Branch looked at the large creature in fear that somehow had a mouth for a cave, after swallowing the spiders that backed off in fear when he whipped them with his hair.

It looked back down at him, emitting a low grumble, causing him to exclaim in surprise, before he saw it lower its self back into the ground, and it closed its eyes once again.

The Grey troll exhaled in relief, a short smile planted across his face, but his smile faded when he remembered Poppy was still behind him, tied up in spider webs, and he quickly turned around.

"Oh no.. Poppy!" He said, running towards her.

He kneeled down to her level and put his ear next to her lips.

She wasn't breathing.

Branch felt himself began to panic, but he stayed calm and strong for her.

"Hang on!" He yelled, running over to grab a stick then two bugs from where they were roaming.

Running back to her, he carefully but quickly cut the spider web she was tied in open, now the rest of her body exposed.

He quickly took action and rubbed the two electric bugs together and zapped her chest with no hesitation.

But she didn't move.

"What.." Branch said to himself, zapping her again, but she still didn't move.

"No, no.. Poppy, come on, this isn't funny!" He put the bugs down as they crawled away, and shook her body gently.

Branch felt hot tears prick at the edges at his eyes.

"Poppy I'm serious! Wake.." The poor troll's voice trembled, as he held the Princess' body in his arms.

One tear fell down his cheek as he gently hugged her to his chest, desperately wanting to feel her arms wrap back around him, but nothing came.

What was everyone gonna think? Their Princess suddenly just died! And it's my fault.. I should've gone with her..

But his thoughts were cut when he heard two light coughs.

Branch opened his eyes and looked down at the Pink Troll, who was now groaning softly and blinking her eyes slowly open, but not all the way.

"Branch..?" She swore she could see his face, but she couldn't really tell.

"Oh my holy troll.." Branch held her in his arms tightly, but not too tight.

"Don't you ever do that again you hear me..?"

Poppy just rested her head on his chest as he hugged her, exhausted as ever after making her way all the way here.

"Wait, when did you get here?" She out of the blue asked him.

"Um, just earlier, when you were unconscious." He let go of her slowly.

Poppy began to slowly smirk, and Branch knew that was bad news.

"Thought you were gonna stay back with the others hm?" She put her hands on her hips.

Branch rolled his eyes and grumbled.

"You really thought I was gonna stay in there being suffocated by all those hugs? Plus, I figured you couldn't do this by yourself. And I was right. You nearly died." Branch stood up and held his bad on his back.

"Hm." Poppy shrugged. He had a point, but she knew part of the real reason he came. And it made her feel warm and tingly inside.

Silence came upon them for a second.

"Let's go." Branch cleared his throat and quickly started walking, feeling himself blush.

Poppy smiled and followed behind him.

That troll was something else.

A/N: this was actually in my drafts for like two days but I wanted to wait a bit to publish it lol