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 Five

"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. Kiv must have learned his lesson because he also had Creek's hair in a tight lock so he couldn't use it to help him escape. No amount of struggling could loosen the grip of the ice troll. Creek groaned angrily at himself once he was thrown in a prison cell a moment later. If only he'd not been such an idiot and brought Branch here. Pus boils! Creek paced angrily once alone and ignored any food or water pushed through the bars for him. It was nearly a full day later that his door was opened, finding Creek sitting sulkily against the wall with his hands clasped tightly in front of his lips as his arms rested on his drawn up knees. It was the king and queen.

"You will explain yourself," Frost snapped as Creek scoffed at him as he rose to stare at the twins, "How dare you act so inappropriately."

"I dare!" Creek snapped back as the twins' eyes widened at this display of challenge from one so small, "You do your filthy, dirty work? Did you erase Branch's memories so he doesn't remember his other half now? He'll lose himself. He won't be Branch."

"Is that what this is about?" Crystal gasped, turning to her twin, "This is not what we thought, Brother. This is not manipulation at all. He's still protecting the little one."

"I see that and the ice wart threw Kiv hard yesterday. Could possibly be a pretty good warrior," Frost hummed thoughtfully as Creek grumbled angrily at being ignored, "Kiv told us that he was reluctant to leave our brother alone. Interesting."

"Gah! Are you not listening?" Creek demanded, making the twins look at him again, "What have you done to Branch?"

"Watch your tone," Frost sniffed, "We told you before what needed to happen. Of course our brother's been cleansed and you will call him by his rightful title. He is Prince Branch to you, Creek. Branch is safe, Boy. My sister and I wouldn't erase his very self, but only weeded out hurtful and unneeded memories. Our baby brother's stubbornness and pride are still intact which makes us ice trolls strong. He will wake from his forced sleep thinking that he has some memory loss from an illness. That way my sister and I can train him in the proper ways of his tribe."

"By robbing him of knowing his other half? Yeah, that's going to work out," Creek growled, making the twins glare, "He is only half ice troll. He'll figure it out when he realizes how different he is from the rest of you! How stupid can you be?!"

"You dare?" Frost bit out.

"I do," Creek hissed even as bits of cold ice began forming on his clothing from the king's rage, "You don't scare me!"

"I like him," Crystal declared suddenly as Creek and her brother gaped at her, "He's resilient and never backs down. Not many can face you when angered, Brother, but this one just won't give up. Creek has proved to me his loyalty to our little prince. He'll be trained as a bodyguard."

"I'm not so sure," Frost snorted, folding his arms angrily in a pose that was so much like his younger brother that Creek's mouth dropped open, "What?"

"You just…the family resemblance in you two in comparison to Br…Prince Branch can be disconcerting to see at times," Creek admitted before frowning at the siblings, "I just don't understand how you two could have done that to your brother. He's smart. Really smart and he had a right to choose the direction for his own life. Now he has no other choice, but the life you choose for him. That's wrong!"

"Kind of like when you brought him here without his permission?" Frost accused as Creek blanched.

"I shouldn't have done that, but neither should you have done what you did either," Creek whispered, looking down as he gripped his hands tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

"That is the will of the ice," Crystal explained as she stooped to lift the smaller troll's chin so she could look into Creek's eyes, "An ice troll's life is hard and our Branch needs to be strong. Old memories of pain can stunt a weapon's swing. That could lead to our brother getting injured. Frost and I will not allow that. He'll need you, Creek. He'll need you to teach him the ways of using his hair as defense. His memories are there still, but faded. You will remind him of that part of his abilities while we help him with his ice."

"Ice?"

"His ice is as strong as our mother's," Frost bragged proudly as Creek closed his eyes at his failing to protect Branch, "Nearly coated the room in ice before my sister and I were able to subdue his abilities. He'll be amazing, as will you once you are trained in weapon control. You are agile and sneaky in your fighting techniques which makes for a quick and nimble spy."

Unbeknownst to the bragging king, Creek's mind was already formulating another plan as Frost spoke on. If the memories were still within Branch then there was a chance that he could be reminded of who he really still is deep down inside. Very well. He'd play this charade for now.

"I don't wish to be a spy, but I am intrigued by the idea you had, my queen," Creek finally spoke as Crystal smirked at him, "I would be proud to be trained in the ways of an ice troll, but only to be Prince Branch's bodyguard. In case of attack, I can use my hair as camouflage to keep the prince safe if we are ever overwhelmed and I'll be proud to reteach him the abilities to use his hair as well."

"See?" Crystal pointed out as Frost studied Creek intently, "This one will be a valuable asset to our tribe and is already a loyal protector of the little one, Brother. One who cares this much will do anything to keep their ward safe. Kiv can train him in his duties."

"Sister," Frost warned as Crystal frowned at him as they seemed to speak without talking for a moment, "Very well, but I will be watching closely. I still don't quite trust Creek. He has yet to tell us why he left his old tribe or why he'd kidnap our Branch to come here."

Creek swallowed in secret before raising his head so he could be heard clearly.

"I betrayed my tribe," Creek blurted as the twins turned to him in shock, "I…I made the mistake in valuing my life above others in desperation to not get eaten by a Bergen. My old tribe is not trained to be warriors. We are peaceful and I reacted badly under pressure of death. That is something that I am ashamed about and wanted to learn your ways. Wanted to be stronger so I never make such bad decisions again. I brought Branch here because you asked me to and I wanted to prove my loyalty, but I won't allow you to harm him. I didn't bring him here for him to be hurt."

The twins exchanged looks as Frost continued to study Creek. The smaller troll refused to avert his eyes. This was truth. He was ashamed of his actions. All of them.

"Ah," Frost hummed, looking thoughtful for a moment, "Fear of death can make a weak troll foolish. The ice trolls train hard to force fear from our souls. It is true that you know no other life than that soft one the warm climate tribe lives, but you acted like a warrior when you removed Kiv from your path. Seems that you have an ice troll's backbone, Creek, but I am unsure of your relationship to our brother."

"Branch and I have a…complicated relationship," Creek snorted as memories filled his head, "We were the closest in age for a bit when tiny and started as friends, but then I became arrogant and a bit of a bully. He and I fought like boys do and he never backed down. Ever. He became a challenge to me."

"Our brother's a fighter," Frost pointed out, puffing up proudly once again, "A true member of the royal family."

"I guess," Creek sighed, "Branch surely always stood up for what he thought was right. I had a begrudging respect for him, but then we were torn apart from one another by what the Bergens did to our tribe. Branch disappeared for a while and came back grey."

"Grey?" Crystal gasped as her brother's expression turned stormy, "He'd lost his colors?"

"Drained away like water out of a bowl with a hole in the bottom," Creek nodded out, "Recently found out it was because of losing the last family he thought he had. Branch blamed himself, but he was not to blame for what happened to his grandmother. Your brother became surly and withdrawn, but still tried so hard to protect the tribe. Worked with King Peppy in establishing food supplies and security measure for a new village once the tribe escaped the Bergens. Few know of this truth since Branch kept to himself and wanted no recognition. He and the new queen saved everyone from the Bergens and that is when he regained his colors. Didn't want to admit it at the time, but your brother is pretty amazing and my grudge changed to real respect recently. I won't allow you to hurt him."

"Which we wouldn't," Frost fussed as Creek narrowed his eyes, "We would never. He's our baby brother. Ice trolls don't believe in half-siblings. Family is family. He is family to us without question and the new crowned prince of our tribe. Our people are very happy to know of this further extension of our line. Branch will finally know more stability than your tribe ever offered him."

"That's unfair," Creek huffed, "Our tribe were trapped and helpless against the Bergens for a long time. We knew no way to fight enemies that were so much larger. The warm climate tribe…I don't think they could cause others pain even if they wanted to."

"Matters not anymore. Branch will no longer remember his past and will start anew. Creek, we will train you as honor guard and allow you to be our baby brother's bodyguard under supervision until you are fully trained," Crystal offered as Creek sagged in relief, "I liked your truthfulness just now. You admitted to what you did, but you also made no excuses except to say you want to get stronger to not make foolish mistakes again. Warriors learn from painful mistakes. Remember that pain from the wound that I sense in your soul and work hard at your training. You can move mountains if you choose to."

"However, remember this advice," Frost hissed, jerking the small troll up by his hair, "Ice trolls do not forgive betrayal. You'll be killed on the spot if we sense any hesitation on your part, Creek. Am I understood?"

"Yes, King Frost," Creek agreed, mentally crossing his fingers, "I'd never betray the royal family."

Creek's growling stomach interrupted everything as the smaller troll blushed in mortification while the twins turned to glance at the untouched food offerings.

"Perhaps it is time for you to drop the stubbornness and eat," Crystal nodded out as she batted her brother's hand from Creek's hair and urged the smaller troll from the cell, "Come."

Creek was whisked to a small room that was attached to Branch's room by a cleverly hidden door, given a tray of food, and left alone to eat. He peeked through the door and watched as the twins flanked Branch's bed while their brother slept so deeply that his usual snoring was missing. Creek frowned when he glanced at Branch. The troll was too pale and was that…it was.

"There is frost coating the tips of his hair," Creek hissed in his mind as he silently closed the door, "I don't like this. He looks worse than he did when we first arrived. No one can tell me that this is better for Branch. Poop!"

Creek growled softly, eyeing his plate of food before tearing in. He'd have to be strong to make his plan happen. This bedroom assigned to him had a neat trick to it that would help him. The room was attached to the rest of the servant hallways.

"Eat, train, and memorize the palace ways," Creek decided as he ate, "Then get Branch out of here and to Poppy as quickly as possible. Seeing her will jog his memories and then your mistakes will be fixed. Well…Branch will be safe and you'll be alone again, Mate, but you made your own bed, didn't you?"

Sighing, Creek pushed the tray away as he walked to sit on the bed while he remembered the cloying loneliness that pulled at him to seek out the ice trolls to begin with. It had been painful, being so alone.

"Deal with it," Creek ordered himself as he hastily wiped away a tear, "Just…it will never be the same again. Get over it."

Creek felt eyes on him and jumped when he saw Frost staring at him from the doorway that led to Branch's room.

"He will always be Branch," Frost spoke finally as Creek realized the king had the wrong idea for his tears, "He is not lost to you, Creek. You should sleep. My brother will not wake for at least a day or two. Get some rest."

"Yes, your majesty," Creek whispered as Frost frowned softly before bustling in and actually working to tuck the smaller troll under the covers once he'd help Creek slide of his boots, "Um…what?"

"I think possibly you've been under a lot of strain for a long time," Frost began as Creek allowed the covers to be pulled over him, "Get some sleep and we will all start over again when you wake. You will train and be a good warrior. That is all you need to worry about now. Branch is safe and so are you. Rest."

"Thank you, King Frost."

Frost seemed surprised by the gratitude and nodded before turning away. Creek watched the larger troll leave before rolling over to actually sleep. Branch needed him to be sharp. It was Creek's responsibility now to get Branch home safely and that was what the troll vowed to do.

oOo

Poppy shivered hard as she tried to push her way through the snow storm that whipped around her and her small band. This whole trip had been bad from the first step away from the village. Creek was going to pay so much!

"Poppy!" Guy called, reaching her side as the pink troll stopped, "We can't see anything through this mess! We need shelter!"

"I would say that is true," a loud voice proclaimed as Poppy and Guy gasped and spun to see a large being looming over them before an obvious troll pulled his hood slightly back, "What in tarnation is a bunch of warm climate wimps doing on ice troll lands?"

"Well, we are trying to rescue one of our tribe," Poppy admitted, shivering hard as the troll studied her and glanced over the rest of the shivering group with a frown on his face, "He was kidnapped by a banished troll and we believe he was taking Branch to the ice palace."

"Hm," the troll hummed with a shake of his head, "Won't make it there any time soon. First, howler's hit. Can't leave you lot out in this. Hm. Follow me."

Poppy shrugged at her companions, but followed the larger troll as he strode away. He seemed nice enough. The stranger led them to a grouping of rocks that surprisingly turned out to be the entrance of a bunker that was very similar to the one that Branch had constructed. It felt nice to be out of the cold, but who was their host?

"Um…thank you very much, Mr…uh?" Poppy tried as the troll pulled off his outer furs.

"Thorn," the troll snorted, shaking snow from his ice-white hair, "Names Thorn. This way."

Poppy sighed happily when she stepped into the next room and found a cheerful, crackling fire burning in the fireplace. This was a nice place. Kind of plain, but cozy.

"Get warm and tell me more about why you are here," Thorn ordered, "My lands are not safe for sunny-folk like you."

"Wait, Pop," Cooper whispered, "Maybe this dude's in with that Creek."

"Creek? The little purple fellow?" Thorn asked, making Poppy gasp once again and nod frantically, "I am certainly not in with that creature. Didn't like him."

"You…you know Creek?" Poppy questioned as Thorn spat irritably into the fire.

"Saw him when he was driven to the ice palace from being found half frozen. I trade there on occasions and happened to be in the royal sled that picked the twerp up," Thorn began as Poppy listened with her friends, "Was asking to join our tribe. Little, warm-blooded trolls like you can't handle our weathers for long so he was turned away, but then he began to beg like a weakling."

"Then what happened?" Poppy pushed.

"Just began warbling on and was about to be thrown out of the palace when your Creek made an interesting connection," Thorn continued, "Said how weird it was that one of his old tribemates had what looked like ice troll coloring which made the king and queen take notice immediately. Ya see, you warmer climate trolls have blues, but not the ice blues and cobalts of my people so I think the royal siblings assumed that a troll with winter coloration was a traitor to our tribe who'd left his post. Traitors are not tolerated by my people. King Frost made Creek a deal. Bring him that tribemate and Creek just might be allowed into the ice tribe."

"So that's why Creek kidnapped Branch," Chenille gasped as her twin nodded, "That was pointless. Branch has an exotic coloration, but he isn't an ice troll. He was born into our tribe."

"Interesting," Thorn said as he began to add wood to the fire, "The king may toss the two into this howler for wasting his time if that be the case."

"But Branch is innocent," Poppy exclaimed in a panic as Thorn raised an eyebrow at her.

To be continued…

I'm so excited!

There is a lovely artist called Neiyoko that drew a wonderful picture of Branch beside his brother and sister. Neiyoko must have crawled straight into my head and pulled Frost and Crystal out because the twins are perfect. Go to Neiyoko's Corner and you can see the artwork.

Thank you, Neiyoko!

Review and tell me what you think of everything. I'd love to hear from everyone.

TTFN!