Find Me…I'm Lost

Okay. This is a unique take on Trolls. I wouldn't exactly call this an alternate universe, but it is a little different. Bear with me, but also tell me what you think…good or bad. This is a look into what could possibly be.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Three

Creek paced by Branch's bed as his mind worked to figure a plan out of the mess he'd caused. He was currently left alone to watch over his charge since Branch's fever had moved from near boiling to a safer simmer within the room that had been chosen for the prince. Branch hadn't so much as rolled over in the near full day since they'd been found which had his new, twin siblings and Creek very worried for the ill troll.

"Mmm."

Creek glanced up sharply at the noise as Branch shifted in the bed. It was odd to see the troll in the furred, white nightclothes he'd been dressed in to warm him up. Warmer climate trolls never wore animal skins so the look was a bit disconcerting.

"That's it, Mate," Creek encouraged, coming to sit on the edge of the bed, "Wake up there."

"Hm," Branch murmured as his eyes fluttered open, "Wha…where?"

"Ice palace," Creek offered, leaning over the ill troll as Branch's eyes flew to his face, "Hi."

For being sick, Branch had a mean grip as he choked the purple troll as best he could from the bed.

"Ack!" Creek gasped out as Branch tried to throttle him, "Stop, Mate! Calm down, Branch! Gah! You're sick so stop this before you hurt…yourself! I can't breathe! Branch, stop!"

Branch groaned as he finally let go, panting softly on the soft pillows he laid upon. His efforts had obviously taken a lot of strength from the weakened troll.

"Sick, huh?" Branch spat, glaring up at Creek while the other troll rubbed his aching neck, "Whose fault is that, huh?"

"Mine, without a doubt and we've got to get out of here," Creek admitted as Branch's eyes blinked up at him in surprise, "I've got to get you back to your home. Do you think you can sit up for me?"

"What are you talking about?" Branch demanded as Creek tried to help him sit up, "Ow. Watch my wrist. What are you doing now?"

"For once, doing the right thing," Creek sighed, supporting the other troll as Branch gaped at him, "Sorry about hurting your wrist…sorry about hurting you entirely, but we've got to go. These ice trolls are nuts. Think that you are an ice troll too since your coloration is so similar to theirs. Want to claim you as theirs."

Creek held in his unease at twisting the truth so much, but it was necessary. It really was.

"That's crazy. I'm no ice troll," Branch snorted, sitting shakily on the edge of the bed before glaring down at the nightshirt he was sporting, "Ew. Is this animal skin?"

"Animal skin," Creek agreed, bending to help the ill troll into a pair of boots Frost had made for Branch, "Yeah, pretty gross. Cooperate with me, Branch. There we go. I thought we'd both have a new tribe and technically, we do, but I was wrong. You don't belong here. You need to be home with Poppy. Let's get you home, Mate."

"Why this sudden change of heart?" Branch asked, narrowing his eyes at Creek.

"Because you don't belong here!" Creek snarled, wrapping a blanket around the other troll's shoulders while Branch cringed at his tone, "I'm sorry, Mate. Look…you wanted to be with Poppy. I'm taking you where you want to be so no more talking and let's get you home."

Branch didn't understand quite what was going on. He was still pretty fuzzy and felt like he'd been thrown from a mountain. He also didn't trust Creek in the least, but home is where he wanted to be right now. He felt miserable and only wanted a certain pink troll close to make him feel better so he'd give Creek this chance.

"Okay then. I'll try not to touch your wrists, but tell me if I'm hurting you," Creek spoke as he hooked Branch's arm over his shoulder and helped him to stand, "We have to get by the guards and then we are out of here."

"Guards?" Branch repeated, shuffling as best he could with Creek's support, "How are we going to travel through snow and ice with me in boots and a nightshirt? You're dressed for this weather. I'm not."

"Already got that covered," Creek admitted as Branch glanced at him, "Got some clothes stashed that will fit you and a small sled hidden away that I can pull you in since you are still sick. Found everything late last night while most were asleep. Branch…Mate, I'm really sorry to have yanked you here without your permission. I'm going to make this right, okay? Just…just give me a little bit of trust even though I know I haven't earned that right from you."

Branch didn't know what to say as Creek helped him hobble from the room before both jumped at a loud yell.

"Oy!"

"Bergen poop," Creek hissed as loud footsteps walked quickly towards them, "King Frost."

"What in the iced devil are you doing with him?" Frost spat as Branch got his first look at the large king once Creek turned them about, "He's too ill to be out of bed!"

"Bathroom," Creek lied as Branch glanced to his comrade, "Branch just awoke and had to handle business. Just…um…going to find the facilities and all, Mate."

Frost studied Creek with narrowed eyes before reaching and scooping Branch up with little effort as the ill troll squeaked out a surprised sound.

"He's got his own lavatory in his room, Creek," Frost snorted, turning to walk his younger brother back to said room as Creek followed, "At least you managed to remember to keep him warm and have him wear his boots. The ice palace floors are pretty chilly so good thinking, Ice Wart."

"Oh, good," Creek sighed as Branch snorted at the traitor's new title, "Glad to be of service, my king."

"Do you need help?" Frost asked, settling Branch back on his feet by the door that must lead to the bathroom before kneeling to gaze at the smaller troll, "How is your balance?"

Branch's eyes widened in shock at both the questions and the realization that he really did need to relieve himself. Help? To do that? Never!

"Um…no help needed," Branch breathed, feeling both uncomfortable and unusually drawn to this Frost who was gazing at him with such worried eyes, "I'll just be a moment. Excuse me."

Creek watched Branch walk shakily into the bathroom before feeling Frost's eyes glaring at him.

"What?" Creek snapped, feeling irritated as he hid his fisted hands slightly behind his back, "It's not as if anyone has shown me where anything is. I've slept on the rug in front of the fireplace and only been allowed to use Healer Bhen's restroom when I was asked to help him mix some more of Branch's medicine. Your soldiers took my pack too so I haven't eaten since you found us and no one offered me anything except for broth to feed to Branch. If this is what it is like to be a part of this tribe then how do any of you survive? Ice trolls have no manners."

Creek jumped as Frost roared with laughter. For a moment, the large troll looked very jolly.

"Ha!" Frost snickered as he got himself under control before slapping Creek so hard on the shoulder that the troll thought he'd fall over, "Might be a touch of ice in you too, Wart. Told me good, didn't you? Didn't think about anything besides the boy's needs. That was my bad. I'll have some food sent up for you."

Creek remained silent as Frost stood quickly and picked up Branch when the troll stepped out of the lavatory and deposited the lad back into bed.

"You need to rest and not move about so much," Frost began as he eased the boots back off Branch's feet and tucked him under the thick covers before laying a hand to the troll's forehead to test his fever, "Little cooler, but still too warm, Little One."

"Little One?" Branch fussed, glaring up at Frost, "I am not so little. Maybe you are too big."

"Maybe," Frost agreed with an amused smile as Branch scowled, "You have her frown. Just look at you."

Branch blinked at the words before pulling back when Frost held a mug out to him that had been sitting on the side table. It surprised him to see the cup frost up in the larger troll's hands as if by magic. Nice trick, but he'd had enough of strange elixirs to last a lifetime.

"It's just chilled, white willow tea with a touch of peppermint," Frost explained as Branch leaned forward to sniff cautiously at the brew, "It's not time for your fever medicine yet, but this tea will help with your temperature so you can cool off. It's good. Look."

Branch watched as Frost took a drink before finally accepting the mug into his own hands and carefully taking a small sip.

"It's…it is good," Branch hummed as Frost smiled wide at him, "Um…who are you?"

"I am Frost. Eldest twin and brother of Crystal. She and I rule the ice trolls," Frost explained, gesturing for Branch to drink more tea, "We have a lot to speak about, but I wish for you to be stronger and for Crystal to be here too when we do. Just know that my sister and I are very happy to have you here, Branch, and that you are safe now. Ice Wart didn't mean to allow you to grow so ill. He had no clue that you were allergic to hazel root. He's watched over you carefully ever since. My sister and I are very impressed with his dedication."

Creek flushed and looked away when Branch glanced his way in surprise.

"Hungry?" Frost asked before frowning as Branch shook his head, "Well, you did just wake and probably need to rest a bit more. We got some broth in you that our healer loaded with good vitamins while you fever slept, but you'll need to eat next you wake, okay?"

"Um, okay," Branch agreed, feeling like he was being treated like a child, but the older troll seemed to really care so he held his tongue, "Thank you, King Frost."

"Just Frost for you, Little One. Finish your drink and get some more sleep," Frost ordered, pushing the smaller troll gently back to lean on a raised pillow so he could sit up and finish his tea, "Welcome to our kingdom, Branch. Just relax and get better for right now."

Branch nodded as the troll rose and left as quickly as he'd come with a last warning glance thrown Creek's way.

"And he's nuts, why?" Branch pushed as Creek groaned softly once they were fully alone again, "And that look just now was what?"

"Frost was warning me to keep you safe," Creek admitted as Branch sipped some more of his tea, "The king and his whole tribe are surely nuts. You felt it, right? He wanted to help you take a pee-pee, for troll's sakes."

Creek stopped as he and Branch glanced at one another before bursting into laughter. They had their differences, but that was one funny statement.

"That is such a weird thing to think of," Branch chuckled once he'd calmed, "I still don't pick up on anything bad coming from Frost. He seemed to really care about me and even defended you a bit, Ice Wart."

"Shut it, Branch," Creek huffed as the other troll snickered before yawning wide, "Here, Mate. Let me help."

Branch found his nearly empty mug pulled from his hands as Creek helped him lay back down so he could sleep.

"That troll may care, but he'll never let you leave even if you wanted to," Creek offered as Branch's eyes widened in alarm, "He and his sister are too attached to you, Branch. I think our smaller size is making the king and queen want to shelter you like a trolling. As soon as you are stronger, we need to leave. Do you think we can try again tomorrow?"

"Fine," Branch agreed, "Creek, are you positive that is what Frost wants? He's not being overly pushy or anything."

"I've heard him and that sister conspiring to keep you, Mate," Creek informed the other, mentally knowing that he was twisting some of the truth, "Just rest up so we can go home tomorrow, okay?"

Branch studied Creek carefully before nodding and closing his eyes to get some sleep. Creek held another sigh in so Branch wouldn't hear him as he clenched his fists while in very deep thought. It hurt to not reveal that Branch had real family again, but Creek couldn't allow these new siblings to erase their younger brother's memories. That would be wrong. The real Branch would disappear and the twins would remake their brother into the ice troll they wanted him to be. Creek couldn't allow that to happen.

"Creek?"

"Yeah, Mate," Creek answered as Branch looked up at him.

"There is more to the story, isn't there?"

Creek sighed then as he locked eyes with the ill troll. Branch was too smart for his own good sometimes.

"Yes," Creek whispered as Branch narrowed his eyes once again, "The full story could break you, Branch. You broke once when you went grey and I can't return you to Poppy broken. I need you to trust that I'm doing everything I can to keep you safe. Please, please trust in me. Let me get you home without answering questions that could cause you a lot of pain. Please, Mate."

Branch was startled that he recognized true sincerity in Creek's words. The troll truly meant what he was saying.

"I'll try," Branch finally allowed as Creek sagged in relief, "You swear that we are actually going home?"

"Straight to the Troll Tree so you can be with Poppy and then I'll leave and never bother anyone again," Creek vowed as Branch smiled slightly, "Get some rest, Mate. I'm getting us out of here tomorrow. I promise."

"Okay," Branch agreed, looking about ready to conk out, "Creek…going to knock you one once I'm stronger for putting me in the middle of this mess, but really…thank you for stepping up and helping me. Least you could do, mind you, but thank you."

Creek's mouth dropped open, but he nodded as Branch's eyes drifted closed and he fell asleep rather quickly. Not even the threat of being "knocked one" dampened his mood. The bit of trust and the gratitude from one that was usually so closed off to others warmed Creek's heart. He remembered feeling like this before. Back when he had friends, before he'd turned traitor and it was Branch, of all trolls, that was given him this second chance even after all he'd done to the other troll.

"I'll fix this," Creek decided, settling on the edge of the bed to watch Branch sleep, "This is the least I can do. I'll keep you safe, Mate. I swear it."

The purple troll stood quickly and stepped to shield Branch when the door opened suddenly. A guard raised an appraising eyebrow and nodded his approval as he settled a tray of delicious looking food on a nearby table before taking his leave.

"Well, at least King Frost keeps promises," Creek murmured, watching the door shut before pulling the table closer so he could get to Branch quickly if necessary, "Enough to feed a Bergen. How much does ice trolls eat?"

To be continued…

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Tell me what you think so far.