Meanwhile...

In the forest, deep in it, deeper than the first book took us, a troll with his worm were running through the woods, the troll limped as he walked, having an injury.

"Mr. Dinkles! I don't know if we can outrun this one!" The troll screamed, hiding the worm underneath his vest.

"Mew." Mr. Dinkles complained from the troll's armpit stench.

"I'm sorry! There's no deodorant in the middle of the woods!" He tripped over a root and turned around to face the kitty critter chasing him.

The cat grinned, finally going to get revenge on the fat troll.

The troll and the worm hugged each other for dear life.

The cat raised it's paw and swung it, about to scratch his cheek...

—

"BIGGIE!" Branch sat up screaming, awoken from the nightmare.

He looked around the room to see all his friends staring at him, confused, "why are you all watching me sleep? This is a serious issue this village has."

"BRANCH!" Poppy climbed in to the bed and gave him a big hug, "I told you you'd be okay!"

He didn't respond to that though, only thinking about his dream, "Biggie's alive.." he mumbled.

Guy and Ash choked on air and stared at him, "Biggie's what?"

"Biggie's alive!" Branch looked up, confident, "he's alive! I-I saw him! He's in danger."

"Branch, I think the anesthesia's making you crazy." Poppy laid him back down, "maybe you should take a nap."

"I'm not crazy! I know he's alive! I saw him! He was being attacked by a kitty critter! Mr. Dinkles was in his armpit!" Branch sat up again, "he's still in the woods! We have to find him!"

"Branch, what are you talking about? You've literally been sleeping the entire day." Poppy ruffled his hair, "you must've had a realistic dream about Biggie."

"But-"

"How does your arm feel?" Marimba cut in, gesturing to the cast.

"It hurts. A lot." Branch winced, now feeling the painful.

"I can give you medications for that later when you're released from here." Dr. Moonbloom started writing things down on a clipboard.

Poppy handed Branch the Broppy flower, "we made this for you."

"Aww," Branch admired it's beauty.

It was a stick with poppy petals hot glued around the top and on the small branches hanging off of it. Simple, but very beautiful.

"Thank you all, so much!" Branch hugged Poppy with his one arm, "I'm gonna hang this in my bunker when I go home, now get in here!" He gestured first everyone else to join the hug.

They all pushed Barb in and gave Branch a big hug.

Barb didn't try to get out though, hugs with Branch were more understandable. Branch needed them more than the other trolls.

Quick recap: Branch's depression and anxiety returned after the tornado adventure. He was supposed to start talking to a therapist the next week about it.

"This feels good." Branch leaned his head on Poppy's shoulder, smiling.

—

Evening came, Branch was heading down in his bunker to make himself dinner and get ready for bed.

Outside, Poppy, Barb, Riff, Holly, and Hickory were anxiously listening, scared that he was gonna get hurt somehow.

"Be careful to not get the cast wet!" Poppy warned.

"Don't light it on fire!" Holly reminded him.

"Don't break another bone!" Barb shouted towards the door, "can he even hear us?"

"Don't kill yourself!" Riff said with a grin.

Hickory elbowed Riff, "hey!"

"Oh." Riff realized that wasn't really a smart joke to make towards the troll that tried to kill himself.

Branch groaned. All day trolls were giving him cautious reminders and making sure he was okay. He was fine now, his arm wasn't as sore, he hadn't thought about killing himself again since the only time he tried, "go away!"

He waited to hear them walking away from the bunker and sighed.

Branch hung the Broppy flower on a wall in the main room, then walked around his bunker, collecting a few random supplies from around; some rations, a jacket, water, a leaf sleeping bag, a frying pan, a map, and a knife.

He attempted to put the jacket on, struggling to get the one sleeve over his cast. He finally got his arm through and zipped the jacket up, hiding his face in the hood. He put the other things in his book bag and carried it on his back.

Branch left his bunker and headed to the edge of Trollstopia, then looked back at the village, "I know Biggie's out here somewhere. Dead or alive, I want to find him." He took a deep breath, and once again headed in to the forest, off on another adventure.

(I told you this book would be worse than TOSOTS)

Finished 8/4/20