Poppy, Creek, and Archer we're still not doing anything, growing more and more concerned for Guy by the minute.

"Do you think something happened to him?" Archer asked, "It's been hours."

"Positive thinking, Archie." Creek nudged Archer and went into a downward dog.

"My name's Archer." Archer corrected.

"Whatever." Creek rolled his eyes and slowly moved in to a tree pose, "He'll be back in a few minutes, hopefully with some good news, we'll find Biggie, and we'll be on our way home- wherever that is."

"Biggie and Branch." Poppy added to Creek's statement.

"Ohh.. yeah.." Creek slowly nodded and flashed a fake grin.

"Are you okay? You seem tense." Poppy asked, rubbing Creek's shoulder.

Creek flinched a little as Poppy touched him. He was so on edge and anxious. "I-I'm fine!"

"Really?" Poppy wasn't convinced, "Branch says that with the same stutter when he's lying about being fine. You can tell me!"

Creek sighed, "Just worried about the two being dead, I guess." He wasn't entirely lying, he hoped Branch hadn't died. He didn't want a reputation as a murderer.

Bored, Archer looked at the sky. "Guys?"

Poppy frowned, "Just don't think negatively! Branch is an expert at survival! We probably don't have to worry for a week.. which we'll find them by then."

"Guys-" Archer tapped Creek's shoulder.

"Yeah, but.. animal attacks? Like knifearoos?"

"Guys." Archer poked Poppy's cheek.

"Well.. now that you mention that.." Poppy looked down, full of all her worries again.

"GUYS!" Guy Diamond jumped through the bush, out of breath, Ash right behind.

"GUY!" Poppy and Creek hugged him.

Archer sighed and sat down on a log, "Fine, I'm not the one going to die."

Ash awkwardly waved, "Heey.."

"Who's this?" Poppy gave the new troll a hug, Ash staring confused in response.

Creek's eyes widened. Ash had the knife he tried to kill Branch with.

"I'm Ash, I know where your friends are."

Poppy, Creek, and Archer all gasped, "WHAT?"

"Yeah! Come on!" Guy urged them to follow.

"OH MY TROLL!" Poppy squealed and ran as fast as her stubby legs could take her, "REALLY?"

"YEAH! THEY'RE ALIVE! Kind of injured, BUT ALIVE!" Guy laughed.

A twig flew in to Archer's face and made him trip, "Ah, here it is."

"What?" Ash spun around and reached for Archer's hand to pull him up, but she was hit by another twig.

Guy stopped and turned to help them off the ground, "Are you two okay?"

"It's just windy!" Ash got up herself and continued to lead Poppy to where she had left the bOyS and Rose.

"I'm pretty sure there's another storm coming." Archer crawled underneath a tree stump to take shelter.

"But, we have to find Branch and Biggie first!" Poppy continued running, though not sure where she was supposed to go.

"There's nowhere to hide over there, we're better off staying here." Ash grabbed Poppy's wrist with her hair and reeled her back.

Poppy freed herself and kept running, "No, I'm not about to lose them again!"

Guy sighed, "I'll go with her, you keep safe." He ran after the queen to continue to lead her to the bOyS.

Once they reached the site however, it was abandoned, the bOyS and Rose had just left to flee the storm.

"No!" Poppy fell on her knees and covered her face to sob, "W-We were so close to f-finding them.." She could barely speak. "Guy, w-where are they?"

"They must've fled because of the storm," Guy led her behind a tree to shield them from the strong winds.

"I'm going after them!" Poppy wiped her tears and stood up.

"But what about the storm and the others?"

"Branch is the most important troll in the world to me. I can't just stop searching for him because of some bad weather! The others don't seem as passionate about the search. Are you coming with me?"

Guy glanced back, but without hesitation nodded. "Yes."

Poppy grinned, "Come on, let's go!" She began to run off— in the opposite direction Branch, Biggie, and Rose had headed for. Though, they were running away from the storm while the trio was headed towards the storm.

How long will it be until everyone finally reunites? Who knows?

(seriously. who knows. i don't.

um so i kind of maybe accidentally deleted trollstopia so i'm trying to reupload all the chapters because my favorite person in the world (yes you, henri) is sending me screenshots of the book 🥺

Also, I'm taking a long break from Instagram.)