Chapter Text
It had been months since the escape from the troll tree.
Pop village was in the final stages of construction and everyone was moving on from the casualties that the final trollstice brought.
Leading their new kingdom was King Peppy, along with his two daughters, Viva and Poppy, and his proclaimed adopted son, Clay.
Together they worked to rebuild and protect their tribe. To make sure every troll was safe and happy.
Except for one.
Branch, the one troll who couldnt move on, left alone and forgotten to rebuild on his own. Outcasted without a second thought once trolls saw his fur. When they realized he refused to give or return hugs at the decided ‘hug time’.
He didn't sing or dance or smile. Not even a burgen would hold interest in him.
So the young troll did exactly what he’d seen everyone else in his family do when plans went awry.
He ran. With a small bag slung over his shoulder and his ears up and alert he took off without a word.
Nothing changed in the village, but word got around that the mysterious gray trolling pup disappeared. Rumors on who the pup could have been went around for a while, but nobody could tell a name.
It was soon decided by the king that there would be no search for the pup. Nobody fought against it.
Branch for a short moment thought about building his and Floyd’s bunker on the outskirts of town, in case his big brother came back, but after one to many loud parties waking him up at the bare break of dawn, he decided it was better to keep moving.
Knowing Clay was in town meant that if Floyd did somehow find the village, he’d more than likely stay with Clay anyways.
So Branch traveled. Never straying to far from the village, but far enough out that the noise that their music made didnt wake him every morning.
And out there he stayed, in the trees until couldn't remember how long he’d been gone. He was young, and he was well aware of how little he knew about the outside world, so he kept a notebook in his bag. He wrote about the plants and animals he came across.
Berries and vegetation that made him sick, and those that were safe for him to eat. After a while he began adding bugs and smaller critters onto that list. The list of edible critters quickly outgrew the list of berries and plants as the troll got bigger.
Soon enough he didn't need his book, learning how to tell the difference between safe and unsafe critters as well as what was easier to catch. He began to use all four paws when he hunted for critters, using his tail to keep his balance as claws extended and dug into the dirt to help launch himself towards whatever target he wanted at the time.
Today it was, hopefully, a decent sized sparkbug. It was smaller than average, meaning it was young, sitting along the edge of a clearing Branch frequently went to, a few other larger zappers sat nearby, but most of them were too big for Branch to attempt catching right now.
He stayed crouched down on the outside of the clearing, eyes dilated and locked onto the bug as his tail slowly swayed behind him. Moving his front left paw slowly in front of him, then the front right. His tail twitched before he finally lunged, the critter let out a distressed call as its wings noisily rubbed together quickly to escape, but wasnt near as fast as the young troll that quickly landed on top of it.
Branch pinned the sparkbug’s wings down to its back, making quick work of silencing the sound of distress it attempted to ring out. The other sparkbugs were quick to fly away, leaving the captured bug behind at the troll's mercy. He felt a small spark of electricity snap through his paw pads, but it wasn't strong enough to cause any damage since the critter was still so young.
He used his claws to rip away one side of the shell covering the bug's wings, and was quick to rip into the bare flesh of its back until the critter stopped moving.
He didn’t think much of it as he sat in the clearing and ate his catch, there was a stream nearby he could wash up in before continuing his travels. His tail wagged as he let his guard down. He simply wanted to enjoy his meal. Letting out a low content purr as he licked his paws clean.
He didn't take notice of the sound of the snapping twigs. A distant humming growing closer. Assuming it was another critter passing by. Until he felt eyes on him
He froze, fur standing on end in places that didn't have saliva or sparkbug remains on it.
“Wooaah”
The voice was feminine sounding, curiosity and awe in her tone.
“Hello?”
He slowly turned to look back and was shocked to find a troll, bright pink fur and hair to match. A bright blue dress, and a brown backpack draped over her shoulders. When the two made eye contact, she smiled brightly and immediately began rambling away.
“Oh my gosh! Hello! My name’s Poppy! What's yours?! Where'd you come from?!-“ Her tone went from curious and excited to pure disgust as it seemed to click on what he had been doing. “Why are you eating a bug?!”
Branch had no idea how to respond. He hardly understood a word she said, a headache instantly starting to form in the back of his skull from her volume. Slowly he moved to stand on all fours.
She tilted her head in response. “Are you ok? You’re pretty far from the village! You're lucky my friends and I were out here camping!” She lets out a giggle, disgust seeming to vanish as she moves forward towards Branch.
Branch in exchange quickly backed up, not daring to take his eyes off the bright pink troll. His tail slashed back and forth in irritation as the other troll froze. She seemed to be about the same age range as he was, but she was alone. Almost all trolls traveled in packs. She definitely was not a survivalist like he was.
She said she had friends. Why would they let her go out by herself?
“Are you ok?” She asks again, her voice filling with a softness Branch hadn’t expected.
“I can help if you need it” She offers, moving and taking her bag off her shoulders and kneeling down to dig through it. “Hungry? I have snacks I can share!” She quickly offers.
Branch watches Poppy, still unsure, but slowly moves and sits down, front paws gently kneading at the grass as he watches the pink troll in front of him move and dump a small handful of things onto the ground. He didn't know what any of it was.
She wasn't a threat, that much Branch could easily tell, but that only raised more questions as to why she had been left out here alone. He felt the small urge to protect her. Help her in the way she was trying to help him.
How was he going to do that? He has no idea.
She took one of the many strange objects out of the pile and happily offered it to branch. He doesn't move. Tail twitching and thumping against the ground as he watched her.
Poppy held the object out for a moment longer before her smile fell. “Do you not want it?” She questions. He still doesn’t reply to her, simply watching with caution and confusion.
After a moment of silent staring, she pressed on, “what if i ate a piece first?”
Without waiting for a reply she took the strange object and ripped apart what seemed to be a thin shell, placing it back into her backpack before showing off what looked to be an off colored sphere. Once again, he didn’t recognize it. Instead of waiting for a response, Poppy moved and ate what was left in her hand. Once she finished with it, she smiled, “see?! It's ok!”
Branch stood slowly, Poppy stayed sitting on the ground watching with a friendly smile. “I promise it’ll be like. One hundred percent better than that icky bug!” She adds on, removing the shell of another before holding it out to Branch.
He moved with caution, it almost reminded Poppy of a young Grinchilla as he krept forward. He kept his ears folded back and body lowered closer to the ground, but once he was within reach of Poppy he reached a paw forward and quickly took it before running back to his original spot a few feet away.
Poppy didn't seem to mind. Actually she seemed thrilled to see Branch not only take the food she’d offered, but actually eat it too. Progress to a new friend in her book!
The taste was so new yet so familiar to Branch, a sweet taste that reminded him of a berry but with a much smoother texture. He had no idea what it was, but his tail began to slowly wag anyways. He looked up to poppy as he finished the sweet treat, glancing between her and the pile.
As if reading his thoughts, she grabbed another and opened it up before holding the odd colored food out to him again. He moved with less caution as he went back to poppy, tail wagging slightly as he sat in front of her and took the food.
Poppy smiled and let out a small giggle. “You don’t talk much do you?”
Branch looked up at her, ears twitching slightly before he slowly shook his head.
“That's ok! I don't mind! I'm Poppy by the way!” She says, before pausing and giggling. “I guess I've said that though!”
Branch takes a moment to process what’s happening. Slowly he reaches into his hair and pulls out his old notebook. He keeps it with him at all times, even though he doesn't need it and can't read half of it anymore. It was all he really had left of his life before. Even his bag ended up being tossed out after a while. His name was poorly scribbled onto the first page of the book. He flipped the book open and pointed to his name.
“Branch huh?”
He nods slightly in confirmation. Poppy smiles in response. “Cute! It definitely suits you”
This time, Branch smiled back, but it was hardly noticeable as he tucked the book back into his hair.
Poppy moves and stands up without warning. Branch flinched back slightly in response, but seeing her soft smile unwavering as she looked at him seemed to calm his nerves. “I need to get back to camp, my friends are probably worried by now, but you can come with me if you want!” She offered. “I can introduce you to my friends. Oh they’re gonna love you! You’ll love them!-“
She continued to ramble on as she began to walk away from the clearing. Branch watched, frozen in surprise for a moment before getting up and quickly trotting after her. Walking on all fours made it so he barely stood to the pink troll’s waistline, but if he stood on his hind legs he was sure he'd be shorter anyways.
Poppy’s tail wagged as she walked and talked. Branch hardly was listening.
Honestly he tried but simply couldn't keep up with her.
Right now she was talking about each of her friends and her siblings. He didn’t catch any names, but by the way she spoke he assumed it was probably safe to trust them.
For now.
As long as she was nearby.
Branch walked close to her, tail swaying slightly and his ears pricked up on alert. He heard more voices nearby, but after a quick glance to Poppy he quickly realized that the noise was her friends talking to eachother. They clearly weren't aware of the dangers in this area, or they didn't care.
If he had to guess, he'd say it was the first option.
“Guys, I'm back!! You will not believe what I found!” Poppy shouts loudly, making Branch wince and tilt his head away from her. When she noticed she smiled softly and mumbled a quick apology before skipping forward again. Branch stayed behind, hearing the many voices greet Poppy.
He stayed hidden in the trees, looking into what he had to guess was their resting space. A collection of trolls he didn’t recognize sat in a circle around a small fire, watching the pink troll as she quickly began to speak.
Branch still couldn't keep up, but the other trolls seemed to understand her just fine. They let her talk for a few minutes before finally someone stopped her.
“Uh Poppy. You said you saw someone?” A male voice piped in, a lavender colored troll with multicolored hair.
“Hm? Oh yeah!! Branch!” Poppy turned and looked around, smile quickly fading as she saw her new friend wasn't at her side.
“Branch?!” She called out, worry was clear in her tone, but Branch didn't move. He watched as a blue furred and lime haired troll sat up straight, looking around as well. Another pink troll, hair bright yellow, looked up to the lime haired troll then looking at Poppy. Shock clear on her face.
“Poppy, did you say their name was Branch?”
Poppy looks back to the others and shrugs her shoulders before looking around again, “yeah! He was just here!” She throws her hands out dramatically as she speaks before quickly excusing herself and turning around, going back the way she came from. Branch backs up a bit, but it doesn’t take long for Poppy to spot the troll anyways.
She smiles and lets out a sigh of relief, “oh thank goodness!-“ she says withs a small giggle, “-you totally had me worried for a second! Come say hi! I promise it's ok”
Branch looks past her to the clearing where he knew the other trolls were.
Would they really be as kind as Poppy?
What if they didn’t approve of him? Or were disgusted by him?
Would they chase him away?
“It’ll be ok” Poppy cuts through his thoughts with a soft voice and a gentle smile. “I promise. I dunno why you’re out here, but we can help you”
He wants to believe her.
He stands up again and lets out a soft huff, poppy in response smiles brightly and quickly turns around. “Come on then! They’re definitely worried by now!” She comments in a playful way.
She walks forward into the clearing and this time Branch follows after her.
One paw in front of the other. Tail low and ears up. Murmurs were heard all around and when Branch finally gathered the courage to look up he made eye contact with the blue and lime troll.
The troll looked about ready to burst into tears. The blonde troll next to him put a hand on his shoulder in what branch assumed was a silent attempt at comfort.
Branch didnt know who he was, and quickly moved to hide behind poppy.
“Bitty-B?” The lime haired troll's voice wobbled.
The name sounded familiar, but it made Branch uncomfortable.
Branch let out a nervous chirp.
Poppy looked back at branch, then to the two trolls in front of her, “i’m sorry do you guys know eachother?”
The blonde troll took a step forward, “Poppy, do you have any idea who that is?”
“Uhh yeah, I already told you his name is branch!”
“Poppy, that's Clay's baby brother! The one we’ve been searching for!”
“wait. What?!”
Branch looked at the blonde confused. Head tilting to the side as he kneaded his front paws into the ground, the feeling of the grass bringing little comfort.
“Oh my god!” A small yellow troll shouted.
“Why’s he gray?” One of the other trolls comments, branch didnt see which one it was. Their tone was curious though.
“Yeah he looks sickly” “He looks dirty!” Two girls speak together, both of them crossing their arms. Disgust was clear on their face
“It's been almost ten years. How could that be Branch?” The lavender troll spoke up, a look of suspicion as he eyed the smaller Troll. Branch lets out a low growl in response. “He just went wild all those years ago and just randomly decided to follow you? I’m afraid i don't buy it Poppy. Im sorry”
The other younger trolls were quick to agree with the lavender troll. All except Poppy, the lime haired Troll, and the Blonde haired troll
Poppy quickly puts her hands up. “Guys hold on!”
Nobody listens to her. Branch growls louder in warning as he presses closer to poppy. Poppy steps back closer to him and puts a hand in front of him. If it was anyone else he would have bit them instantly.
Though he didn't really know why she was any different. Why shouldn't he bite her and run away? She promised it was safe. She lied.
This isn't safe. They hated him and they didn't even give him a chance.
The blonde troll stands up, “that's enough everybody!” She barks out, and even Branch stops and looks at her. “Thank you, now we all need to calm down for a second” The blonde adds in a much calmer tone.
Branch huffed lightly, moving and bumping his head against Poppy’s hands. Poppy looked down at him with surprise but slowly moved to pet his hair. A silent comfort of his own.
“Even if this isnt Bitty-B, he needs help” The blonde continued to speak, watching as Poppy sat down next to Branch and allowed the wild troll to practically climb on top of her. He looked nervous and was quick to tuck his face into her hair.
He was still a young troll, no matter who he was.
“Viva’s right. Let's pack up and get this guy back to the village ok? We can go camping another day” the lime haired troll comments.
If this was Bitty-B, he would be around 14 at least, so to see him hiding himself away like a trolling made no sense, but at the same time made total sense since he'd been around 4 or 5 last time anyone saw him. Poppy didnt seem to mind though, keeping one arm wrapped around her new friend.
The other young trolls all groaned at the order to pack up their things. Speaking their mind at a much louder than necessary volume.
“We just got here!” One complained
“Do we really have to?” “Yeah that's totally not cool!” The twins argued.
More was said, but as voices overlapped one another it became impossible to focus on any of it.
Branch let out a low whine at all of the noise. He was causing trouble, he knew it was because of him. Barely there for five minutes and all they'd done was cry and argue and shout at eachother. Over him.
He lets go of Poppy and backs up a bit, looking at all the trolls around him. They all freeze when they notice him moving.
“Branch?” Poppy calls out softly, holding her paw out but not moving to chase him.
“Bity-B” The lime troll, Clay, if Branch remembers right, steps towards him. “It's ok. We’re gonna take care of this” he offers.
Branch looks up at Clay and his tail flicks, he didn't know who this troll was. He felt like he should recognize him, but something was wrong.
Part of him whispered at him to run to the taller troll. The other part screamed to run away.
He couldn't trust him. Or any of them.
So Branch did what he’s always done. He turned and he ran away, he ignored Poppy shouting for him to wait. Clay shouting his name. The surprised yelps of the other trolls.
They didn't trust him. They didnt know him. He didn't know them and had no reason to trust them. A few small pieces of food wasn't worth the risk of being dragged away into the unknown. Especially if he was just going to be around trolls that didn't like him.
So he left. Not just away from the clearing, but further out. Further out then he’d ever dared travel before. He kept running even after the shouting and following footsteps stopped.
He ran until the trees began to thin out, into unknown territory, at least to Branch. Only then did he slow down. An hour at the very least had passed, but it's not like he could tell.
The ground was practically gray here. Most of the trees seemed fine but the farther he walked, the worse the scenery got. The grass was either dead, or simply missing. There were no berries to harvest around from what he could tell, but the soft rustling let him know the area wasn’t completely empty.
His paws hurt from traveling so long, so he decided he was far enough away to rest for a moment. The lack of life and color let him know he was safe from other trolls for now. There’d be little to no chance they’d go this far to chase a wild troll they obviously didn't like.
Branch looked around before his eyes locked on something. A pod? A very. Very. Very large and odd shaped pod. How he missed that very large object he had no idea, but there it was.
It lacked any color. It looked abandoned. Papers scattered across the ground and a map covered in faded red marker sat outside it, the door to the pod was wide open.
Another nervous trill left Branch’s throat, but curiosity overcame his previous wariness. There was no way a troll made this mess. There was no glitter. No drawings on the papers. It was all notes, he recognized some of the letters but once again couldn't read any of it. Maybe it was a creature more like him that had been out here.
The area was all gray, similar to him, so maybe it was better this way.
His ear twitched as he heard a thump behind him.
Then another, followed by a small tremor in the ground.
A nervous peep left his mouth as he attempted to hold his balance, another thud and a tremor sending him stumbling.
He turned towards the sound, looking up at the source just in time to watch the noise maker look down at him. They both froze.
A burgen… he didn’t remember much. But he knew a burgen when he saw one.
“A troll??”
She seemed just as confused and shocked as he was.