That's THE chapter guys, THE CHAPTER.

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3 days,

3 days that Hairless was gone.

Poppy walked slowly through the village with DJSuki. Fortunately, the red troll was so happy with her new song that she didn't notice the depressed air of the princess. The pink troll was trying to focus on what her best friend was saying, but she thought too much about the sweetness of her lost dragon's scales.

Normally, when she felt like that, Poppy was going to see Creek, but he was gone with his father and would probably come back for Christmas ... Moreover, she found it odd to go see Creek, why? The feeling of discomfort came back and Poppy patted DJ's shoulder:

- Excuse me, I have to go ... see you later, okay?

- OKAY! See you later!

Poppy went off towards the forest toward Branch's bunker. But it seemed as though the gray troll was walking in the forest and harvesting provisions.

- Hi Br .... Branch, are you okay?

The survivalist turned his head towards her, he seemed more depressed than usual.

He had spent the night flying over the ocean, without finding the volcano in his dreams, even with the help of Kit! But that was not why he looked sad.

- Hey, Poppy ... listen, not that I don't want to see you, but there will be no archery tomorrow, all right?

Surprised, the pink troll nodded and watched her friend leave, his ears falling.

* * *

The next morning, Poppy drew in her sketchbook. She was drawing Branch's hurting ear, was it really Hairless who did that? Now that she knew the dragon, it was hard to believe ...

But why did she draw Branch? She worried about him, his sad expression yesterday worried her a lot. She frowned, why did she agree to leave him alone when he was depressed? Ashamed, she got up and ran out of her pod.

Branch was alone, sitting at the table in his bunker. His face buried in his hands, he ignored his wet cheeks.

Today was his grandmother's birthday.

He had asked everyone to leave him alone, even Kitten. Fortunately the little trollagon didn't ask any questions and kept his child innocent smile. Branch stood up and banged his head against the wall, his shoulders shook and his nose was puckered with pain in his heart.

"It's my fault, I'm sorry ... Oh, I'm so sorry ...."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

- Branch! BRANCH, OPENS THIS DOOR!

He jumped, what were she doing here? He went to the door to open it, he was too sad to be angry.

- What do you want, Poppy?

She didn't smile, she just looked at him anxiously. She crouched down in front of him and explained:

- I try to practice what you showed me at my last class ... Do you want to help me? I can't.

It was not a lie, Poppy still couldn't shoot at the small target he had hung on the oak 2 days ago. Branch had guessed she was missing of Hairless ... but she wanted to give him his freedom, right? He sighed:

- Okay, I'll help you.

Poppy agreed and they walked in silence to where Branch had set up his hammock and the small target. As he walked, Poppy was looking at the gray troll, he had tears stains on his cheeks, had he been crying? To imagine him crying was so ... she felt her heart tighten.

She took the arrow and stood to shoot the target ... the arrow fell a few inches ahead. She listened, normally Branch would have encouraged her to do it again, but he was staring at his knees and saying nothing.

Then she started again, the arrow fell on the tree and fell beside the target. This time the gray troll sighed and groaned:

- You raise your bow to high, normal that the arrow goes over the target!

She tried, but each time, the arrow fell without touching the target. Branch's hair was bristled on his head, without thinking, he shouted:

- How am I supposed to teach you something if you continue to shoot the arrow anywhere? I should never have accepted this job!

These words hurt, the arrow and the bow fell to the ground and Poppy ran into the forest. Branch realized what he had said and shouted:

- Po ... Poppy, wait!

He hurried after her, ignoring the ferns that were whiped his legs. He did the same thing to Kit ... and now to her! What was wrong with him? His anger against himself, he had accidentally released on the one he loved! He looked for her familiar perfume, he ended up finding her sitting on the floor, hiding under her hair. The night was falling.

- Poppy?

- No.

She pulled her hair so he could talk to her. He sat next to her and looked down:

- I'm sorry ... I didn't think what I said ... It's just that today is my grandmother's birthday and ....

He sighed and looked away, Poppy asked him:

- Your grandmother? Where is she?

With a voice filled with pain, Branch murmured:

- Gone.

Poppy gasped slightly, most of the time, the trolls used that word to say that one of their family member or friend had died. Gently, she put her hand on Branch's shoulder:

- I was so lost in my song .... I didn't see the bergen and she was caught in my place .... It's my fault.

- Branch, it's not your fault, okay? She saved your life because she loved you!

Tears had started to run down her friend's cheeks, she gave him a hug and Branch buried his nose in her neck. She stroked the strands of black hair gently to put them in order. It reminded her of the hours spent petting Hairless near the lake ...

- So? asked the gray troll, You want to go back to train?

- Okay.

She helped him get up, grabbing his hand, and walking together to their training place. Poppy pulled and sighed as the arrow fell beside the target. She was going to try ... she shuddered and blushed furiously as she felt Branch's chest against her back. He placed his hand on her and whispered in her ear:

- A little lower...

TWANG!  The arrow fell into the target. Poppy held a shout of joy and turned her head to the gray troll. Lost in her beautiful pink eyes, a small smile appeared on his face. The snow had started to fall gently on them.

They were so close ... their nose was almost touching, their hair was brushing ... Poppy felt his breath on her lips ...

They leaned forward slowly ... The bow fell into the snow with a thud.

They didn't know who had to kiss each other first. What was sure, is that a little trollagon who was playing to spy widened his eyes with surprise.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH, I SCREAM ALONE-

And yeah, Kitten watched them XDD