A few more days passed and Nina with the help of Maya stepped out of her tent with Jasper and Sora behind them with all the bedding.

Rai looked up at them and sead "Nina you look terrible!"

"Why thank you, I have been sick for the last few days one of them vomiting my guts out, I would hate for it not to show."

They looked at each other then burst out laughing, Branch turned to his 'cousins' "I don't understand didn't Rai just insult Nina and she is not upset?"

"They grew up in a different way then we are, you should hear them when they think we can't hear them." was Leith's reply.

Maya rolled her eyes "I'm taking Nina to have a bath while Jasper and Sora go and wash all the bedding."

"Hard to believe that the two of you are willingly going to laundry," Coen sead,

"Look," sead Jasper "The last thing we need is for Nina to get sick again or worse for Branch to get sick, it was bad enough for a full grown adult to be that sick let alone a child still recovering from starvation."

"Good point."

The rest of the day was uneventful as Rai, Coen and the younger girls helped Branch with walking.

"This is taking to long," Branch whined as he slumped into Coen's arms "I want to be able help around camp and learn how to heal like the girls do."

Rai picked up Branch and placed him in his lap, "Look I know it can be discouraging when things don't go as fast as we want it to, but unfortunately this is the real world things take time, this is not a story where you can turn the page and everything is wonderful and everyone lives happily ever after."

"That's true," added Coen "Our lives are not black words on a white background, but there is good news your hair is starting to stand up again."

Later that night when the children were asleep Branch started to dream,

Branch was in the old Troll tree in Burgan town but it wasn't Grandma hanging up the washing it was Nina, Branch tried to stop himself from singing but the memory just replayed itself as the Chef grabbed Nina after she had pushed him out of the Burgan's way.

Branch woke up screaming, the adults ran into the tent to see what had happened, Nina picked up a crying Branch trying to soothe the frightened child.

Branch sobbed into her chest as she combed her fingers though his hair telling him that they were all safe.

The adults looked at each other knowing what to do to calm down all fore children as the girls were upset over Branch"s nightmare.

Slowly Jasper picked up Branch and started to sing, Branch was a little concerned about the music but it was not as loud as the trolls in the village.

Jasper:
If happiness was a tangible thing
It would be you
If you'd have told me
The feeling you'd bring

(Branch shook his head in denial)

I'd think it untrue
And people search for a wonder like you
All of their lives
You still amaze me after all this time
You pull me in like some kind of wind
Mesmerized by the hold I'm in
Leave you here, I don't wanna
I wanna
Promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs

(Nina gently took Branch from Jasper's hold and hugged him gently)

Nina:
What's pain when I look at you? No way
I could explain you
Even if I tried to, I'll never dream like I used to do
If someone tried to hurt you, I don't
See how that could happen
I'd fight for you in ways you can't imagine
Felt this? No, I haven't, I hope
It would be all right to stay right here beside you

(Sora, Rai and Coen started to get everyone's beading and started to make a large nest in the middle of there camp sight as Maya placed the girls in the middle of it.)

Both:
And promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs

(Jasper and Nina both hugged Branch gently as Jasper stretched his hair around the three of them to show Branch how serous they all were about keeping them all safe.)

If you're ever feeling like you're lost
I'll come find you
Man all fronts
There's no ocean I won't swim across
To be right by you
And not just once
Here and now, I swear on my response
I'll remind you
And promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs

Nina placed a now sleepy Branch in between Leith and Tarri then Nina layed down behind Leith as Maya was behind Lake, Rai behind Nina with Coen behind Maya leaving Jasper and Sora on the outside, Branch started to clime over Leith,

"Ow hey!"

"Sorry,"

Branch snuggled into Nina's chest listening to her heart as sleep slowly crept over him.

There were no more nightmares that night.