3. Dividing Blood: A Trolls Grip

Janner ran, slowed down a little by Gracie. He had been helping her keep up by holding her hand, which had gotten harder and harder as his hand got sweatier and sweatier. Up ahead, he saw Podo slow, and turn around to slide into a large gully. Alarm bells rang in his head, but the fear that clogged his senses unfortunately caused him to not remember why he was alarmed. He and Gracie followed Nugget into the trench. As they ran toward the other side, Janner couldn’t shake the feeling of being exposed to the Fangs above. Nugget pounded alongside them, but then suddenly they weren't running, they were falling, falling, and Janner lost Gracie's hand. Leaping up, he looked around dazed, and then it hit him. Gargan Rockroach den! That was what alarmed him. Before he could react to this knowledge, however, Kalmar screamed. "I"M BIT! I"M BIT!" Janner saw in horror that a cow had Tink by the foot! Podo and Artham jumped in, and Janner pulled at Tink as Gracie used a sword to hack at the cow... his sword for some reason... Nia called down, "Look out below!" and they all scrambled to get out of the way as a large tree trunk plunged in, in the right position to climb out with. Podo got Nugget to climb out with Oscar, Rebekah, and Leeli, while Janner relayed the knowledge he had about the den. Kalmar scrambled out, foot surprisingly intact, and Janner would have gone next except he saw the roach scramble out and attack Gracie. Protective brother instincts took over and he found himself attacking the roach with a sword that was not his own... He blocked every blow the roach made, surprisingly quick on his feet, but the roach whacked at his hand, making the sword fly out of his hand. That would have been the end of him except Artham took up the fight, slashing claws and scary shrieks, and drew the creature away from Gracie and Janner. "Thanks, J!" Gracie grinned and he sheathed the sword. Then Gracie's eyes widened looking over his head, and runs past him. Springing to his feet he saw Artham caught by the roach, but Gracie quickly rectified the situation with the sword that was Janners. The roach ignored her and pounded towards Janner, who had a sudden idea. Maybe he could save them and fight off the Fangs? He pulled off his pack only to realize, this was Gracie's pack! "Here!" he heard and looked up to see his pack flying towards him over the rockroach's head. He was about to toss her pack back, but his heart dropped as he saw both Gracie and Artham get grabbed by giant troll fists and carried through the roof. He wanted to run after them, but the roach was attacking him at that moment! He dug through his pack, found the water, and threw it at the Roach's mouth at the last second, scrambling back as steam bubbles from the roach and it staggered back. Podo grabbed his arm and pulled him up and out of the den as he recovered his balance and thought process. They scrambled up the other side of the gully, only to hear a grim cackling laugh. They looked over to the other side of the trench to see Krak beside a giant troll holding both of the missing members of their party. Artham struggled, Peetbird definitely in control of his mind, while Gracie held still, knowing it was useless to struggle. Krak smoothly began a victory speech, grinning as he said there was no escape. Janner's face contorted in worry for the girl he had come to appreciate as a close sister and fellow book lover and hung her sword and bag on Nugget next to Rebekah, whose face was wrenched in worry for her sister. Her fierce eyes said it all he better return her. Krak's speech was interrupted by Gracie, who began humming a foreign tune in her low, pleasant-sounding voice. She showed no fear but looked across at her sister as the repetitive but powerful tune echoed through and across the gully. Rebekah seemed to find some hidden message of hope in the tune, but she stiffened in anger as Krak whacked at Gracie to silence her. He began to speak again but was interrupted by the Gargan Rockroach, who was living up to the name of Gargan. The Fang archers out of sight, the Wingfeathers fled, heading towards the river Blapp.