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Had she taken the path to the right, she would have bumped into a lost yellow haired troll in the tunnels and brought him back with her as her right hand man in charge, but she hadn't.
When the pickaxe came down from above ground, just about to collapse the opening to the right, she decided it was too risky, and went left instead, which looped back around and set her back on the path back to the tree. With her little twelve year old hands, she dug new openings into pre-existing paths, collecting trolls left behind and guiding them through until they were in a group once more.
Along the way, she stumbled into a little boy.
Maybe if she hadn't found him, he would have found his own way out and would have been able to catch up to another adult and be swept up to safety, as regardless of his status he was still a child that needed to be protected.
(Swept up and taken to where hopefully, the rest of the tribe had managed to run to(if they even managed to.).
She found him instead, carving out his own way out, tears in his eyes but a determined scowl and radiant with will. He was the famous gray trolling she's heard off briefly, far too tiny and alone. “Hey! C'mon we have to hurry!” she extended her hand, trying to be gentle but firm to assure him he is safe, but that they need to move now.
He sniffled, and pushed her hand away weakly, “I can go on my own.” and she was taken aback by that.
“No, are you crazy?! We have to hurry!” She dragged him along despite his protest, and together they traveled through the tunnels, retrieving more lost trolls as the threat above persistently came. Her legs hurt, and she was tired, but she refused to stop, however she knew the little boy was barely a handful of years younger, and couldn't keep up as well as she could. He was starting to drag them behind, and when his breath became raspy she didn't hesitate to yank him up to her hair. He can't hide well al all due to her being smaller than a fully grown up troll, but he's not heavy, curling in on himself on instinct, his little hands gripping on strands so hard it hurts but she could care less, being able to move faster now and knowing he's secure in the blonde tangled hair.
He stays there, a solid weight on her head and it helps her keep going, because if she can't save her sister, and only hope she made it out, she can at least cling to this orphan and keep him safe, to be there for him when no one will. It felt like hours of digging paths for the others left behind, of being forced to resurface and fight off those cursed hands as best they could together, as best she could, as their leader and princess.
Night fell when the burgens lost track of them through the neighboring forest, as they had taken to staying still and hiding with their hair, it being too dangerous to keep traveling throughout the night. They lost a few brave ones who bought them precious seconds, and they can only grieve and cling to the relief that they were spared of the sensation of being eaten alive, and instead crushed, dying with honor.
She took the orphan into her arms, and held him tightly while she hid them, using her hair to mimic grass. He was terrified, but he was warm, and alive, his heart hammering in her ears as she tucked him in better, the stomping Bergen retreating and cursing along the way, the vibrations of their heavy footsteps fading. His little ears wiggled, and his wet snout poked her neck but she could care less as the danger finally went away, she and the precious cargo she carried in her arms safe from death- for now, at least.
“What's your name?” She whispered, sweetly and quietly as she gently encouraged him to pull his face away. His eyes were the most beautiful she’d ever seen right alongside her little sister.. Compared to her deep shimmering purples, she stared into bright waters of the light reflecting off of the pond in a meadow, out of place with his gray freckled skin and black hair. He was a beautiful little boy, and why no one had ever tried to help him as soon as they saw him she wishes she never knows, because she’s not sure she would be able to control her temperament once hearing their excuses.
The little one sniffled, and whimpered, “Branch.” she smiled then, wiping his tears away and cradling him, holding him as if he were still a tiny newborn troll, needing to be helped in any way possible in order to survive. “Well, Branch,” she brought down a strand of hair, carefully plucked from their shield and tentatively curled it around a wisp of his, their hairs twirling together and locking, “My name is Viva, and you don’t have to be scared anymore, because i’ll protect you.” His hair weakly responded, maybe due to him being gray for such a young age, but she could feel the strands tightening ever so slightly. “You won’t leave me?” and such quiet words have her clinging to him tighter, and thank goodness he was small enough that it would not be too uncomfortable for the little ball she’s molded them into.
There’s a story in his question, because never should a child look so distressed and desperate for a sliver of hope, of reassurance and for a promise as simple as that. “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” she motioned with her hand, drawing an X across her chest and pointing to her eye, and when Branch looked slightly confused, she allowed herself to giggle, “It’s a promise rhyme. I promise I won’t leave you, ever. You’re stuck with me now.” For a brief moment, it looked like his tones changed, the deepest hues of colors coming to light before melting back into the drab colors, but she saw the way his freckles and beauty marks sparkled, and she knew then he would be his family from that moment forth, and she would be his. His fingers slip into his mouth, and while she knows he’s probably too old for that, she allows him that comfort, and hums quietly as she gets them moving, tip toeing across the grass, allowing their shield to thin so she can find the other survivors and get them moving along.
She couldn’t save the others whos sacrifices were not in vain, and has no idea if Poppy, her father, the rest of the tribe ever made it out alive, but now her priorities lie with the stranglers that need her to guide them, and her new little brother, who needed her in every way his family failed to provide.