A.N. Another chapter. Surprisingly, this one came easily to me.
DISCLAIMER: DREAMWORKS OWNS TROLLS, NOT ME!
"I think that was Poppy!" exclaimed Guy Diamond.
Everyone dropped what they were doing, and went over to their Queen.
The pink troll was resting fitfully, with a fresh sheen of sweat on her forehead, shivers, and raspy breathing.
Her cheeks were also rosier than usual with her sheets in disarray due to tossing and turning.
"Oh no..." whispered the Twins.
Suki quickly felt Poppy's forehead, and had to pull her hand away after two seconds.
"Someone get a thermometer!" she ordered.
Biggie was quick to comply, and Suki stuck it in the queen's mouth.
"We need to take it out after two minutes," she stated, turning to the others.
They all had shocked faces.
"Really?! Am I the only one that was paying attention when Branch was tending to us?!" the DJ asked incredulously upon noticing their expressions.
Their silence was all the answers she needed.
Suki groaned and rolled her eyes.
Another minute and a half went by, leading to the hot pink troll taking the thermometer out.
"105.8! We need to get Branch!"
"But how? He's over at Peppy's and the rain isn't due to stop for hours!" pointed out Cooper.
"Not to mention that if you go out there-" started Satin.
"-you could get just as bad as Poppy!" finished Chenille.
Suki turned to them with a fixed expression.
"She's worth it. You should know that. And right now, Poppy NEEDS Branch."
Before another word could be spoken, the determined troll opened the door and bolted outside.
The Pack stared after her in stunned silence.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Suki," spoke up Biggie.
The DJ ran up the stairs to the middle of the Troll Tree, getting soaked in the process.
"Okay, West Branch, South Branch-Aha! North Branch!"
She ran along a few more limbs, shivering and getting short of breath.
"Come on...where is it?!"
She was starting to lose hope, until...
"Wait a minute...THERE!"
She sprinted to the door, leaned against the frame for support, and knocked.
Inside, Branch was almost finished with his second cup of tea (Peppy had persuaded him to stay a BIT longer than he meant to) when he heard the weak rap at the door.
"Who could that be in this weather?" he wondered as he got up to open the door.
Almost as soon as he did, his face blanched.
"SUKI?! YOU IDIOT!"
He forcefully yanked her inside and sat her by the fireplace.
"What were you DOING out there?!"
He felt the DJ's forehead.
"Never mind that, I think your fever's coming back..." he muttered worriedly.
"Actually, why I'm here DOES matter. It's Poppy. Her fever spiked and I thought it was best to get you," explained the hot pink troll between coughs, sneezes, and shivers.
As soon as Suki said that, Branch's anger and concern for her dropped approximately 99.9% and got redirected towards his girlfriend.
"How high?" he demanded.
"Last time I checked, it was almost 106."
Branch turned to Peppy, who had been silent this whole time.
"Peppy, I'm sorry, but I need to go. Get my stuff."
"No problem, my boy. My daughter needs you." said the orange troll, handing his hopefully-soon-to-be son-in-law his umbrella and rain boots.
Suki tried to stand up.
"I'm coming with you."
It was easier said than done since she nearly collapsed as soon as all her weight was on her feet.
"No, Suki. You're too weak. Sit back down by the fire," ordered Branch, helping to support her.
The hot pink troll glared.
"Poppy's my best friend. I need to be with her."
Branch groaned frustratingly, sensing that Suki wouldn't back down anytime soon.
"Fine. If you're so insistent on coming, at least wear my stuff. We don't need you getting pneumonia."
He handed his rain gear to her, but the DJ handed it back.
"Won't YOU get sick, too?"
Branch fixed her with a determined gaze.
"I'm a survivalist. I'll be fine."
Seeing as he was serious, Suki reluctantly put the rain boots and a rain coat ("Just a precaution," said Peppy, handing her his own coat,) on and grabbed an umbrella.
Together, they started out for the ailing Poppy.