Branch and the others woke up more earlier than expected. Well Branch, Trollex, and Archer did, it was a struggle to wake Barb up
They continued walking with a bunch of bruises while Barb was smiling innocently
"Ok, next time Branch! You're waking her up." Archer said
"WHAT?!! No way!! Trollex is!!" Branch said
"No!"
Barb stopped to look at them
"How about you dorks just don't wake me up again. How's that sound?" Barb said
The boys looked at each other
"You had to wake up." Branch said crossing his arms
"Yeah, but did I really?"
"YES!! We have to get Poppy from those manipulative, DISGUSTING MOUSE LIONS!!" Branch told her
"I could've slept longer." She said
They continued to walk. Branch took the map out of his hair and began to look when they got to another part with 2 more trails heading different directions
"Ok, so the safest way is to go right." Branch said
"Why not left?" Archer asked
Branch pulled the scrapbook tab
The map became engulfed with flames, and dangerous creatures popped out of the ground and pulled a mini scrapbook Troll underground
"AHHHH!!" The Troll screamed
"O-oh." Archer said stepping back
"LETS GO THAT WAY!!" Barb smiled
"What?! No!! We could either die, get lost, get eaten!! Or even more terrible things!! Do want that to happen?!" Branch asked
Barb snatched the map from him
"Hey!"
"Well it is quicker." Barb said pointing to the trail on the left on the map
"And quicker is better." Archer said
"Hmmm..."
They went left after fighting Branch's rejection
Someone watched from the trees and immediately ran off
——————————————————
Meanwhile back at Cocoabura, Domino was sitting near a pod with Poppy looking at their reflecting in the water. It was quickly interrupted
"Domino!! Domino!!" A Mouse Lion called running to them
Domino and Poppy turned around
"What, Skips?!" Domino asked
"I need to talk to you." Skips said
Domino looked at Poppy
"Umm be right back?"
"Sure! I'll be here." Poppy said with a smile
"Great."
Domino walked behind a tree with Skips
"What?! What could be so important that it could ruin my day with Poppy?!" Domino asked
"The Trolls!!"
Domino covered his mouth
"What about them?" He asked
"They're coming to get Poppy! What do you want me to do?!" Skips asked
"Go with them." Domino said
"What?"
"Go with them. Which trail did they go on?" Domino asked
"The left." Skips answered
Domino gave a soft light chuckle
"Idiots. Ok look, I want you to lead them into every. Single. Death trap. Till they give up." Domino said
"Will do." Skips said
He ran off
Domino went back and sat next to Poppy
"What was that about?" Poppy asked
"Nothing important really. He thought he lost his back left paw. Turns out he was sitting." Domino said with a lie
"Ohhh."
———————————————————
Branch was being dragged by the back of his vest by Barb. He really tried to get out of her grip but it was a big struggle
"This doesn't seem so bad." Trollex said
He heard a noise
"AHHH I TAKE IT BACK!!" He shouted
He went around Barb's waist and held onto her
"Dude?!! Get off!!" She said
"No! I scared." Trollex said hiding his face on her shirt
Barb rolled her eyes and continued walking with Archer
"So, how's babysitting?" Archer teased
"You carry the Branch." Barb said
"No!"
Branch finally got out of her grip
"We have to go back and go the other way!!" Branch said
"Dude! This is way faster." Barb said
"And scary." Trollex said gripping onto Barb more from fear
"You're such a baby. GET OFF!!"
"NO!!"
"Fine, fine! But if we die and get in serious trouble!! It's gonna be your fault Barb." Branch said
"Yeah whatever." Barb said
They continued to walk. Branch wanted to get this over with already. He could've already been there if they hadn't come along. He could've been heading home with Poppy at this point
Someone had jumped in front of them
"AHHHHH!!!"
Trollex gripped tighter probably crushing Barbs waist
"Hi!"
"AHHHHHH!!" Trollex screamed
"MOUSE LION!!!" Branch shouted jumping in front of his friends
Branch pulled out a frying pan
"AHHHHH!! WAIT NO!!"
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Branch asked
"I'm Skips!!" He said holding up his paws
"What do you want with us?!" Branch asked again
"I just came to help! You guys seemed like you were lost." Skips said with a light smile
"We weren't lost." Branch said
"Then where are we?" Trollex asked losening his grip on Barb
"We're umm...we're. I have no idea." Branch said
"AHHHH!!! WE'RE LOST!!!" Trollex yelled
He gripped on Barb's waist again
"Relax man. Just relax and try everything you can." Skips said
They walked with Skips. Skips smiles while the others followed him. Branch was honestly very suspicious of him. He knew that Skips couldn't be trusted
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." A humworm sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Snail spiders sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Songbirds sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." They sang
"I messed up tonight, I lost another fight. I still mess up but I'll just start again." Skips sang
"I keep falling down, I keep on hitting the ground. I always get up now to see what's next." He sang
"Birds don't just fly, they fall down and get up." He sang
A baby Songbird fell on the ground
"Nobody learns without getting it wrong." Skips sang
He used his nose to help it up. The Songbird flew away
"I won't give up, no I won't give in. Til I reach the end and then I'll start again!!
"No I won't leave, I wanna try everything. I wanna try even though I could fail."
"I won't give up, no I won't give in. Til I reach the end and then I'll start again!
"No I won't leave, I wanna try everything. I wanna try even though I could fail."
Trollex began to calm down and loosen his grip
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." A humbug sang
"Try everything." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Snail spiders sang
"Try everything." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Songbirds dang
"Try everything." Skills sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." They sang
Trollex finally let go
"Oh god finally." Barb said
"Look at how far you've come, you filled your heart with love." Skips sang putting his paw on Barb's shoulder
"Baby you've done enough, take a deep breath." He sang to Trollex
Skips went to Branch and Archer
"Don't beat yourself up, don't need to run so fast. Sometimes we come last, but we did our best." He sang to them
Archer, Trollex, and Barb smiled. Branch rolled his eyes
"I won't give up, no I won't give in. Til I reach the end and then I'll start again." Trollex
"No I won't leave, I wanna try everything. I wanna try even though I could fail." Skips sang
"I won't give up, no I won't give in. Til I reach the end and then I'll start again." Barb sang standing next to Archer
"No I won't leave, I wanna try everything. I wanna try even though I could fail." Archer sang
"I'll keep on making those new mistakes. I'll keep on making them every day. Those new mistakes." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." A humbug sang
"Try everything." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Snail spiders sang
"Try everything." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." Songbirds sang
"Try everything." Skips sang
"Oh oh oh oh oooh." They sang
"Try everything." Skips sang with a soft smile
The Trolls smiled, while Branch didn't believe a single word Skips said- or sang in this case
"I'm suddenly not scared anymore!!" Trollex said said
"Well about time." Barb said
"Yeah you big baby." Archer said
"I'm not a baby!! >:O" Trollex said
"Relax, I'm just messing around." Archer said
"I don't believe it!!" Branch said
They all looked at him, including Skips
"Why not?" Trollex asked
"Because! He's a Mouse Lion! They can't be trusted! They're manipulative. He's trying to manipulate us." Branch said
They looked at Skips
"Normally I would. Except I left the Mouse Lions. I'm rogue." Skips said
"Cmon Branch. Trust him." Archer said
"And if not trust us." Trollex said
"Well..."
Branch looked at Barb
"What do you think Barb?" Branch asked
"Pfft I don't care." She said
Branch sighed
"Fine. You can come along." Branch said
"Great! You won't regret this I promise!" Skips said
"I hope I won't." Branch said