(Okay, so I told myself i'd either start TSSOTS when TOSOTS hit 5,000 reads or in November. So I guess now the book has officially started? Thank you everyone who supports my book, I love you all so much 🥺 Enjoy!

And if you read this chapter already, read it again I guess. Chapter 2 might come out next week.)

Two trolls were running through the forest, pushing through overgrown bushes and trees, shielding their faces from the strong winds. They were out of breath, but didn't have a choice but to keep going.

The pink, glittery faced queen was in the front, "Branch, hurry up!" She pleaded, though fully aware he couldn't go too fast.

"Poppy, I can't!" Branch bit his lip and pulled his vest over his bare blue chest, freezing to death from the winds. It felt like an air conditioner at maximum speed multiplied by five.

Poppy ran back for him and grabbed his hand, "come on!" She sprinted off again away from the violent storm that seemed to be chasing them.

Branch struggled to keep up, practically being dragged along, "I don't want to slow you down!"

"I'm not letting you be killed!" She jumped over a log that was thrusted beneath them.

Branch smiled at her, "thanks." He glanced back to see the winds hurling a tree stump right at them, "POPPY!"

Poppy looked back, too late, it smacked into her, knocking her out cold.

—

Poppy woke up, drenched in her sweat, breathing heavily, clutching her chest. She frantically looked around, "am I dead?" She reached for the glow bug she used as her bedroom lamp. She sighed in relief, recognizing her own pod.

She stepped outside to find the village in tact, not destroyed by a tornado. It had been a month since the violent storms had struck and things were almost back to normal. The group of trolls that had been mostly affected by the tornadoes still had nightmares about it.

Poppy had them every single night, always a similar storyline of her and Branch being hit by one. She was always worried about Branch, and since the storm she worried even more.

She swung down from the tree her pod hung from and snuck through the village to Branch's bunker. "Branch?" She knocked on the unwelcoming mat with 'please go away' written on it.

A shriek came from inside, followed by a few crashes and glass shattering sounds before Branch's weary face came out, "Yeah?"

"Sorry to wake you! I had a nightmare, and obviously came to you." She got down on her knees and held his hand, staring at it.

His skin was duller than it weeks ago, his phase of depression was returning, his gray colors along with it. "You can come to me any time you're scared, baby." He put his hand on her cheek and invited her inside. "I wasn't asleep, anyways."

Did you hear that? He called her baby and caressed her cheek? Guess why? They had officially confessed their love to each other after another adventure the week before.

"Branch, you need sleep, you've had an exhausting month! The tornado, the saving the world from destruction of music, and you have your surgery coming up in like two days."

(Reminder: this series is an au, this takes place after twt. all events in movie were exactly the same, but they probably would've referenced the storm a lot and obviously the injuries were present and obviously Biggie wasn't there. Yes, a few twt characters will pop up in the book.)

"Actually, it's tomorrow which is technically today." Branch looked at his arm and rubbed it gently, "That's why I can't sleep."

"Branch, there's nothing to be scared of! It'll go great!" She kissed his cheek and put her arms around him to gently hug him.

"No, there's a lot of things to be scared of! It might go wrong and I end up in worse condition. I'll be in pain for weeks, I won't be able to do anything. Bone surgery is one of the most painful types of surgery! I could die!" He hugged her tighter than she was hugging him, he was terrified.

(me whose broken two bones and never had surgery 🤠 )

Poppy zoned out, his fears becoming her own. "I guess those are valid reasons to be scared."

"What?!" That didn't make Branch feel better at all, he let go and began to hug himself.

"But we need to look on the positive side of this! It could make you feel so much better than before!" Poppy put her hands on his shoulders and looked straight into his eyes, "We'll all be cheering you on! We won't do anything all day but wait for you, I hair swear. I'd even pinky promise on it."

Branch sighed, "I'll try to think more positively, but I'm still not going to sleep." Branch yawned and scratched his butt.

"Then I'm staying up all night with you." Poppy wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned. "I had a nightmare, I want you to keep me safe."

"About what or who? I can beat them up for keeping you awake." He cracked his knuckles, "I mean, I probably won't win the fight, but I'll fight."

"Every night I have a nightmare about you and me and the tornado. Every single one ends with one of us dying." Poppy covered her face, "Whenever it's you that dies I-I get so scared and worried. I couldn't live without you in my life." She wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed, getting graphic flashbacks of her dreams.

Branch punched himself in the cheek, "Ouch-" He rubbed his cheek and looked down, "Sorry I'm keeping you awake."

"It's not your fault! I need to get over this fear." Poppy pulled him on the ground and rested her head on his shoulder.

Branch sighed, "I want to help you, but I'm just as terrified of another tornado as you. Tornado season is over, but anything could happen." He looked away from her, disappointed in himself.

"Aww.." Poppy kissed his cheek and rubbed his back, "We can be terrified together, then."

Branch smiled at her and let out a small chuckle, "Okay."

Deep down, he was still extremely anxious and sad, but managed to hide it. A single troll was always on his mind every time he though about tornadoes: Biggie.

They lost Biggie to a tornado during their lost in the woods adventure and Branch spent every day mourning him. Even though it was agreed on that no one was to blame for anything that had happened out there, he felt guilty.

If Branch had chosen any other day for the trip, he would have been stabbed twice, he wouldn't have broken his arm and have to have surgery for it to be repaired, he wouldn't have depression, Biggie would be alive.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by Poppy's adorable snoring in his ear. She was having a peaceful dream for once.

"Good night, Poppy." Branch kissed her forehead and leaned on her, continuing his thoughts.

(I hope you guys enjoy this as much as the first book, because you asked for it and if you don't read it I will cry myself to sleep for several months, because I didn't want to write it.)

- finished chapter july 31st, 2020