Chapter Text
Crashing into an unknown forest wasn't part of her plan. Though there wasn't much of a plan to begin with. All Dawn wanted to do was catch up to that traitor that was Fay. How could she steal the egg that held the next queen? How could she betray all of the trolls she swore to protect? Dawn didn't care what her excuse was, she'll tear her wings off-
Her arm gives out as she tries to push up off the ground. She just...needs a moment. The forest is quiet around her, the sudden crash sending into silence as it expects an attack. The faint sounds of critters start back up, her appearance meaning nothing now. Yellow feathers cover her as an ache spreads through everything, the gentle call of deep sleep pulling at her mind. It would be easy to give in, so easy.
Something moves in the grass, Dawn's exhaustion replaced with adrenaline at the potential danger. She bolts up into a low crouch, tail lashing and wings snapping open as she looks to threatened the small critter away. She bares her teeth in a snarl, brandishing her spear in the direction of the movement. Even a small critter could be dangerous, but most could be spooked away. They weren't worth fighting, even for food.
The critter freezes in the grass, dark tuff trembling just above where it's hidden. Well, at least she scared it.
"Go. away." She commands, hoping her voice is enough for it to scamper off
"Okay" comes a quiet response, the small voice nearly making Dawn drop her spear. What the-?
The dark hair makes a run for the trees, Dawn's brain catching up and realizing that whatever is in the grass is no wild animal.
"Wait!" she calls after the small boy- or what she thinks sounds like a child- who halts and returns to trembling. Right, child. "I'm sorry. I thought you were something- um, mean. I didn't mean to scare you."
Dawn drops her spear before lowering herself down on all fours, purring quietly in an attempt to soothe the child hidden from view. The black tuff of hair continues to tremble, but it moves ever so slowly out towards her. She stops purring once she can see the boy, startled by grey fur and dark eyes. A Rock troll? He's far too thin too, the vest he's wearing practically falling off his small body. It's hard to tell just how old he is, but something tells her he's tiny for his age.
Dawn extends one of her paws out to the boy, softening her face to appear more inviting. She didn't want to scare him away. The boy stares at her, the trembling gone as he hesitates on what to do. She keeps her paw out, letting him make the decision.
Small grey hands slowly grab hold of her much larger red paw, blue eyes examining it as he turns it over.
"...You have paws..." The boy points out, confusion clear as he pokes at her dark red paw pads. It would be adorable if the boy didn't look like a twig.
"And a tail. Wings too. I'm quite a different troll, yes?" Dawn tries to add a playful tilt to her voice, the boy looking up to her before he nods slowly. She gives her wings a small flap while lifting her tail enough to show off the yellow tuff of hair.
"And horns. Sharp teeth too" more observations come out, less hesitantly this time. Dawn lets the boy reach up to touch one of her large horns, small fingers trailing over the ridges there
"Oh yeah, those too. Sorry if I scare you" Dawn reassures yet again, wanting the boy to get comfortable near her. "I'm Dawn"
The boy hums in acknowledgement, shifting nervously in place as he thinks. Maybe he's worried about Dawn being a stranger, or the comment of not being afraid only made him more so. She didn't mean to- "I'm not scared. My name is Branch."
Dawn smiles at Branch, who is far too fitting of the name with the awful state he's in. She did compare him to a twig just a few moments ago.
"Well, hello Branch. While I'm glad to meet you, shouldn't you be home? The forest isn't safe for such a small troll like you." Dawn tries to keep her tone light even as she feels worry for him. He shouldn't be out in the forest at night and should definitely be better taken care of. She'd just have to take him home and have quite the talk with his parents. Or whoever was supposed to be taking care of him.
"I got hungry so..." Branch looks to justify his night trip, but with a pointed look from Dawn, he shrinks.
"How about I walk you back? We can keep an eye out for something to eat too" Dawn suggests, Branch looking back to her with the smallest of smiles
"Okay! Come on" Branch excitedly accepts the offer, letting go of Dawn's paw before turning around. She grabs hold of her spear as she rises to full height, sniffing the air as she takes a quick look around. Nothing would be getting to Branch as long as she was here.
She trails after the small boy, looking around for anything edible while making sure nothing around was doing the same to them. Branch keeps quiet, walking what seems to be a familiar path to him. Dawn's focus drifts for a moment as she examines him again, wondering if he was a grey Pop troll. They were nearby, but surely he wouldn't be so far out from the village...
"This is my home" Branch states as he stops suddenly, Dawn lifting her head as she glances around. Nothing but rocks and trees. She looks higher, wondering if she missed a pod up there but there's nothing.
"Uh, where...?" Dawn looks back in time to see Branch climbing down...into a hole in the dirt. She blinks, dropping to kneel next to the small entrance. "Oh, I see. You have a nice...home"
"It's my bunker. I'm still digging it..." Branch responds from inside the "bunker," Dawn wincing at the sadness in the boy's voice. Definitely not good.
"Why are you out here in your bunker instead of with the other trolls? Not saying your bunker isn't nice. It is. Very nice" Dawn tries to lessen the blow to the hole in the ground that Branch is living in.
"...They don't like me" is the simple response she gets. She waits a moment to see if he'll explain, but instead he murmurs- "I'm hungry, Dawn..." it's a quiet plea for food, one which Dawn doesn't want to deny the small troll.
"Okay, I'll go find something for you. Wait here, alright?" Dawn wait for Branch to agree before she takes to the air in one fluid move.
Four feathered wings push her through the forest, Dawn trusting her nose to find that fragrant fruit she's smelling. Branch clearly needs more than some fruit, but she doesn't have the energy to hunt. Finding prey, killing, preparing, then cooking? It would take too long.
She lands on the branch rather roughly, but nothing seems to care about her so she snags the large fruit off its spot on the tree. Good size, smells ripe- Dawn slices a piece off with her spear before popping it into her mouth. Mm, delicious too.
She wraps yellow hair around her spear, grabbing the fruit with her paws before taking off again. She follows instinct even more on the way back, the small opening in the ground hard to simply see. At least there was that going for the bunker.
The fruit is placed down by the opening, Branch slowly peeking out of his bunker to stare up at her as she perches on top of it. "Found something for you, little Branch"
"I'm not little" Branch argues as he leaves his hiding spot, shuffling over to the fruit as Dawn hops off it and lands near him. He flinches at the movement, stilling until she lowers herself again. She needs to remember he's small and easily spooked...
"Well, you are to me. Everyone is small to me, though." Dawn concedes to Branch's pouty statement. "How old are you?"
"Seven. But I've lived in my bunker since...I was five. So not little." Branch's confidence grows despite how Dawn's face falls in shock at the revelation. The boy was seven? He was so small, so thin, so dirty.
Dawn focuses back as Branch rips a chuck from the fruit, shoveling small handfuls into his mouth without a care. He'd been doing this for two years? How...
Branch needs someone. Anyone. Dawn thinks to the egg she's chasing- her egg- to her people who wait for their queen to return with the princess just waiting to hatch. She has to follow after, right? The egg wouldn't hatch without her magic calling it to, so it was sitting dormant for however long it had to. They didn't technically need it to continue their lives. Dawn could stay.
Stay with this grey child who desperately needs anyone to care for him.
"Hey, Branch. How about to give me a tour of your bunker? After we eat, of course." Dawn suggests as she wills herself down to her smaller from. She looks no different to any other Pop troll now, which makes Branch pause his eating for a moment.
"Uh, okay!"
Dawn hums to herself as she prepares breakfast, the patter of feet quick to come over at the smell.
"I thought you weren't hungry?" She teases as she sets the plate down on the table.
"Well, I didn't want you to waste anything..." Branch murmurs before sliding the plate closer
Dawn laughs softly, her tail handing off Branch's drink. He tries to copy the motion with his own tail, but he isn't used to it and only manages to awkwardly brush against the cup in her hold. "Paws, dear"
Branch grumbles as he takes it from her with a paw. Right, one thing to work on. Get Branch used to his new form.
The changes had been...concerning to say the least. Dawn had never seen a troll born as one kind change to match another. The day Branch woke up to a tail and paws he'd understandably panicked. It had barely been a year of them living together and suddenly he had an extra limb.
It had certainly not been the "expect your body to change" talk Dawn was prepared to give the boy. Which reminds her she now needs to think about how the new changes are going to affect his puberty...
"What are we doing today?" Branch asks as he takes a sip of his juice.
Dawn knows Branch likes having a schedule, plans, a routine. It helps with his...struggles. Doing things unexpectedly made him nervous. Dawn leaving without warning sent him into a panic. The first time she went out hunting without telling Branch she returned to a crying and trembling troll. It took hours to calm him, and even then he stuck to her while desperately asking to stay with her. Then sleeping in the same room for a few nights.
"I think we try working out your new body. You need to learn how to control it, and how to change back" Dawn states as she sits across from Branch
"Change back? Why?" Branch's face twists in distaste at the idea of going back to how he was before
"Blending in is important" Dawn settles for an answer that won't agitate the boy. Branch huffs, not quite believing her but knowing there was no arguing with the decision. Training with Dawn was always fun anyway.
They eat in silence, Dawn rising first to start collecting their dishes as Branch finishes his meal. She tosses them into the sink, turning towards Branch who is standing awkwardly by the table.
He looks far better than he did just a year ago. He's a proper weight, height (shorter than he could be, sure, but two years of malnutrition couldn't be undone fully), and now he had the extra bit of Dawn's power to make him strong. They just need to figure out how to control it. Still grey though. Something Dawn had no idea if they could even fix. A troll going grey wasn't good, she knew that much, but if it was able to be fixed? No idea. It doesn't seem to hurt him though, so they continue on.
"Now, what do we remember from last lesson?" Dawn asks as she gestures to the room Branch insisted they have for their training
"I have some of your magic so it changed me to this. Since you're one of the queens, it's really strong so I'm supposed to learn how to use it" Branch gives a very simplified version of their lesson, Dawn nodding as reassurance he'd remember most of the important things.
"Yes, now we need to see just how much of my magic is in you, okay?" Dawn says as they walk, not revealing that she's rather worried about how this will go. Her power could be too much for Branch, especially as he's the first male to ever carry it. Dawn had passed it unknowingly, her desire to care for Branch so great she accidentally created another of their warriors. What would typically be some massive ceremony with a celebration had instead been quite the confusing morning.
Especially as Branch showed signs of being able to control multiple kinds of magic, as if he was born into the royal line. None of his magic had quite manifested into much, but the potential was there. Dawn can only assume her handing a part of her magic had accidentally turned him into a prince, technically. Not that it mattered down here.
She opens her mouth to speak, but a sharp pain along her arm has her wincing. It worsens and travels across her chest, making her stumble into the wall. Branch is immediately at her side, worry across his face as Dawn hisses at the ache. "I'm fine, just..."
Dawn lets out a deep breath as the pain fades. She knows what this is, and it's only getting worse with time.
Branch looks at her with disbelief, his hurt far worse than what Dawn felt. Another thing the boy didn't like was being lied to. She sighs, pushing herself off the wall to stand straight. While this talk would be better when he was older, she has no idea just how long she can keep going.
"I am fine, at the moment. But I am...fading. Slowly." Dawn explains as she starts walking to their training room. She glances over to see Branch's face fall. Definitely would have been a better talk for when he was older, but hiding her fading from him would be worse.
"You're dying?" Comes the terrified response
"Weakening, Branch. Only weakening. I'm of royal blood, we don't die. We slumber to recover. Having my egg took a great deal of energy, chasing after it took even more...I've needed to slumber for quite a while." Dawn explains as she looks forward. The sleep after having and hatching the egg would put a queen out for a few years. Her egg never hatched, but she still had it, then dove down to the ground below. That dive took what she had left, causing her to crash and end up here with Branch.
"So you need to sleep? We could make your room more comfortable?" Branch hesitantly suggest, anxiously fidgeting as they walk. Unexpected changes always make him so nervous. Dawn feels awful.
"I would need to sleep for years. I won't leave you alone until I have to." Dawn couldn't sleep away while Branch struggled to live. She wouldn't. "Giving you part of my magic also took more of my energy, but it is my responsibility to ensure you can control it. I will sleep after I do that."
Branch keeps quiet, Dawn feeling the energy worsen as they continue on. This isn't working. She hold out her paw to stop Branch, turning to take hold of him by the shoulders. He looks at her with such vulnerability, such sadness. There's also a hint of anger.
"Talk to me" Dawn says simply, inviting any and all emotions Branch has
"You're leaving" is all he says, but the statement in enough. Leaving like his brothers, his grandmother, his parents. Gone to the winds or the earth, never to be seen again.
"Not forever. Not anytime soon either. I will fight my slumber with everything I have, for you, Branch." Dawn grips his shoulders in reassurance, smiling softly as she does her best to be sincere
Branch only stares, eyes misty as the words being to make him emotional. Dawn moves her paws to hold his face, her quiet "Crying is okay" sending him over the edge as tears fall. She brings him into a hug, her fur dampening with tears as she wraps herself around him. Training could wait another day.
The shriek if the first thing Branch develops. Learning the Banshee's power first was not what Dawn expected, especially as it's strictly females who are even able to be banshees. Though, he shouldn't have any of her power to begin with, so the shriek isn't too odd.
The sad reality of the first banshee's creation was not lost on her. A deep grief that manifested into a woman who's pained wails could rupture ears. That grief usually came from the loss of a loved one, something Branch was far too familiar with. Him nearly caving in the room when he woke from a nightmare he refused to explain made it quite clear as to why he learned the shriek first.
Control came easy, thankfully. Banshee shrieks were, in a way, just like any other shouts. They could be as loud or quiet as you wanted, all you needed to do was think of releasing it. Still, some reinforcing wooden beams helped keep the bunker walls intact from a wayward roar here and there.
"Remember, dear, regular lessons first. Your schoolwork comes before magic lessons" Dawn explains as she places a math book in front of Branch
"I know my math. I'm super smart!" Branch protests, pouting as Dawn tilts her head
"Well, if you're so smart, this should be quick and easy" Dawn reassures, patting his head as he droops from the failed attempt to get out of schoolwork
Two years of living in the woods hadn't exactly helped educate Branch in anything other than surviving. He could tell you about what berries were edible and how to make a trap that could kill critters, but not much else. Not that they boy wasn't smart, because he was quite intelligent to even make it this far. He'd shown that by catching up rather quickly.
"Can we learn about your home next?" Branch asks excitedly, still trying to avoid the dreaded math book
"Hmm...how about we save that for bedtime? History of my home won't do you much good" Dawn suggests, smiling as Branch sinks again. "You aren't escaping the math problems!"
Dawn scoops up Branch from his seat, nuzzling her face into his neck to blow a raspberry against his fur. All disappointment vanishes as Branch squeals at the tickling, squirming to try and free himself as he pleads for mercy. She playfully growls, squeezing the boy as she continues her attack on all the ticklish spots she can reach. Branch's squeals turn to laughs, his attempts to break free turning into trying to climb over her body to escape that way instead.
"D-Dawn! St-Stooop!" Branch pleads through laughs, Dawn's relentless tickling stopping the moment he asks. She lets him cling to her fur, chuckling as he rest his head on her shoulder while taking deep breaths
"Now, are we ready for some math?"
Branch groans, pressing his face into her neck to try and hide away from the book.
Dawn wakes to a deep feeling of something being wrong, immediately sitting up in her bed as she strains to listen. Nothing makes itself obvious, but she knows to listen to instinct. She moves off the bed, ears twitching and nose turned up as she sniffs for anything off. Maybe something large had walked over the bunker and disturbed the earth enough for her to feel?
Instinct draws her to Branch's door, her maternal drive demanding she check on him before anything else. If anything was wrong with him, she could help. Especially if it was a critter heavy enough to shake the ground. Heavy steps always stressed the boy out.
She knocks gently on the door, waiting a moment for a response. Nothing. Her tail twitches, part of her wanting to respect his privacy but worry grows with each second of silence. She'd make it up to him in the morning.
A red paw moves to twist the doorknob, the door slowly opened just enough for her to peek into the room. She freezes at the sight on Branch's bed.
Dark feathers overflow from the bed, a black wing stretching out towards the door. Another is folded just out of view, Branch's slow rise of his back showing he's still deep in sleep. Horns curl up from above his ears to points halfway up his hair, another set curling under his ears to give him four total. A grey leg sticks out from under the cover across his waist, giving away that it's much longer and shaped differently. Arms are also much longer, Dawn already thinking of how to get Branch used to the added height and new digitigrade legs. Those wings too...
Dawn slowly sneaks into the room, examining the feathers. Healthy, shiny, full. Good. She looks at the horns, nodding as they seem healthy as well. The dark keratin blends into his hair easily, the limited light nearly making them disappear all together. She examines the base of the horns, then moves to where his wings connect to his back. The vest he's wearing keeps her from examining the skin there, but she takes note that the wings summoned properly and didn't tear through the fabric. Branch would have been quite upset if the vest was damaged.
He murmurs, shifting on the bed slightly before settling again. He seems content, Dawn relieved this wasn't a threat response to a nightmare again. She lays her paw on his face, a soft sigh leaving him as their magic stirs and melds together slowly. She urges him to put away the form, that sleepy mind easily swayed as wings shrink back and away. A gentle kiss is placed on his forehead as horns vanish too, Dawn slowly rising to pull away. She moves back, making for the door to head back to her room. One last glance is given before the door closes for the night.
Branch glides through the air, Dawn flying below as a failsafe if things go wrong. Also to keep any predators away should they be attacked. He tilts black wings, preparing from the small flap that brings him a bit higher. He watches as Dawn follows, her feathers almost golden in the sunlight.
"You're doing great, Starlight" Dawn compliments, rolling to face Branch
He smiles nervously, still unsure about flying but feeling secure enough to keep going. She lets herself fall, quick to fly up to stay close to the other troll. The last thing they need to do it make him panic.
"You...never explained the nickname" Branch reaches out for small talk, Dawn quick to notice it's for the comfort of distraction from all the ways this simple flight could go wrong.
"Oh, I didn't? Well, let me fix that" Dawn jokes, swaying to settle next to the other as they fly. "You just remind me of the stars, dear. Especially when your magic comes out"
Seeing simmering blue against dark fur really did make Branch look like the night sky.
"Oh, I thought it would be more about the whole kings thing" Branch blushes faintly in embarrassment at Dawn's fondness of him
"It's a bit about that too. You are prince, after all" Dawn chuckles, looking ahead
Queens and princesses would always receive a name that related to the day. They are seen as symbols of the sun and flame. Kings and princes were the symbols of the moon and stars, given names dealing with the night. The last King was Nightfall- a sadly fitting name as he was long gone and with him the line of kings went. Branch holding Dawn's power but being male brought concerns and technicalities she wasn't sure of.
She just settled in honoring his status as a prince by giving him a nickname dealing with the stars.
"I think I could have a cooler name. Starlight is so...girly" Branch wrinkles his nose
Dawn laughs. Of course that was the boy's focus. Nothing was more important to a 10 year old than being cool. "Oh, come on. Stars are cool. The sun is a star"
"Well, yeah, but the sun is super important! Stars are all....far away" Branch explains, his little mind trying to come up with a reason that his nickname "sucked"
"Stars are very important. They decorate the whole night sky along with the moon. People can look at the stars to admire them even if they are far away. You can't really admire the sun, it'll blind you" Dawn reasons, moving to fly under Branch again. "How about just Star, then? Then you'll just be my super important star"
Branch hums in thoughts before nodding to her, Dawn bringing up her tail to poke his stomach as she laughs. Maybe when he was a little older he'd be okay being called Starlight, but for now, Star would do.
"Star, settle" Dawn scolds as Branch bounces in his seat. He tries to listen, stilling for a moment before returning to buzzing with energy
She shakes her head playfully, holding out a paw to summon a black cube of metal. Blue eyes lock onto the cube, Branch inching the seat closer as Dawn holds out her other paw to tell him to wait. Her magic glows, red surrounding the metal and moving to shape it into a familiar weapon. The spear gleams, the red energy fading to rest the weapon in her paw.
Branch stares at it in awe, tail wagging behind him as he looks for Dawn's approval. She kneels in a dramatic show, offering the spear to him which he excitedly snatches up. "Careful, Banch"
He nods, examining the dark metal. Eyes close, a blue glow moving around the spear as he claims the weapon. Dawn watches, humming in approval as the glow fades. The metal swirls with red, blue and purple, creating want seem like stars within the darkness. The colors fade, leaving only black as Branch opens his eyes.
"Good job, Branch. That was perfect" Dawn compliments, Branch lighting up as he holds his new weapon. "Now, give the summoning a try"
Branch quickly nods, concentrating on the spear. His tail twitches, eyes squinting as the weapon vanishes. He sticks out his tongue slightly as he focuses even harder, a blue simmer appearing right before the spear reappears again. Dawn claps as Branch looks up with an excited grin.
"Even better! You're amazing" Dawn laughs softly as Branch giggles, the spear disappearing again. He throws himself at her, the red troll quick to catch him in a hug
"It can be anything, right? And it has magic? Can we train now?" Branch rushes out, already wanting to know everything about his weapon
"Yes, yes, and in time. Training always take time" Dawn pats his back as he whines about wanting to practice with it now. She's happy he's buried in her shoulder and too excited to notice her paw shake as she stares at it. A familiar pain tingles up her arms, trying to take hold of her mind. She brings both arms to hug Branch, glaring at the wall. Not yet.
Dawn stares at the crumpled form of Branch, his cries cutting deep as she drops the bag of food she just foraged. He's sitting in the middle of what is meant to be JD's room, all the meticulous work put into every part now in disarray. Things are broken, scattered, utterly destroyed.
"Branch...Starlight-"
"Leave me alone! Go away!" Branch turns to snarl at her, tears streaming down his face and dampening his fur. Black wings spread in threat, seemingly taking up the whole room
Dawn refuses, striding towards him even as he growls at her. She drops down, reaching for him but not touching just yet. Blue eyes filled with so many emotions stare into red, the sobs starting up again as Dawn slowly takes hold of his face.
"What's wrong...?"
"I-I do-don't-" a hiccup interrupts him- "why haven't th-they come back?"
Red eyes soften, Dawn remembering what today was. She was a fool to leave for the day. "Oh, my little Star..."
Branch completely breaks, throwing himself into Dawn as sobs completely take over. She shifts, body growing as four wings sprout from her back to envelop her trembling child. They stay that way for what feels like hours, Dawn humming a soft tune once Branch stops crying.
She should have know he would be fragile this year. They both saw the signs in Dawn's body, how her magic waned and flickered more often these days. Slumber was calling, and it wouldn't take no for an answer this time. Then came the lovely anniversary of the day his brothers left. Then his grandmother's death. All the reminders of all he lost with the new threat of losing yet another person he cared for.
Branch shrinks, Dawn only holding him closer as she guards him from the cruel world.
"I'm sorry..." comes a quiet apology under four wings
"It's okay, I know you're upset..." Dawn reassures, unfurling her wings just enough for a bit of light
"I shouldn't have yelled...and I broke everything..." Branch's voice quivers, threatening to break all over again
Dawn gently sushes him, scooping him up in her arms as she stands. Well, more so crouches as the room isn't made for her height in mind. She wills her magic to shift the first, an opening growing to let her through into the hall. Branch is silent as they walk, Dawn heading for his room to settle him down. She passes the other rooms, all meant for his brothers. Wooden doors are clawed to pieces, giving away the mess inside. Seems JD's room wasn't the only one.
Once she reaches the bedroom, it opens to her easily. She places him down on the bed, eyes filled with guilt staring up at her.
"Don't worry, I'll fix it. Get some rest" Dawn murmurs softly, caressing his cheek as he nods mutely
She shrinks down as she heads for the door, stepping out into the hall. Branch's early teen years had been taxing, but never so violent. Especially not towards her. She starts with JD's room, picking up the bag she dropped to move the food to the kitchen. Now that she's here, she wonders if a treat would help Branch feel a little better.
Yes, it would. She moves to the freezer, scanning for the tub of ice cream they made a few days ago. It floats to the counter as she turns to pick through the bag of foraged berries, a jar or sliced blueberries and then another of strawberries floating over to the ice cream. She hums along idly as she pulls a bowl from the cabinet, two large scoops floating in as she looks for two spoons. Berry slices are sprinkled over the frozen treat, Dawn picking up the bowl and walking back towards Branch's room.
There was a great deal of emotions to talk over- once they calmed down, of course. The 15 year old was sure to let out some hurtful words here and there, the looming deadline for Dawn's slumber stressing them beyond limits. With how long she put off the sleep, she was sure it would be a long one. Not that she ever regretted staying up for Branch. Yet the boy would blame it all on himself. Raising him revealed plenty of issues that his family left behind, that grey fur still there as well. Too many things to work through, too many to fix- all when there was no time left.
Dawn knows Branch is somewhere in the trees, her senses ready for the slightest reveal to react. Leaves rushing is all she needs.
She rolls to avoid his ambush, turning and snapping all four of her wings open as she watches him recover from the failed dive. His wings spread as he rises to try and come at her again. Or so she thinks. He manages to surprise her as he instead moves for cover, but as she moves to chase the spear he'd thrown nearly hits her. Throwing while he moved unexpectedly, clever.
Now recovered, Dawn takes off after Branch, planning to-
Agony flares through her entire body, a sharp cry of pain leaving her before she can stop it. She veers sharply to the left, colliding with a tree that intensifies the pain. A snarl leaves her as she tries to recover, but her wings ache as they don't spread open to slow her fall. She shouts, angry with the refusal from her body to just work-
She's spiraling down to the forest floor, the pain so intense her vision is darkening around the edges. If she can't stop her fall she needs to crash safely, but she can't control any part of her body. There's only pain that's turning to numbness at the edges. Was she falling into her slumber? It was never so sudden, never so terrifying.
Something slams into her, limbs wrapping around as their free fall is slowed to a controlled descent. There's words, a muddled voice that sounds so far away. Who...?
Branch.
The pain all through her body is pushed out as her heart surges with adrenaline. Branch! She nearly pushes away from whatever caught her, expecting some flying critter to have grabbed her but her eyes focus on a familiar vest.
"I'm okay" is all Dawn can manage, not sure what Branch has said as her mind races to catch up
They slow, landing on a tree high up to avoid anything trying to make a meal out of them. Branch's paws hover over Dawn as she leans back, deep breath wracking her frame as she recovers from the sudden pain. That had been the worst of her episodes, and the most dangerous. Usually it only happen when she was idle, the call of deep sleep creeping when she sat still. When it was easier to just let it take her. Never had it happened while she was active, never while flying. Never so mind numbingly painful that she nearly let it take her.
"Dawn? What happened?" Branch's worry is clear in his words and face, the teen frantic to fix whatever is hurting. "I- I didn't- Did I get you with the spear?"
"No, no. It was a good throw, though" Dawn reassures, grabbing one of Branch's paws to give it a pat
Branch barely smiles at the compliment, but those eyes are still full of worry. He knows that these episodes mean, and he knows this is the worst one so far. How much longer could Dawn push her slumber back? What if she went too far and her sleep lead to her death?
"We should go home..." Dawn sighs, hating how that tiny smile drops.
"Do you think we should fly? We can walk there, if you need to" Branch offers quickly, placing his other paw on top of Dawn's
"I can fly now. The pain is gone. Let's go" Dawn reassures, earning a nod as they drop their held paws.
Brach waits for Dawn to drop from their perch, her take off clumsy as she dips down a bit too quick. He flies after her, sticking close just in case they need to stop another fall. What happened was terrifying, especially since it means something far worse. Dawn needs to rest, properly rest like she was meant to five years ago. A selfish part of Branch doesn't want her to. The part of him that longs for the family that was long gone by now, the child that was abandoned by everyone not wanting it to happen again.
Dawn's landing sends a spike of fear through Branch as she stumbles and nearly falls, a frustrated grunt leaving her as she stands upright. There's a deep ache in her bones, exhaustion suddenly having a vice grip over her body. It was her slumber, calling to her louder than ever before. She can't. Not now, not so suddenly.
Branch brings them down into the bunker, the silence between them deafening as Dawn sways in place. She's fighting it off again, but it's never been so obvious. She closes her eyes, trying desperately to will away the call. Just give her a few more days, she pleads with her mind. A few days to say goodbye to the boy still dependent on her. The call releases her, allowing her that final plea. A few more days...
"I'm going to sleep soon, Branch" Dawn states as she opens her eyes, stilling herself as she looks over to him.
Dawn takes in those sad eyes, grey fur, and dark hair. Still so far from his true colors- a few days wouldn't be enough to bring them back.
Branch nods in acceptance, even as devastation is clear on his face. They'd spent four years preparing for this. Not that it made it any easier.
"I say we stay in, just relax. Not much of a plan, I know, but..." Dawn begins, sighing as she knows it wouldn't go over well
"That's okay. We can stay down here, let you get ready to...sleep." Branch agrees quickly, hesitating with what to say next. "Do you know...when?"
"I think...five days. I can stay up for four, but I need to lay down for that last day. One thing we need to do is have one last flight. Maybe tomorrow, when I have some strength" Dawn tries to offer some comfort with her answer. Five days. Five days to say goodbye to the boy she's cared about for five years. It wasn't enough. No amount of time would be enough.
"...Okay. What do you want to do today?" Branch's responds quietly as the two shrink down into their smaller troll forms.
Dawn wants to do so much, but there's no time for it all. Never enough time.
Branch takes several days to start being productive again. He lays in Dawn's bed nearly the whole time, staring at the ceiling or wall as he longs for her. She'd turned into the small flame at the bedside that fifth day, leaving with the parting words that she was so proud of him. That she loves him.
Now she's gone. For who knows how long.
Forever, a small part of him whispers.
Branch makes his way to the elevator out of the bunker, allowing his body to shift in preparation to take off the moment he can. Hands shift to clawed paws, legs changing shape as a tail grows. He growls lowly as the elevator seems to take longer than ever before, tail lashing around behind him.
Finally, he reaches the surface. The moment he does, wings sprout from his back and snap open. One flap is all it takes to send him into the air, wind rushing past as he rockets into the sky. Higher and higher he climbs, past the clouds, past everything below.
Dawn spoke of her home, the city in the sky that could only be seen with the right magic. Magic she was too weak to use. She never got to go home again. All because of him.
Branch was tired of bringing people down. He'd done it with his brothers, then his grandma, and finally with Dawn. Maybe being alone was just meant to be. The years he spent alone were hard, but at least then he only hurt himself.
Black wings snap close, sending him into a dive straight down. The ground is coming up quickly, along with all the problems it brings. Dawn was sleeping down there, the other Pop trolls, the bunker that would need his care. So many things that were easy to avoid while in the clouds.
He couldn't avoid them forever. He needs to move on. Like always. Wings open to slow the fall, rushing over the trees as Branch searches for the village. A quick look, make sure everyone is okay.
Better to check on everything else than to think about himself.