For the second time since his transformation began he was able to wake up on his own. No pain whatsoever and he is grateful ror that since the horrors he had endured yesterday. He just hopes it isn't going to get any worse.

Stretching he gets up and grabs his robe,thankfully he wore pants to bed last night. He usually doesn't wear pants around his bunker as it's his personal safe space but even he knows to put on pants when there is company around, ESPECIALLY if it's Poppy.

Careful to not wake her up  he quietly tries to get out of bed when a strange sensation occurs at the bottom of his feet and toes. It feels similar to.... "You've got to be joking"  He whispers out loud.  There beginning to grow on his feet and toes were the beginning of pawpads.

Wait something just clicked in his mind 'How can I see this clearly in the dark?' He mentally asks himself. Taking a look around and is shocked to see that he can see perfectly fine in the dark and can navigate around like ot was nothing. 'Ok now this is getting weird,I now have nightvision for crying out loud!' He mentally yells. Deciding to ignore this for now he directs his attention back to his feet.

'How am I going to walk around with these?!  What does it even feel like?' He mentally questions himself before carefully placing a foot onto the ground. Luckily he wasn't rewarded with pain it just feels a bit weird sort of like wearing shoes only he can actually sort of still feel the ground beneath him. It won't affect his walking so that's all that matters right now.

Quietly as he can he manages to leave his room and close the door behind him as to not wake up Poppy.  Putting on his robe he begins to head to the kitchen to make some breakfast for him and Poppy along with his morning coffee. He decides some cereal would be fine for him and he decides to make some pancakes later for Poppy as he knows of her love for sweet stuff.

For now he enjoys the bliss silence of morning while sipping his coffee and eating his cereal. He soon finishes and wait for Poppy to wake up before deciding to make anything. He takes this time to look over himself again.

"So much of me has changed" He says looking over his grey paws. "Will I even be recognizable once it's over?" He asks himself as his ears lower in sadness. He flexes his claws out again and takes another look at them. He is only able to look at them for a few minutes before retracting them as he couldn't stand to look at them any longer,they jsut remind him that he isn't the same anymore and never will be.

Now that it's brighter in this part of the bunker he decides to take a better look at his feet. Even if he could see fine in the dark that doesn't mean he could see colors in the dark and all that. There on his toes and foot are the beginning of pawpads just like what was happening to his fingers.

This new part of the transformation also makes him realize something. 'Ah sugar that probably means I'm gonna grow claws on my feet too. That is going to hurt alot AGAIN!' He screams to himself mentally as he holds his face with his paws as he isn't looking forward to it at all tomorrow if it's going by pawpads than claws.

"Of course I'm going to have claws on my feet probably good for climbing and you can't just have one set of claws on your hands that's not how biology works with animals with claws" He mutters to himself angrily.

He knows he should be happy that today for both him and Poppy it should be a easy day with no painful part of the transformation but still. He needs something to do but he has no idea what to do today after making Poppy her pancakes. She obviously can't leave cause transformation and the queenly leave excuse.

Knowing her she is going to find something to do she usually always has something to do. He looks at his claws again 'Hmm maybe I can do something for these?' He contplimates to himself as he begins to think of ideas for his new claws as he doesn't want to accidentally scratch anyone even though he highly doubts he will,as he always says it's always good to be prepared.

He has a few ideas in mind maybe he can make some gloves? He isn't a big fan of gloves cause they feel weird on his hands and only wears them when he absolutely has to. There is also the possibility of clipping his claws. He will probably have to anyways over time when they get too long. Isn't there something other animals with claws do to help wear them down?

Oh right scratching stuff that usually wears them down. Well he doesn't exactly have anything he can scratch on at the moment that won't either damage said thing he scratches or hurt him cause it's too hard to scratch and end up damaging his claws.

Sighing he knows what he has to do...he has to go outside again. He doesn't want to but he wants something to scratch on for his own peace of mind and well becuase he actually does want to scratch something.

"Stupid instincts and stupid curiosity" He grumbles as he leaves his bunker. He doesn't need to go far he just needs some tree bark and twigs and he is good to go. He isn't out for long maybe 20 minutes before he is back ready to leave when he decides to do the thing he has been wanting to do.

"I hate that I'm actually doing this" He grumbles as he unsheaths his claws and begins to scratch on the closest tree to see what he could actually do with these new claws. Surprisingly it didn't feel as bad as he thought it actually felt pretty good to scratch at something. It was sort of a stress reliever for him.

He continues to scratch for a few minutes before stopping and seeing just how much damage he did and let's out a low whistle. It was more damage than what he could normally do without any of his weapons on him so that's a plus. The scratch marks weren't too deep barely a centimeter but still that's better than what he could do before he had claws.

Satisfied with his work he sheaths his claws and heads back down his bunker and begins to start working on a homemade scratching board when his ears twitch and he can hear Poppy munching on some cereal.

Going into the kitchen he sees her happily eating away and just as he thought she was growing pawpads just like he was. Her's were a more vibrant hue similar to her hair color only a bit darker.  It seems the transformation goes in a specific order so it isn't completely random so that's always a good thing. Bad thing is that she is gonna grow claws tomorrow and that's not going to be fun especially if he is going to also be growing more.

"Oh hey Branch! Uhm what's with the tree bark and twigs? Ya making something?" She asks curious. "Yeah I'm making some scratching boards one for each of us to use." He says going to get some crafting supplies. "Uh why do we need them? I mean I know we are gonna grow claws and all but I don't really see the purpose of these?" She asks him not seeing the point.

"Well it's to help wear down our claws is all so they won't get too long and well scratching at something is also a good stress reliever. Take it from me I felt better after scratching at a tree outside" He explains heading over to his work bench where he does all his projects.

"Ooooh ok, well good news I already know what I plan on doing today" Poppy says grinning. "Oh really what?" He humors her.
"I'm gonna make a scrapbook of our transformations!" She says excited but that stops Branch in his tracks "What?why? Who would want to look at a scrapbook where our teeth fall out very painfully and bloody by the way and where claws have ripped out of my hands?!" Branch really does want to know what goes through his girlfriends mind at times when she comes up with this stuff.

"Well I wouldn't add all that detail I would obviously make it friendly or at least not as graphic" She explains and he just sighs. Poppy is good at scrapbooking and if she can make a book about the history of the Bergans from when they ate trolls for crying out loud not too bad that she even reads it to kids safe than he will trust her judgment.

"Alright if you say so. Will you still be able to scrapbook with those though?" He asks referring to her pawpads and transforming fingers. "Yep this is also so I can get used to these so I can get two things done at once!" She says ever the optimist. "By the way these look so cute and it honestly kind of tickles with how they are growing in" She says giggling as she touches a pawpad.

'Tickles?!' Branchs brain can't comprehend how growing pawpads be ticklish. Then again he has perceived touch and sensations differently so who was he to judge? At least she is enjoying herself and that all that matters.

"Well I'm off to scrapbook, if you need me I will be nearby" She says before walking off leaving him to his own devices. Taking a seat at his workbench he takes out his tod and cracks his fingers "Alright time to see if I can still make stuff as good as I could before with these paws" He says hoping to be the case as he begins to get to work.

After a few hours it seems to be the case as there are 2 completed scratching mats in front of him. Sure he had to accommodate his fingers new shape and size but it wasn't as bad as he thought. He could still move them just like he could before with no complications.

Wiping some sweat off his face he goes to get a drink of water as he decides what to do next. He could get back to that puzzle he and Poppy didn't finish yet but he wasn't in a puzzle mood at the moment. He wanted to do something else but what could he do?

He lays on his couch as he ponders on what to do. While pondering he begins to absent-mindedly scratch at the new scratching mat as it's something for his hands to do while he is thinking.

As he is pondering he looks around as if trying to find inspiration on something to do when he sees a piece of paper on his workbench alongside a pencil when it hits him.

He should write! And not just write anything oh no he should write about this whole fruit situation and information on it since there wasn't any in the library! With this book in case ant future trolls come across it they will know what to do! With a grin he gets off the couch and grabs a spare notebook in case he needs to jot down notes.

Taking a pencil he begins to jot down everything about the fruit that he knows so far. From its looks to its rarity to the transformation. For each stage of the transformation he goes into extreme detail about each one, well each one he has experienced so far at least.

He is so focused he doesn't hear or notice Poppy enter the room he is in. "Hey Branch-" "AH!" Branch yelps at her sudden appearance. Was he really so focused he didn't notice her enter? That doesn't usually happen to him.

"Sorry for scaring you, I was wondering if you have any glue I ran out" She asks. "Yeah in the top drawer on the left over there" He replies gesturing to his work bench drawer. He is surprised though that Poppy managed to run out of glue she seems to always have a never ending supply of it and.....ugh glitter.

"Thanks!" She thanks him and grabs a tube of glue before heading back over to him and sits beside him. "So what ya doing Branchifer?" She asks looking at the notebook that is littered with notes and doodles.

"I'm writing a book om the fruit that turned us so in the future in case any troll comes across it they will know what to do" He explains as he continues to jot down information. "Oooh that's a good idea actually and when it's complete we can put it in the library for all to see" She says happily.

"Yep, aren't you going to go back to your scrapbooking?" He asks looking at her. "I am I'm just taking a bit of a break at the moment is all" She simply says before resting her head on his shoulder. He stiffens at the contact before slowly relaxing and resumes his writing .

Poppy being Poppy doesn't stay still for very long and looks at Branchs ears that would twitch every so often as if reacting to his thoughts. She is than hit with a idea, slowly raises her hand and begins to slowly rub behind his right ear.

It twitches and seemingly stiffens at the contact but slowly relaxes and stops twitching all together. She continues to rub it for fun when she notices that Branch has stopped writing and is beginning to relax at the sensation. Though it seems he has no idea why he is relaxing if his confused look is any indicator.

He soon begins to lay his head on top of hers and a small smile begins to form on his face and she smiles back at him. Who know that getting him to relax all you needed was to rub his ears? She is than alerted to a new sound and sensation.

It's a low rumbling noise and it was coming from....Branchs chest? Her ears twitch as she recognizes it 'Oh my everything Branch is purring!' She can't help but giggle at the display of cuteness coming from her boyfriend. Looks like this is also a new thing from the transformation and she is all for it,she can't wait until she is able to purr as she wonders what it feels like.

Branch is brought back to reality when he hears his girlfriend giggle. Just what was so funny? The last thing he was aware of was a nice sensation on one of his ears and then it was like he was dozing off as he relaxed as it felt good. He now realized that Poppy is rubbing one of his ears,why? He has no idea normally if she is being affectionate she will usually hug him or something along those lines.

The next thing he is aware of is a strange sensation in his chest and throat,along with a weird sound coming from those places too. Just what was going on? It didn't feel bad but he has never felt this before and has no idea how to react. "Poppy what's going on" He asks.

"Branch your purring" She giggles at him. He turns bright red in emberassment. He can purr now?! Oh that's just fantastic! Not!! He will probably die of emberassment if anyone other than Poppy hear him purr. "This is so emberassing are there any more mini transformations I need to be aware of?" He sarcastically asks as if someone is going to answer him and like he thought nobody does.

"Cmon Branch it's cute" Poppy says stopping the rubbing and settles for holding his paw which with her near complete paws feels both weird but also in way right at the same time. "I just don't want to do it in front of others they would laugh at me" He grumbles emberassed.

"I promise I won't do it in front of anyone else it will be for when it's only the two of us" She promises him and he knows she usually isn't the type to break a promise. He can count rhe amount of times she has broken a promise on one hand and he nods at her promise. "You better or else I'm gonna do the same to you becuase remember if I can do it you will be able too soon enough" He grins at her.

"Oh yeah uhm let's not do that" She says not wanting to have every troll in the whole village wanting to pet her and causing her to purr. If it was the snack pack she wouldn't mind as much but the whole village is a big fat nope!

Branch looks at the clock he has mounted on the wall "Its getting late I'll make us some dinner and we can head to bed" He says and Poppy nods before walking off probably going to clean up the area where she was scrapbooking.

After a quick dinner where he cooked some meat and some veggies the two start to do their nightly routine before heading off to bed. Both not looking forward to tomorrow cause tomorrow was going to hurt.

"Hey uhm Branch?"

"Yeah?"

"You will be there for me when my claws come out right?"

"Of course I will don't you worry and you will do the same for me?"

"Yep sure will"

"Thanks Branch well goodnight" Poppy says before turning over. "Night" He replies back as he tries to fall asleep but it's hard knowing what pain await you tomorrow. He got through it once he can do it again.

With that mindset he is finally able to succumb to sleep.

Fun facts about Branch this chapter
Branch can see in uv Like how nightvision cameras work

His scratching mat is now a comfort and stress relief item for Branch

Branch only purrs when content and truly happy and or safe and usually doesn't do it infront of others and It usually only happens in his bunker or with Poppy who is the only one allowed to pet his ears as they are now a sort of weak spot. Luckily he only reacts that way when Poppy does it anyone else he will not be happy about it and tell them to back off.

Yall don't know just what angst I have cooking up rn Poppy and Branch are both getting a beating from my angst stick next chapter