#giantworld

[narrans]

82). "You know I trust you, right?"

PROMPT

82). "You know I trust you, right?"

Lightening streaked across the sky, illuminating every shadow in sight in the darkness of night. It was a momentary relief from stumbling around blind, but it was the earth-shattering thunder that followed that was unbearable. The rain pounded the ground like angry fists against an assailant. Puddles the size of lakes formed in yards and drowned drains along the sidewalk.

It was a perfect summer storm.

It was a shame that not everyone enjoyed this kind of weather.

Then again, who could enjoy it when they were trudging through it?

Was it because he was out in it?

No.

Was it because he was alone and on edge?

No.

Matt certainly hated this weather. He had always despised storms, ever since he was a child. There was just something so menacing about every natural phenomenon and disaster; Matt couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to enjoy it.

He especially despised it because every splash of the rain soaked him from head to toe, impacting his body like a prodding, human finger.

Matt was a pet, a miniature biological construction humans created to emulate being human without providing them rights and simple liberties. Even though every pet possessed sentience, they were deemed lesser beings and sold off like the common guinea pig at the pet stores.

Matt had been to many homes in his past, causing trouble now and then, but he had finally done it.

He had escaped.

The little boy who insisted on playing soldier with him had forgotten to clamp the lock completely shut on Matt’s cage, and it took no time at all for the six inch tall humanoid to slip out of the cage, shimmy down the desk he was on using the few pieces of functional Army equipment he could find, and made a mad dash for the front door just in time for the father to come home. Though Matt’s skill was in intellect, thriving in literature and history, the skills he gained in the short time of playing soldier were already coming in handy.

His stealth and agility had increased dramatically, giving him the chance of escaping to the outside world.

Matt dared not stay inside the house, lest he be found by that intimidating child. Still, outside wasn’t a long-term viable solution either. The raging storm was preferable to the child, but just barely.

Matt half sped-walked, half jogged along the sidewalk, dodging raindrops and puddles, unsure of where he was going next. What he did know was he was done. He was done being a pet. He was done playing by rules he didn’t help create. He was just done. Matt didn’t want to go back into a cage, but he certainly didn’t want to try and survive outside. His current skillset wouldn’t get him through the rest of the week.

Was there even a way he could have a compromise of both?

He didn’t know.

What he did know was that he would drown in this torrential rain if he didn’t find cover soon.

The pet glanced around, eyes squinting in the spattering rain, as he tried to gain his bearings. His original home was nowhere in sight, but it was obvious he was still in the same neighborhood. The houses all had yards which looked miles long, but they weren’t very wide; that is, for human standards.

Unable to see very far, Matt made the only logical decision he could, which was to walk toward the first house he spotted with a completely dark interior. If the inside was dark, it meant no one was awake and it would make his entry into the residence ideal.

Sure enough, there was a place two houses away that stood still and silent. There were no lights on and, what was even better, the exterior was made of brick rather than vinyl, meaning he could get a good enough grip to climb the exterior of the home. He jogged along and was almost there by the driveway when two, blinding headlights appeared from behind and zoomed past, splashing the contents of the road puddles over him like a tidal wave.

Matt tried to regain his footing, but the water was like the clumsy fingers of the child he just left, and he was pulled away from the edge of the sidewalk right beside the yard gutters. Unlike the drainage gutters on the side of the road, which were practically overflowing and unable to empty, the yard gutters emptied into the neighborhood pond, and the water was raging like hungry rapids.

Heart pounding out of his chest in a numbing panic, Matt grappled with the water and thrashed around, trying to grab onto the blades of grass in hopes of stopping himself. The short blades of grass cut at his hands as he failed to keep hold on any of them. His unprepared lungs started burning with what little air filled them.

Tumbling and tossing through the water, it was clear there was nothing to grab onto now. Matt lunged with all his strength and kicked off of something solid, launching him in a random direction. Thankfully, that direction was up. Head breaking the surface, Matt was able to take in a single, life-saving breath as he spotted the gaping maw of the drainage pipe ahead.

Matt remembered reading something about currents dragging people out to sea and that, to survive, a person needed to swim sideways. It was the only option at this point. The pet thrashed in the water, not being a proficient swimmer, and tried to make it to the edge.

He was almost there, but two more passing cars sent a wall of water taller than him crashing down into the yard gutters. He gulped down a mouthful of water by mistake, expelling what precious air was in his lungs. By some miracle, Matt was tossed onto the other side of the stream, but not far enough to make it to safety.

Losing strength, Matt reached out with what felt like the last of his strength and, to his surprise, latched onto the metal rim of the gaping hole of the pipe. Also, to his surprise, Matt was near the surface and able to take a quick gasp of air before the water crested over his head again.

Matt’s body was engulfed entirely by the water again, and his grip was failing.

There was a horrid, sinking feeling in his chest. It was a thought that occurred frequently for the pet, and it was this: they – pets – were not made for this world. It was too big. It was too much. Wanting something as great, as big, as freedom was too much for a little pet like him.

Fingers sliding off of the edge of the metal pipe, burning as it cut further into his already injured hands, Matt fought to hold the last of his breath, determined to stay conscious until the end when the water broke again.

The relief of sucking in a partial breath of air was immediately replaced by the current sweeping him into the darkness of the tunnel. Blind and breathless, Matt tumbled through the metallic tube, knocking against the ridged edges and scraping against the limbs wedged in the tube.

Matt felt his body limply being dragged through the rapids before his body slammed into another hard surface. The last of his air escaped his lungs; however, to his complete amazement, his lungs sucked in air and not water as he gasped for air. Instinctually, his body wretched and the water in his lungs spewed out of his mouth and nose. The pet rolled onto his side and continued to cough and vomit up the unwanted water from his body.

It wasn’t until his body calmed that allowed his body to stop tensing that he realized something. There was something off about the surface he was on, specifically because it curved to fit his body and possessed a warmth of its own.

Matt forced his eyes open and, instantly, his heart sank, and the tension returned to his body. The surface was warm and flexible because it was the hand of a human. The distinct swirl of the person’s fingerprints was clear now in his blurry vision.

Minutes. His freedom could be measured in minutes and now he was back in the captive clutches of a human. He looked directly in front of him at the churning water in the drainage ditch of the yard. Was it worth jumping back into the water and risk drowning again? Just to get away?

He lost his chance in a moment as the human stood slowly from crouching, their other hand coming up to form a partial dome over him and the fingers of the hand he was on curling upward, forcing him into the human’s palm. Matt turned around indignantly and glared with what distain he could muster at the human holding him.

Immediately, he met the gaze of a young woman with big, blue eyes. Her hood was up, but he could still make out a mess of curly blond hair under the pale green raincoat. She seemed to be staring at him expectantly, and Matt thought about saying something, but a streak of lightening followed by the cacophonous crash of thunder. Anything he would have said would have been drowned out by the voice of the sky, so he kept quiet instead, locking his jaw and staring at the woman venomously.

After a moment, the woman nodded and walked forward, keeping her hands level. It surprised Matt to see her fingers remain splayed rather than pinching or grabbing his torso. What was even more surprising was the girl walked immediately to the unlit house he planned on infiltrating moments before being washed away.

Matt continued to sit as he watched the woman fish out some keys from her pocket, slip them into the lock, and push herself inside just as another crack of thunder tore through the sky. Despite the raging storm, the woman seemed unbothered by how loud everything was.

This, however, was the least of his concerns.

He could actually care less about the human woman who was holding him. What the pet cared about was getting away as fast as possible. Being held was less than desirable on any given day, especially now.

The woman reached over with her free hand that Matt wasn’t sitting in and flicked the switch. No light. She tried the next one. No light.

“Power is out,” informed Matt snarkily. The woman sighed and walked through the entryway and over to a cabinet near the refrigerator. Slightly struggling with just her one hand, she began rummaging through the contents of the cabinet. This gave Matt enough time to readjust in her hand and peered over the edge. There was a countertop about a foot below the hand he was in. “You could put me down you know.”

The woman didn’t acknowledge him and continued searching for something.

Matt rolled his eyes.

Great. Another human who won’t listen to me. Another arrogant piece of work who will baby and toy with me. Brilliant.

“Hey, wouldn’t it be better to put me on the larger counter? Looks like there are some emergency flashlights over there,” suggested Matt. Still, no response. She wasn’t even looking at him!

Instead, and seemingly finding what she was looking for, the girl pulled out a white rectangular kit and pulled it from the depths of the cabinet. She then carefully turned and set the box down on the countertop in the middle of the kitchen.

Even more perfect! In the middle of the room where I can’t get away!

Matt watched the woman turn only now and pull two of the emergency flashlights out of the wall with one hand and turned them on, shining them up onto the ceiling so soft, white light reflected off of the white paint.

Carefully, she lowered the hand Matt was sitting on until the back of her hand rested on the countertop. Matt, in a flash, rolled off her hand and stood at his full height. Only now did she look at him once again, her big blue eyes absorbing his form.

Her big blue eyes were thoughtful, and it felt like she could look right through him. Matt didn’t like it one bit. Moving slowly, the woman crouched as her eyes shifted from his arms to his legs to his torso, then back to his face. Once again, she seemed to be staring at him expectantly.

Matt kept his body rigid and dared to take a step forward when he felt a sudden, burning sensation shoot up his leg. He winced and suddenly noticed the scrapes, cuts, and splinters through the torn fabric of his clothes. The dim light was enough to see that the puddle of water that had formed around him was discolored, taking on a reddish, pinkish hue.

Blood.

It wasn’t enough to be alarming or worried, but it was still an immediate problem. Matt wanted to get a better view of his injuries, but he didn’t want to undress in front of this woman either. He had been forced to endure dressing and undressing for the pleasure of his “owners” one too many times already.

Then again, he might not have a choice.

In his peripheral vision, he saw fingers inching toward him, hovering a few inches above the counter and approaching him slowly.

No.

Matt glared up venomously and took a step back, fists clenched and raised in self-defense, as if punching an oncoming finger would make it stop.

“Don’t touch me!” he shouted loudly. This combination of actions seemed to get the woman’s attention, and suddenly her eyes were intently focused on his mouth. Her hand stopped moving forward and, unbelievably, retracted a few inches away. She bit her lower lip and remained concentrated on every subtle change in his features.

Matt couldn’t believe it for a moment. Had he just startled her? Or was this her listening?

With nothing to lose, he shouted again.

“Leave me alone, got it?” he asked. The woman once again remained focused on his lips. Her eyes squinted, a puzzled look locking her features into a quizzical expression. Her eyes darted over to the white kit with the red cross on it as she gestured to his body with the hand that was closest to him. “I can handle it. I can patch myself up. I don’t need your help. Your hands are too big, and I don’t want you touching me. Got it?”

The woman watched his face intently before her eyes widened. She bit her lip awkwardly. Matt’s heart started thumping harder against his ribs, making his ears ring. Had he said too much? Was she angry now? She didn’t look angry.

The woman reached over to the white kit and opened it, splaying it on its side to reveal all of the bandages, patches, and salves inside. A single role was enough to wrap Matt like a mummy; and, for that instant, he wondered if she was about to bind him up so he couldn’t move.

This didn’t happen.

Instead, the woman placed a loose fist on her chest and rubbed her chest clockwise a few times before holding up one finger and leaving the room entirely. Matt’s stomach turned in knots, feeling like he had been flipped upside down and dropped, as he watched this woman leave the room.

Did she just listen? Or is she getting something else? Oh no… what if she’s getting a cage? No. Not again. Not today.

Despite his sliced palms and bodily injuries, Matt walked over to the edge and peered over. There was nothing to grab onto. He looked back at the medical kit. Was there something in there he could use?

Matt walked back over to the opened container and rummaged through the packages that were nearly the length of his leg. Tweezers. Tape. Rolls of gauze. Safety pins. There were other things, but there were already some promising items.

Sadly, he had only begun to pull the gauze out when he heard the padding footsteps of the woman returning. His stomach churned again as his head throbbed. She was coming back! Why? Why couldn’t he just be left to his own devices?

What was worse was that he heard someone speaking.

No! She’s bringing someone else out here to gawk at me.

He could hear part of the conversation as the voice got closer, but only one side of it.

“Slow down, will you? Yes! Slower walking and slower talking. You found someone outside? And you just brought him in? Were you not watching ‘Forensic Files’ with me? This is exactly how we get ki-”

The woman stepped into the room and Matt suddenly understood why the voice was quiet. One hand was cupped and, crouched in the palm of her hand, was another pet. Her other hand was free and was pointing and making different gestures. While Matt didn’t understand what each individual gesture meant, he knew what it meant for the woman.

She was deaf.

The sickening taste of bile rose in his throat.

This woman got a specialized pet to be her translator? Some kind of therapy pet? He could only guess what that mean for him and what was going to happen next.

In the meantime, the pet, also a woman, leaned over the edges of the woman’s fingers and stared hard at Matt before turning back and gesturing to be set down on the countertop. The human woman grinned and made a few gestures, which caught the pet’s eye. The pet rolling her eyes, she turned back to her human and nodded while gesturing and speaking out loud.

“Yes, yes. I know you’re smarter than that. You wouldn’t just let some rando in the house.” The pet turned and stepped off of the human’s hand. She was just a little shorter than Matt and had sharp, narrow features. Her dark brown hair looked like it had a reddish hue in the dim flashlight glow, but Matt could easily make out the pet’s hazel-brown eyes. The pet grinned and glanced back at the human to finish a different, snarky remark. “At least, you wouldn’t bring a human sized rando into the house.”

The human rolled her eyes and gestured to Matt, who had backed up involuntarily five steps at this point. The pet readjusted her shirt and booty shorts, nodded, and looked back to Matt, speaking and signing at the same time.

“Sorry about that. I was half asleep when she came in and woke me up. I guess introductions are in order. I’m Nivea. Gargantia over there is Kaylee. Wave ‘hi’ Kaylee,” said Nivea. The human woman, Kaylee, smiled hesitantly and waved.

“Figures,” muttered Matt. “They always get what they want.”

“Wow, you’re friendly, and beat up. What happened to you? Rough and tumble with a lawn mower?” asked Nivea, a cheeky smirk planted firmly in the corner of her mouth. When Matt scowled at her instead, Nivea shrugged and dismissed her statement with a wave of her hand. “Don’t answer that. Now, come on. Loosen up. You’re safe. Let’s get you cleaned up and bandaged.”

Nivea went to move forward just as Matt took a few more deliberate steps backward.

“I don’t need your help. Neither of you,” he spat. Nivea, still speaking and signing, retreated those few steps she had taken forward.

“Woah, easy there buddy. We’re not the bad guys here. We’re just trying to patch you up,” Nivea replied, glancing back at Kaylee.

“I don’t need help from a human or her pet. I’m done, you hear me? Done,” stated Matt angrily. At this, Nivea folded her arms across her chest and put her weight onto one leg, a disbelieving look on her face. Matt bristled at her confrontational stance, but was surprised to hear what she had to say next.

“Excuse me? Pet? You want to rethink that slur buddy?” asked Nivea. Confusion temporarily tongue-tied Matt as Nivea continued speaking without signing. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m not a pet; not here at least, and certainly not with Kaylee.”

Nivea watched this new guy’s reaction, which was mixed and muddled at best, before casting another glare at Kaylee and then back to her. He was still bristled suspiciously.

“Right,” he stated. “That’s why you let her carry you around like some kind of lap dog.”

At this, both Nivea and Kaylee winced, which surprised Matt. Nivea rolled her eyes before looking back to Kaylee.

“Kaylee, could you run some warm water in the sink? Our belligerent house guest probably wants to clean up before getting bandaged. It’ll help prevent infection,” Nivea said aloud as she signed.

“You’re going to bathe me? Like some infant? No chance,” Matt stated defiantly. Nivea shot a glare back at Matt and kept signing.

“You look like a grown-up. I think you can manage yourself,” said Nivea as she turned back to Kaylee. “Can you believe this guy? Wants us to pamper him with a spa day.” Kaylee, who looked disheartened, managed a smile in the corner of her lips before walking over to the kitchen sink and turning on the tap. After a moment, she left the kitchen, leaving Nivea and Matt alone.

With the two of them alone, Nivea turned her attention back to Matt.

“There, she’s busy doing something. Now, could you lose the hostile act and talk to me?” said Nivea as she folded her arms across her chest again. Matt took another hard look at his fellow pet. If this was some kind of scam, it was a good one. At the same time, there was something about Nivea’s face, her focused hazel-brown eyes that was genuine, both with how annoyed she was as well as her willingness to help.

“Talk to you?” asked Matt. “Like what? Feelings? What happened to me? You want the whole life story?”

“Okay, bud, sarcasm isn’t going to help you. Knock it off. Let me guess. You were passed around from family to family? Not so great bonding time? Lots of hands? Lots of unwanted touching? Tossing, squeezing, undressing? I’ll even guess that you weren’t left outside. Meaning you ran away?” asked Nivea, stating his whole life’s story as if she were there. Then again, it wasn’t hard to guess the life of a pet.

“Name one pet who hasn’t had that kind of life,” muttered Matt. He felt a twinge in his leg and a burning sensation in his arms and palms where he was injured.

“Well, then you of all people should be able to tell a good human from a bad one, right?” challenged Nivea. Matt couldn’t argue with this statement. Within the first few minutes of knowing a lot of the humans he came into contact with, he was able to read what kind of person they really were. There was only one who seemed decent, a man with multi-colored eyes who came into a second chance shelter, but Matt was already reserved at that time, so the man “adopted” a younger, female pet instead.

“Sure. It’s probably some kind of instinct they programmed into our genes,” replied Matt.

“Whatever you want to call it, use it now. Okay? Kaylee, the woman probably looking for soap and clothes for you right now, is one of the good ones. Did you get that sense from her? Think about it for two seconds, without this aggressive front of yours, and tell me if you really think Kaylee is one of the bad ones,” said Nivea.

Matt clenched his jaw and, despite his best efforts, considered Nivea’s words. When Kaylee pulled him out of the water, her fingers were splayed. She kept her fingers opened and palms cupped when she carried him instead of pinching his torso in between her fingers.

Kaylee didn’t listen when he spoke not because she was ignoring him, but because she couldn’t hear him. Even though that was annoying, Matt had to admit that Kaylee watching his lips and bringing Nivea to help make him comfortable and to communicate was, at the very least, considerate.

Despite his immediate reaction, Matt had to admit to himself that Kaylee did seem like one of the good humans.

As he came to this realization, Nivea smiled knowingly and nodded slowly.

“Seems like you got it,” she stated plainly. Matt bit the inside of his cheek before finding himself curious about his fellow pet.

“How’d you get here then?” he asked.

“I was the teacher’s pet, literally,” said Nivea sighed.

“You’re kidding,” said Matt, feeling his insides churn with the thought.

“Yeah, middle schoolers. Hormones and angst and growing pains. One too many prodding fingers had me just as angry as you are right now. It wasn’t until Kaylee showed up that I felt like someone was listening to me,” she said quietly before chuckling lightly. “No pun intended.”

“So, you asked her to take you? Or did she rescue you on her own?” he inquired. Nivea laughed at this question, making Matt tense slightly before he spotted the smile on Nivea’s face. He thought she was laughing at him, but really she was laughing at the question.

“It was a bit of both? She helped get me out and I accidentally hid in her bag at the end of the school day. I was a stowaway, but she wasn’t really mad about it. She was actually really surprised to find me,” said Nivea. “She offered to let me stay here not as a pet, but as a friend. I took her up on it for a while, living quietly under her bed unbothered, but then I actually left and lived outside for about a week and a half before coming back.”

“You left? And she let you?” asked Matt. Nivea nodded.

“I wanted to see if I could live on my own, but it was hard. Kaylee left out things to help me, and I realized I could survive on my own. Still, I decided to come back because I saw her one day sitting outside alone. She looked so sad, and I realized we both needed a friend. It made more sense, even though we could make it on our own. We could be stronger together,” explained Nivea. “Now we’re friends.”

“Friends,” stated Matt, his tone disbelieving. “With a human.”

“Hey, that difference doesn’t matter to anyone but yourself, at least it doesn’t matter here,” said Nivea. “And, if you let her, she could be the same to you.”

Matt listened quietly until Nivea finished, hearing something he didn’t think possible. A pet had escaped with the help of human. This human let a pet live freely not only in the home, but also outside. Could this be a safe place?

Matt didn’t have long to ponder this to himself before Nivea directed her attention to him.

“Now, care to give me a name at least? You don’t have to give me your whole life’s story. You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to. I’d just think it’s common courtesy, one person to another.”

Matt, still rigid, sighed and nodded.

“Matthew,” he said quietly. “My name is Matthew, but I usually go by Matt if the human cared to ask.”

“Matthew slash Matt. I like it. Nice to meet you,” greeted Nivea. “Is it okay if I tell Kaylee your name when she comes back in? Or would you rather introduce yourself?” At which point, Kaylee returned with a few small plastic cups filled with what looked like different soaps as well as a couple of washcloths. She didn’t make eye-contact when she came in, instead walking quickly and quietly as though she were intruding and simply came by to drop off these things.

Nivea gave Matt a nod toward Kaylee, but Matt froze up the moment Kaylee came back into view. Even with Nivea’s prompting nod, Matt felt tongue tied once again. Kaylee set these things in the sink and turned to leave. Nivea sighed and shook her head before going over to one of the lights and pressing it multiple times so it would click on and off. Matt realized after a few seconds that this was to get Kaylee’s attention, and it worked.

Kaylee turned and glanced at Matt before looking over at Nivea.

“Mind if I come with? He probably wants some privacy while he gets clean,” said Nivea as she signed. Kaylee smiled and nodded, stepping over to the countertop and laying the back of her hand flat against it. Without hesitation, Nivea stepped onto Kaylee’s hand, using her thumb as a handhold for balance. One-handed, Kaylee made a few signs to Nivea, who quickly signed back. Kaylee, seemingly insistent, signed a few more things to Kaylee. Nivea sighed and turned back to Matt.

“She doesn’t want to make you uncomfortable, but she wants to know if you need a lift to the sink over there. We have ladders and lines in place, but you look pretty banged up. Just a thoughtful gesture,” said Nivea, who was once again signing and speaking so Kaylee could understand.

Matt stared at Nivea, who was standing of her own free will on Kaylee’s hand, and then to the human who arguably helped save his life. The comment about size not mattering to them seemed to be true and, after a moment’s hesitation, Matt nodded.

“Yes please,” he said stiffly. Nivea looked pleased with herself, but said nothing and, instead, stepped off to the side so Matt could join her. It took all his will power, but Matt hobbled over, now feeling his body aching as the adrenaline allowed the pain to creep into his senses, and stepped on. Nivea held onto Matt’s arm and smiled reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. She’ll go slow for you,” stated Nivea. Kaylee lifted her hand after Nivea signaled it was okay to move and practically glided over to the sink, which was running fresh, warm water. She laid her hand down in the sink, letting Matt step off while Nivea pointed out the things Kaylee laid out. The bowls were indeed different soaps. There were several small washcloths and two larger ones, one for him to use as a towel to dry and the other to sit on while bandaging himself. There was an easy-to-use ladder nearby and Nivea explained their flashlight system if he needed to get their attention.

“Oh, and don’t worry about clothes right now. I’ll help pick out something that’ll probably fit from what I have and then we’ll go get you something better tomorrow. Use the flashlight when you’re done and we’ll bring you some clothes. Got it?” asked Nivea. Matt nodded and looked back at the slightly steaming water, ready for the steam to sooth his muscles.

“Thank you,” he said. Nivea shrugged and turned, signaling for Kaylee to lift her away.

Matt watched the both of them leave and set to work pealing off his clothes when he was sure he was alone. The water burned and stung his opened wounds but soothed the aching tension from his muscles. He decided to take his time in the sink and clean everything thoroughly. If he decided to leave, this might be the last time he would get a shot at a good shower on his own.

In the meantime, Kaylee and Nivea retreated to the living room, which was still in eyesight of the kitchen and the lights. The moment they sat down, Nivea knew exactly what Kaylee was feeling. It was plastered all over her face.

Even though she wouldn’t take it personally later, Matt’s reaction felt personal now.

Nivea sat on Kaylee’s palm and watched her expressions for a few minutes before shoving Kaylee’s thumb to get her attention. Kaylee, like clockwork, nodded and looked to her small friend.

“Hey, I see what you’re thinking,” signed Nivea. Kaylee looked away, which prompted Nivea shoving Kaylee’s thumb again. “Hey! Don’t look away from me like that.”

Kaylee looked back and nodded.

“Sorry,” she signed, turning her hand so Nivea could sit on Kaylee’s knee and so she could use both hands to sign. “I know he is probably scared and everything. It still hurts.”

“He’s been through a lot. You know what I was like when we met, right?” signed Nivea back. Kaylee managed a small smile and nodded. Both of them, at the same time, made the sign for “moron,” which let them share a smile.

“I know. I just hope he’s okay. I saw him drowning and… well… I just wanted to help,” Kaylee signed.

“And you did,” said Nivea, forcefully signing so Kaylee knew she was emphasizing her words. “Trust takes time. Let’s give him that.”

“Yeah,” Kaylee sighed and bit her lower lip, averting her eyes slightly from Nivea’s gaze.

“Hey,” Nivea signed after a minute. Kaylee’s big blue eyes captured the movement and looked back to her friend. “You know I trust you, right?” Kaylee smiled and nodded, reaching up and opening her left hand to splay her fingers. Nivea pushed herself up and laid against her friend’s palm, wrapping her arms around her fingers, and squeezing in a makeshift hug.

They waited in silence until the light in the kitchen flashed on and off, a signal for them to return. The pair retrieved a few shirts and pants that could possibly fit their guest and went into the kitchen.

Matt, in the meantime, finished cleaning his wounds and thought long and hard about the interaction he had just watched. While he was still uneasy, it was hard to deny that there was an obvious friendship between pet and human that was filled with mutual respect and open communication.

When they returned, Matt slipped into the clothes while Nivea and Kaylee prepped some medical supplies to bandage his wounds. Nivea helped secure the bandages and, after some silence between them, Matt decided to extend the only olive branch he could willingly offer.

“Nivea,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“How do you sign ‘thank you’?”

Nivea’s hazel-brown eyes snapped up and latched onto Matt’s eyes before a smile crept onto her face. She showed him, which was like blowing a kiss, and tried to stifle a grin as Matt finally worked up the courage. He waited for Kaylee to glance at him timidly before waving her down. Instantly, her big blue eyes were entirely focused on him. It was almost unnerving, but Matt was committed.

“Kaylee,” he said before signing. “Thank you.”

It was a big step in the right direction, and it was all that was needed.

A little gesture that would domino into a lasting friendship between the mismatch trio.

[adween-art]

A drawing for my friend @wendig0ld who publishes her comic strip In your walls on Webtoon ! Don't hesitate to take a look it's super cute :3

[truthlover491]

Repost from FB C R Virgilio #giants #giantWorld #ancient #history #trees #stump #nature #earth #water #creation #waterfalls #sea #ocean #rivers #truth #hiddenTruth #discovery #wanderer #openMinded #god #design #bible https://www.instagram.com/p/CM_R7fNJoh2/?igshid=1lntsdro4ahlm

[aima-saint-hunon]

From sketch to paintings. #aimasainthunon #paintingthedivine #divineinspiration #sketchpainting #firstfeeling #giantworld #superheroart #superpowers #imagineyourworld #phoenixlove #dragonlove (at Trestle Art Space) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsZ5jdcFpdG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l34hh1akhmj3

[celinefy-blog]

Little girl

" I'm just a little girl lost in the middle. Life is amaze, and love is a riddle I don't know where to go Can't do it alone I've tried, but i don't know why... "

[rvthedreamer-blog]

Hmm ,some conversation will have you looking like ...what was I saying? I bet it was important lol ... #thebeginning #thelittlereminders #memories #littleoldme #kid #kiddiei #kiddo #child #girl #tbt #totheconversation #being #giantworld #giantphone

[serenity-rose-art]

Small Girl or Giant World? by SerenityRoseArt

Part 1

[mcarlm]

#proporciones #giantworld #miniaturas #havingfun ☺️ #porquepuente

[tinyhandsgiantworld]

got a tiny drone at the office!

[griffinmaps]

Tote bags! More designs to come! Contact me if you're interested in one, will be listing on Etsy soon... #screenprinting #totes #sf #orangeoctober #maps #giantworld #world #giant #petaluma #petalumaart #downtownpetaluma #sonomacounty

[iwalk-the-earth]

#ralphlauren#bags#giantworld

[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | Soren | Soren and the Fierce Feline

It was painstaking, but Soren was beginning to feel more secure about his family’s living quarters. He had moved them further into the barren halls between the walls past the rooms that smelled of litter and mothballs, but not as far as the human home he borrowed from. It made him uneasy to live so close to humans who he knew were going to be present. Even if it was a little colder, the halls of the empty rooms were far safer for his two younger brothers to speak freely. He had also managed to secure three days’ worth of food from picking up scraps of bread and a box of slightly stale raisins from behind one of the cabinets.

It also kept Brady busy. He was so paranoid that the cat would find its way into the passages between the walls that he spent most of his time guarding Soren’s brothers. This left all of the borrowing to Soren; and he was relieved that was the case. Brady’s incompetence had already forced one move, and he didn’t want another blunder so close to winter. It also gave Soren a chance to observe the humans in the other rooms.

He realized, after only two weeks of observation, that the rooms were sectioned off into things called “apartments.” It explained why the rooms belonged to some humans and not others. Still, it was easy to get turned around in the walls. It was Soren’s youngest brother, Rey, who came up with an idea to help them navigate. Rey suggested using thread to guide the way to different rooms. It would consume a lot of supplies, but using different threads to guide the way to different rooms was the smartest thing to do. As long as they held onto the line, they couldn’t be lost.

In order to do this, Soren would need thread – and lots of it. Based off of his observations, there was only one place he could go – and he didn’t like it. Soren prepared his bag, his hooks, and his needle. There were two outlets which led into a side room filled with paper scraps, scissors, and, above all, thread. Turns out the smelly cat lady worked with her nimble fingers with the thread to make clothes and crafts.

It was early in the morning when Soren prepared to set out. His brothers clung to his bag and begged him to take them along.

“We’ll be good and listen! Won’t we, Rey?” prompted Dorian. His younger brother nodded vigorously.

“Yes! We’ll be the best! Please let us come with you,” pleaded Rey. Soren smiled and ruffled his brothers’ hair playfully. It was long enough now that it covered the tops of his fingers completely. Unlike himself, his brothers took after his mother, kind and smooth faces round and ever smiling. Their eyes, pale blue and hair a light sandy brown, reminded him every day of the piece he wished he had. Soren took more after his father, Aaron. His features were thinner and flexible. His borrowing kept him strong; deceptively so.

“Not today bobbins,” he muttered. His brothers’ eyes twinkled at the mention of their mother’s affectionate nickname for them. “You have to stay put and guard the fort you never named.” His playful rebuke was enough to quiet his brothers. With that, he gave a simple salute and headed into the labyrinth of walls before him.

 The smell was overwhelming. Soren took a moment and breathed deeply to calm himself, but the stench only put him on edge. He knew he was fast. He knew he was flexible and could out-maneuver anything thrown or swung his way. Still, he didn’t want to test his abilities if he didn’t have to.

Soren listened carefully, refusing to breathe until he heard some sign of life. If he was right, the elderly human woman would be rustling in the kitchen in an hour or so with the cat begging at her heels. He had maybe two hours before needing to remain absolutely silent and undetected. Barely enough time and entirely risky.

He pushed the faceplate off of the electrical cords and stepped out into the human world.

It was always so vast and dizzying, the world of the humans. The tables and chairs towered above his head. The desks and trinkets were massive and often too bulky for a borrower. It took true ingenuity to even maneuver even the smallest of the human’s things for borrowing; but Soren had a clever mother and a determined father. They taught him many tricks, one of which was to find the piece which he and his siblings were called after so affectionately.

Soren, in a burst of speed, sprinted from the walls to the nearest wooden table. He swung his hook with all his might and watched the line fly from his hands. With a quick flick of his wrist, the hook twitched and lodged itself into the soft wood table. [Lodged on the first try.] Soren didn’t have time to celebrate as he climbed hand over fist until he reached the top of the table. He kept low, resting the entire front of his body on the table from behind the sewing machine. His heart pounded from the sudden burst of energy.

Just a foot from him rested a sewing box. Soren’s mother told him that it was a common place for humans to keep small supplies for sewing like needles, bobbins, and scraps of thread in the box. His heart stopped pounding and, after taking a breath, he stealthily crept to the box and forced the edges apart. Inside was a plethora of supplies, everything he and his family could use for months. Still, that wasn’t the borrower way. [Don’t take more than what you need.]

With a reluctant sigh, he pulled out two sewing needles from the strange, circular pack. He pulled out one of the bobbins which was filled with thread and found an empty one under one of the pin cushions. Soren grinned and placed the bobbins in his bag along with a few large buttons and the needles. Soren glanced around, satisfied with his borrowing.

That’s when he spotted it – a plastic bag filled with mismatched pieces of fabric and half-used thread spools. The scraps were unusable, barely two inches in any direction; at least, unusable for a human. The fabric would undoubtedly make better bedding and help line the floors and walls for insulation. There was an obvious problem. Moving fabric took time. Since the pieces were in a bag, all he would need to do was push the bag to the ground. Humans with pets often blamed their pets for things spilling and making their way under furniture. If he was going to attempt this, Soren would undoubtedly make noise – potentially summoning the cat.

He would have to be quick. Soren’s heart pounded in his chest. This was stupid. Beyond stupid. This is the sort of thing his parents would box his ears over. Should he wait? Should he abandon the scraps of the humans and the promise of warmth for his siblings? While he crouched by the sewing machine and pondered these things, he heard the soft jingle of a bell – the cat’s bell. He whipped around to see two enormous, fluffy paws cresting over the edge of the table and the tips of two ears in a chair nearby.

This was his chance.

Soren snapped his fingers, gaining the cat’s attention. Its ears twitched at the sound. Its nose and eyes peered over the table slowly, menacingly. It had caught scent of its prey. Soren watched the cat’s movements carefully. Soren’s father taught him that animals had their tells, and that a quick sway before a pounce the tell of a cat. Soren kept his body taut and prepared to leap. [Wait… wait… There!] The cat swayed once, twice, and then rapidly. Soren could feel the creature’s breath on his back as he leapt out of the way toward the plastic bag filled with scraps and thread.

He tumbled out of the way and was on his feet in a second. He grabbed the edge of the bag and rustled it.

“Come and get it fluffy,” he growled. The cat growled right back and swiped at him with its paws, but he was ready. The cat’s paw slashed at the bag, ripping it slightly. Several spools of thread began to slip from the holes. Soren didn’t have a moment to lose. He threw himself against the bag as the cat backed up and pounced again, this time tipping the bag onto the very edge.

With the cat’s back turned, Soren darted across the table to his rappel line. He knew the rope burn against his palms was going to hurt, but it was going to be alright. He seized the line and threw himself off of the table. The cat, in a spasm and flurry of movement, spun and kicked toward the young borrower. As it did, its back legs sent the bag flying off of the edge of the table and onto the ground.

Soren’s hand stung and burned as he reached the bottom. He couldn’t hold back now. He dared not hold back now. Soren pulled his hook free with a rapid thrash of his arm before he sprinted for his life toward the wall. He could sense the cat’s eyes searching for him, but he could sense something else. Tremors. Shuffling tremors. He knew what this had to be.

“Jaida? What are you doing in here Jaida?” the human’s booming voice, even elderly, sent chills up Soren’s spine. He forced his thoughts out of his head and threw himself into his instincts. He was now only inches away from the entrance into the walls. He dove, miraculously missing his head against the far wall. He whipped around and pulled the cover behind him just as he saw an illuminated eye peer at him, seething and hissing viciously.

“Now Jaida, you’ve gone and made a mess. Come along.” Soren listened as the cat growled in its master’s arms as the elderly lady shuffled away to put the cat in another room. Soren wanted to rest. He wanted to recover and sit for an age; but he couldn’t do that now.

Soren forced himself to his feet and peered out of the hole once again. He spotted the old lady and the cat leaving the room as she closed the door behind her. Soren could have sworn the cat made eye contact with him in a deep seeded hatred.

With the door closed, Soren slid back outside of the wall cover and to the bag of cloth scraps and thread. It took nearly thirty minutes, but Soren managed to pull out the necessary fabric and thread and pull them back behind the walls. Soren knew it was probably too much, but the lady was older and most likely forgetful. Soren had been told that older humans were often forgetful.

After his encounter, Soren took a moment on his pile of fabric. It was too close. Far too close. Soren couldn’t believe he had allowed himself to risk his life for some scraps of fabric. He laid back and stretched against the cloth. [It was soft, almost unbelievably so. Perhaps… for fabric this soft… it was worth it.]

Continue

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Beginning

[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | Soren | Beyond the Cover of the Wall

Soren woke a few hours later from a dreamless slumber. His eyes, slightly hazy, focused with more clarity with each blink. His brothers were still sound asleep, breathing peacefully in their beds. Soren rolled over onto his back and stretched. He could feel every muscle in his body constrict and release as he arched his back and pulled his arms down from over his head. He sat up and glanced around. No sign of Brady. [Typical.]

Soren stood and grasped his brothers’ shoulders, giving them a gentle shake awake. “Hey bobbins. Time to get up,” he said gently. Rey and Dorian both moaned and tried rolling over further into the covers, but Soren had seen this before and it wasn’t going to work.

Doing the only thing he knew how to do, he walked to the side of the bed and deliberately, but gently, fell forward onto his brothers. He caught himself with his arms before completely smothering them. They cried out in surprise, which was followed immediately by reluctant moans and smiles.

“No Soren!” Rey muttered sleepily. “Just a little longer.” Soren grabbed the top of the blankets and rolled, pulling them off of his brothers while simultaneously rolling himself in the blanket.

“Nooooo!” Dorian curled in tighter to himself, laughing at the sight of his brother rolled up in the blanket. “It’s cold!” Soren untangled himself from the blankets and tugged at his brothers’ ankles.

“None of that. We’ve got important work to do, remember? We’ll stretch and get going. You want to still want to go borrowing tonight, don’t you?” Soren’s request was met with a charged silence. It was obvious they wanted to go while also maintaining the warmth of their beds. They yielded and sat up, stretching as big as they could before putting on their shoes and stretching. Soren guided them through each stretch until he was satisfied they were limber enough for their trip. They grabbed their borrowing bags and headed off into the walls, but not before Soren took the two mice pelts and wrapped his brothers in them.

Going out was dangerous and being seen was even more so. It was a precaution to ensure the secrecy of the borrowers. If they were spotted, which was entirely unlikely, hopefully the human would simply think they had mice. Soren reminded himself he needed to teach them about mousetraps and how to get around them.

Soren nodded reassuringly before leading the way into the labyrinth of walls before them. Rey smiled nervously back while Dorian beamed with determination. Soren couldn’t help but, in this moment, remember his first time outside the walls with his father.

A stiff silence followed them as Soren guided them through the walls. There was an anticipation and nervousness clinging to them which every step intensified. Soren felt a hollowness pumping in the center of his heart as if to remind him that his brothers were relying on him and him alone to succeed.

Soren shook his thoughts from his head. He couldn’t think about Brady’s failures or the long-term goals. He had to think about the here and now. He squeezed through the boards, making sure his brothers were right behind him, before making the final trek around the wall to the electrical cover.

Soren stood at the wall’s edge, the beams of light illuminating his hazel eyes. He took in a deep breath to calm his nerves as he summoned the words, the same words, his father spoke to him before his first borrowing trip. He turned toward his brothers and knelt, beckoning them forward to his side. He grasped their arms and looked them in the eyes.

“Are you ready?” he asked. Dorian and Rey nodded, albeit stiffly. “It’s okay to be nervous and scared. Remember?”

“Rely on our instincts. Turn nerves into strength,” replied Dorian. Soren nodded before gripping his brothers’ arms just a little tighter.

“There’s something else,” he said. “I need you two to promise me something no matter what.” Slightly alarmed, his brothers nodded.

“The apartment should be empty. I’ve had my eyes on this place for a while and I checked it out earlier. Everything should go smoothly. Still, anything can happen. The human may come back early. They may still be in the apartment. Any number of things. When we’re out there, I need you to listen to everything I tell you to do without question.”

“We can do that,” piped up Rey.

Soren paused to look his brothers’ eyes. “This means everything I tell you to do. If I say hide, you hide in the safest place you can see immediately. If I say run, you run as fast as you can back to this place here. If I say leave me, you have to listen to me and run back here. Do you understand?” His brothers’ eyes filled with panic.

“Soren…”

“No,” Soren interrupted his brother. “I have more experience than both of you. I know what to do in an emergency, most of them anyway. When we’re out there, you have to trust me. Will you trust me?”

The boys were quiet for a moment longer before nodding. “Yes.” Soren smiled.

“This is going to be fun and it is exciting. I don’t think anything is going to happen, but just in case I have to lay these ground rules.” Soren stood and readjusted his pack and his hook. “Alright, let’s go borrowing.”

Soren pressed his ear against the electrical cover and listened while Rey and Dorian watched intensely. It was clear their focus was at maximum levels. He listened closely. There was the hum of the refrigerator, which was overpowering, but Soren was satisfied for the moment. He gestured to the door.

“Want to listen?” he asked. They glanced to one another first before stepping beside Soren and pressing their ears to the cover.

“I don’t hear anything other than that hum,” said Rey, keeping his voice quiet like Soren had taught them. Soren nodded approvingly.

“This cover comes out behind the fridge. We’ll have to go out to see what we can find.” With that, Soren stepped to the side and opened the cover. “There’s another entrance that comes out beside the kitchen table, but that’s only for emergencies.”

Soren stepped through the cover, brothers at his heels, and crouch-walked until he reached the side counter. He listened again. Silence. He straightened and pointed in a broad, sweeping motion, to the kitchen.

“This is the human kitchen. If you’re looking for food, this is usually the best place to look. This human, however, tends to keep a lot of dried goods in that side room over there. Why do we look for dried foods?” asked Soren expectantly.

“It’s easier to store than fresh,” replied Dorian.

“Right. Humans also keep dried food in those cabinets. Why don’t we just put a line from here to there? It would be easier,” questioned Soren.

“Because a human could find it?” asked Rey, partially unsure of his answer.

“Right again. Now, to get to the side room, we have to run along the walls here, cross by the couch, and slide under the door. Okay? Don’t worry. We’ll take it nice and slow,” Soren said with a reassuring smile. Jittery, his brothers smiled back.

Soren waited for his brothers’ attention before taking a deep, calming breath and stepping out to instantly duck under the cabinet ledge. He reached around the corner and signaled his brothers to follow. They were on his heels in an instant. Carefully, he guided them around the side of the room, along the wall by the kitchen table, and quickly darted across to the couch.

Each step of the way, Soren made sure they practiced good habits – checking all directions, listening, staying low. The next move was longer, but only by a little. Soren could hear his heart pounding in his ears. A quick glance confirmed that his brothers were just as nervous as he felt; the main difference being they looked jittery and scared.

Soren smiled warmly before reaching over and giving both of them a quick tap on the shoulder. It seemed to be the nudge they needed. The three of them darted from the relative safety of the couch to the small gap beneath the door. Soren threw his bag onto the ground and laid on his front before sliding under the door. Dorian and Rey both followed, not half a fluid as Soren was when removing their borrowing bags and sliding under the door.

They were met with a much smaller room than the living area. It was like the back room they had practiced in for the month leading to this moment, except it was filled with numerous strangely shaped objects. Some were round with long sticks attached. Some were black and white rectangles. Some looked like big black boxes with netting across the front. Dorian and Rey both seemed to shrink and cling closer together after surveying the room.

Most importantly, the ground was littered with partially empty and opened chip bags and plenty of small trinkets the boys could choose from. Soren quickly checked the corners and the shadows. Nothing. It was quiet. [Today’s a good day.]

Relaxing slightly, Soren slung his bag back over his shoulder and headed for the nearest bag.

“Remember, don’t take what the human may notice. Let’s get some chips, then we’ll look around. Be sure to always stay in eyesight of me if you want to explore, okay?” said Soren. Dorian and Rey, daring not to leave their brother’s side, eagerly walked on either side of him. Dorian and Rey stared at the bag, eyes wide, as the opening was nearly double their height.

“Why do the humans have to be so big?” asked Rey rhetorically.

“That’s the greatest question of them all,” sighed Soren before ducking into the bag. He crouched and tested the staleness of the chips by bending them. Satisfied with their freshness, he began placing them into his bag. After gathering four or so, he stepped out and motioned for his brothers to go in and gather some for themselves.

Dorian ducked inside and began placing fragments of chip into his bag. “How can you tell the good from the bad?” He asked.

“Depends on the chip, but usually the quicker they snap in half, the fresher it is,” replied Soren. After filling their packs, they spent some time walking about the room. Rey and Dorian had dozens of questions on their mind, and Soren tried to answer them all – for what he knew anyway. Soren glanced around the room, noticing the volume of partially eaten chip bags. [This is probably why the mice came in the first place.]

While borrowing, both brothers selected a trinket which they believed the human would not miss. One of them being a thick piece of plastic which was rounded on one side and pointed on the other. It was a pearly blue color and it could fit on the wall or as a shield with the right holes. The other found a hard-plastic cylindrical piece. It was black and had strange symbols on it. It was tall in the middle and had curved edges which flattened out. Rey decided to wear it as a helmet.

Their borrowings successfully secured in their bags, they made the trek back across the room and under the door. They made it to the couch and back along the wall without incident. It wasn’t until they rounded the final corner and were within eyeline of the electrical cover that they heard something.

The sound of jingling keys. Both Rey and Dorian froze in their tracks. Even from behind the safety of the refrigerator, they began trembling in their boots. Soren felt his heart jump into his throat and his body tense. He forced himself to take a breath as to maintain the attention of his tagalongs. Soren, thinking quickly, pulled at their arms and toward the electrical cover.

“It’s okay. The human can’t see us from here,” Soren reaffirmed. “Still, we need to go.” Rey and Dorian nodded, allowing Soren to pull them inside the safety of the wall cover. A smile spread across their faces.

“We… we did it! We just finished our first borrowing trip!” Dorian and Rey cheered, jumping into a series of shoulder shakes and fist bumps. Soren let them have their moment before pulling them into an embrace.

“You’re official borrowers now. What do you think of that, bobbins?” Soren reached up past the mouse skin hoods and ruffled his brothers’ hair. Their celebration was brief, but the meaningful looks they gave one another meant the world. What he wouldn’t give to see the look in his father’s eye, knowing he helped train his brothers in their first borrowing trip. “I’m so proud of you two,” muttered Soren.

They stayed embraced for another few minutes before beginning the trek back to camp. Soren led the way and listened as Rey and Dorian talked about what they thought was the strangest and what they were going to do with their borrowings. It wasn’t until they were almost back to their camp when Soren heard Rey’s soft, kind voice call out his name.

“Soren?”

“Yes Rey?” he replied.

“We… well… we were wondering… have you ever, you know, seen a human up close?” asked Rey. Soren stopped in his tracks for only half a moment before turning and walking backwards until he slowed to a stop.

“I’ve been pretty close a few times,” he replied. “It’s definitely not something you want to take lightly. Humans can be completely unaware, but some of them are very smart. You have to always be thinking ahead.”

“So, you’ve never been seen?” asked Dorian. Soren shook his head.

“No; at least, not that I know of,” he said. Soren felt his chest tighten as he thought about what his father told him about his encounters with humans. “Just remember, if you are seen, you can’t freeze.”

“What if we’re… you know, caught? What do we do?” asked Rey.

“We stay quiet. Like I said, humans can be pretty oblivious. They’re bound to think we’re not as smart as we are as long as we don’t speak to them. If something doesn’t happen instantly, they may try and turn you into a pet. If that happens, bide your time and don’t let them know you understand,” replied Soren. He remembered his father telling him about a cousin of his who accidentally spoke to a human. Needless to say, it didn’t end well. Thankfully, the secret of the borrowers was kept.

“We won’t say a word,” promised Dorian. Soren snapped out of his trance and let his lips turn up into a partial grin.

“You’d better not get caught then. Come’ere! RAWR!” Dorian and Rey shrieked and sprinted past Soren toward their camp, being chased the whole way there. Soren had to admit the trip had gone much smoother than he thought. The timing couldn’t have been better and what they borrowed would easily last them a few days.

When they arrived back at camp, after a vigorous wrestling match between the brothers, Dorian and Rey displayed their borrowings to their father who, for the first time in a long while, was back at camp. Brady, their father, seemed mildly impressed at their borrowings, but kept his complements to a minimum. Brady even had the audacity to mention that the entire trip should have brought back more food for their stores, which brought a distant hint of disapproval and sadness to the young borrowers’ eyes. His lack of complete praise for his two boys was enough to churn Soren’s insides.

[Figures. I know you couldn’t do better.] Thought Soren bitterly as he stored their food. “Okay. Let’s get you two some rest. Stretch, change, and lay down,” instructed Soren. Within a few minutes, the brothers were tucked snuggly under their blankets awaiting Soren’s arrival.

On days or nights when Soren went borrowing, he, without fail, would make sure to sit with his brothers until they fell asleep. He would sit, back against the baseboard, and let Dorian and Rey lay on him. Then, much like their mother, Soren would hum the melancholy melody of Soren’s father, Aaron, until they fell asleep.

Soren’s eyes lulled as he leaned back and hummed. Dorian and Rey were already fast asleep and curled into the crooks of his arms. As Soren fell into a restful slumber, he made a mental note to start laying out the thread to the different rooms. If his brothers were going to borrow, they needed to know how to get around the apartments.

Continue

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[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | Soren | Found

Ashlynn backed into her spot, fist slamming into the button and her emotions a tumultuous swirling twister. She couldn’t tell if she wanted to scream or cry, drive through the wall or curl up in the back seat.

It was done – finished, for sure this time – and Ashlynn wasn’t sure how she felt about it yet.

A night of self-care was no longer a suggestion – it was mandatory.

She fumbled with the keys and shoved them into the lock. Wrong key. She cursed under her breath while twisting the silver ring of keys in her fingers to the identical key on the opposite side. She had to get a cover for the apartment key.

As she turned the lock, she heard – or thought she heard – something on the other side of the door. It was muffled and distorted and sounded like a voice. Ashlynn shook her head. It was a long day at the courthouse and it was most likely the neighbor kids playing in the front yard. She only hoped they didn’t scuff up her windows again.

She stepped through the door into the kitchen. A wave of warmth washed over her body. She crossed the threshold and tossed her keys onto the counter. Despite the warmth in the air, a cold shiver ran down her spine and prickled the hair on the back of her neck.

Something felt off about the air of the kitchen. Something charged and uneasy. Ashlynn glanced around the small, joining rooms from the kitchen, dining area, and living room. Nothing.

Ashlynn was about to write it off as her feeling paranoid when she heard something that sounded eerily similar to a cough. She walked around the corner of the counter toward the trashcan.

She glanced around the can and onto the ground. There. Immediately, she leapt backwards up onto the counter and drew her legs to her chest. [That’s just great. That looser set all of those mouse traps and now I’m the one who has to clean it up.] A quick, unnerved shudder overtook her shoulders as she carefully slipped back onto the ground.

The broom was in the closet, but the bags were nearby. [Oh gosh. What if it’s not dead?!] Ashlynn peered around the corner again and prayed the mouse was dead already. It wasn’t moving, which seemed like a good sign until she noticed something off about the creature.

She had dealt with mousetraps before, but she hadn’t seen a mouse look like this before. The way its leg was under the bar wasn’t quite right. The mouse seemed flattened, yet it wasn’t close to the bar. More importantly – and most unnerving of all – it had arms.

Not only did it have arms, but it had hands and a mess of dark brown hair which contrasted greatly with the smoky grey pelt of the mouse. The leg was splayed on its side, and there was a something that looked like a shoe.

Ashlynn’s instincts were electrified, curiosity peaked. She began to wonder if this was even a mouse. She knelt and leaned forward. Her heart began to beat faster, her breath held unintentionally, as she reached out and pulled the mouse head, which she could now see had no eyes, up slightly.

She retracted her hand immediately after spotting the small, pale features of what looked like a human face. Her hands trembled and suddenly felt tremendously cold. She wrung her hands together as the mind ran off to the races.

What was this? Some kind of practical joke? This looked like a human – a person. Was it a figurine? The notion was ridiculous. A doll wearing mouse skin? Was it even still alive? She didn’t want to check, but some part of her compelled her to do so.

Ashlynn reached forward again and pulled the mouse pelt away further to reveal the small face again. From what she could tell, this new person was a he. His body was shivering, but he didn’t seem to be conscious.

Panicking, she reached over to the edge of the mousetrap, hesitated, then stood again. She couldn’t call emergency services. What would she say? That there was a human looking person the size of her hand laying on her kitchen floor caught in a mousetrap with what looked like a broken leg? No. As usual, she had to do everything herself.

She didn’t understand much about emergency first-aid, but she knew his leg was most likely fractured or broken by the way it was turned in the trap. She had helped her cousins set a few noses and fingers. How hard could this be? The leg needed to be braced, and there weren’t a lot of things to use. [Great. This is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to come home to an obligation – a very, tiny obligation. It’s not like I was going to drown my sorrows in a bathtub and binge watch a season or two of something.]

Thankfully, her crafting from her youth was finally coming in handy. She quickly cut some cheep chopsticks and gathered up some tape before going back to the mousetrap. He, whatever he was, was still there laying relatively motionless and shivering from time to time.

As carefully as she could, Ashlynn secured the trap and lifted the bar. Instantly, there was a pain filled gasp as the small figure lurched and turned, falling off of the trap and onto the tile. Ashlynn could now see his entire front exposed. His limbs wrapped across his form, yet he still seemed unconscious.

His clothes were a patchwork of dirty cloth made of a dull, muddy green and brown. There were things around his waist which rested on his hip and across his body. Ashlynn marveled at the figure before he convulsed into another bout of shudders. She needed to work fast.

With a mixture of fascination and annoyance, Ashlynn worked on the small humanoid. She secured his leg within the brace, noting the small amount of blood by his shin from where his leg was pinched beneath the bar and how he winced and gasped as she carefully set the leg. Google had served her well, but it took a while to find a website that helped walk her through the process.

It took nearly an hour, but she managed to brace and, for the most part, set the leg. She had to remove most of the pant leg to successfully brace the leg and immobilize it in a wrap. Something about his skin felt warm, yet clammy. [He’s not sick is he?] Ashlynn, with the utmost care, laid the tip of her index finger against his forehead. He was burning up.

[Great. Just great. Sick. Broken. This is fine. It’s not like I was going to do something for myself. Curses! Why do I always get stuck with the ones I have to fix!]

Ashlynn finished up gathering other supplies for her new sick and injured house guest, knowing a sleepless night was before her.

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[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | Soren | A Brother’s First Glimpse

Soren rested for nearly ten minutes before electing to get up and begin transporting the fabric scraps back to his family. He started with one of the heavier pieces, a soft, thick maroon fabric, and began the trek back. He rolled it up and placed it on his back. The path had become more familiar with time, but Soren knew he had to keep his head up if he didn’t want to get lost. After all, he hadn’t implemented Rey’s plan yet.

While he walked, Soren had a moment to think. If he remembered correctly, Brady had said he was going to make sure the cat couldn’t roam the halls; yet, Soren didn’t remember seeing him on his way to the apartment. This was a bad sign. Brady should have been either near the entrance Soren created or somewhere along the hallway.

Soren shook his thoughts from his head. Brady wasn’t brave enough to go out into the room on his own without backup. If Brady had gone out, he would have left the cover off or some other blunder obvious for even a human to notice.

“Soren!” The sudden, jubilant cry of his youngest brother, Rey, was enough to send his heart into a rapid shock which just as quickly dissipated. He could see his brothers’ round, smiling faces peering out from around the final corner. Soren had set very specific rules to make sure his brothers didn’t wander off. One of those rules were boundaries as to how far his brothers could actually travel from their cots; and they were almost at the edge.

Soren smiled but stared at them warningly. They knew better than to go beyond where they were told unless it was an emergency.

“Hey bobbins,” he said thoughtfully. “Look what I borrowed.” Soren tugged at the fabric on his back. Their eyes widened in wonder as they stood at the edge of the wall bouncing back and forth on their toes, eager to see what their brother had brought home.

“Ohhh! Wow brother! You’re the best! It’s so soft,” said Dorian in awe as he reached out and touched the fabric, squishing it between his fingers.

“Yeah!” Rey agreed while mimicking his brother’s movements.

“Okay, okay. Let’s bring it over to the pile,” Soren instructed. The youngest eagerly obeyed and took an armful of fabric, not caring part of it dragged the ground, and carried it to their supply pile. The middle child did the same. After they successfully carried the maroon cloth to their supply pile, Soren pointed back down the corridor.

“Hey, you two didn’t see Bra…er… your dad, did you?” asked Soren. The youngest two exchanged quick glances with one another before shaking their heads.

“No, he left this morning and said he was going to stand guard,” replied Dorian. “Why?” Soren, in a split second, made the decision to not worry them, but also to tell the truth.

“No reason,” muttered Soren. “I didn’t see him in the corridor and thought he might’ve gone back. He’s probably just further down and I didn’t see him.” A flicker of worry sparked in the boys’ eyes, but they trusted Soren and his instincts.

“Anyway,” continued Soren. “I need to get back. There’s more cloth than what I brought back and some special thread for navigation.” Rey’s eyes twinkled.

“You mean you’re going to use my idea?” he asked eagerly.

“Sure thing bobbin,” replied Soren. “Hey, do you two want to come with me and help bring back some borrowings?” The brothers’ leaped into the air cheering. They had never been borrowing before and this would be the first time, even if it was just gathering supplies with their brother.

Before they left their camp, Soren made them promise to listen to every command he gave regardless of how they felt and to be especially careful near the entrances. His brothers only had glimpses of the human world and possessed little knowledge about how to actually borrow – something Soren was slightly ashamed of. He knew he was young at the time, but Soren’s father, Aaron, and his mother, Emma Lee, had taken Soren out borrowing for the first time when he was Rey’s age. It was a risk, but Soren was glad he had the knowledge to protect himself and provide for his brothers.

His brothers agreed instantly and sprung at his heels like summer crickets. They were excited and nervous, two things Soren hoped would keep them on their toes. He followed the passages, ensuring his brothers memorized the way, before reaching the outlet. Dorian and Rey had been whispering excitedly up until this point. Now that the electrical cover was ahead, they seemed less certain, their steps faltering as they clung closer to one another.

Soren, seeing this, gave a reassuring smile. “It’s okay to be nervous and scared, but you can’t let that get to you. It’s that gut reaction that helps you make quick decisions. Turn your nerves into strengths.” The pair of twinkling, pale blue eyes blinked several times as they approached their eldest brother. They spotted the fabric a few feet away in the dust and plaster filled hallways and, in their moment of bravery, trotted up past their brother, being as quiet as they could, and began rolling up the fabric.

Soren watched, a smile curled on his lip, before glancing at the wall cover. [They’ll have to learn sooner or later. What if I didn’t take them out and just let them peer through? They’re young, almost too young, but… if something happened to me…] Soren could still see the jaws of the cat bared at him and feel its hot breath near his neck. He shuddered and shrugged it off. [They won’t be able to rely on Brady for any useful training. Guess that’s my job.] It was decided.

“Hey, do either of you want to take a peek into the apartment?” he asked. The brothers, who were quiet efficient at rolling up cloth, snapped their gaze from their current task to look at their brother, eyes wide with excitement but also hesitation.

“Yeah!” exclaimed Dorian, who Soren quickly gestured to lower his volume. “Oh, sorry.”

“Remember, we have to be quiet in the walls. In camp, we can talk normally. Here, we have to be a little more careful,” reminded Soren. Dorian nodded eagerly and was on his feet in an instant.

“I will. I’ll be the most careful! I’m ready.”

Rey, on the other hand, seemed less certain. He twiddled his fingers the way their mother used to when she was thinking hard about a problem, before nodding hesitantly. “I wanna see too.” Soren nodded once and approached the outlet.

“Now, what’s the most important thing right now?” he asked. An impromptu quiz never hurt him.

“Don’t be seen and don’t get caught. If that happens, don’t say anything no matter what,” answered Dorian with little hesitation. Rey, befuddled by the question, simply nodded an agreement.

“Those are all important, but that’s not completely the right answer,” stated Soren. “The most important thing right now is to check and make sure without a doubt that the room is clear of humans and animals. It’s kind of hard to see, so you have to listen.” The brothers watched as Soren pressed his ear against the cover and propped it open slightly. They held their breath and listened.

“What do you hear?” asked Soren. The brothers didn’t have a clear answer, nor did they have a guess. To them, it seemed quiet in the room. “You don’t hear the lady’s shows? You don’t hear her shuffling slippers in the other room? You don’t hear her cat pawing at the door?” Each prompt Soren gave seemed to make the sounds that much clearer. The brothers nodded.

“You heard all that the first try?” asked Rey. Soren’s lips tugged into a cocky grin.

“I’ve had a lot more practice than you little bobbins. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. For now, I can tell you there’s nothing in the room, but the old human will probably be back soon to clean up the mess her cat made when it was…” Soren hesitated, not wanting to tell his brothers about his close encounter with the cat. “Playing on the desk.”

Soren unscrewed the cover and pressed it open just enough to step out into the human world. Before he did, he paused and took a deep breath. He stepped out over the threshold of the wall and onto the ground. He motioned for his siblings to stay back. Soren didn’t doubt his senses, but he wanted to ensure his brothers’ first steps outside the wall were safe. He checked on one side and then the other. He stayed crouched and low. When he saw the coast was clear, he motioned them forward.

Dorian stepped out first, checking from side to side just as Soren did. Rey followed close behind, slightly clumsier though. Their eyes widened as they stared up at the vastness of the human world. Everything enlarged and out of reach. Soren could see they were beginning to get overwhelmed. Reassuringly, he reached out and grasped both of their shoulders.

“I get it’s overwhelming,” said Soren, keeping his voice low. “But you’ll get used to it in time. I’m still getting used to it honestly.” The smile on his face did reassure his brothers. The moment reminded Soren of when he finished his first borrowing trip and the look on his parents’ faces. The nostalgia was momentary, but much needed. It also reminded Soren that, sooner or later, his brothers would need to start their training – and that he was already behind.

They elected not to walk around the room, much to Dorian’s dismay, and proceeded back into the walls. They collected the fabric and, after a few trips, managed to bring everything back to their camp.

While his brothers organized the fabric and picked some out for themselves and their beds, Soren began constructing training regiments for his brothers. He couldn’t call himself a decent older brother if he couldn’t prepare his younger brothers to survive in a world full of humans.

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[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | Soren | Training Recap

“Aaaaaannndd made it!” panted Dorian as he hit the back of the wall. His chest heaved as he tried bringing in more air than his little lungs would allow. Rey followed nearly ten seconds later, his comparatively shorter legs pushing as hard as they could against the ground as the leapt through the wall cover. He collapsed on the ground, laying his arms above his head.

Soren just had Rey and Dorian run sprints yet again. It was the fifth time today of a dead sprint from the empty bedroom closet to the wall socket into the walls. It had been nearly a month of vigorous training and, thankfully, the younger brothers were showing improvement in their physical capabilities. Still, Soren hadn’t taken them outside an occupied apartment during that month. Their fascination with the large rooms seemed less intense because of the lack of human objects. Soren was sure, however, that his brothers would become distracted with the immenseness of the human world.

His brothers, much to Soren’s displeasure, possessed many of their father’s physical attributes when it came to speed and flexibility. They possessed quick bursts of speed but couldn’t maintain that speed over longer distances like the length of a single room. They could tumble and climb, but they could only tuck and pull so far before reaching their natural limits. Granted, they were young and could be trained; however, it was going to take even more time than Soren wanted.

A lot had happened in a month. Since then, Soren proposed they move a little further in and higher up to prevent mice from having immediate access to them and their food. They had a run-in with mice recently; and Soren had to fight them off. He managed to kill two of them while the others scampered away into the walls.

Soren hated to do it, but it was because of the mice that they lost some of their valuable food storage. The rodents had chewed through one of the pieces of insulation and right into their home. It had been total chaos since they were all asleep at the time of the attack. Soren made sure they didn’t suffer and, in a way, felt akin to them. Humans, after all, saw them and mice as equals.

On the brighter side, they managed to cook most of the meat over one of their remaining candles. Soren even managed to dry and tan the mouse hides, turning it into a shoulder cover with a hood so that even if they were seen, many people would just suspect they had mice running around the halls. He wanted to obtain a few more just in case, but so far two was enough.

He shook his thoughts away and smiled broadly at his brothers. He couldn’t think about these things now. He had to focus on training his brothers.

“You both did great!” His complement was sincere. Considering they had only been training officially for a month, their endurance and flexibility were already improving. Soren knelt and ruffled his brothers’ hair. They beamed their youthful smiles at him.

“Thanks Soren,” puffed Rey in between breaths. Soren stood and stretched. His brothers, after a moment, mimicked the motion. They had been told multiple times that stretching was important for flexibility and keeping soreness down. Dorian rolled his shoulders and brought his arm across his chest in a stretch.

“How fast can you run the whole room Soren?” asked Dorian. Soren glanced out of the wall cover and across the vast empty room. It wasn’t a very large room. By his estimate, it was probably fifteen feet or so one way. He thought about it for a moment, not quite knowing the answer, before the corner of his lips turned into a quirky grin.

“You want to see how fast I can run from here to the other wall?” he asked. Rey and Dorian leaned forward eagerly.

“Yeah!” They said simultaneously. Soren pulled the cover aside to clear his path and stood at the ready. Dorian and Rey stared at him confused for a moment.

“Aren’t you going to take off your bag and pin?” asked Dorian. “I mean, they’ll slow you down, won’t they?” Soren, still hyper focused on his destination on the opposite side of the room, nodded slightly.

“Yes, they will probably slow me down; but, I have to take that into consideration. If I’m out borrowing, my bag is going to be heavier. I still have to be quick and flexible to weave and dodge if I need to. There are only a few times when you won’t have your borrowing bag with you,” responded Soren.

Rey and Dorian exchanged glances, seeming both excited and determined, as Dorian raised his hand. “On your mark, get set, GO!”

Soren dashed for the wall cover, taking the extra moment to vault over the entrance and began his sprint. Pounding step after step, he willed his feet to fly as fast as they could. His feet barely touched the ground before springing him forward again. His nerves, ablaze with adrenaline, let him push past the subtle ache in his thighs.

He managed to make it more than half-way across the room before needing to breath deeper. His lungs were starting to burn with each breath. Soren imagined he couldn’t think about these things if he were actually being chased by a human. He slammed against the wall before pivoting and sprinting back the other way.

His legs began to protest as the burning in his lungs intensified. Soren tried to time his breathing as he ran, easing the pressure in his chest. His heart pounded against his ribs. He imagined a human opening the door behind him, closing in on him and reaching out to wrap their grimy fingers around his body. The thought was crippling and enough to make his heart skip a beat, but also enough to give him a final boost of speed to leap over the electrical cover threshold in a forward roll to safety.

Out of breath and on the ground, Soren forced himself to complete the task by leaping to his feet and pulling the electrical cover back over the hole. He secured it before breathing a sigh of relief. He placed his hands over his head as he sucked in the cool wall air.

Dorian and Rey cheered, clapping and jumping at their brother’s astounding speed.

“Wow Soren! You’re so fast!” said Dorian in awe.

“Yeah, you’re super fast!” chimed in Rey. Soren smiled weakly and waited for his heart to stop racing before speaking.

“You have to be if you’re going to be out in the human world; but, you also have to be quiet and stealthy. We’ll have to work on that tomorrow. For now, let’s take a break back at camp and get something to eat.” The brothers walked side by side back through the walls toward camp.

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