The Deaf Troll

1

(Y/n)'s P.O.V

I turned my head when I felt a tap on my shoulder, looking at Branch. I hummed in question.

"We should probably get more supplies to secure our bunker," Branch said.

"Okay," I nodded. I closed the book that I was reading and stood up. We left the bunker and entered the woods.

There was silence between us as we collected sticks for the bunker.

Usually, two people would make small talk if they did something together. Well, I can't multitask like that. I have to pay attention to what another troll's saying or do something, not both.

"Hey, Branch. I had this idea for a Bergen trap," I called out. I didn't hear anything back from him - I couldn't - but I continued with what I was going to say.

"Tripwires around the perimeter. When a Bergen triggers it, it'll send a rock to their face," I spoke the idea, pausing in the stick collecting and turning to Branch for his input. He stood up and looked at me.

"I think that's a great idea, (Y/n)," he praised the idea.

"I'll get the tools," I gave him the sticks that I already had and started collecting other things.

I ran around and picked up rocks and thick vines, giddy to start on the idea.

I turned when hair wrapped around my torso - making me drop everything - and turned me back towards Branch.

"I asked if you needed help," he said. I gave him a deadpanned look, an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I realized the mistake. That's why I turned you around," he rolled his eyes. He retracted his hair and I turned to pick up what I dropped.

"If you could help me carry some boulders back, that'd be great," I said.

I glanced at him as he took some vines and tied them around boulders, beginning to drag them behind him. I hummed. That's a good idea.

I started repeating what he was doing.

It was a while later and we had a decent amount of sticks, vines, and boulders.

"I think we have enough," I looked over towards Branch. He nodded.

"Yeah, we should put these up," he agreed.

We trekked back to Troll Village, dragging our rocks behind us.

"You've got to be kidding me," Branch sighed out of the corner of my eye.

He always does this whenever the other trolls are loud, often when they're singing.

All I did was continue looking forward and grip the vines tighter.

When we returned to the village, instead of going to the bunker, Branch took a detour. I followed close behind.

We stopped and sat under a mushroom in a clearing where I saw singing and dancing trolls. Princess Poppy is right in the center.

Some day, this troll-

Poppy stood on top of Cooper's head while the trolls behind her stayed in their cheerleader-like poses on top of each other.

They all looked at us, and that's when I realized that Branch probably spoke up. Poppy and the others all got off of each other.

"Good. I was worried we weren't projecting enough," Poppy said. She then looked at the two trolls whose hair was one - Satin and Chenille.

I turned to see what else Branch had to say.

"Poppy, if we can hear you, so can the Bergens," he warned. I looked at the trolls in front of us.