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 Four
"What is up with you, Brother? You are driving me insane!"
Frost stopped his pacing as his sister glared at him in annoyance.
"Caught that Creek walking about with our brother," Frost admitted, making his sister sit up angrily, "Said he was taking Branch to use the restroom, but the little one hid surprise brought on by the ice wart's words. I have an annoying feeling that this Creek is up to something."
"Did our brother use the restroom?" Crystal asked as Frost had to nod, "Maybe Branch is just drugged to the gills and unsure of anything he hears at the moment. You are always so paranoid, Brother. Anyway, Creek should know better than to have an ill troll out of bed!"
"Well, Creek had actually wrapped Branch up and helped the little one into those boots I made for him so it seems that the wart was really trying to keep him warm," Frost hummed aloud, "Was being very gentle in his handling of our Branch. Do you think that I am being too paranoid?"
"Perhaps," Crystal agreed with a chuckle, "You growl at any that gets too close to me and you are doing the same to the little one. Protective, much, Brother?"
Frost snorted at himself. He'd often put a troll through an ice wall in a rage to watch over his family. Perhaps he was being too overprotective.
"It's hard," Frost groaned, sitting in the throne next to his sister's, "Branch is so little compared to us, Sister, and so much younger than you and I. He'd not survive here without proper training and his vulnerability makes me nervous."
"He'll get better and be cleansed soon," Crystal soothed as Frost sighed, "Once his memories are altered and his ice awakened, Branch will be formidable. We'll just keep him safe until the cleansing. Does that make you feel better?"
"Yes," Frost sighed, "I still don't know if I like that Creek very much. He feels oily at times. I want him away from our baby brother as soon as possible."
"Perhaps you are right, but I think Branch needs familiarity near until the cleansing. Creek is the only other warm climate troll here," Crystal said as Frost nodded his agreement, "Then, we'll assign Creek to one of our forts that is far from here and far, far from the little one. I am unsure if I like that one either. He was slippery when he first approached us and his dedication to our Branch seems to have an ulterior motive behind it."
"Exactly!" Frost exclaimed, turning to face Crystal more, "You picked up on that too, hm?"
"Yes," Crystal offered with a small frown, "But there is something else within this Creek. A story he hasn't told…a hurt that runs within him, something."
"He's a good bodyguard, my queen," a voice called as a guard stepped into the throne room.
"Really?" Frost questioned as Kiv bowed to his king and queen, "How so?"
"Was up and ready to protect the sleeping prince the minute I opened the door to bring the food you asked me to get, my king," Kiv explained as the twins exchanged surprised looks, "Should have seen the look on Creek's face. He meant business."
"Saw that look myself for a second," Frost hummed, "Told me off good for showing little manners. Maybe I am being too hard on Creek. He's got an icy backbone at least. He is only a little older than Branch and knows no other world other than that silly life taught by his tribe. Hugs, dancing, and singing do not make strong warriors. Shame we can't cleanse them both."
"Only works on royal blood," Crystal stated, pulling a milky-stone necklace from her tunic neck, "Brother, our father never turned away any ice troll who requested help. Creek is not of the ice, but he merely requested a new tribe to live among to start over again. You and I turned him away without a thought besides that he isn't an ice troll. Should we not give him an opportunity to try? He might be an asset. Slippery trolls make for great spies and we have always lived in fear of the Bergens invading our lands. We even know that Bergens killed our mother now and the rest of our little one's family. Creek could be a fountain of knowledge that we need to protect our people."
"You're right," Frost agreed, "Creek could surely give us more answers on these Bergens and other information, such as where to gather more food provisions on his old lands. He could possibly be very useful to us. Still, I want him watched until we know him better. Doesn't hurt to be safer than sorry. Kiv, do something for me."
"Yes, your majesty," Kiv replied quickly.
"Watch over our little brother carefully," Frost ordered as the guard kneeled before him, "Be near and make sure that this Creek's motives are true. Your king demands it and your prince needs you to be vigilant over his wellbeing until he is strong enough to care for himself, understood?"
"Aye, King Frost," Kiv vowed, bowing his head, "I'll remain vigilant. Your younger brother will be safe under my protection. Prince Branch will come to no harm while I live."
Frost nodded at Crystal when she grinned impishly at him. Now he felt better. Protecting wasn't a bad thing and if Creek needed to be put through a wall…well, this troll king volunteered for the job.
oOo
"We are going in circles."
"No we aren't."
"Yes, we are, Poppy," Satin groaned, pointing to the ground, "Isn't that our footprints? Here's where Coop fell…again."
"Ugh!" Poppy growled, seeing the evidence for herself finally, "How in the world did we do that? We just needed to turn left to get around that cliff and wind our way down to reach the mountain."
"Maybe right?" Guy offered as Poppy used her hair to climb upon a tall rock to get her bearings.
"It still looks like a left," Poppy denied as the rest of the Snack Pack pulled themselves up to look, "What do you think we did wrong?"
"One. We need to go a bit further before making that left," Biggie explained, "Two. Isn't that the wrong mountain?"
"What?" Poppy croaked as she regarded their direction, "Father said ice trolls lived at the bottom of the tallest mountain towards the north ridge."
Poppy whimpered when Biggie turned her head a little and she saw a taller mountain.
"Bergen poop!" the queen roared as her friends cringed before Poppy calmed herself, "Alright, about face and onward. We'll just get back up again, right?"
"Sure," everyone mumbled before plastering on fake smiles as Poppy glared at them, "Get back up again!"
"Right you are, Snack, my pack," Poppy agreed before sitting down with a weary sigh, "Sorry, Guys."
"Not a prob," DJ Suki reassured as her queen groaned in frustration, "Up you go, Poppy. Let's go get Branch."
"Branch!" Poppy chirped, bolting up on her own with renewed vigor which shocked her friends, "Get my Branch and hurt me some Creek. Let's go!"
"Cheerful ruthlessness is a bit scary," Biggie whispered to Cooper.
"Hate to be Creek when Poppy catches up to him," Chenille whispered back as the lads turned to her in surprise, "Looking forward to seeing it."
"Girls are scary too," Guy breathed as he followed after Poppy and the bouncing twins.
oOo
"Bergen poop! Hairy imp ears and beetle dung," Creek cursed as he paced before Branch's bed while the ill troll watched him, "That guard is driving me insane."
"What guard?" Branch asked as Creek sat on the floor with a huff of irritation.
"The one that trails me everywhere I go when I'm not with you," Creek spat, "King Frost must have assigned him to watch us. Finish your soup."
Branch snorted as he returned to trying to eat. His appetite was back, but he couldn't eat a lot at one go. The blue-skinned troll witnessed Creek's stomping over to the large window in the room and glance out and down.
"No."
"No, what, Mate?" Creek inquired, still measuring the distance down from the window.
"No, I cannot possibly climb down an ice palace," Branch supplied as Creek turned to him, "I'm too shaky on my feet, Creek. I also haven't the strength to use my hair in any way. Sorry."
"Not your fault, it's mine," Creek hissed, trying to come up with a plan of action, "Maybe, if I tied you to my back. Not a weakling here. Hm."
"Not Smidge either," Branch fussed, pushing the bowl of soup away as Creek came over to see how much he'd eaten, "You are not my mother."
"Nope. Just a troll that nearly killed you," Creek sighed, nodding as he saw that Branch had eaten more than he expected, "The faster you heal, the quicker we can move which means eating as much as you are able. Have to get out of here quickly and make our way home fast. I heard that the wind howling season is coming."
"What is that?" Branch questioned while his comrade moved the tray of food to a nearby table.
"Wind storms that lasts for days on end," Creek answered, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I need to get you out of ice country before then. Even if you are better, the ordeal you were put through has lowered your body's natural defenses against illness, Mate. Need to get you home way before the temperatures drop worse, but how?"
"Are there servant halls?" Branch blurted as Creek blinked in surprise, "I've read many a book on what little we know of ice trolls. My mother had quite a collection for some reason. Palaces usually have special doors and hallways for servants."
"Brilliant, Mate," Creek gasped, rising quickly to check the walls, "Maybe there is a way out of this room that we haven't considered yet."
Creek's and Branch's ears perked. Someone was coming. The purple troll hopped into a chair right as the door swung open to reveal Healer Bhen.
"You are to go to the throne room," Bhen ordered as Creek rose quickly, "The king and queen have need of you while I see how our ward is doing. Go on. Kiv is waiting for you."
Creek felt panic rise a bit. What if the healer revealed the truth to Branch? No. King Frost and his sister wanted to reveal the "joyous" news to their long, lost brother on their own. He was being led to see the twins so Branch would be safe for now. Creek nodded and threw Branch a look to see if the troll was okay. The blue-skinned troll flicked his eyes Creek's way to reassure him that he would be fine. Same old Branch.
"This way," Kiv spoke when Creek stepped out of the room before pausing when the smaller troll peeked for a moment back towards Branch, "Old Bhen is the best healer we've got. Your little charge will be fine."
"Right," Creek said, hiding his unease.
The unease grew stronger the further he was led away from Branch. He was unused to the layout of the palace and was trying to memorize his route in case he needed to get back fast. He didn't like this feeling.
"Wait, what?" Creek asked when he stepped into the empty throne room, "Where is the king and queen?"
"With the little prince," Kiv informed Creek as the other gasped.
"I was brought to see them. What trickery is this?" Creek hissed, turning to leave as Kiv grabbed at his arm, "Unhand me, Mate!"
"You were requested to come here and begin your training. That is what the king and queen wanted with you," Kiv began, making Creek wince at the grip on his arm, "You will do as the king and queen order you or…gah!"
Kiv grunted as hair slapped him across the room.
"I will do what is needed for Branch!" Creek growled as he took off back the way he'd come as fast as his legs could carry him, "Bergen poop!"
Creek cursed his luck angrily as he skidded down the hallway. If Branch has been told about his siblings, then his plan to keep the cleansing from happening would be lost. Branch would never see what was coming in his need to have family again.
"Branch!" Creek yelled as he threw the door open only to see Branch's tearstained face glaring at him with his sister's arms wrapped around his shoulders while Frost stood quickly, "Branch? What have you two done to him?"
"You are not to be here. This is a royal family matter," Frost snapped before frowning as Creek growled at him.
"He has choices to make about his own life!" Creek huffed, jumping right into the fray in his panic, "I won't allow you to…"
"Be silent!" Crystal interrupted, pulling Branch against her more, "Our little brother is upset and still ill. He doesn't need either of your noise."
"You don't understand what your plans will do to him," Creeks bit out, "Don't fool yourselves into thinking that this is right just because you share blood."
"You," Branch whispered suddenly, locking eyes with Creek as the room stilled, "You knew, Creek? You knew that I had siblings? Family to call my own when I've been alone for so long?"
"Branch, I can explain," Creek offered, holding an imploring hand out to the troll, "I've been trying to protect you."
"By not telling me the whole truth under some delusion that you are protecting me?!" Branch roared before doubling over as he coughed harshly into his hands while his siblings scrambled to help.
"Leave," Frost barked as he held a mug of water to Branch's lips before glancing back at Creek and then past him, "Kiv, get the wart out of here now!"
"No," Creek denied, trying to get to the gasping troll while Kiv manhandled him from the room, "No, Branch! Mate, you don't know what they want to do to you! Let me go! Branch! Mmph…"
Creek grunted as a hand was latched over his mouth.
To be continued…
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