Chapter Text
-Well sometimes old plans from childhood can give you a goal to complete. But sometimes it can be stressful if you disappear without word. Well it's was how it worked for Branch wanting to fulfill promise he made with Floyd-
"There was a two months since trolls get to their new home. Well since the village was still in building and by the meaning orphanage where him and his brother and other trollings without family going to be when it's only finished. For his suprise for the time being King Peppy proposed for him and his brother to sleep in his pod which was already done. Brothers even with hesitation accepted this offer since they couldn't really stay with Katie and her parents and he was the first one to give them any shelter. Princess Poppy could be really tiring since she always tried to play with them but hey she is only 2. Well nearly three but you know."
"Ethan just woke up in the guest bedroom of King Peppy's pod. Day started completely normal but then he saw that Branch is not in the room" Hmmm that's weird. Where is he? Maybe Poppy finally convinced him to play with her. "Well let's just say Branch didn't have a good reactions with Poppy . He got quickly irritated by her but also was kinda soft with her. He didn't know if he liked her or hates her. He quickly dressed up in a Red vest and a black shorts and for his search he went out to the living room "
Hello kiddo "said king Peppy when kid came out of the room" You are up finally. I left you a breakfast at the table "King said pointing on a portion of eggs and bacon at the table"
Thank you King Peppy. And really thank you for letting us stay. "He said bowing down"
Ethan , kiddo please don't bow to me. It's really not a problem for me. After all no one have a heart to leave two orphans to fend for themselves. I just did what's right "he said with a nice smile"
Yeah and I'm grateful for this "he said nicely to King" Is Branch playing with Poppy? Because he wasn't in the room .
I'm afraid not kid. She offered him some playtime but like usual he denied , scoffed and went into the village "he said to the boy"
Alone? It's strange? He never come out without me. You know where he is? "He said to King with respect"
Yeah I know . I was also suprised. When I asked him he told me he have something to do. Unfortunately he didn't told me where "he said to kid with a serious tone"
I see... I'll ask about him around. If I don't find him then I'll tell you. "He said seriously "
Alright since I have some of duties to do I'll ask about him around. Don't worry he probably just went to play with other trollings.
That's the problem King Peppy. He didn't really have friends. Just like me. Our only friend is Cooper. "He explained"
He was this little four legged troll as I remember? "he asked"
Yes it's him. We befriend him when we got here. "He said to him"
I see. So maybe you should ask his foster parents first. Maybe Branch just came to play with him "he proposed"
Maybe... I'll go to find him "he said about to exit the pod"
Ethan, breakfast! "King Peppy said to him while reading something . He didn't made eggs for them to go to waste"
Oh yeah. Sorry. I forgot "he giggled little awkwardly and got to the table first"
-After breakfast Ethan quickly went into the village. He felt something sketchy about his brother leaving since he usually was by his side. I mean he didn't complain about a little time for himself but he also was worried about him -
"Ethan came to the doors of Cooper's family pod and knocked to the doors.-Please let him be here-He thought to himself. He was worried about Branch. He lost to many family members so he was a little overprotective"
I'm coming. I'm coming "a female voice said coming to the door. It was opened bu Cooper foster mom Layla Sweetstraw." Oh hello Ethan. What brings you here sweet strawberry. Did you came to play with Cooper? "She asked kid gently. She knew both him and his brother and was glad that her adoptive son made new friends. Even if one of them was gray she didn't mind"
Hello miss Sweetstraw I would love to but I can't. I just came by to ask if maybe Branch didn't come by ? He wasn't at king's pod when I woke up and now I'm looking for him "he explained to her. She was very understanding woman so he hoped she don't get upset"
I'm sorry to worry you Ethan but your brother wasn't even close our house. But my husband may know something. He came back from running errands recently. Frankie, can you come here? "she said calling her husband"
I'm coming "he said and he quickly came to the door" What happened sweetie? Oh hello Ethan "he said with a smile to a trolling" What brings you here?
Sweetie, Ethan is looking for Branch. Maybe you saw him while you were at the village? "Layla asked her husband. By look of sadness in kid's face she hope that her husband knew something"
You know I actually do "he said pretty confident."
Really? Where was he? "He asked rather of his friend. He wanted to know quickly"
I think I saw him at the market today. He was near the tool stand. I think he was talking to the seller. "He said to kid looking quite confident"
Alright thank you very much. I need to go now. But one more time thank you "he said and then quickly ran towards the market. Even if it was quite a distance"
-Well Ethan got quite Hope of finding Branch there . For his luck sadly Branch wasn't there. But if what Frankie said was true that means tool seller should know where he is-
"Ethan came up to the tool stand . His eyes quickly stopped at the Bell that was on the counter. He quickly reached his hand and rang it"
I'm coming. "He said and then came out. He was orange pop troll with chocolate brown hair. He looked like he was in his twenties" Oh hello squirt. What can good old Dudley do for you? "He said curious what child can need"
Hi Mister Dudley. I'm Ethan . And I wanted to ask if you maybe saw my little brother today "he asked a seller with little dose of hope in his eyes"
Well Ethan if you describe me to him I can tell you if I saw him or not "he said with a curious look. He probably knew who he was talking about since before him there was only one trolling here"
Oh yeah sorry. "He said laughing awkwardly " he is a little smaller than me. He wears a brown overalls and probably had oversized vest "Ethan said while describing his brother. Even if he looked silly in that vest he knows why he wore that. He also wore Floyd's earring and Bruce 's bracelet all the time. He just didn't have a heart to took them off"
Oh yeah there was one like this. He took from me some tools in exchanged for some favor like some housework "He said to kid friendly"
Did he say what he need them for? "he asked him politely"
Sadly no but I asked him and the answer was to mind my own business. Heh he is a little grumpy isn't he "he said happily"
Oh.... I'm really sorry about him . He just isn't really a troll to like new people and he is in really vulnerable state. "He said apologetic about his brother"
Don't worry young boy. I took no offence. I know something about trolls that got grey. They need support from their loved ones. And not be too harsh on them "He said to him pretty simple"
Yeah you're probably right. I'm tryingy best to take care of him alone "he said nicely to him"
Otherwise thank you for help mister Dudley. "He said and went to the village to look for his brother"
Good luck with finding Branch ! "Dudley shouted when kid was leaving "
-Well and then he left to look around the village. He was still thinking for what his brother need tools. Ot wasn't helping that even after looking around all the village he didn't found Branch. He got panicked and if not for friend that appeared he would go crazy-
"He was running around the village looking for Branch. He was just losing it since he didn't find him anywhere. He would broke down but he actually saw someone that could help him. It was Katie. He quickly run up to her" Katie. Bakfhwrfislarcswvuq "he was trying to say something but it sounded like some blabbering"
Ethan calm down "she said stopping him from talking " Tell me what happened? "She said quite calm"
Branch dissapeared and I can't find him anywhere. I was looking around all the village and asked too many trolls but no one really saw him. "He said pretty fast since he didn't want to waste time"
If you didn't found him in the village that mean he is only at one place "she said worried"
Where? Tell me where I need to find him "he said determined"
Ethan. I think Branch went into the woods. We have to quickly starts to look for him. "She said worried about trolling"
Did you think we can find him? Forest is pretty big "he said. First time since they arrived he got scared. He was scared about Branch. He couldn't imagine him doing yourself harm and didn't even notice it"
I don't think. I know we can "she said while trying to encourage kid"
Okay... Quickly Katie we need to run "he said and took a run into the forest""he said and took a run into the forest"
Hey don't run up like that. I don't want to lose you on the occasion "she said and went behind him"
-And that's how their little exploration begin. They started looking in the forest like there is no tomorrow sadly with no luck.-
Where he is?! Damn it I can't believe I just lost my brother "he said all anxious and panicked"
Ethan calm down. You didn't lost another brother. We're gonna find him no matter what. "She said trying to give him a peace of mind but from his face It seems like it didn't work"
Then we need to be faster. We can't just stand like this. Don't waste time on talking to me "he said angrily and run off."
Ethan wait! "She said trying to caught up with a trolling but he was faster than she expected"
Branch! Branch! Branch! "He shouted while calling out his brother hoping that he is going to come out. But he wasn't. He just kept running. Until he didn't found something that finally have him a peace of mind. It was Branch doing something on the ground. Like digging a hole" Branch! " He said and quickly got him into a hug"
Oh Hey Ethan "he said without any emotion"
What are you doing here? You know how worried I was ? "he said to him in a serious voice. " I thought that something bad happened.
Oh.... I'm sorry. "He said a little guilty"
Don't worry. I'm really happy you're okay. Now let's go. We need to come back to the village. "He said and took Branch hand"
No! I'm not coming back "his mood swiftly changed since he said they are coming back"
What? Why Branch? "He said quite suprised "
It's too loud in there..... Bergens are gonna find out and eat us. That's why I'm digging. I'm building a hideout for us to be save "he said kinda proud of himself"
What? Branch we can't live in here. It is too dangerous "he said to him trying to be calm"
The same is in the village. And I don't want to be found by the bergen "he said being stubborn. He was scared all the time when he was in the village. He was always thinking that Bergens going to hear them since they are partying pretty often even when village was still in phase of building. " I'm scared E...
Branch I know you are scared of the Bergens. But we can't live in a forest. There are many critters in here that would eat us if we are not careful "he said without sugarcoating " Also making it will take us a long time. You want to sleep on cold all the time?
"She finally caught up to Ethan. She felt relieved when she saw that he found his younger brother " Good job Ethan you found Branch. We can come back
No. I'm not coming back "Branch said irritated "
Why little guy ? "she said more calmly "
There is too much noise in there . And I feel like they always stare at me. "He said in pretty sad tone" I'm going to fulfill my promise to Floyd and I'm building a hideout.
I see so you want to make Floyd happy and also make yourself place to live? "she said while also looking at the tools"
Y-Yeah. I-I don't want to b-be in a village. "He said with a stutter " And maybe if I build it he's gonna come back.
Branch I know you miss your brother. But I think you should come back with us. For Floyd "Katie said to him pretty gently"
No. Floyd would want me to stay and build it. "He said being sure he would want it"
Branch I think that Floyd want you to be save. He really loved you he didn't want to risk your life for some hideout "she said pretty carefully "
Maybe.... "That's the only thing he could say. Branch still believed that Floyd want him to build it"
"Ethan in a meantime started thinking How to convince Branch to go. Then he remembered Dudley's words. -He need support- he though " Branch what about we make it like this. For now we're going to stay in the village. And when we are sure that everything is ready and safe to live we going to move in.
REALLY!? "He asked his brother excited "
Yes. But I have few conditions "he said to his brother "
Alright what ones?
First no sneaking out of the village. If you want to work on a bunker just tell me you're going so I won't freak out. Second even after hideout is build we're not gonna stay in the forest all the time we still need to be in the village sometimes. And lastly we are not going to work on it everyday.
"Ethan said calmly"
I think that's fine... Even if I don't like being in a village "he said kinda grumpy"
Branch I know but sometimes we have too. "He said and got on his knees before his brother" I just want you to be save. And maybe made some friends but that's your decision if you want any . I mean I am no better in this things "he said with a laughter"
Yeah. I mean we both have only one friend. "He said cracking a little smile"
Alright B less talking more digging. We need to do the best we can today. "He said and started digging"
Okay "he said still quite unbothered"
"Katie just looked at them with a little smile on her face . She felt a little proud of Ethan. Even if she wasn't a fan of him growing up to fast she still liked to see him support his brother"
-Well they spend quite the time there and when they came back to the village they were all dusty. King Peppy kinda laughed at their looks thinking they must have good fun and after all both brothers take a sleep in a village-