day's worth of fun into one morning and ran off to No Troll's Land. Same as yesterday she ended up at the neat organized spot on the treeline. Tall grass and boulders ringed the circular lawn. Whatever debris blew in overnight had already been picked up, except one leaf bundle smack dab in the center of the lawn.
She stared at the package for a while and hovered along the edge of his court.
"Branch?"
Rustling noises traced a path from the woods. A gray shape leapt on top of the biggest boulder and stood, like a victorious grumpy king of the hill. His tail was wrapped around a bundle of sticks.
Poppy blurted, "What are you doing out here?"
"What am I doing out here? What are you doing?" he shot back. "In case you hadn't noticed this is No Troll's Land."
She tilted her head at the sticks. "Are you nesting?"
"What? No!" His face wrinkled with overdramatic disgust.
Whatever. Poppy knew a court when she saw one. She wiggled, getting more hyper with each question. "Are you courting someone? Who are they? Why all the way out here; no one will find you! Is it a secret? Do you have a secret playmate?"
"Poppy, what—no—stop—just—I'm not courting okay!" Branch's short fur fuzzed angrily.
The outburst didn't slow her down. She waved a hand at his tidy yard. "Then what do you call this?"
"It's called a lookout post. Not that you'd know anything about that."
"Hey, I know everything about the village!"
He rolled his eyes.
Poppy felt her tail twitch with indignation. He never believed her. "I've explored the forest since I could walk, and I've never seen or heard of a lookout post," she said.
"You're not supposed to see a lookout. That's the whole point. It's for security."
A long sigh escaped her.
"It's for security," he repeated over her sighing, "so when the bergens do come I'll know in advance. Plus I can track the growlbeast migrations. So there."
Oh. This was substantially more Branchlike than she'd hoped. Poppy watched her toes scuff a trough in the dirt, feeling her spirit wilt.
Branch noticed and tried to regain ground. If he could bend her ear to village safety issues for any amount of time he'd do so. "The lookout posts are for our protection. I have several—"
Her head snapped up. He had more than one nest? No troll had more than one. They were a lot of effort!
"Not a nest," he said, reading her mind.
All work and no play. Poppy's ears sank. Her attention wandered to the prairie route back home. She could be at the festival. The punch bowls probably needed refilling. She'd left early thinking she'd get to know Branch better, but he made it clear he didn't want to meet anyone and wasn't out here for fun, or to make important life choices.
An uncomfortable silence filled up the big space separating them. Up on the boulder Branch folded his arms and looked askance. The sticks clacked in his tail. "Just take it and go. I can tell there's a party you want to get back to."
"Take what, Branch?" she huffed.
"I didn't have any wrapping paper, okay?"
The leaf parcel. Poppy blinked. Her brain couldn't process it.
"I..." Branch rubbed the back of his neck. He wouldn't look at her. "I heard you were supposed to leave a gift if… never mind," he grumbled.
He. She. But he said.
Trolls only put out gifts if they wanted visitors, or to encourage a playmate to come again. So, um, regular everyday gift then, since he wasn't…?
Either way Branch was giving her a present.
Poppy glided her foot over the border of Branch's territory to check his reaction. He still wouldn't look at her, standing up on the rock with arms folded. If this wasn't his court she didn't need to be gentle. She could strut right in.
So she did.
Branch got all hot and bothered about it anyway. His fuzz prickled and the sticks complained in the tighter tail grip. While she scooped up the bundled leaf he slid out of sight, scampering down the back of the rock and taking off into the woods. Stubborn as he was he sure ran away a lot.
Part of Poppy itched to sunbathe on one of his rocks just to hear him squawk about it whenever he came back. On the other hand she held the leaf parcel. Maybe she could do what he always wanted and leave him alone for a while.
A plant stem wrapped up the gift extremely tight. If she untied it she'd never be able to redo his handiwork, so she was forced to go all the way back to the troll tree with surprise buzzing around her mind. Maybe this was the prank and it'd be an explosion of mud, or a handful of scuttling jitterbugs.
She set the gift on her table and yanked at the stem. The knot didn't budge. She tried picking it apart but it was too tiny, she couldn't get her fingers around, and it just wouldn't loosen. Out came the scrapbook scissors. Snip.
An assortment of shiny nuts tumbled out of the open leaf.
Years of scrapbooking with rolly bits prepared her for it. Pink hair swooped around the table edge to block the rounder nuts.
Poppy laughed and nipped her bottom lip, showing off a quirky grin of rounded teeth. What else had she expected? Aside from, like, scented soap, it was the most practical gift ever. A troll had to eat. You couldn't go wrong with a holiday nut basket if you weren't sure.
She nabbed a big fluffy bowl off one of her pod's pocket shelves and placed the nuts inside. He'd obviously hand-picked all of them and given her only the best ones. Feeling fuzzy, she cracked open a gladnut and pried out the tasty morsels inside.
A gift. From Branch. A gift from Branch.
She couldn't stop thinking about it.
x x x
Over the next few days the warm glow fizzled into confusion. Was this one of those "take this and go away Poppy" gifts, or a "Poppy I'm so glad we know each other, please come see me a whole bunch, invite me to everything, and ambush me with hugs" gift? If so, should she go to the bunker, or back to the lookout?
Predicting Branch's wishes could be a challenge. It'd be so much easier if he'd just say them aloud.
Her tail thrashed in agitation while she slapped another glob of paint onto a small rock. She pressed so hard the stripe came out wide. Did he really not want to see anyone? Why leave a gift then? There hadn't been one out the first time she showed up. Maybe it was his odd way of saying GO AWAY like the text on his mat. Blah.
Not paying attention she mixed two paint colors together.
She wasn't going to let him rain on her parade. She chose to take his behavior optimistically. She imagined going back to the lookout and Branch's subtle non-smile because he'd be happy to see her. The black tuft at the tip of his tail would wave, and she'd wave back, and then he'd invite her to see the lookout he'd built, and she'd bring a token he could have to remember her by. He'd display it at his hideaway the same way other trolls hung tokens of affection on their nests.
She slathered more paint on the rock.
Circled around her the village kids painted their own rocks. Keith looked to Priscilla's yellow and purple checkerboarded art, then to his own black and neon green stone, then to Poppy's.
"Your rock is weird," Keith said.
Poppy realized what she'd created. Oh. "Ahaha. Yeah, it is. I think I know just the troll to give it to."
"Really? But it looks like a normal rock."
"Mhmm. That's what makes it a surprise!"
"I don't get it," Keith decided. "Your friends are kinda strange though. So maybe it does make sense."
She'd painted the stone in natural greens, brown, and mixed black with white to get gray. Each color covered the stone in a wide wavy band. That was all. It had no additional frills. If she put it in the village probably no one would notice it'd been painted, if they saw it at all. It blended in with the environment.
x x x
Carrying the smooth stone for so long made it heavier than it should've been. She lowered it from her hair onto Branch's court and promptly plopped down on top of the thing. Phew. She massaged her neck.
She could leave the token here for him to find, but it'd be nice to see him again. He'd been downright pleasant the last two times.
She picked at the hem of her dress and ignored the warm sunny spot in front of her feet. It was basically begging her to sunbathe, but Branch wouldn't appreciate that. The last time he'd crossed paths with her clothesless self she'd been on a stroll home from a nice bask at the edge of the troll tree. He'd bristled up like a pincushion. "Guh! Poppy, put something on before you get all scratched up." Then he'd gone all blushy and stormed off muttering stuff about running around the woods without any protective layers, how come she can't sunbathe where it's safe like a sensible troll, etc.
She didn't want him to run off in a fuzzy grumble fit today.
Would he like the painted rock? Nah, he'd love it. So she had to be patient and not toss off her clothes to nap in the spot right in front of her. Oohhhh, it was super tempting though.
She waggled her feet and hummed to herself.
He had wanted to see her fur the other day, though, so maybe she should?
No. He was sensitive. A couple years ago on accident she'd caught a glimpse of the scar across his back. The wounded glare he'd shot her could've frozen an icicle. She'd never seen him without a top after that.
But he had the most interesting stripes. And that scar… it fascinated her, especially because he refused to share it with anyone. Sugar, the troll himself was a forbidden treasure. It didn't matter how many times she got her fingers stuck in the traps that surrounded the treasure chest; she was determined to open it. Such an alluring exterior could not have only sand crabs and pebbles inside.
"You came back."
Poppy nearly jumped out of her fur. She yelped and landed on her feet with a hand over her heart. Branch was right there, leaning up against the tallest boulder with his arms crossed.
"You surprised me," she giggled breathlessly.
"You're the one who walked into my territory," he said with an arched eyebrow.
"I thought you said this wasn't a court."
"Well I… it's still my place."
What was he saying? How did he expect her to act? They were alone, after all. "Do you want me to… treat… you… special?"
Branch wore a guarded expression she couldn't read. His arms unfolded but one stayed across his chest as he rubbed the other. He thought for a while before saying, "I'm not opposed to that."
"So… is that a yes?"
He hesitated. "...Yes."
"Great!" She hopped to the side so he could see the painted rock better. Her tail wagged. "Do you like it? I made it camouflage so you can put it anywhere. It's still kind of a whimsical decoration, but um, more your style?" And any time he saw it he'd think of her, but she didn't say that, the same way she didn't call it a token of affection even though that's what it was.
She… she'd given tokens out before. It wasn't a big deal.
Except it was.
Possibly the biggest deal in the history of deals.
Did he like it? He hadn't responded. He held his tail behind himself where she couldn't read it.
Branch shuffled back a step. "I'll get it after you go home."
"No wait!"
He stopped. Er, she didn't have a plan; she just shouted that so he wouldn't go. Poppy wrung at the edge of her dress. "Are you sure you don't want it now?"
"If I come over there you're going to hug me or pounce on me or shout in my ear or possibly all three at once. And I don't think I can…" he cleared his throat. "I prefer my hearing the way it is, thanks."
"I promise I won't."
He sighed. "You've made promises before."
"Pinky promise!"
"...No. No thanks."
Poppy's outstretched hand lowered while the other gripped tighter at her dress. She couldn't believe this troll made her go to such lengths simply to give a token of affection. Prickling needle sensation crept along her skin because she knew what she was going to do next. Her fur stood on end. All the fluff compressed uncomfortably under her outfit, which just made her more frustrated.
She'd never been defenseless before and she dared Branch to do something mean while she was. She opened her palms, swirled her hair into her hands, and grabbed the pink strands tight. Now she literally couldn't touch him. She couldn't fight back.
Poppy surrendered.
Branch moved at her instantly. She winced, eyes scrunched shut. Unexpected fear burned her skin as she realized she truly couldn't do anything with her hair and hands tied. Her fur felt like it was on fire. Maybe if she looked big he'd give her space.
Abruptly the thudding, hurried steps froze. Her eyes squinted open and Branch was halfway to her. She had no idea he could move that fast. It was terrifying.
That terror reflected right back at her. He was scared too. "Poppy what are you doing?"
She refused to back down now. Her hands twisted her hair. The submissive stance clashed with her defiant puffed-out fur.
Branch's panic came to the fore. "Stop it! What if a bird attacked us! What if a bergen showed up! What if a growlbeast leapt out of the woods!"
Her ears were quivering. She didn't let go.
"What are you… what…" He waffled between leaping toward her and staying where he was. It seemed like if he could get his hands on her he'd force her to let go of her hair so she wouldn't be powerless.
Branch cringed with indecision. His fists balled.
Angrily he took a step in her direction. She matched the movement backwards. He was really intense now, and scary, and she didn't want this, she wanted…
Poppy tripped over her tail.
She didn't have any way to catch herself. Pain erupted over her tailbone as she collided with the ground. Branch lunged at her. The abrupt approach frightened her even more. Still clenching her hair she curled into herself and whimpered.
The sound hit Branch like ice water. He recoiled in horror, backpedaling so fast he blurred. Wildly he paced some imaginary line dividing them. His ears worked like crazy. He kept glancing at the sky and to a bunch of shadows only he could see, and then he'd look back to her, his face wracked with agony. "Poppy, please," he begged.
She had not imagined surrendering could cause all these emotions. It was supposed to be an intimate thing, a sign of trust. Instead this. He'd been so angry. She curled tighter. Tears threatened.
Branch became desperate. "Please… please… I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do."
"I want you to trust me!" she burst out, all scared and puffed up in a ball, tail wrapped around herself.
Branch froze. He quit pacing, quit scanning the trees, and just… stopped.
She scooched over to bump up against the painted rock. It was still warm from her hair earlier and it'd come from the village so it made her feel better.
Branch looked at the rock, and then he looked at her, and he made a small pathetic sound in the back of his throat that maybe was supposed to be a grumble but ended up as a whine. It hurt to hear.
He'd been trying to help, she realized. But he'd done it all wrong by leaping at a surrendered troll. And he knew it.
All his fuzz crushed down into flat sadness. Slowly he sank to the ground. Smaller and smaller he shrank into himself, his hair and ears tucking back, until he was little more than a gray ball at the edge of the grass. A slight tremor wobbled his voice. "I'm not leaving you."
Despite all his fears about monsters that could snap them up at any moment, he stayed with her in the open field.
He stayed.
She calmed enough to sit up, but her puffed fur wouldn't settle down since she was upset. Oh, and then, yeah, she let go of her hair. Confidence flooded back into her system. That was way better.
"Wait…" Branch said.
She tilted an ear.
"I… try it again," he said quietly.
She studied the grass. That was asking an awful lot. They'd burst enough bubbles today.
When she didn't respond Branch withered. A pained frown etched over his face and his eyes screwed shut, all the crinkles webbing out like shattered glass. Dejection drooped his fur as if the last chance at happiness had slipped down the drain right in front of him.
Through that stricken expression he managed to peer at her. She could've sworn his once bright blue eyes were ashen. Quickly he looked away.
For once she didn't know what to do. Seeing Branch struggle with color could dampen a good day, but the small gray shape on the other side of the field was unbearable.
She couldn't get them both hurt again. She'd been a dummy to try surrendering, honestly. So… no. No.
Branch spoke. She strained to hear it.
"I'll... go to one of your parties."
Both her ears went up. "Really?"
He nodded so slightly she could barely see it.
"I… really?"
Again the nod.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea. She knew she had a problem with sometimes trying too hard to please Branch. Her teeth pressed into her bottom lip while she considered it.
Branch looked totally lost now. He whimpered again.
The lonely sound pierced her heart. It wasn't in her nature to deny comfort, and she didn't think he meant to cause all this grief. They should both have a chance to make this right.
Okay.
Poppy stood up. One more time. Breathe.
She wrapped her hair into her hands in surrender. A sensation of helplessness shuddered down on her brain. It was scary and uncomfortable and she didn't like it.
Nothing happened. Her fur started to settle when it became clear Branch wasn't going to panic this time. He remained where he was, a despondent dull wreck at the edge of his own court.
He risked moving an insignificant amount. No surprise party launched confetti. A growlbeast didn't jump out of the woods. Far overhead a wild flyer bug zipped through the clear blue sky.
This was okay. There was nothing to worry about. Her heartbeat slowed. When she relaxed Branch's mood started to lift. The brighter he got the better she felt.
He crept closer in tiny increments, ears turning to listen with each bit of progress. Smooth gray flocking fluffed out to its usual peach fuzziness. Black hair stayed tilted back with uncertainty, and he moved with lots of hesitation, glancing at her, glancing away. His tail wrapped in a spiral around one leg.
Shy was a very cute look for Branch.
When he got into pounce range his ears perked forward. He paused, anticipating the usual aggressive affection. It never came. Poppy didn't let go of her hair.
She waited for him to balk and flee. He always did. It was a bittersweet victory, at least, that he'd come this far.
Mere steps away they watched each other. Had Branch ever willingly come so close before? She didn't think so. Not… not with that look in his eyes. Kind of soft and worried. She started to feel floaty from the attention, like she'd passed her hand through a flock of butterflies.
What would happen if he stepped forward?
An air of expectation started to take over the clearing. More and more it seemed like Branch might actually break his own rules of personal space to be near her. Poppy's hair rested in her hands but she didn't notice it anymore.
Branch took the step. She could see the blue rims of his eyes—he hadn't lost that spark of color after all. Sunshine lit up his fuzz. Hidden hues of the forest rippled under the gray: not green, not blue, but somehow both, and now that she'd noticed the subtle undertone she couldn't not see it.
He inched forward more, enough she could reach out and touch, and he wasn't regarding her with suspicion or worry or fear. His tail unwound from his leg and swayed gently. Poppy found hers doing the same.
The troll in front of her was the one she'd always seen under the surface. Caring. Sensitive. Loyal. Even the gruff part of his character wore away in this moment between just the two of them.
A fizzly little grin crept over Poppy's face. Branch's eyebrows pinched and he offered her a fleeting, weak smile. He was having a hard time holding eye contact. His gaze drifted down to her hands.
Did he have any idea how adorable he was? Her heart started to skip. They'd gone way off the rails. She had no clue what he'd do next.
Branch's gaze flicked up to hers, once, twice, double checking this was okay. He could do literally anything while she held herself defenseless. He stood so close there'd be no chance to push away or flee or shout, but Poppy wasn't thinking of that. The opening in his leaf vest showed an expanse of fuzz and it looked so soft and delicate and inviting. He'd never let her touch it but she was allowed to imagine.
His hand drifted toward hers. Colored gray met pink. She watched his fingers pet across hers in awe, felt the light tickle of furs tracing the backs of her clasped hands. A shiver raced from the tip of her tail all the way up her spine.
The motion meant she could release her hair and be free. But the way his touch soothed so gently with kindness—she wanted it to last. She didn't want to let go. Heat warmed her ears.
Abruptly Branch bounced backwards a few steps. Before he flipped his back to her she saw the wide blush cresting his face. He turned away but she'd already noticed. Branch had color.
Poppy released her hair and touched the back of her hand where he'd just been. She couldn't recapture the feeling. Pink on pink was not the same.
Back turned, Branch cleared his throat. Hesitation slowed his words. "Poppy… how often are you leaving the troll tree?"
"All the time."
"To visit other trolls, right?"
She quirked her head. "Uh. No. Not really."
He looked over his shoulder, dumbfounded.
"I'm going to be queen," she said. "I need to know the territory."
"This isn't the territory. We're not in the village. You shouldn't be here—"
"—Neither should you," she cheerily pointed out.
He growled with frustration, turning to face her. "Gaaaah. You're really wandering around just to explore?"
"Yep!"
"Great. I'm coming with you."
Huh? "What?"
He steeled himself and said it again. "Can I come with you?"
She couldn't understand what he meant. "Like… through the nesting grounds?"
"Yes." His face was so serious. It didn't look like he meant it as an invitation to play.
"But not for courting," she said.
"Hair. No."
Strange. Poppy tilted her head even more. Did trolls hang out in the nesting grounds just for funsies? As pals? Like, a good ol' buddy stroll patrol? Why had no one told her this?
"I know it's weird okay? Stop looking at me like that," he huffed, jamming his hands under his arms. His fur puffed up defensively.
If they walked the nesting grounds together trolls were going to get the wrong impression. Or maybe the right one? Poppy wasn't sure anymore. If she was ever sure. It didn't seem wise to point any of this out to her confused, anti-courting… Branch.
She was not turning down a chance to see more of him, no matter what the others might think. Poppy agreed to meet and waited to see how things would play out.
