Chapter Text
Chapter 5: Hunting
It had been a few weeks since Branch had hurt his leg and today was the day that he could finally get the wrap taken off. In those weeks the others had come and visited everyday bring food with them for him to eat. It was in those weeks that Branch realized these four were terrible hunters. They only brought him fruits and veggies, no meat whatsoever, so that could only mean one thing to Branch, they did not know how to properly hunt but that is ok once the wrap was off, he would teach them.
Hype had unwrapped his leg and looked it over. “Well, it looks like it is healed, and your fur is starting to grow back, so that is also good.” He spoke as Branch took off running into the forest confusing the others before coming back with a bird in his mouth. The four trolls looked at each other before looking at Branch. “Ummm Branch, what you got there?” Boom asks as Branch lays the bird down waiting on them to catch it. The bird jumped up before they could react and flew off causing Branch to growl before huffing.
So, a live bird was too hard for them to catch so Branch needed to try something different, maybe he should do them one at a time. Next day while they were resting around the rock near Branch’s bunker, Branch brought a baby mellow mouse and dropped in Ablaze’s lap causing the older troll to scream and use his hair to put himself in the nearest tree. “Branch, what was that for?” Ablaze yelled from the tree limb he was on causing Branch to whine. So, a mellow mouse was still a bit much for them maybe he should try a fish next.
A few days later they were sitting by the river while Branch swam around in the water. Before the four knew it a fish was thrown at them causing them to fall in the river. “Branch.” They groaned. That was a failure too, guess he will just have to go with something dangerous to trigger their hunting instincts.
The next day the four of them were heading for the clearing while talking about what was going on with Branch. “I don’t understand, did we make him mad when we wrapped up his leg because ever since he has been acting weird with us.” Hype said. “Maybe he is wanting us to leave him alone?” Boom suggested. “No, it can’t be that because he gets happy to see us.” Ablaze said. “Well, he is wanting us to do something with the way he keeps throwing different creatures at us.” Hype said. “Wait that’s it what if he is trying to get us to catch them.” Trickee said. “Wait, so he is trying to teach us how to hunt?” Boom asks. “It makes sense, Branch had to live off of something all this time and I don’t think he has much access to food like we do.” Trickee said. They arrived at the clearing to be met with a sight that had all four of them up in the nearest tree looking down at Branch in concern.
In Branch’s mouth was a slither snake. “Branch, drop the snake.” Hype begged as they watch the snake hiss and move around in Branch’s mouth. This was not good slither snakes were very poisonous to trolls and Branch had a live one in his mouth. Branch let out a growl refusing to drop the snake. “BRANCH, DROP IT!” Boom yelled causing Branch to growl again. “BRANCH!” Trickee yelled at him. “Branch, drop the snake, it can kill us, and you don’t want that do you.” Ablaze tried to reason as Branch let out another growl before dropping the snake as the snake slithered off into the forest causing the four to sigh with relief. When they look back, they saw Branch running and hiding in the hole he had for his bunker. Once the four thought it was safe the four of them got out of the tree and head for the hole. “Branch can you come out to talk to us?” Boom asks. They heard a whine from Branch. “You’re trying to teach us how to hunt right?” Trickee asked. There was a small growl. “Branch, trolls like us don’t eat meat, we live off of mostly fruit and veggies.” Hype explained. Another growl. “Yeah, we know, we are terrible hunters can you forgive us now.” Ablaze asks as Branch came out of the hole and bumped against them. “Yes, we forgive you too.” They said laughing, unknowing that four sets of parents were starting to worry about what was going on with their sons.