Chapter Text
Branch was in distress, pure distress. Complete utter distress. Whining as he hurried on foot. He couldn't believe Poppy would do something like this. They just found out the truth of other trolls. And just like that before any notice, word, or discussion chaos. Cooper left home without any notice of where exactly he was heading but s message to find out who he is and where he came from. Then the same day when he grew tired of searching for their friend all day Poppy snuck out. Out on a balloon ride to meet this Queen Barb that broke them from their bubble. Are all pink trolls just insane enough to jump into these things with no plan alone?!
He could see the balloon behaving oddly in the air as his anxiety grew. What was going on up there?!
He breathed easier seeing the balloon straighten out yet his heart sank seeing it speed along. He had to hurry as he readied the signal flare. What he wasn't ready for was what came crashing down a few paces ahead of him, dropped from the hot balloon.
Sharp spears, stones, and arrows landed paces ahead of him as a basket broke and splintered on impact.
Branch stopped with a hand on his chest. Had this fallen from the balloon..? He looked at all the weapons that had come falling, most having landed with their blades now deep into the earth. The stones even broke up on falling such a great height. Had Branch been a little faster he would have been hit and killed… anyone would have been killed.
But now this also means that Poppy is defenseless in the air and upon landing.
He looked up remembering poppy now seeing that hot air balloon miles away a dot in the sky. She's gone.
Branch started to shake as tears burned in his eyes as his breathing hitched. He started crying as his thoughts started to consume him. They're in danger. They're all in grave danger. What's going to happen now?! He's alone again. He's alone again.
What does he do?!
Tresillo and his mates stop in silence. They had heard first a loud and large crash and break. They were curiously approaching the sound but starting to think it wasn't worth investigating when they heard it. Crying. Not just any crying it sounded like heart wrenching sobs. Has someone been hurt?!
They hurry closing in quickly. They came across a scene of scattered weapons dangerously left and a troll on his knees shaking and crying. Tambora quickly went to them to see if they were ok. Marimba got water realizing they were having a panic attack.
Tresillo eyed one of the long spears before pulling one up from the ground. His face paled seeing the style of the spear. This was a pop troll spear.
He looked at the crying distressed troll before taking a step back. No horns, no claws, a fluffy short rabbit-like tail, with a twitching nose and pink paw pads on their hands and feet. Pop troll. A real live pop troll was before them. What were they doing here and what's with the weapons around. He doesn't think this pop troll had these with him.
Tambora had managed to calm the panicking troll in her arms. Their sobbing had calmed down from hurt to frighten sniffles. He was still on high alert terrified as Tambora introduced herself and Marimba. Tresillo was weary but introduced himself by asking the troll their name.
“I.im Branch… I'm sorry…my friends… my friends just ran off towards Queen Barb and..” The grayish blue troll sniffled close to breaking down again.
Branch was surrounded by unfamiliar trolls of eccentric colors and foreign markings. They're bigger than him with far more muscle mass he's seen on any troll. They're also not wearing clothes aside from a few accessories. One being on the orange woman's hip. Something similar to that a butcher would wear to carry their knives and tools. There's three large hunting knives on her hip strapped on tight with stain knife handles.
Tresillo, Tambora and Marimba felt a sense of panic. Pop trolls practically been a mystery for the past eons and the fact there's one right in front of them is jaw dropping. But ones on the way to the most hostile environment for a pop troll. Rock trolls hate pop with a passion and they're not the only ones. Branch and his friend is in total danger if they're left out here alone.
But…could they take him with them? Was that a good call?