The sun was rising. Poppy slowly opened her eyes, she realized that Branch had taken her to his little house. She had probably fallen asleep against him. The events of that night came back to her mind and she began to cry as she wrapped her arms around the body of the gray troll that was still sleeping. Branch opened his eyes a few seconds later and whispered, pressing her forehead against hers:

- Poppy, not be sad. Poppy not well and Branch going console her.

Branch began to whistle like a bird. He whistled an air that Poppy recognized as a song called '' True Colors ''. The pink troll thought he must have learned it when he was young.

Later Trolls came looking for Branch. The gray troll who understood what was happening hid behind the princess, moaning.

- He does not walk on his legs? So we have to respect the orders ...

Branch groaned even more horribly than the others. Poppy leaned over and hugged him, trying to hold back tears. Branch did not like to see tears on her face, he licked one to chase it and Poppy laughed softly.

- You have to go back to the forest, do you understand? I'll come back for you, I promise you ...

Branch start crying too, he squeaked in despair:

- Promise? he asked

The princess rose to avoid answering. Branch sighted Creek watching them from afar, a triumphant smile on his face. He moaned and followed a yellow-skinned troll to a giant insect.

- Climb in the Caterbus! he ordered.

He obeys.

A few hours later, the trolls brought out the wild troll. Branch sniffed the floor before turning to his old friends, moaning. The Trolls left without even looking at him, leaving him alone in the forest.

- Hello? he whispered

Nobody. Branch sniffed the ground again, then finally found an odor he knew well; his. He followed it and a few minutes later he was in front of his old lair. He went inside and lay down in his pile of moss.

- Poppy said she will come back for Branch, Boom Boom. he added as he felt the strange feeling come back tickling his stomach.

But it was too long. He stood up, moaning. He did not see his bud from here ... He felt the panic coming quietly to him:

- Poppy may be danger? he said to himself loudly.

He remembered '' Fish '' and his mouse that smelled the bay of yew, a poison berry that would have killed him in a few seconds ...

He got up immediately and made a bag that he filled with something he had collected over the years: his dough to wash his teeth, medical plants ... when he was sure to have everything, he went out from his burrow, looking for the smell of other trolls, and so, would lead him to the village.

It was going to be a long trip ...

* * *

Poppy was sitting in Branch's little house. He had been gone for 2 days and he was missing her terribly. Had he ever forgotten her as he had obviously forgotten how to walk? She buried her face in her hands.

- Poppy?

She raised her head, her father approached her and helped her up before hugging his daughter.

- I miss him, dad. I want him to come back!

- I know, but he has bitten Creek and now everyone is scared of him ...

Poppy disengaged herself from her father's embrace and stared at the floor, screaming:

- He bit him because Creek scares him! He wanted to defend himself!

She burst into tears, everything was the fault of the purple troll! If he had kept his promise, Branch would not return to live alone in the forest! Pepy hugged her again, whispering:

- We'll find a way to get him back, I promise you.

* * *

In the forest Branch was cold. The snow had started to fall so much he was riding high on a mountain, he was following the smell of a troll, not knowing where he was going. Smoke was coming out of his mouth, his hands and feet were freezing, but he was not going to give up now.

He had been walking in the snow for 20 minutes now. He was beginning to feel tired, but he knew he must not fall asleep, or else he would die of cold. He stopped suddenly:

A deafening noise caused the earth to shake. Branch turned his head towards the origin of the sound, completely panicking ...

But not as much as the troll down the cliff. An avalanche was moving towards them. Branch jumped on a wall of the cliff, safe, he began to bark for the troll to join him ... but the snow had already covered everything. When he was sure the avalanche was over, he jumped down from the rock and began digging in the snow to free the troll.

He eventually found a leg, he dug faster still barking as much as possible.

- ICE? shouted a voice.

Branch had managed to pull the troll to the pale green skin of his hole. Another troll came to join them. A girl with lilac skin almost white, she smelled of vanilla. The girl leaned toward the green-skinned male, panicking. She tried to wake up her companion, without success. Finally, she put her lips against the inanimate troll before starting to cry.

-Ice, no ...

Branch inclined his head, this way of licking the face seemed very affectionate ... but he preferred to try to wake him in his own way:

- Wake up! Or Branch will force you!

The girl frowned at his strange way of speaking. The green troll did not listen to him. Branch had no choice but to wake him up in his own way. He began to lick the face of the troll that the girl called "Ice" and he began to cough, trying to push him away.

-What is ... Storm? he murmured, getting up feebly, his hand against his forehead.

- Ice! shouted the girl, hugging him

Branch took out his tongue from his mouth, proud of him. The two strangers turned to him:

-Thank you a lot ... Branch, right?

He barked happily. The two trolls frowned at his strange way of acting.

- What are you doing in the mountains, all alone? asked Storm

- Me, look for Poppy. Danger and Branch save her.

Ice turned his head to his girlfriend:

- Poppy? This is the name of the princess of the trolls of the East Forest, right? He would come from this village?

- Village? Poppy? Branch wants to go to the village to join Poppy! Boom, Boom, Boom!

Storm laughed as Branch began to jump for joy;

- We will help you find your love!

Branch frowned

- What is "love"?

- That's what you call "Boom Boom Boom" explained Ice, a teasing smile on his face. When your heart beats hard and you feel like you have butterflies in your stomach looking at someone you love.

Branch smiled, her cheeks were tinged with a pretty purple color:

- So, Branch love for Poppy! He had finally learned the word to describe how he felt: He was in love.

Storm and Ice gave him something to stay warm and they started down the mountain to the river. They had been walking for an hour now and they came close to a precipice. Ice found a trunk and placed it to use as a bridge. The green troll passed through effortlessly followed by Storm.

- Come on, Branch! Ice said

The gray troll look into hole and, frightening, recoiled, moaning. Storm came to join him and leaned toward him:

- You know you have to cross this bridge if you want to go home? Poppy needs you are brave!

Branch tried to calm down, he had to cross this bridge to save the princess! He stepped towards the trunk and Storm passed him, spanking him to follow her. He put his right hand carefully on the trunk and finally decided to climb on the frozen wood ... He had a horrible creak and Branch squeaked in terror, his left leg fell into the void but he caught up just in time.

- You're okay? Worried Ice on the other side

- Branch needs to get up on both legs to get through, Storm said. He will never be able to advance like that.

Storm grabbed one of his hands and pulled him up, but Branch did not move. Storm smiled and pulled something out of her pocket - a piece of chocolate! Branch loved chocolate! It had been so long since he had not eaten it!

- Wants it! he cried, looking at the treat with a happy face.

The purple troll carried the chocolate above his head, Branch raised both hands to try to catch it, but he had no choice but to get up on his legs to get it. When he caught it and ate, Storm grabbed his hands, forcing him to stay up.

- Walk slowly, laughed you, You're tall, more than me! she added, seeing the size of the gray troll, about 14cm.

- Walk? That's it? On two legs?

They crossed on the other side and Ice smiled:

- Yes, you ... finally, you were walking! he agreed as Branch dropped into the snow, exhausted.

- I want to sleep, I'm tired. It's hard to walk. Storm smiled, Branch's strange accent was starting to disappear.

* * *

Poppy was walking in the village, disturbing. Why Branch was attacking Creek, there are now 6 days? Creek had said to bring him food ... but why would the gray troll attack him because he brought him something to eat?

At the same time, GD came to her. He seemed to be troubled by something.

- Poppy! I find something you should come to see!

Intrigued, Poppy followed him; the glitter troll led her into Branch's hut. She felt her heart tighten.

- Look! GD shouted, pointing to something on the floor.

Poppy turned her head, it was a moldy mouse. Surely the food that Creek had brought to Branch.

- Yes and so? she asked, holding back a grimace of disgust.

GD grabbed a stick and opened the mouth of the dead mouse; a blood-red berry drying was sinking into the rodent's throat, an yew berry, a poison berry. Creek had to try to ...

- I WILL KILL THIS .... But GD covered her mouth before she finished her sentence.

- We have evidence that Branch to attack Creek for a good reason! Explained the white-haired troll, let's go and tell King Pepy!

The King immediately ordered an assembly of the village. Poppy clenched her fists as she saw Creek coming, his leg wrapping around in bandages.

- About an hour ago, GD and your Princess Poppy found a mouse carcass in Branch's house.

The village Trolls started to get angry when they heard the name of the wild troll, but King Pepy continued:

- And this mouse had a berry poison in the mouth.

The anger turned to surprise, a child cried:

- That's what Creek had brought him to eat, right? And this is the last one to have been to see Branch before the attack!

All the Trolls turned to the purple troll, and Creek looked panicked.

- Creek, would you have a chance of trying to poison Branch?

To Poppy's surprise, Creek admitted:

- Why would not I? This monster deserves to die!

Cries of surprise and fear followed his words. Pepy then shouted:

- It proves that Branch has bitten you for a good reason.

- I want him to come back! Biggie shouted, Mr.Dinkles has not slept since Branch left!

- My son does not even want to play outside! Let's go get Branch! shouted a pale-skinned troll.

All Trolls screamed that they had to bring the gray troll home. Poppy felt tears come to her eyes. She was going to keep her promise and bring it home!

Poppy ran as fast as she could to Branch's burrow. Her heart was pounding.

-Branch! she shouted, looking in his burrow.

He was not there.

* * *

Storm, Ice, and Branch had reached the river. It was time to say goodbye after walking together for a week. Branch turned to them, he walked half way and his accent was gone completely. Ice pointed to the river and explained to him:

- You just have to follow the river and it will show you to the village direction.

- Understood ... hey, Storm? how am I supposed to ... tell her? he asked, blushing.

The troll with lilac skin laughs:

- Juste follow your heart, my friend!

- I'm going to do that. Thanks for your help!

- Goodbye! cried Storm

Branch went on all fours and ran towards the village. I gonna follow my heart right back to you, Poppy. I'm coming! he thought, jumping over a dead tree.

* * *

Poppy could not believe it, Branch was gone.

Sitting on a mushroom, she was in tears. Her friends tried to console her, but all she wanted was to find Branch and hug him.

- Tonight we will return to the forest to look for him! promised DJSuki, replacing one of Poppy's hair locks.

Poppy did not stop crying. She looked up, GD had just grabbed the hand of DJ and squeezed it gently in a sign of affection ... Poppy suddenly realized and began to sob:

- I want him back, I ... I love him!

Smidge rubbed her back to comfort her.

- I'm sure he should not be far! Biggie assured.

Poppy got up and ran away. She stopped in front of Branch's hut and stared at his moss bed, letting the tears run down her cheeks.

Branch spread a sling and sniffed the air, she was close! He moaned and began running at full speed to where his heart was leading him.

Poppy looked down, the SnackPack had joined and looked at her silently. when suddenly, Fuzzbert noticed a familiar figure running towards them. He began screaming through his hair and Satin turned to him:

- What ... Oh! she exclaimed, seeing why Fuzzbert was so happy.

- Poppy! I think you should see back! Chenille commanded, noticing the troll coming towards them.

The princess turned to hear a squeak ... She widened her eyes as she saw him:

- Branch? BRANCH!

The gray troll ran towards them on all fours, moaning like a puppy. Poppy immediately ran to him and she stopped when Branch stood on both legs. to join her even faster.

Branch literally jumped on her and they fell to the ground.

- You came back! You came back! she exclaimed as she sat down, Branch in front of her.

Without warning, she grabbed his cheeks and pressed her lips against his. Branch felt his heart start beating twice faster and he let her take control, not knowing how to react. He liked that way of licking her face. Storm and Ice called it a ''kiss''. he finally understood how to do and kissed her too, not wanting to let her go.

when she withdrew, she hugs him against him, crying with relief.

- I should have been with you, I should have prevented them from sending you back to the forest! I am so sorry!

- It does not matter anymore, I'm here now and I'll never leave, I love you too much for that.

Poppy was surprised, how did Branch manage to pronounce his sentence perfectly? But she did not have time to ask him because he drew her against him to kiss her again. his skin was slowly turning blue.

-----------

The End.