tinycoded360

[tinycoded360]

Hear Me Out: Reverse GT Alien Abduction.

We are the invaders. Humanity has long since fantasized about hordes of unknown, giant flying monstrosities raining down from the heavens onto our small blue orb in the lonely universe. Huddling In secret in the recesses of our homes as fellow humans are abducted to who knows where, never to be seen again. Families torn apart and for what reason? Don't they know we are people too?

only...

That's the exact role humanity plays, no- not as the victims, but as the oppressors. All throughout the galaxy known for their greed and insatiable curiosity, their ever-hungering thirst for knowledge and the unknown, trampling over any and all species that sought to slow them down.

So, when Humanity found a planet with creatures who looked nearly identical to their own, but at a fraction of the size and power...

their fate was inevitable.

hooof, i might make a part 2 at some point soon! you guys know i can't let a cruel scenario not have a happy ending xD

if anybody thinks the lighting looks weird- its supposed to imply someone opened up a door to go into this 'pet' shop and light is shining in. (metaphorical/literal ray of hope, maybe this human will be nice lol~)

[tinycoded360]

Lilliputian adventures Chapter 6

@gt-daboss @voraciousvore

Tori's fingers trembled as she flipped the bag flap closed on her side bag. She had gently placed Telwin, Mavri, Fildor, and the rest of the tiny Lilliputians inside. She could feel their miniature bodies shifting and adjusting, finding secure positions amidst the folds of fabric.

"Is everyone okay in there?" Tori whispered.

Telwin's voice piped up, his voice sounding muffled through the fabric. "Snug as a bug! Don't you worry about us, Tori. We're made of sturdy stuff!"

Pulling out her phone, Tori's fingers flew over the screen as she composed a message to Uncle Jim:

"Hey, Uncle J, I really need to see you. Can I come by the dock? It's urgent... Please."

She hit send and held her breath, praying he would respond quickly. Uncle Jim had always been there for her, a steady presence in the chaos of her life. If anyone could provide a safe haven from Trina and provide aid to her tiny guest,it was him.

As Tori waited for a response, she paced back and forth, her mind spinning with worst-case scenarios. What if Trina caught up to her before she could get to the dock? What if Uncle Jim responded poorly to the Lilliputians?

"Deep breaths, Tori," she muttered to herself, trying to calm her frayed nerves. *You've got this. You have to protect them. *

Her phone vibrated with an incoming message, and Tori's heart leaped into her throat as she read Uncle Jim's reply:

"Of course, kiddo. Come on down. I'll be here."

Relief flooded through Tori.

Tori slung the bag over her shoulder and headed towards the dock with renewed purpose.

The salty sea breeze whipped through Tori's chestnut hair as she hurried down the dock, her side bag bouncing gently against her hip.

"Uncle Jim!" Tori called out, spotting his familiar figure hunched over a tackle box on his weathered fishing boat.

He looked up, his sun-worn face breaking into a smile. "Hey kido! What brings you down here in such a rush?"

"Can we... Can you take me out on a trip?" she asked, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. Tori reached into her pocket, pulling out a slip of paper with scribbled coordinates, her hand trembling slightly as she offered it to him.

Jim unfolded the paper, his brow furrowing as he studied the numbers. "This is way out, Tor.”

"What's eating at you, kiddo?" Jim's concern was palpable as he scanned her face, looking for clues.

Before she could muster the words, a shrill voice cleaved through the air. "Tori!"

Trina stormed down the dock, her face contorted with rage. She jabbed a finger at Tori, her eyes wild with accusation. "You thought you could hide from me?”

Tori's heart hammered against her ribs, fear and panic rising in her throat. She instinctively clutched her side bag closer, shielding the tiny lives within.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Trina. Please, leave me alone."

Trina's lips curled into a sneer. "Oh, don't play dumb with me. You have those little freaks, and I want them. They're mine, and you stole them!"

Uncle Jim stepped forward, his voice low and warning. "Now, hold on just a minute. What's all this about?"

Trina whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "Stay out of this, old man. This is between me and Tori."

Tori's mind raced, desperate for a way out. She couldn't let Trina expose the Lilliputians, couldn't bear the thought of them falling into her cruel hands.

"Uncle Jim, please," Tori pleaded, her voice trembling. "I can't explain everything right now, but I need your help. I need to get somewhere safe."

Trina's laughter rang out, harsh and mocking. "Safe? You think you can hide from me? I'll expose you and those little freaks to the whole world. Everyone will know what a lying, thieving little brat you are!"

Tori flinched at the venom in Trina's words, tears stinging her eyes.

"I won't let you hurt them," Tori whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her own heart. "I won't let you take them."

Tori’s heart pounding as she darted towards Uncle Jim's boat. She leaped aboard, her feet stumbling on the deck.

"Tori, get back here!" Trina screeched, her face contorted with rage. "You can't hide from me forever!"

But Uncle Jim blocked her path. "I don’t know what this is all about!" he said sternly, "But you’re not welcome here, I suggest you scurry on home.”

Trina sputtered, her anger momentarily deflated by Uncle Jim's imposing presence.

As the heated argument escalated, Tori huddled in the boat's cabin, her trembling hands reaching for her bag. She could feel the Lilliputians' tiny forms, their presence a comforting weight against her side.

After a while, Tori’s Uncle crouched in front of her. “What’s going on, Tor?”

Suddenly, a new sound sliced through the discord, its shrill cry growing louder by the second. Tori's hands fell to her sides, and her breath hitched as the unmistakable sirens wail reached her ears.

"Police? Did she really just call the police?" Jim's question hung in the air, confusion mingling with frustration.

"Thought I'd teach you both a lesson," Trina shouted triumphantly.

Panic seized Tori, her mind racing with images of handcuffs and questions she couldn't answer. The tiny people—their safety in jeopardy if discovered.

"Officers will want to hear all about your thieving niece," Trina crowed, her voice reaching a fever pitch as the sirens crescendo, closing in on the dock.

“I’ll handle this; you stay here, Tor,” Jim said, but before he got off the boat, he pressed the boat key into Tori’s hand.

Tori glanced over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of Uncle Jim gesturing animatedly as he engaged the police officers in conversation, his voice rising and falling with persuasive intensity.

*He's buying me time, * she realized, a surge of gratitude mixing with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. *I can't let this chance go to waste. *

Tori's hands trembled as she inserted the key into the ignition, the engine's roar drowning out the sound of her own pounding heart.

With a deep breath, Tori shifted the boat into gear, lurching forward as she navigated away from the dock. The wind whipped through her hair, and the salty spray of the ocean misted her face as she focused on the horizon.

Mavri emerged from the side bag, her red hair whipping in the wind as she climbed onto Tori's shoulder, her tiny hands gripping the fabric of Tori's shirt for balance. "Tori, let us help you," she called out, her voice carrying a note of authority despite its small size. "My crew and I, we're experienced navigators. We can guide you through these waters."

Tori glanced at the tiny captain, a flicker of hope sparking in her chest. "Oh, thank God! Cause I don’t know what I’m doing!”

Mavri snorted “I can see that.”

Tori blushed. “That obvious, huh?”

Telwin clambered up the fabric, scaling up her body to stand on her other shoulder. “No worries, lass, you sail, and we’ll tell you where to go.”

Fildor, his keen eyes scanning the horizon, called out from his perch on top of Tori’s head. "Captain, I believe I know which direction we should head. Our home should lie to the northeast based on the stars and the sun's position."

Mavri nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Aye, that aligns with my instincts as well. Tori, can you adjust our course accordingly?"

Tori, her hands trembling slightly on the wheel, nodded. "I think so. Just give me a moment to get my bearings."

As she began to turn the boat, a sudden gust of wind whipped across the deck, causing the tiny crew to grasp onto the nearest surface for stability, which happened to be the giantess they were all perching on.

"That's odd," Telwin muttered, his brow furrowed. "The wind seems to be picking up rather quickly."

Fildor, his expression grim, pointed towards the distant sky. "I fear it's more than just a passing breeze, my friend. Look there, on the horizon."

Tori followed his gaze, her heart sinking as she saw the dark clouds gathering, the distant rumble of thunder echoing across the waves. "Is that...a storm?"

Mavri, her face set in determined lines, nodded. "Aye, and a fierce one at that. We'll need to brace ourselves. This won't be an easy ride."

As the first raindrops began to fall, Tori squared her shoulders, her jaw set in a determined line. Come what may, she would not let this storm defeat them.

The wind howled like a wounded beast, lashing at the tiny boat with a fury that seemed almost alive. Sheets of rain pounded against the deck, turning the world into a blurry, gray haze.

"Hold on tight!" she called out to her tiny passengers, her voice nearly lost in the roar of the wind.

Tori gritted her teeth, squinting through the driving rain. *I can't see a thing, * she thought, panic rising in her throat.

Just as they began to hope that the worst was over, a massive wave rose up before them, towering over the tiny boat like a watery mountain. Tori's eyes widened, her heart seizing in her chest. There was no time to turn, no way to avoid the wall of water bearing down on them.

The wave crashed over them, and the world went black. Tori felt the icy water close over her head and felt the burn of salt in her nose and throat. *This is it, * she thought, a strange calm settling over her. *This is how it ends. *

[tinycoded360]

Shinnies?

Gift story to @gullivertravelstowonderland based on their story A Monster of Divinity. I love their story, and a prompt thing I tossed in my discord just... really, REALLY had me hyper fixate on their Flynn/Slayer with it. and got like 10x longer then I thought it would be

Have a smol bean that's a good little nugget seeing the giant Slayer, not know who he is and baffle each other. Oh. And feels. It's me, I like feels and soft things. [This is a doom story so there's under tones of cannon violence, but not completely the focused, as its post Eternal]

.

Big.

That was one of the thoughts that finally rattled free as Iris tilted her head to her right. Then slowly to the left as if that would help her process what she was seeing. She crouched in her hiding spot, trying again to tug off what the bad ones put on her neck and wrists. Her bindings were only half done, it was the reason she got away, and being small.

She was good about being small, and had to learn to stay alive with what was left of her family. Keep away from monsters.

Iris was not so sure if she was seeing a monster as the big thing shifted. It was not boney, like the monsters, or leathery like the really big monsters. Metal, but not any colored metal she was used to seeing. Most plane metals, or the oily rainbow shiny, even coated in white or blue plastic paint.

The girl did not feel that itchy, static feeling in her spine that said monsters were near. At least too near. She was safe to rest and puzzle over what this thing was. Something was familiar about the shape but not quite fitting into place.

Maybe she was more tired than Iris thought. She had been moving and running from one hiding spot to another all night. The girl had not meant to fall asleep in this spot as the reddish gray light of dawn started. After waking up to odd vibrations through the ground, Iris found everything looked different in the light.

The girl could not quite tell if it was because of the difference in nighttime or not. Everything seems scarier at night, normally, but Iris was pretty sure that she saw more bushes and hiding spots in the hazy almost light. She had crawled under an old car…truck. It was a truck, it had a lot of black berries all around it and once she got on the ground and used her backpack to push some brambles, it opened up under. Even had a little spot where she sat now that was light out. She could pick a few berries that were just barely in reach before noticing the odd thing.

Watching the thing, trying to understand what it was, kept Iris from thinking about how hungry she was. The few berries, even the not as ripe blackberries, helped a little with the fact she lost her water bottle in the night. Iris remembered she could not get it free from one of the hiding spots. Needed to leave it behind to go to another hiding place.

She wished she had it, grandpa gave it to her-

The big metal thing moved suddenly.

Iris held her breath in shock, trying not to let out a sound out of a trained habit. Wide eyes watching, trying to sort out if she needed to play dead. Watching the big metal thing, as it was turning to her left, the shape was also changing. 

A foot?

A boot?

Was it a statue? 

Iris took a breath, trying to make sure she did not feel herself make a sound. She felt the ground vibrate as she watched the big metal…foot move again, almost back into the safe spot. As far as Iris knew statues did not move…she hoped they did not.

If this was not a statue, or a monster, what could have a foot that big?

The girl tilted her head, watching how the metal foot moved. It stepped away from the building it was near- Iris blinked. Wondering where that building came from. Had she really been so focused on the metal thing that she didn't notice the better hiding spot?

Buildings were nice, as long as it had no monster traps before you go in. Traps left for monsters could hurt people too, that's what Grandpa said.

Iris tried not to gasp, as she realized there was a second foot now. Watching how they moved. Shapes made a lot more sense with the things being feet.

Was it a robot like those comic books they found?!?

If those were really real, the ones with the red mark were heroes, right? So maybe it could save her grandparents! Checking to see involved getting out of her hiding place. Iris was not sure she was ready for that. 

The (possibly robot) feet were walking around the area. Did the owner hear her?

Iris curled up focusing on trying to not vocalize, to make any sounds. She reflexively looked for her Grandma to double-check. Suddenly struck with the realization once again that her grandparents were missing.

Maybe she was the missing one, because grandpa said to run away.

Iris sniffed as she pulled her legs close to hug them. Trying to hide her face as the girl really wanted to cry, trying desperately to hide it. If she had to play dead with any monsters around, crying would make that harder.

There was an odd sensation then,  feeling a vibration in the air as well as through the ground. It felt different though, like Iris should know what it was. The girl uncurled party to lay down and peer under the shielding blackberry plants. It was not a lot of space but more than some hiding spots, and Iris could see through the thinner parts of the vines. Watching the big feet pulling backwards as the leaves if the blackberries moved in a breeze. 

Iris sneezed unexpectedly at the drifting dust and ash that came off the shielding plants. At the same time a massively… big hand rested on the ground not far. Iris was trying to grasp this new thing as she curled up against the feeling of another sneeze. Unable to stop it she balled up to try and muffle the sound. 

It did not look like a robot hand. 

Iris was not sure if she was disappointed or curious as she sagged. Going limp as she reflexively played dead. She was not sure why playing dead worked with most monsters, just that it did. Better when in a hiding spot. She watched as a second hand was placed on the ground and closed into a massive fist before a knee. Then a big forearm.

…was it a person? The scale, once again, was throwing Iris off so much. A person who was as big as the giant robots? Was that really possible?!

Did that make this giant-robot sized person a stranger?

Her grandparents said to always be careful around strangers. Did this mean whatever this was, was not a hero like the robots with the red mark?

Iris felt so confused, more so when the bigger than big person, maybe stranger was now crouched down, braised on the ground. Just seeing the edge of a head, some dark brown hair.

Definitely not a robot.

Wait, was this big stranger looking for her…?

Iris belatedly realized that as there was a feeling of attention being shifted onto her hiding spot. She squeaked in fright, before putting both hands over her mouth and tried to hold her breath again. Time to play dead, Iris tried really hard as this bigger than big stranger was laying down to peer into her hiding spot. Pressing her face against her hands and struggling to not gasp. To try and breathe really slow and play dead.

She counted to twenty in her head before daring to peek again. Iris squeaked again, finding herself looking at a… face?

Again the size was confusing, it almost seemed like an adult, he was watching under the blackberries and truck. Eerie blue eyes landed on Iris as she lay still on her own side. Watching back with her wide eyes, trying to understand the scale of things. Iris was not so sure she was not dreaming now, or if she woke up. 

There was a low puff of warm air, and a low vibration in the air and ground. The giant stranger-person was slowly shifting, as if laying down and bridging the other hand up a bit more. Closer to Iris’ hiding spot before waving two fingers at her.

Iris hesitantly gave a little wave back, but when the big hand got a little too close, she flinched. The big hand froze just outside of her hiding spot, but the girl was retreating back under the truck to grab and hug her bag. She scraped herself on the blackberries again, but did not seem to really notice as Iris went back to watching.

The girl watched the big hand being rested on the ground. Watched the face that looked at her as if confused. If it was not for the constant, if not lesser, scent of smoke and burning meat and plants in the background, Iris might wonder if she was in a different world. If she had gotten so lost at night and showed up in a different place.

Hugging her backpack tightly, Iris whined softly at that thought. Suddenly all at once missing her grandparents. There was another puff of air from the giant, and Iris sneezed at the stirred up dust. Likely not intended but it helped her focus on the bigger then big stranger… man? 

Iris gave a little wave again, finger spelling out, ‘H-I’

To the girl’s surprise, the giant person shifted to lift his right hand off the ground to finger spell back. ‘H-E-L-L-O’

Iris sat up under the truck, shocked that the bigger than big person could sign that she moved too quickly. Iris clucked her head on the undercarriage and whined again, laying down and rubbed the sore spot. She did not cry though, had to hold that in.

The girl looked back at the bigger than big stranger, debating. ‘Big.’

After a moment and the giant squinting to look into the hiding spot, he grinned. A vibration like thunder seemed to come from his direction, it was fascinating. Iris had felt real thunder a few times, and she stared intently at this stranger as he started to look around at the outside of her hiding spot. Lifting up to peer at the top of the tuck before shifting to try and motion. Paused, clearly trying to sort out how to sign something with both hands while needing one.

He ended up settling back down and slowly finger-spelled at Iris in her spot. ‘S-A-F-E. C-O-M-E O-U-T?’

Iris tilted her head, watching the giant peering back under her spot. For the first time wondering if she had too good of a spot, as it was like he was having trouble seeing Iris. she looked around under the truck, the shadowed space and inched closer to the giant. Then peered at the spot she came from, as well as the entrance to get in her hiding spot.

‘Monster and bad people out. They follow?’ She turned back and tried to sign clearly, closer to the light. Iris hesitated as the girl tried to explain. What if the bad people followed?

The big stranger frowned, his right hand edging closer but paused as Iris noticed and stilled as if about to play dead again. ‘Bad? What bad?’

Iris blinked, surprised, did this stranger not know? Did he get so lost to end up in another world? How could he not know about monsters and the bad people? The girl shifted and hesitantly reached out her left arm, putting her hand and arm in the light. Shaking it to hopefully make the loop of chain rattle on the binding on her wrist, pointing to it before pulling her hands back. Trying to explain as she might have signed too fast. ‘Bad-bad people. They help monsters. Ran away.’

The stranger blinked, his frown deeping before sitting up. Iris missing the scowl forming and darkening his face. She could just watch as he stood back up until only she could see those massive metal feet. Watch them walk around her hiding spot, not turned towards Iris but walking two large circles farther away as he must be looking around. Checking for the bad people?

Iris sneezed again, carefully looking around as the giant was now far away from the truck. She saw a familiar glitter in the grass, the girl starting to sit up. Even if she did not have the special water bottle, or the big straw-like thing… surely it would be safe to get some sips off the top of a puddle?

Not really thinking sense, as it had been so long since she had water, let alone some food. Iris was scooting to a spot that seemed a bit more open, pushing her bag first and wiggled out from under the truck, and out of the thicket of blackberry brambles. The girl squinted at the direct light, feeling odd vibrations again as she looked around, spotted the water again. Iris clung to her bag and fuelled by desperation, she started for the big puddle. It had the ash snow on the surface, but it was water!

The girl was just at the edge of the pool, puddle, her bare feet sank into the wet grass somewhat as the vibration grew stronger. She reached for the water, dropping her bag and hands cupping to scoop up-

It felt like a tree was wrapping around Iris, she yelped as thick bands wrapped all the way around her. Her fingers grazed the surface of the water, before she was being pulled up and back. The girl cried out, needing to drink so much now that she saw it. She whined as the ground seemed to fall away, and a massive hand was coming up from her left, wrapping around her.

Two giant hands were holding her.

Iris whined, not sure what to think of it as she helplessly just watched the ground, and puddle, go farther away and the world rumbled and vibrated from behind. A detached part realized her bag was also left behind on the far away ground. The girl went limp, half training to play dead, to not fight back like with the bigger monsters. Twice a big monster had picked her up, but set her down somewhere as if distracted because she played dead.

She could not help but tug a bit on one of the big digits. Reached for the water, trying to remember how to say it. “Pleeeez?”

There was an odd vibration behind her before warm air washed over her. Different from the heat waves from portals, different from the bigger monsters. Iris felt the… hand holding her losened, the other hovering and then closing in. She did not fight being lifted and moved, turned to look up at the giant stranger.

He really was bigger than big. 

“Pleez?” Iris tried again, pointing roughly at the ground. Seeing the giant shake his head, the girl could not help but whine and tried again to be as clear as she could. “...pleeze?”

This strange… stranger winced, the bigger man looking around and turning. Iris felt the rumbling vibration again, definitely coming from the giant as she was carried with. Taken with? The girl let herself go completely limp, chin and arms resting on the massive finger over her front.

She was really thirsty now that she had seen the water.

The massive hands shifted, Iris not sure what she was supposed to do so she did not resist as she was lifted. Now so high off the ground and level with the giant's face, it was a bit dizzying. He blinked at her, looking worried and that confused Iris as her head was lifted a bit with the knuckle she was resting against. 

It took a second to focus on the face in front of her. “Pleeze?”

The giant winced, and shook his head while glancing at the ground. Wincing again at the soft sound Iris made as she was lowered to his chest level. Only able to be carried by him towards the building. It was odd to feel the grip on… her change, to be held up like a kitten in one hand. One hand holding and supporting Iris as the other dropped away and reached for one of several things on a roof. 

The giant man, with possibly robot feet, was using one hand not to sign again. He was moving several large things Iris’ tired mind could not fully understand. At least until she saw water reflecting light.

Iris squeaked, looking up and for the first time gave a little wiggle. Legs kicking uselessly in the air but she grabbed at the fingers holding her. Her own hands flexing in want as she saw the other large hand setting a container down. Then picking up an odd smaller, maybe bowl between his fingers. 

She could not help but reach out seeing the ‘smaller' container being brought closer to her. The girl was unaware of the excited sound that slipped out. Iris grabbed at the dish as it slowly came into range. Not trying to tug it free, it was a good foot or more wide, and as deep as her hand. Iris held her breath as the container was finally coming into range. The girl got what water she could as it was filled to the brim. 

Gasping for air, Iris lifted her head, clinging tight to the edge of the container. Not wanting it to be taken away as she caught her breath. Then ducked to start drinking again. 

Iris was just starting to feel odd when the water was taken away at her third attempt to drink. She tried to hold onto it but the water was moved away, set on the rooftop. Iris whined at it being taken, kicking at the air in protest. Then the other big hand came back to cup around her. Iris shivered as she was being introduced to heat coming off the bigger than big giant. Still pouting at the water taken away, Iris tucked her head against one of the massive fingers, trying to hide. But it seemed like her only option was to go limp again. 

She was moved, not resisting and after a few confusing moments as she was moved. Iris was pressed against a wall of gray fabric, she grasped it and lifted her head in confusion. It took a second, the clean fabric was… his shirt? Iris was being held against the left side of the giant’s chest. She could feel it really was clean, and she almost started to lean away. The girl knew she had gotten really dirty since her last bathtime a few days ago. Before the bad people came and found her family.

Iris could not let go and instead hid her face against the fabric, feeling the giant person lift his other hand around her. Iris felt so oddly safe at the moment that she tried to hide there while her stomach settled from all that water. 

Maybe it was not so bad to be held by the giant. Iris felt squished for a few moments, the hand holding her shifted to be under the girl. The girl blinked in confusion again, still, but found herself in a cupped hand against the giant’s front. Watching his other hand moved to touch her back with two big fingers.

Iris tucked her head against the living warmth that was just holding her. Not understanding why, or who this was, but he did not seem like a bad stranger now. Not minding at all her back being rubbed, or petted. The girl did not resist as a large thumb shifted to her side, then up and under her left arm. Lifting it as the giant bent his head as if to look at her closely. Warm air passing over, in time with the chest dipping. Iris blinked, belatedly remembering how she showed him the band on her wrists before, but that had been in the hiding spot.

Maybe he had not seen it well?

Hesitantly, Iris slowly let go of her handhold on the fabric of the giant's gray shirt. Gripping his finger tip instead and stretched out her arm. Letting him see the binding in that arm, feeling a different vibration starting in his chest. Different from the rise and fall of him breathing, though almost in time. Different from the heartbeat at the same time.

Iris was shifted, her other arm being nudged by the big fingers. Guessing what was wanted, she slowly let go with that hand too and found herself sitting between the massive hands, more in one palm. Lifted up a bit more, the giant focused not on her face but the bindings the bad people put on her wrists. Iris did not resist but sat calmly, if not passively in the big hand, watching him back.

The eerie blue eyes focused on Iris, realizing she was watching him so intently. He smiled. 

It was not a big smile, and the scars in his face pulled it a little odd. It was still a real smile, and Iris shyly smiled back. Giving this odd giant a little wave, not resisting as one big digit moved slowly to nudge against her chin. Pushing up a bit.

Understanding, Iris grasped the fingertip with both hands and leaned back into his other hand. Lifting her head up to stretch her neck and let him see the binding clasped on her neck. It was a bit uncomfortable, as it was made of metal. Yet, he did not seem to see really well? The giant kept squirting a lot.

He was frowning again, focusing on what was on her neck. Then after what seemed like a long time Iris squeaked as she was moved to be held against his chest again. A little lower but it was warm and smelled clean. Sort of like rain. Iris tried to burrow herself against this safe feeling.

The giant was using a thumb of the covering hand to rub up from her shoulders, over the binding and against the back of Iris’ head. That felt nice, she was happy with the attention. In her position she felt that deeper, almost thunder like vibration again, only this time could feel it with her whole body.

She was distracted from noticing the giant man turning to look around. Missed the flash of teeth of a snarl she could not hear. To her it just felt… nice.

The growling was a deep vibration that felt like what thunder did. It felt like what a moving earth looked like it should. Iris closed her eyes as she focused on the oddly safe feeling she had here, even when the deeper vibration slowed. She felt the massive form moving, but just hid her face and accepted being carried, it was not like Iris was strong enough to make something… someone so big to do anything.

Iris almost dropped into a nap, but lifted her head as the hands holding her were shifting again. She was being lifted again into one hand, and almost did not let go of the fabric in time. Iris squinted herself at the light again, blinking rapidly as she was held wrapped up in a big hand before it lowered and she looked around. Staring at the things set down near her… on a roof?

This was different enough for her to make a confused sound, looking up at the giant man as he set her down beside his things. She was almost disappointed that his hands pulled away, they were warm. Only to light up at being offered the same container as before, grasping and getting a good long drink again until she sat back gasping. Disappointed that it was pulled away and set down some odd feet away. 

Iris was just debating going after but a massive hand moving caught her attention. The girl focused on it, then belatedly realized it was a sign. A little weird seeing it from someone so big. She hesitated and spelled out carefully. ‘What say?’

The giant man slowed a bit and tried again. ‘Who are bad people?’

The girl fidgeted with the bindings on her wrists, hesitating as she tried to think how to explain it to someone that might not know. Then she looked up, pulling her legs to sit with them crossed. ‘They are people that like monsters. They are bad, they hurt others and give good people to monsters. I ran away. Grandma said run so I ran away.’

The big person here looked around, shifting his mass and Iris noticed they were not in the same spot. The big man had stepped over a wall, or fence, there were both that were tall and protected a big… yard? That was what this place was! There were even buttercups!

Movement had Iris paying attention again. Watching the giant sign again. ‘Where are bad people?’

She had to think about it, looking all around from this odd new place. Iris hesitated, her hands flexing in the air to show she was unsure. She swallowed and eyed the water. Then looked up, ‘where was hiding spot? Back of the truck?’

The giant paused and then pointed behind Iris, she looked that way, finding she was looking at the roof. It took a long second, or rather minute for the girl to process first that they were on the other side of the building. She thought about it, starting to sign but stopping. Then slowly started turning back to the bigger than big giant. She started to explain. ‘I found the back of truck? Hid under, but came from that way. Saw a stream, could not get there. Turned from. from…’

Iris frowned, trying to think of the map she saw. Struggling for a moment to explain what was in her mind. ‘I ran… north. Saw a town, didn’t go in. Then I followed a road, saw a stream, and tried to get down. Got lost… found the truck, found you?’

She watched the giant man as he looked over the rooftop. Studying what was there before his attention to her again. ‘What is your name?’

Iris blinked about to sign but paused. Belatedly remembering he was a stranger again, and clearly debating on if it was okay. She took a deep breath and looked up at this big person carefully. Iris made the sign that her family came up for her name, holding her fingers out to sign ‘flower,’ but making the motion for ‘girl.’ Once the giant man copied it, she then finger spelled her name carefully. ‘I-r-i-s. Like the flower! Grandpa said Mommy loved them.’

The giant had an expression Iris did not know how to read. He was watching her intently though. Then spelled out something slowly, watching the girl track his hands. ‘F-l-y-n-n. That's me.’

‘Big mountain.’ Iris could not help it but to point out. Watching the man grin wide at that. Then Iris dared to ask. ‘Why is mountain… why is f-l-y-n so big?’

There was a pause, the giant looked down at himself, then at the girl sitting on the rooftop at his lower chest level. He seemed to be confused before trying to answer. ‘Ate all my veggies.’

Iris stared with wide eyes, she almost just ate veggies! Then sat up and asked, ‘Magic veggies? Or can?’

Did he find a magic can of green beans?

Flynn awkwardly lifted a hand to rub at his neck and shrugged. ‘Something magic. Got big. Try to help.’ 

He was reaching for the water again, holding between two fingers to offer. It was a good distraction as Iris focused on getting another drink. This time she did not try for nearly as much, definitely slowing down. The girl sat up, not gasping for air, resting as the container was not pulled away. She tried another sip but her stomach was full, Iris did not resist the container being pulled away. Looking up at the giant, not resisting or trying to pull away as a massive finger was gently put on her head, sliding down her back.

Iris hesitated but leaned into the touch, any comfort was good at the moment. 

‘F-y.’ Iris paused, and then tried spelling the name again, ‘F-l-y-n, can I have my bag?’

‘Bag?’ the giant paused.

‘I dropped.’ Iris explained, watching the giant… Flynn looked around and back the way he must have walked. Hesitated before resting a hand in front of Iris and leaned to the side. Looking over the rooftop, he spotted the bag. 

Coming back, the bigger than big man started to reach for Iris. Hands starting to cup around her before pausing halfway. The girl just blinked back, not resisting as the tree-strong digits wrapped around her again. The most Iris did was to lift her arms and half drape them over a thumb. Gripping the digit but otherwise just went limp to be picked up. The girl was not resisting as she was held, just blinking at the pause.

She wondered if she was going to be held against the giant again, but he was moving and sitting? Iris was moved, partly turned to see a green covered bench. The large hands opened and with a nudge from the thumb to her back, Iris understood to climb off. She wavered, fully back on her feet again. 

Maybe she drank too much water.

Iris looked up as the big hands pulled away. One tapped the bench before Flynn started to sign. She could not fully understand his expression again. ‘Iris stay here, flower is small, need to know where you are. I'm big. Big feet.’

‘I’m small.’ Iris understood and she climbed up on the bench. Turning to sit and hug her knees to show she would sit, looking hopefully up at the living mountain as he backed up.

Iris watched in awed fascination, able to see Flynn moved as he got up. He was so big and strong looking as he just… stepped over the fence. 

The girl watched for as long as she could, tracking where the giant went until the angle of her and the building… hid him? That was more surprising for her, Iris hesitated before looking up and all around, suddenly remembering that she was in the open now, alone. Watching the sky for a few moments, not able to listen for the flying monsters she had to watch now that she was alone. 

It made Iris nervous, she looked at the building, seeing a door. But she was told to stay here… Iris looked for the giant man, not seeing him still she uncurled and slid off. Not to go to the door but Iris was curled up under the bench and long grass there. She could feel the thudding vibrations again, the steps from the giant? Movement by the fence had her peeking out and watching as Flynn came back.

He froze, stepping in the yard again, looking around before Iris moved under the bench. She waved from her spot and saw the giant man looking for her. He stepped closer, frowning again, Iris worried if she was too good at hiding now. She scooted out as Flynn was kneeling down farther away.

The girl was just wondering why, until the giant man was stretching out. Laying down put his hands and head closer to Iris' level and oddly not as big. One large hand slowly came over, touched her shoulder once Iris was sitting up in the grass in front of the bench. Then opened his hand to show the backpack that looked so tiny.

It was still Iris’ bag, and she squeaked happily, climbing almost up into the wide palm to get it. Scooting back to sit and hugged it, signing ‘thank you’ several times around the bag.

Flynn touched his chin back, moving to prop himself up on elbows. He looked between the bench and the girl, using a fingertip to tap a little bare foot. Once Iris focused back on him, the giant signed carefully. ‘Why hide?’

Iris looked up, then back, ‘Monsters fly. Monsters will grab and eat you if there's no roof. I can't hear them, grandma said I have to stay under things.’

He was mouthing a word, something Iris did not understand. Then Fynn looked back with a frown. ‘Did you see monsters?’

‘Not here,’ Iris shook her head, trying to reassure the living mountain. ‘Monsters with the bad people didn't find hiding spots! But saw monsters before, the flying ones. Not here?’ 

She watched Flynn think, not resisting as a large hand came closer. Letting Iris pat at his fingers while he thought. Letting her be fascinated, realizing she was trusting him to be distracted. After a minute Iris tugged at one finger for attention. 

Once she was sure his attention was back, the girl asked. ‘Do you really help people?’ 

Flynn blinked at Iris, as if puzzled at the question before nodding.

Iris fidgeted with the zipper on her bag and was trying to build up the nerve to ask. ‘Can I ask for help?’ 

Flynn nodded, watching the girl, each movement as she opened the backpack and felt around inside and came up with a small, rectangle cookie tin to her. It was almost miniscule to the giant. Iris opened it and pulled out a picture that had to be folded to fit. Showing Flynn first, or trying to.

After a few seconds Iris set it down, ‘Can you find my grandparents? Bad people still have them. Grandma told me to run, but she was tied up in these.’ 

The girl grasped one of the loose rings on the bindings in her wrists. Then the one on her neck, trying to show that loop. So close, Iris could see the giant man's eyes shifting. The pupils were widening, then his eyes narrowed.

Oh!

Iris almost forgot, flailing her hands and tried again. ‘Can you please help find my grandparents?’ 

How could she forget to ask nicely? 

The girl fretted, as she also remembered what her grandfather said about trading with others. Looking all around and then back to the tin. Brightening up and picked out a few things to hold in her hands and show the giant mountain. Making sure Flynn saw them in her hands before sitting in the lid of the tin.

They were her favorite, prettiest polished rocks, and a silver pendant with the absolutely shiniest stone in the middle. Grandma had given it to her, but if ment getting her grandparents back, Iris offered it. 

‘Grandpa said you have to trade for things.  You can have my treasure. All of them, can you get my grandparents from the bad people?’ Iris tried to explain in a rush, picking up the lid to offer up to the giant.

He stared for a long moment, and Iris worried if her treasure was too small for him. She looked down, set the lid in the grass between them. Then she grabbed her bag to look through it, gasping at finding something she had completely forgotten about inside. Excitedly holding the old can of sweet peaches to the giant to add to the trade. The girl watched, puzzled at the look she was getting. 

Flynn's face was hard to read, the girl waiting until a large finger touched her arms. Iris brightened up and moved to set the can between his fingers. Was that a trade? She looked up, for the first time hopeful since running away.

The giant man turned his hand, caught the can and looked at it. Iris looked down and started to pick up her shinies, about to put them in his hand too, but Flynn moved his hand away. He was starting to get up without the treasures, just the can of peaches closed in his hand. He looked around, stared at the direction of her last hiding spot under the truck before getting up to his feet.

“Ooah…” Iris murmured in awe at seeing Flynn's full height unblocked from the ground level. She watched him carefully step around and to the roof with his things. Watching the giant carefully setting the can beside his things. A bag of his own was reached into and Flynn pulled out the biggest cloth ever. A blanket? It looked fuzzy and blue.

Iris watched the giant pour more water in the container as before. He was moving slowly to come back and kneel by the girl. Setting the container of water by the door and tapped his fingertip on it until the door opened in warnds. His other hand moved to Iris, Flynn shook his head as the shinies were offered again.

‘Too small.’ he signed and then motioned for Iris to get up. She hid the treasures in her bag again, in the tin. Getting up in confusion but followed the large hand guiding the girl to the building. ‘Iris, stay here. Hide inside. No drinking puddles. I'll be back.’ 

Iris looked inside, smelling dust as she clung to her bag. She looked back, worried, maybe a bit scared at the thought of being alone again. 

‘Stay here, so I can look for Grandparents.’ Flynn signed carefully, watching Iris light up again. He smiled again, once she was inside the door offered the blanket like cloth at first. Then a little box between two fingers, a package of granola bars. The annoying kind where the bars were all individually wrapped. Better for little hands, and as Iris was gaping at the food, the giant gently eased the cap of his flask in around the side of the door. 

Food, water, a blanket and a hiding spot he knew only opened into the fenced yard. There was supposedly a working bathroom in this building. The tiny girl would be safe in there-

Thoughts came to a halt as he was starting to pull his hand back. Tiny arms wrapped around two digits, Iris hiding her face against his knuckle and for the first time started to cry. All the scary things, she was now crying at the promise of something good. Not knowing how else to express herself.

The other big hand came around, cupping over Iris, almost fully hiding her from sight. The giant carefully, so carefully rubbed his them over her back. The tiny girl was so delicate… fragile to him. It took a surprising amount of willpower to get her off and back inside. He could not resist gently, so gently touching the top of her head. Just feeling the little fuzz of her roughly cut short hair.

‘Stay here. I will come back. Will look for grandparents.’ he grinned, chuckling as the girl plopped in her spot. Carefully pointed at the door, watched Iris scramble to get back up and close the door. Peeking out before it fully closed. 

The giant Slayer stood back up, reaching to set his things from the roof to the ground. Just in case the girl might need anything inside, Flynn thought it should be easy access. She should be safe there as he stepped over the fence. Making sure he was well out of sight, following the basic direction, now and then seeing signs of someone so small falling in the dark.

The Slayer flexed a hand, pulling one of his one-handed weapons from subspace. No little, innocent eyes able to see him snarl as the giant started to hunt. 

The feeling of someone so tiny sitting in his hands. Either having to trust him, or what it felt like at first that she had just given up fighting? He would find her grandparents, could not bring himself to lie that he could bring them back alive. He would find them though. 

[tinycoded360]

Lifeboat 14 Cinnamon, oh my!

Also on Ao3. sorry I forgot to finish posting it here <_< have some more cozy GT?

.

Chapter 14:

Lana wondered if ice cream was in this world as she pressed against the warm hand that came behind her. She was still very leery of the sheer size differences between her and Sesa, but the giant woman’s hand was very warm compared to the ‘basement’ like room. It made the chill tolerable but this was not a place Lana would want to stay long without some proper clothes. 

“Are you okay Lana?” Sesa asked, setting a few jars down on the same table as the Bitta. 

“Yeah, I wasn't expecting it to be… snowing indoors.” Lana noted as some of the disturbed frost from the self above was drifting down to the counter she was standing on.

“It won't be long,” Sesa assured as she carefully pulled her hand back. Looking through the items on that shelf, setting a few things down. “Even though I have to clean up down here, it's a good sign the cold stones are still working fine with no stress. I might have to get another before the hot season.”

“That bad?” Lana worried as she walked around the things in the counter with her. Glad the ‘ground’ under her seemed to be just well sanded wood. Though cold and nippy her feet were not freezing through her shoes. 

“Some days are worse than others.” Sesa explained, “In those ones I take chunks of the weakest stone to try and cool down the cabin. When they recharge in winter, I can use them to make a food cabinet cold for most of the next year.”

“Like a fridge!” Lana laughed, walking around and looking inside a clear jar about twice as tall as her, but with frozen flowers inside. They looked vaguely familiar, about a foot to two feet long, and a muted red-orange color. They seemed mostly dried before being frozen.

There was something about the smell though that lingered around the jar.

“Sesa? What's this?” Lana asked looking up as the giant woman was inspecting some solid frozen disks that were about the size of her hand with what looked like a waxy paper covering. 

Sesa paused, taking a second to track where the tiny human had gotten to in such a short amount of time. “Oh, those are a kind of fever flower. Or…no fever? They help you if you're sick. Smells pretty strong… not sure why I put them down here.”

“Can I…this sounds strange, can I smell it?” Lana asked, sheepishly stepping back from the jar. She startled at the sudden laughter from Sesa. “What?!”

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to scare you Lana.” Sesa set the frozen disks down and motioned gently for the tiny one to back away so she could pick up the jar in question. “The other name for this is a tree Bitta flower. There's a few flowers called Bitta flowers really, this one just comes from trees.”

The giant opened the jar, twisted the lid to break some frost. The lid was made to fit over the outside and inside of the ring of glass. Sesa carefully picked out one of the frozen flowers on top, offering it too Lana with a smile still. Not quite sure what would happen as smaller hands took it. It looked almost like the frame of a basket in Lana's hands with the wiry pebbles as she inspected it, turning the frozen flower over before sniffing it.

“It is strong, but it smells like… it smells like a mix of ginger and nutmeg.” Lana said looking up, delighted, paused and pinch off a miniscule bit to the giant to hesitantly taste. Not eating but tasted, like she had a few times to test if something would be good or not for her.

“Bleh, oh yeah tastes like it too.”

“Good thing?” Sesa asked as a chuckle rumbled through her watching the reaction. Noticing that that flower was now Lana's by the tiny body language. 

“Very good thing! It means we have two spices equivalent for pumpkin pie.” Lana laughed, flicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Making sure there was no odd sensation, that she was breathing right still. She was struggling a bit with remembering what all had to be done to make sure she did not have a bad reaction. 

“Really?” Sesa looked at the jar in surprise, clearly trying to imagine what this pie would taste like. “Medicinal plants are like some of your spices?”

“...I think a lot of herbs are like that.” Lana considered, “Lots of cooking herbs and stuff is good for you, even if just for a better way of absorbing vitamins.” 

“What else do we need?” Sesa mused, then held one of the wrapped disks up, “Is this enough cream?” 

“Oh plenty,” Lana assured, looking up from the flower she held, so far she was feeling alright. It reminded her of the mace off of nutmeg. Lana hoped she could see this flower blooming soon.

Sesa made an interesting sound as she was looking at things on the counter, other herbs as far as Lana could tell. 

The giant woman brightened up, “Ooh, I remember why I froze a lot of these. I was trying to beat the first big winter storm gathering things. It was easier to freeze them and deal with it later.”

Lana eyed the big…. massive basement space that was both incredibly deep and wide. It was as large as the cabin above but… a basement. There was a lot of storage space, and not all being used at all, let alone efficiently. As a lot of the middle of the room was just open. “At least you have the room to do that?”

“I probably should dry them out.” 

“Then we should do it.” Lana said, getting herself into an open spot, the lacey like flower still held. “There's going to be time to start that jar at least while the pie bakes.”

It was interesting to see the giant take a deep breath. Cheeks puffed for a moment before Sesa sighed even deeper and then started to gather a few jars to tuck in her left arm. Holding them against her body, with the frozen disk in that hand. Offering her now free right to Lana. The giant grinned as the Bitta grasped the side of her hand. 

Even though Lana hesitated, she was not flinching as much. It was an improvement from the first meeting, though Sesa was realizing she likely did not give the best first impression. Lana had been, still was painfully cute looking though.

It was such an odd thrill when the Bitta pulled herself up to sit on Sesa's hand willingly. The woman was being as gentle as she could be, holding Lana closer to her chest. Trying to make sure she would be stable.

The trip back upstairs to the cabin proper was not that long. Sesa moved into the kitchen to let Lana hop off on the same counter they used in the morning. The Bitta moved towards the wall where the improvised older stove was for her. Not yet moved to Lana's new home.

Sesa was setting things down on the counter now that Lana was safely out of the way. Then moved to set more little jars, about as tall as Lana, of cooking spices on the counter as well. The ones she found and harvested, a few traded from locals that had that same Smokey look to them. A few jars that looked like they came from the store, and possibly from farther away as one looked like dried cactus to the Bitta.

“Should I get the other medicine plants?” Sesa asked, finding a nice big bowl to put the frozen cream in. Then a few pans, one for roasting the squash and the others for drying out the frozen herbs. 

“If they're safe to eat, why not?” Lana was sitting down to wait for things to stop moving around again. She held up the thawed, lacy flower, “We might find something like this. Likely not looking like what I know, but smells and tastes like something.”

Lana was tapping the flower, it was thawing pretty quick and needed drying time. “You have a stove top, Sesa, is there an oven?”

“Not a big oven but yes I have one.” Sesa paused and considered, “I have a bigger wooden oven, smoker outside. But I think you mean for the herbs? The inside oven will do that.”

Lana nodded, then saw the giant woman was kneeling to look in a cabinet under the counter. “Yes, and the pie. Can we thaw the cream without cooking it? It needs to stay cool.”

“Oh I can do that, yes.” Sesa smiled, coming up with a pot and a large bowl. “Is that going to be too big for the… whipped cream?”

“Perfect!” The tiny woman chirped. “It'll expand a lot, even if we don't use the whole thing.”

“Having some extra cream would be nice to have with tea tonight.” Sesa thought aloud as she got up and stretched her back. Having a few free days was... nice. Some maintenance choirs aside.

Sesa wondered if she should bring Lana to the garden before evening. Or just show around some of the outside today or tomorrow. Maybe the porch? Lana did not seem like she was needing to go outside of the cabin urgently, and was currently interested in the sugar left over from the morning and finding out how to crush it even finer. It would be a really fine powder at this rate. Sesa opened the oven to her right, lifting the metal grate out and used a tool hanging to the side of the door, tapping around on top of the wide, deep stone so it would activate. Fitting the grate back on, she reached for a big spoon.

The giant got some more of the heat stone fragments around the main stone, something she normally would not bother with. It would not be hard to carve a soft stone to make Lana an oven. Sesa realized she did not make one of those yet. Able to get some of the chips for that and a new one for the little cooking station left on the counter. As the cooking hot rock from that morning was moved to the crate. 

Thinking about it, Sesa looked around, getting up to grab a small cup, oven closed up to get nice and warm. The chips and some sand put in the mug, Sesa moved to get a chair as well, grabbing some carving tools and a nice chunk of black granite. Sesa had found some nice pieces on a beach, the last fishing trip before yesterday. 

Lana was looking up and had walked to the big knife block, looking thoughtful. Sesa saw her pull a folding knife that positively looked like the ittiest bitty knife the woman had ever seen.

“I miss my kitchen knives.” Lana noted. 

“I’m sorry, I'm not sure if I have anything useful for your size.” Sesa winced, there were so many things that made life easier that… was about as big as the bitta. Not fit to her scale. 

“I at least have this, it was my foraging knife so… would you have a wet stone?” Lana turned, and seeing the puzzled look she remembered the concept of hot and cold…magic stone things. Lana tried again. “Sharpening stone?”

“Yes to that... Ooooh, wait I get it, wet stone. Need to use water on sharpening rocks for metal.”

“Exactly.” Lana nodded, thankful many things seem similar between their people. Names and size scale aside. “At least knives can be made of a lot of things for my size. Metal chips or shavings for you, if not rust. Copper? Glass, obsidian… hell even bone, antler or flint. I miss my ulu knife.” 

“What is that?” Sesa asked, setting her carving things aside until later. Not sitting just yet either as the giant started to open the jar with the fever plants. Picking the easiest out first to spread out evenly. The whole jar’s worth should fit on the flat pan. Sesa smiled as Lana brought her flowers over to neatly put in the row. 

“I think most of this will have to thaw in the jar to get out.” Sesa noted, using a fork to gently prod the mess of jammed pedals. “I packed it too tight.”

“This should be enough.” Lana was eyeing the flowers on the pan. “Let's look at the other herbs and spices and plant stuff!”

Sesa chuckled, setting the jar well away, putting the lid back on. “All right Lana. Let's see if anything is like what you know?”

“Yeees!” Lana laughed, delighted with this task. Her excitement and curiosity seemed infectious despite her small size. 

Sesa had to open the lids, some of the spices she could put in the pods. Same with the medicinal herbs could do the same, even things for tea. Like the hips of a cliff side tea bush that Sesa got to grow in her garden. Lana had grabbed a dried hip as big as her arm, and thicker than her leg. Yet the bitta sat down to give the hip a thorough inspection. Then cut it open, Sesa a little jealous how easy it was for Lana to pick out the delicate seeds.

“Can you… save those?” Sesa asked, awed at the little stack of seeds. “I've never been able to save those seeds or get them to sprout. I keep crushing them… had to transplant young plants and only one has survived since then.”

Lana blinked up, picking up one of the brown, palm sized seeds. She turned it over in her hands, the hip in her lap. It seemed sturdy to Lana, but the issue made sense. “I can try?” 

“What does it remind you of?” Sesa asked, moving to sit after checking the pot she had started to thaw out the cream. The gourd in the oven and the seeds and guts from, set aside. Lana wanted to look at the seeds later.

“...cinnamon,” Lana said thoughtfully, cutting some of the dried hip, it was like leathery fruit that had been dehydrated, just had some stiff fibers around the seeds in the center. It smelled just like cinnamon, but nothing sour or moldy. “How did you dry it?”

“Most hips dry on the bush in late summer, other’s I’ve just set in the oven when it's not hot. Just warm.” Sesa explained, leaning back in her chair, mostly putting her close to the counter height. She glanced at the oven, judging how long the gourds should stay inside to stay soft. Using butter inside the hallowed spot instead of oil or water was an interesting idea. It was starting to smell good already.

“Warm and dry air, that’s good.” Lana examined the hip, turning one half in her lap, the other to her right with seeds to the left. She sliced some of the dried fruit off, sniffed and hesitantly put it in her mouth. Lana did not bite, still trying to think of how to check if things were toxic to you. Annoyed at herself for this big brain fart as Lana set the piece down, going back to check the rest of the hip, cutting through it sideways this time. Finding no more seeds and then went quiet. Lana looked baffled.

“Pulp… not just fruiting… fibers.” Lana said, half to herself as she picked up the other half that was emptied. Like a melon or pumpkin that had been hollowed. But still had a few fibers.

“What was that?” Sesa looked up, looking carefully at the tiny human, bitta. Recognizing the absorbed in a task look that Lana had, not just from others but Sesa had seen Lana get like that last night on the way home when allowed to investigate the… cor-en. Ground cover grass.

The giant woman waited on a hunch, and it was not that long before Lana jumped to herself. 

“It’s a rose hip!” Lana turned to look at the baffled Sesa, scrambling up to her feet, “Do you have any of the flower petals? Or can I see the bush?”

A tree sized rose bush! That seemed impossible and amazing!

“This jar of tea has some petals.” Sesa said, reaching slowly over the counter, touching one of the jars. Watching in a bemused way as the bitta scrambled up to go see the flower petals that had been in the mix of something she did not get to yet. “I should have dried-press leaves in grandpa's book of foraging, unless you want to stop to see the plant?”

“Can I see both?” Lana bounced in place, trying to peer in the jar, then back to examining the broken petals and other tea leaves. “A rose that smells and tastes like cinnamon! This is amazing!”

Sesa looked at the oven, there should be enough time. The giant got up, putting the pan with the flowers inside, and then took the pot of cream off the oven. Turning, Sesa tried not to move too fast to put her hands on the counter. And just about had Lana flopping over the back of one hand. The Bitta popped up and flustered as she backed up, trying to not show that she had tripped and fell anymore then she could. It was not that good, and the massive hand turned to open palm up.

“It's okay Bitta, Lana. I might have bumped the counter.” Sesa said, smiling and waited until small hands grasped the side of her own fingers. 

Lana pulled herself up into the hand, not really sure if it had been the vibration in the counter or her own blinding excitement. She was oddly thankful that Sesa’s other hand came up to act like a shield. An added barrier against a very, very long fall down to the ground. The young woman watched Sesa walking to the front door, avoiding the boxes set to the side now.

Outside was just a little cooler than inside, mostly from the mountain breeze and being up high. Lana grasped what she could of Sesa’s hand, reflexively hunkering a little lower with the movement. As steady as Sesa was, there was a slow sway from her walking pace after the steps down. Then Lana got a better look at this giant’s yard.

Like what she saw out the window, but could see from up here the walking paths. The big barn and vast wide leaves in a garden. A big squash plant took up a whole fence that made it through winter, there was some damage from winter. The rest of the garden was half cleared and ready for planting. The other half not yet cleaned of debris that were blown in. Then Lana saw the tree sized ‘bush’ that was on the far side of the squash plants.

Even from a great distance and so high up, it looked like a rose plant. Only semi groomed, but thriving really well in that spot. It had been tied to the post by it at one point, but the ties, old rope by the looks of it from this angle, were disintegrating. The leaves were definitely the shape, texture and pattern like a rose. When Sesa slowed and stopped but the bush, holding both hands cupped firmly together, Lana dared to move. 

She felt safer to half lay on the larger digits of the giant to free her hands. Able to grab a broad leaf closer to her once in range, something that was as big as what she knew from really happy squash or melon plants. It smelled like a rose plant, that slight floral spicy, and faintly of cinnamon. No active blooms could be seen at the moment, though there was new growth starting already in the apparent spring season. 

“How far into spring are we here?” Lana asked, looking back at Sesa for a moment before peering under the leaf and then following the line of stem to the branch proper. Spotting thorns there, nettle like. Some small as Lana’s fingers that were new, to older thorns that were the size of her forearm and looked sharper on one edge. 

“We’re just getting into it. We might get one or two more big rain storms.” Sesa admitted, watching Lana turn to lay on her side on the giant woman’s fingers to look inside the bush. Sesa shifted slowly to move Lana in a better spot to see inside, and not get herself pricked. All the while making sure Lana would not hurt herself as the Bitta reached in and up, coming back with a handful of the miniscule, splitter-like green thorns that grew on the new growth. 

About as big as her knife from earlier.

“Sesa?”

“Yes?”

“Um…can you break off one of the larger, trunk thorns?” Lana pointed down and towards the trunk of the rose tree, careful not to prick her host. “Not even a bit one, if it's safe?”

Sesa pulled Lana back, making sure the tiny bitta was safe in her right hand. Held closer to Sesa’s core, while moving to kneel and look under the side of the bush. She reached under to gingerly grasp a thorn between finger and thumb, bending and breaking a few off. They were offered to Lana as the giant stood back up to her feet. “They are sharp, be careful.”

Lana was at least mindful of taking the four thorns. She had very carefully used a part of her shirt’s helm to hold the green thorn needles. The Bitta looked up as Sesa was standing beside the old fence that framed the garden. And likely sheltered the squash plant, or plants, in the winter. Or most likely to have. Lana sat up on her knees, grasping Sesa’s thumb with her free hand. 

“Is this all you want as growing space?” Lana asked looking up and back. Then just gave up and turned around to face Sesa to look at her face. The giant seemed confused at the question before remembering the morning and the talk about Lana designing a garden for Sesa.

“...I would like to have more space, to grow things that is.” Sesa admitted slowly looking at the mostly empty plot. “Maybe get some cooking herbs or medicinal growing too.”

“The jars you showed me earlier, are they baked or just dried out you think?” Lana asked, settled in the broad palm. 

Sesa frowned, thinking about it, “I think they are just hung to dry, or left in an oven like mine to dry a little faster… oh I should check on the ones we’re cooking to dry out.”

The giant woman glanced down, feeling the movement and found that Lana had scooted down into her palm more. Pulling her legs up to lean back and look up at the clouds before turning to peer sideways. Sesa brought her left hand back up to shield, as it seemed to make Lana feel better when she was walking. She smiled at the Bitta, “Come on, back inside we go. We can plan for the garden tomorrow. I still got a lot of cleaning to do.”

“You can do it!” Lana unexpectedly chirped, tossing her arms up, holding two thorns in each hand. “I can make a checklist! While you clean, I can pick out the seeds from the seasoning jars! We can tag-team… kinda. Little taste for me at least?”

Sesa grinned as she climbed the few porch stairs, “The company would be nice… I have to make the pie crust.”

“That would be a good idea, and make sure another egg doesn’t hatch on us.”

“Yes. I already have one sleeping on my table.”

“Pffft. At least it's a different box from mine.”

[tinycoded360]

Moonlight Shining Through the Blinds

Your honor they are adorable, and I love them <3

As the title implies, its supposed to be moonlight shining through the blinds (on a cute gt couple xD) the lighting was new for me, so apologies if parts of it look weird.

This is one of my only times where i really urge you to zoom in on this drawing >>

[tinycoded360]

Friends out of Water Chapter 6

Ana's heart pounded against her ribcage as she peered out from the confines of Melody's grasp. Her friend's apartment loomed ahead.

"Are we going to see the clan now?" Ana ventured, her voice quivering with anticipation.

"Clan?" Melody's laugh was sharp and cruel. She tightened her grip, causing Ana to wince. "Oh, sweet, naive Ana. There's no reversing what's been done to you."

"But you said—"

"I lied." The words were tossed out carelessly as Melody began to toss Ana lightly into the air, catching her with a snicker. "You're too much fun like this."

A cold dread settled over Ana as she realized the gravity of her situation. "Melody, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whimper.

"Shh," Melody cooed mockingly. "You should've stayed in the deep where you belonged, Ana. Not gallivanting with humans.”

“What are you talking about? We came up here together! Aren’t you doing the same thing?”

Melody scoffed. Her grip on Ana tightened. “I’m not the one fucking humans. You were going to tell him about us! You’re the traitor!”

Ana's world flipped upside-down as Melody tossed her into the air and then caught her again. With each cruel toss, her stomach lurched as despair closed in around her.

Melody tossed Ana onto her living room couch with a flick of her wrist.

“I’m going to change into something comfy for our fun night together. Don’t go far.” Melody mocked in a cruel voice.

Ana struggled to her feet. Her eyes widened as she noticed her former friend had left her cell phone on the coffee table. This was her chance.

Ana backed up and then took off at a run. As she neared the edge of the couch, she jumped. She landed on the hard surface, knocking her breath out. She wobbled to her feet and rushed to the giant cell phone.

She pressed the touch screen. She racked her brain for a code. She remembered Melody and her getting phones and choosing their first lock screen codes together. Ana hoped Melody didn’t change it.

Luck was on Ana’s side; the code worked.

Ana quickly dialed Forest’s number. Ana’s heart sank when the dial tone went to voicemail.

Ana left her voice mail in a rush.

“Forest, please get this! I made a mistake! You were right! About Melody! Please come and get me! Her address is…...” Ana let out a yelp as Melody’s giant hand grabbed her.

“Naughty, Naughty.” Melody mocked. She looked at the phone and laughed. “Aw, he didn’t even answer!” Melody cackled. “It doesn’t matter; he can’t save you.”

Ana struggled in her tight fist. Ana cried in pain as her body decided to transform now of all times. She bucked in pain as her legs turned into a tail and her skin turned to scales.

“Oh, how fun! I know what I’m going to do with you now!” Melody said to her gasping friend.

Ana struggled to breathe. She needed water!

Melody walked to her kitchen, filled a mixing bowl with water, and Dropped Ana into it. Ana breathed in through her gills.

Ana’s relief was short-lived.

“You know I’m hungry…. I think you’d make a perfect sushi roll.” Melody said with a cruel grin.

“What! You can’t eat me!” Ana replied in shock.

“Of course I can. This is what traitors get: a one-way trip to my belly,” Melody replied, rubbing her belly.

Melody's eyes gleamed with a dark hunger as the bamboo mat clattered onto the countertop. With practiced hands, she spread out a sheet of nori, her lips twisting into a smirk as she caught Ana's horrified gaze. The rice was patted down with a cold precision.

"Please, Melody," Ana's voice trembled, "This is... it's cannibalism!"

"Darling, you're hardly a person at this diminutive size," Melody scoffed, rolling her eyes. She picked up Ana by her blue tail, Ana dangled there gasping for breath. "Think of it as giving your existence some grand purpose."

Ana's cry was muffled as she was pressed against the sticky rice. The roll came together with a few swift movements, sealing Ana within a culinary tomb.

"First, the tail," Melody whispered to herself, reaching for the knife with deliberate slowness. "Once I eat your tail," she mused aloud, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "I wonder how far I'll get before you stop screaming."

The click of the lock being picked was so quiet that Melody didn’t notice. She was far too focused on playing with her meal. The door swung open, causing Melody to drop the knife in shock. Forest's frame filled the entryway, his eyes quickly taking in the scene.

"Where is she?!" he bellowed, crossing the room in three long strides.

Melody hissed and grabbed the knife she had dropped. Before she could drive it into the foolish human, his fist connected with her jaw, a crack echoing through the room as she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Forest looked around, staring in horror at Ana’s blue tail sticking out of an uncut sushi roll. The blue tail thrashed back and forth with her struggles. Wasting no time, Forest scooped the sushi roll containing Ana into his palms, unrolling it gently. Ana's tiny chest heaved with relieved sobs as she was freed from her confines. He quickly filled a cup with water from the sink and tenderly placed Ana inside.

Forest's frown deepened as he glanced back at Melody's prone figure. "She won't stop. Not unless I make sure of it." He rummaged through Melody’s coat closet until he found a couple of scarves. He returned to Melody and started to tie her arms behind her back and her legs together. Melody slowly gained consciousness.

"Filthy human! Going to find you later. Kill you both," Melody slurred through her daze, her threats weak.

Forest merely shook his head.

Forest began to search Melody's apartment. He suspected she had played some role in Ana’s shrinking and hoped to find a clue to help his tiny girlfriend.

Forest's eyes narrowed as they settled on the vial of powder nestled among scattered trinkets on Melody's vanity. His hand reached out, fingers closing around the delicate container as he brought it closer to the light, watching the contents shimmer in the light.

"Is this it? The shrinking powder?" he inquired, his gaze shifting to where Melody lay tied up.

She sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "What does it matter to you? There is no cure."

"Tell me how to reverse this," he demanded. Again, Melody stayed silent. Forest strode over to her and grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Tell me now, or you'll regret it."

Melody smirked, utterly unintimidated. "There is no cure. Ana will stay this size forever."

Forest's blood boiled. He took a pinch of the powder and blew it at Melody, satisfaction flooding him as she shrieked in outrage. The powder enveloped her, and before his eyes, she began to shrink down to Ana's size, her mermaid tail forming in place of her legs.

He plucked her from the floor as she struggled to draw breath, clutching at her neck.

He deposited her in the mixing bowl that was filled with water. He watched impassively as she sputtered. Finally, she steadied herself, glaring daggers at him.

“If you ever want to return to your correct size, you better tell me the cure.” Forest threatened. He figured this had to work. Now Melody was in the same danger as Ana.

Melody's eyes blazed with defiance, her small chest heaving. "I'd rather see her drown than live another day with your filthy human hands on her."

Forest's brow furrowed, a surge of anger rising within him. "This can all end, Melody. Tell me how to reverse the shrinking powder. You can have your life back. Give Ana back her life."

She spat a curse at him, her body trembling with fury and fear. "Never."

"Think about it, Melody. All this can stop—the moment you decide to do what's right."

Forest then spotted the water bottle he had given Melody earlier. With ease, he gathed the redhead mermaid up and pushed her into the bottle, making sure the lid was screwed on tight. He could feel the faint vibrations through the plastic of her hitting the sides in anger.

Forest glanced at the cup holding Ana. With care, he picked her container up.

“Forest? How did you get here so fast?” Ana asked.

Forest blushed. “To tell you the truth, I was already here. I followed you two…..I had this horrible feeling. And when I got your voice message, I ran straight in. I’m sorry I missed that call.”

“Oh god, Forest, you were right. She was gonna kill me…... Thank you.” Ana replied, her eyes misting up with tears.

"Let's go home," Forest murmured, his voice low. He secured both mermaids with meticulous care and set out for his apartment.

[tinycoded360]

Lilliput Adventures bonus- Fanart

@gt-daboss did some awesome fan art for this story! I love it so much; it's the first fan art I've ever received! Please go check them out and their other work!

I'll be adding more fanart here, if I get more that is 🤭😝

[tinycoded360]

lilliput Adventures Chapter 5

@gt-daboss @voraciousvore @emijkoxy

*Knock, knock, Knock*

Tori rolled over, bringing her pillow with her, trying to block out the sound.

*knock, Knock, Knock. *

This time, knocking jolted Tori awake. She sat up with a gasp, heart pounding.

"Victoria? Honey, are you alright in there?" Her mom's concerned voice carried through the door. Tori’s eyes widened as the door to her room opened.

Tori's eyes darted around the room, scanning for any sign of the tiny Lilliputians. The sheets and floor were empty. Oh no, where were they?

Tori’s eyes darted back to the entrance of her room. Her parents stood at the threshold of her room.

"Uh, y-yeah, Mom, I'm fine!" Tori called, trying to keep the panic from spreading through her voice.“What's up?"

"Well, it's almost noon," her mom replied. "I just wanted to check on you and make sure everything is okay. We saw the car out front."

Tori swallowed hard. "Yep, all good! Nothing’s wrong!” She held her breath, hoping they would believe her.

"Doesn't look like nothing," her father interjected, his brows furrowed in paternal worry. "The windshield is smashed! And you're home early. Something's not right. What happened?”

"I wasn't feeling great," Tori lied, darting her gaze away from their probing eyes. "Thought I might be coming down with something, so I left early. And then, on the way..." She let her voice trail off as if gathering her thoughts.

"And then what?" her mother prompted, gently touching Tori's arm to urge her to continue.

"On the way home," Tori continued, a flush creeping up her neck, "a deer jumped out in front of the car. I swerved to miss it, but...you know, the windshield... got smashed pretty badly….. I’ll need to get it fixed."

Tori's mother hesitated, her lips parted as if to question further or nag Tori on such reckless actions, but with a glance exchanged between the parents, the unspoken words hung suspended in the air. Her father simply patted Tori on the back, a silent nod affirming their decision not to pry.

"Alright then," he said, his voice steady but eyes still clouded with concern. "We're here if you need anything, Tor."

"Thanks, Dad," Tori replied, her voice nearly a whisper. Her gratitude was genuine despite her gnawing guilt for the deception.

Her mother offered a warm smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes; her daughter’s story didn’t sit right with her. Tori watched as her parents left her room. She quickly went to her door and shut it behind them. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

After a long pause, she heard their footsteps retreat down the hall. Tori exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping.

Her head swiveled left and right. "Telwin?" she whispered urgently. "Fildor? Mavri? Where are you guys?"

A flash of red hair peeked out from under the bed. Mavri stood and waved her tiny arms.

Tori lowered herself onto her hands and knees, careful not to make any sudden movements that might startle her tiny companions. Mavri had her hands on her hips, looking up expectantly. Behind her, Fildor, Telwin, Linric, and Silvo emerged one by one from the shadows beneath the bed frame. They looked disheveled but unharmed.

"Thank goodness," Tori breathed. "I was so worried. I'm sorry about my parents, I hope they didn't scare you."

Fildor dusted off his tunic. "It's quite alright, Tori. We're getting used to all the giant-sized interruptions around here."

Silvo shook her head. "Still don't know how we'll manage with your folks and that Trina girl nosing around. Seems mighty risky if you ask me."

"Tori, we need to talk," Mavri spoke with authority.

Tori's fingers fidgeted nervously, her guilt bubbling to the surface. "Mavri, I'm so sorry about what happened with Trina. I never meant for any of you to get hurt. I should've protected you better, and I just-"

Fildor held up a hand, his gruff voice cutting through her apology. "That's not what this is about, lass. What's done is done."

Mavri nodded, her eyes softening slightly. "Fildor's right. We've come to realize that getting home may not be possible right now. Those model boats you bought are not seaworthy. We're trapped here, Tori. And we need to figure out what that means for our future."

"You can stay with me," Tori said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. I promise."

Telwin approached, his small hand patting her knee in a gesture of gratitude. "We appreciate that, Tori. Truly. But there are some things even you can't protect us from."

As if on cue, Tori's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached up, her hand trembling slightly as she grabbed the device. The screen lit up with a new message from Trina.

+From Trina+

-Ur Real stupid, u know that? -

-I know where u live-

-those things are mine-

-u think u can keep them hidden? I'm calling the cops. They’ll find them, I’ll tell them u stole something from me.-

Tori's blood ran cold, her breath catching in her throat. Tori's mind raced, desperately searching for a solution. She couldn't let Trina hurt them, but she also couldn't risk them being taken away. Tori’s hands started to shake, and her breath started coming in faster and faster.

Tori felt a small weight on her abdomen, pulling her attention away from the ominous text messages. She ignored it, too caught up in her own thoughts and worries.

Telwin climbed up Tori’s shirt, his tiny hands gripping the fabric as he ascended the mountain of her body. She remained still, her breath shallow, as he made his way to her shoulder. *Poor lass hasn’t even noticed me…*

Telwin peered at the phone screen, scowling as he read the threatening words. He patted Tori's face, his touch gentle yet startling the giantess. Instinctively, she jerked back, but Telwin maintained his grip, refusing to be thrown off.

"Easy there, giant," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Take a deep breath. We'll figure this out together."

Tori nodded, mimicking Telwin's exaggerated breathing. Slowly, the tightness in her chest began to ease, and the panic that had gripped her moments ago started to subside.

From the floor, Silvo's voice cut through the tension. "The other giants might want to hurt us, Tori. We need more than just your protection."

Linric, standing beside Silvo, nodded vigorously. "She's right. We can't be out in the open like this all the time. It's too risky."

Silvo shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Maybe we can live in your walls."

Mavri stepped forward, her voice carrying the weight of her people's fate. "We've already lost so many on our journey. An ocean trip on a poor craft would spell certain death. “Her eyes grew distant, haunted by memories. “We've thought about it, Tori, and if we stay, we'll need backup plans to escape any unfriendlies."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind, and her eyes widened with excitement. "My uncle!" she exclaimed, causing the tiny people to look up at her in surprise. "He has a boat down at the dock, it’s an Inboard fishing boat.He's usually away on long trips, but he's back for the month."

Tori's heart raced as she continued, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I could borrow it, try to get you home if you know the way. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a chance, right?" She ignored to mention that she’d need to convince her uncle to take her out there or do something she had never done before……steel it.

The Lilliputians exchanged glances, a flicker of hope igniting in their eyes. Mavri spoke up, her voice cautiously optimistic. "If we could get a look at some maps, we might be able to figure out the correct route."

Tori nodded eagerly, her mind already racing with the logistics of their potential journey.

Tori reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she navigated to the browser. "Maps, right. Let me see what I can find online," she said, her voice laced with determination.

The Lilliputians gathered closer. Tori held her phone down so they could see. She scrolled through the search results, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Fildor traced a route with his finger, his voice low and thoughtful. "If we follow this current here, we might be able to retrace our way back….”

Linric nodded, his expression grave. "It won't be an easy journey, but it's our best chance."

Tori felt nervous but determined. She wanted to help them as much as she could. It was just a matter of convincing her uncle to take her on a trip. She refused to consider the alternative of just ‘borrowing’ his boat for a bit.

"I'll talk to my uncle first thing in the morning," she said, her voice more steady than she felt.

Telwin, still perched on Tori's shoulder, gave her a gentle pat. "We can't thank you enough, Tori."

Tori blushed. Her hands still shook from all the excitement. *How am I gonna do this? There’s no way Uncle Jim will take me out that far…...*

Chapter 1

previous chapter

chapter 6

[tinycoded360]

Thank you! Those kind words are encouraging! I’m still practicing allot with references and tracing to practice, it’s slowly getting better 😁

G/t october prompt Day 10: Dancing

I drew my two OCs, Forest and Ana Dancing, in the water.

[tinycoded360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 2: Help arrives

Meanwhile, the Ares III crew was busy completing their daily tasks on the surface of Mars.

Rick saw a speck in the distance through his binoculars. As it drew closer, he realized it was something strange - a body? "Hey guys, you should come see this..." he called over the radio.

****

As they approached, they found a pale, skinny humanoid lying unconscious on the ground. The figure's skin seemed to emit a faint glow, offset by stark white hair that seemed to defy gravity. But what astonished them most was the fact that the creature was breathing the thin Martian air without any protective gear. More concerning was the glowing green liquid around it. It was seeping out of the creature, staining the ground below it.

"Is it...an alien?" Mark whispered, equal parts awestruck and apprehensive.

 Dr. Beck kneeled next to the motionless figure. Dr. Beck noted its slender build and the green blood seeping from various wounds. "We need to get him back to the hab."

 Beck frowned when he tried to find a pulse. He could not find one. He wondered if the creature was already dead. But that couldn’t be right. It was still bleeding, and it had flinched a bit when he touched its cold skin. He could see the fluttering movement under its eyelids. Beck tried to keep any rash judgment at bay. This was a new lifeform, and it was highly likely it functioned differently compared to a human.

"Man, NASA's going to flip when they hear about this," Rick said, grinning beneath his helmet.

*****

Danny drifted in and out of consciousness. Voices swirled around him, urgent and confused.

"It's still breathing somehow. The atmosphere here must not be toxic to its species."

"Let's get it inside. Careful now, it's badly hurt."

Strong but gentle hands slid under Danny's limp body, lifting him effortlessly. He blearily took in the NASA logo on the man's suit - Martinez, the pilot. Danny wanted to speak and explain himself but was too weak to do anything. He let his head loll against Martinez's chest as he was carried into the hub.

Danny became dimly aware of hands pressed against his neck, wrist, and chest—checking vital signs. Danny forced his eyes open and immediately shut them against the harsh lights overhead. He was no longer outside. The air here smelled sterile, with an undertone of body odor. Where had they taken him?

Danny heard a faint gasp. A hand smoothed his hair out of his face. They had noticed the moment his eyes opened. A feminine voice was saying soothing words to him. His head hurt too much to concentrate on the words. He couldn’t help pressing his head into the touch of the hand. Danny cracked his eyes open; he could see humanoid figures around him in hazmat suits. He felt his breath quicken. Was he back with the GIW?

The hand on his head slid down to cup his cheeks. He turned his head to the side, away from the other figures tending to him. The face inside the hazmat suit locked eyes with him. She was trying to say soothing words to him and calm him down.

Danny felt his breath even out as he locked eyes with the other person. He felt a jolt of recognition. He knew who this was. It was Beth…. Beth Johanssen. One of the astronauts of the Ares III.  He felt a jolt of excitement, but then he felt a rush of fear; he could feel he was still in his ghost half. What must they think of him? What if they turn him over to the GIW? Do they even know about Amity Park ghosts? Danny wished his powers were working so he could sink through the floor and disappear.

Danny closed his eyes, not wanting to see what they would do to him.

Rough hands grasped Danny's shoulders, peeling off the tattered remains of his suit. He whimpered involuntarily as the fabric pulled away from dried blood. The hands stilled momentarily, then continued their work, more gently this time. His boots and the rest of the suit followed. Danny shivered as cool air hit his exposed skin.

A finger pressed lightly against his wrist, counting his pulse. "It's slow. Maybe 50 BPM?" said a puzzled male voice in a soft tone.

"Body temperature is low, too. Around 85 degrees Fahrenheit," said another voice, this time female.

Danny kept his eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness. He could feel Johanssen's hand gently petting his head, trying to offer comfort. He could sense the emotions around him. At least he couldn’t feel any ill will. But he was still hurt and scared.

"Look at this." A finger lightly traced one of the fresh wounds on Danny's chest, making him flinch. "These are clearly from some kind of blades or knives."

“Hey! Be gentle, you’re scaring him!” The voice of Beth spoke up.

“Oh, sorry.” The male voice answered in a sheepish tone.

"Let's get him patched up, and we can take some samples to analyze."

"....NASA will be eager to get their hands on him for further study..."

“They better treat him respectfully; this is our first contact, and we don’t want to hurt our new friend,” Beth said, her tone fiercely protective.

Danny tensed, preparing for more pain; he whimpered as he felt the pain of needle and thread binding his flesh back together. He couldn’t help the cries of pain that left his lips. He tried to wiggle away but felt multiple hands pin him down.

“I know, I know, we’re sorry, we don’t know if we can give you anything for the pain.” Beth's voice whispered next to his ear. Her hands held his head steady. She kept a string of soothing words, trying to keep her tone soft and kind.

“He probably doesn’t even understand you.” Another female voice spoke. Danny guessed it must be the mission commander, Melissa Lewis.

“But tone might help, see’s he’s not struggling as much.” A male voice argued back.

Danny went in and out of consciousness. He whimpered at the pain of them patching him up.  Gauze followed, wrapping firmly around his torso. He felt relaxed, he felt so tired, and he was still in so much pain. He let out a soft sigh, too exhausted to keep up the act. He felt the pull of sleep. Danny gave in and let the darkness of sleep take him.

"Those were not natural wounds," said Doctor Beck. "The scarring indicates prolonged torture. It might have been some kind of experiment that escaped or a victim of some kind."

“But how did it get here?” Melissa asked with a concerned look.

“Yeah, is a crashed ship or something we should be worrying about?” asked Rick.

“NASA didn’t detect any UFOs.” Melissa pointed out.

“What if someone or something comes looking for him?” asked Watney.

“Let's hope not; if they're hostile, we have nothing to defend ourselves with.” Alex Vogel stated.

 Beck noted the differences between this boy and a human. His skin emitted a soft glow, his ears were pointed, and his nails were claw-like. When they checked his vitals, they found that his heart rate and body temperature were much lower than normal.

Despite the anomalies, the basic anatomy was humanoid. "He's definitely male," Beck noted clinically during the exam. "And based on the development, I'd guess his species matures at a similar rate to humans. He seems to be an adolescent."

Beck then took a blood sample, trying to be as gentle and non-invasive as possible. He had to take multiple cause the first view started to dissolve some of the tools. He had to find a container that could hold the blood. A glass tube seemed to do the trick.

"Be careful with the blood samples," Dr. Beck warned as they collected tissue samples for study. "It seems to dissolve some of our tools."

They noticed multiple scars on his body, evidence of past traumas, and observed signs of infection setting in around his current injuries. A feeling of empathy began to well up within the crew, their hearts aching for this child who had endured so much pain.

"Is he going to be alright?" Beth asked, her voice cracking as she looked down at the unconscious boy.

“Time will tell; we did our best for him,” Beck answered.

They conducted a light examination of his body, careful not to cause him any distress. They snapped photos and scribbled notes for a detailed report to send back to NASA. The news of discovering an alien would be world-changing. This would no doubt turn NASA on its head, probably causing some chaos back on Earth.

As the crew continued to observe their alien guest, they dressed him in a spare jumpsuit that hung loosely on his small frame. It was clear he needed time to heal and regain his strength.

"Let's move him to the crew quarters where he can rest," Lewis decided. They had done all they could for now. She logged the last few notes in her report, tagging it as a high priority for transmission back to NASA. They had decided it would be hard to avoid any contamination or disease from the boy. So they took off their hazmat suits and decided to focus on caring for and comforting their guest.

Watney carefully gathered the boy up, frowning at his lightweight frame. He gently laid him on one of the bunks.

Watney tucked the blanket around the sleeping boy, noting how young and vulnerable he looked.  

The boy's rest was fitful, face pinched as fever wracked his body. Beck monitored his vitals. Beck was unsure of what temperature was normal for the boy. So, he just kept an eye on him to see if he started to go towards distress. Beck had so many questions for their new guest. He felt excitement among his concerns. Beck never imagined they would, ACTUALLY, come across an alien on their mission. Never thought this would be how he went down in the history books.

Beck reached out and smoothed the hair out of the boy’s face. He frowned at the amount of sweat the kid was producing. His body was no doubt fighting off an infection. This kid needed them; whatever he went through was no doubt awful. The kid whimpered but pressed his face into his hand, seeking comfort.

Their mission had changed; this alien kid’s survival was now their priority.

Chapter 3:

[tinycoded360]

Gtober day 13 - moonlight

This is me! Aka my new character Noelle, just enjoying walking in the moonlight, imagining giant walking besides her as her protector :3 🥰🥰

[tinycoded360]

G/t october prompt Day 10: Dancing

I drew my two OCs, Forest and Ana Dancing, in the water.

[tinycoded360]

can’t imagine living in a world where authors aren’t allowed to explore darker themes and topics through literature

[tinycoded360]

Women can write m/m. Men can write f/f. Asexuals can write filthy smut. Lesbians and gay men can write m/f. It's all arbitrary anyway. Who give a shit.

[tinycoded360]

Giganterra (Final Chapter/ Epilogue)

Prologue/ TOC | Previous (61)

Content Warning: None

Word Count: 3.4k

------ Chapter 62: Diplomacy ------

King Ronny arrived at the wall. Just like his late father, he’d never been here personally. A latent anxiety bubbled up inside him as he gazed at the weathered stones stacked high, another monument to Giganterra’s oppressive influence. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he questioned Leon, as he dismounted his horse. He brought his hand to his shoulder, allowing Tanya to grip his fingers for support so she wouldn’t fall off. “I’m sure they hate us. I doubt they’ll want anything to do with us.” 

“This is absolutely necessary,” Leon explained. He carried a wooden box full of diplomatic gifts. “Even if it’s difficult. They are a neighboring country, so we need to have diplomatic channels open, in case problems arise. And that’s not even addressing our ugly history with them. I’m sure there will be plenty of snags along the way.” 

Ronny sighed. “I figured you’d say something like that. Let’s get this over with. Joey?” 

“At your service, Your Majesty!” Joey chirped. Normally, he’d hop off his horse with alacrity, but he was careful not to jostle all the humans he was carrying in his hand as he cautiously dismounted. Joey was in a fantastic mood, eager to explore the human lands again, but this time with an unburdened conscience. Eren, perched on his shoulder, playfully tugged on a lock of his messy hair, making him blush. 

Leon edged away from the humans, avoiding eye contact. He still felt terrible guilt for his role in enslaving the tiny folk during King Richard’s reign. However, he was heartened to see that the new king sought to undo the wrongs of his father. He held hope for a brighter future, and he understood he had a very important role to play in building that future, since King Ronny couldn’t possibly pull it off by himself. Despite his internal misgivings, he followed the king and Joey, the new royal guard, through the gate. The guard shack was empty, as Ronny had dismissed the guards from their duty permanently. 

“Whoa.” Ronny stopped in his tracks as he entered Minimaterra, staring in wonder at the forest of tiny, fuzzy trees that hardly reached his ankles. With the transition into fall, the trees displayed a vibrant patchwork of red, orange, yellow, and brown puffs of leaves, laid out across the landscape like a quilt. 

“So this is what my forest looks like from a giant’s perspective,” Eren mused. “No wonder you guys are so careless, stomping all over the trees.” 

“Sorry! It’s not intentional!” Joey blubbered. Eren smirked and elbowed his neck. Ronny rolled his eyes and began carefully tiptoeing through the forest, trying his best not to carve a path of destruction underfoot. Joey traced the king’s footsteps with his own, to minimize the damage caused, but he still winced whenever he heard the snap of a tree trunk under his boot. 

“Aw, Joey, I was just kidding! Don’t feel bad,” Eren consoled him in his ear, in a softer tone. She kissed his neck, caressing it with her small hand, and he smiled tenderly. 

“Watch your step, Your Majesty!” Leon called out. “There’s a house right there!” 

“Oops,” Ronny gulped, retracting his boot. He frowned at the family of humans glaring up at him. 

“Ronny, try not to look so scary,” Tanya whispered in his ear. “I know you have a habit of masking your feelings with a frigid expression, but you need to unlearn that.” 

Ronny furrowed his brow, but dutifully thawed his features. “My apologies, subjects of Minimaterra. I meant no harm.” He gave a deferential flourish, careful not to knock Tanya off his shoulder. The humans blinked with amazement, not expecting gentlemanly behavior from the envoys of Giganterra. Ronny and the rest of the diplomatic party continued on. They passed through the forest to wider, flatter plains. 

“Don’t step on those brown grassy patches,” Joey instructed the prince, pointing to the neat squares of farmland. “Those may look like grass, but they’re actually crops. Corn and wheat, I believe.” 

“Thank you, Joey,” Ronny replied. He was happy to see that the squire—now a knight—was finally comfortable with speaking openly around him. The stiff, formal nervousness that Joey exhibited before tended to wear on his nerves. He regarded Joey not merely as a servant, and an ally, but a real friend. The change was subtle, but the genuine connection warmed his heart. 

He felt a twitch of anxiety as the small castle, surrounded by a small city, materialized in the distance. He focused on his feet to distract himself. He had to walk slower as the country roads gave way to paved streets buzzing with miniature people and horses. Minimaterra’s citizens were hasty to get out of the way, distrustful that the giants wouldn’t stomp on anybody. The buildings were cramped closer together, forcing the giants to shuffle their feet in a straight row. 

“Excuse me, sir!” a faint voice squeaked from the road. “Sir!”  

Leon glanced down, confused. “Me?” 

“Yes, you!” 

Leon cautiously crouched down, squinting as he searched for the source of the voice. Most of the humans scrambled away like mice, but one man stood unflinchingly in the giant’s path. Leon lowered his head to get a closer look. His eyes widened with surprised recognition. 

“You’re that fruit merchant!” he said. His face twisted up with embarrassment as he recalled accidentally crushing his stall. “I do apologize again-” 

“No need!” the merchant interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness and generosity! With the gigantic coins you gave me, my family was able to buy better equipment and seeds to expand our business! We are flourishing now!” 

“Oh! I’m very glad to hear that,” Leon responded, relieved. 

“I wasn’t expecting to see you again, otherwise I would’ve had my wife make you an apple pie or something…” The man scampered over to his stall, rummaging through his wares. He returned with his arms hugging a huge watermelon. “Bring your hand down.” 

“Are you sure? You really don’t have to give me anything…” 

“Yes.” Leon sheepishly lowered his hand to the cobblestones. With a grunt, the man hoisted the watermelon into his hand and rolled it towards the center. “Here.” 

The watermelon looked comically small in the giant’s hand, like a pill, but Leon accepted the gift with genuine gratitude. “Thank you.” He figured it would be polite to consume the offering as intended, so he popped the watermelon whole into his mouth and cracked it like a sunflower seed between his molars. A burst of sweet juice hit his tongue. “Very tasty. Thanks again.” 

 The man hadn’t expected the giant to bite into the watermelon without cutting the thick rind, so he could only stare open-mouthed. Leon flushed when he noticed. “I enjoyed that very much. I-I must be going. Thanks,” he repeated awkwardly. He slowly raised himself back to a standing position and stepped away, over a low building. An invisible weight unburdened his shoulders as he recognized that he had done some good for at least one human—and now, he had the tools to do far more.  

Joey and Ronny waited for him in the central plaza, just a few strides away, where they had more space. “Ready?” Joey asked. Leon and Ronny nodded firmly. They stepped over the palace walls into the courtyard, mindful of the miniscule gardens. Ronny fancied, with some amusement, that the courtyard vaguely resembled Giganterra’s, just on a smaller scale. 

Their presence required no announcement, since their lofty silhouettes had been spotted on the horizon from miles away. King Charles waited for them in the highest balcony of his tallest tower, his arms crossed defiantly over his chest. He scowled fearlessly as he glared up at the giant men. 

“What’s this about?” he questioned with a note of irritation. “Back for more tribute? So soon?” 

Ronny’s stoic gaze faltered. “No. I’ve come to inform you that King Richard of Giganterra, of the Hardon Dynasty, is deceased. I am his son. The new king. King Ronny. Also of the Hardon Dynasty.” The announcement that he had rehearsed so meticulously in his head, over and over, tripped over his tongue and spilled out in a clumsy mess. 

However, his delivery was not foremost on the human king’s mind. King Charles didn’t visibly flinch, but his dark skin showed a pallor that evinced his nervousness at the news. “What?” He paused, still shocked. “YOU’RE the new king?” 

“Yes,” Ronny confirmed. The tiny human soldiers at Ronny’s feet rippled with discomfort and pointed their spears, unsure of the giant’s intentions. 

“Never in all my years has a king of Giganterra personally graced my kingdom with his presence,” Charles uttered. 

Ronny swallowed. “R-right. Well, things are going to change under my rule.” 

“How so?” the human king asked suspiciously. 

“For the better, I hope,” Ronny clarified quickly. He straightened his posture, putting forth his best effort to appear regal. “I wish to formally apologize for the wrongs us giants have committed against your people.” 

The human king’s jaw dropped as he was rendered speechless. Ronny gestured for Leon to open the wooden box he’d been carrying. Leon pulled back the lid to reveal a cornucopia of gifts, including precious metals, jewels, exotic spices, silks, and other luxurious goods. While the stash was relatively modest for a giant king, it was a wealth of priceless treasures for the small folk. The human king couldn’t believe his eyes. 

“We’ve brought gifts.” Poor recompense, I’m sure, but what else can we do? “We’re also relinquishing the humans who wished to return to Minimaterra.” With that cue, Joey kneeled down and released the humans in his hands. They were received with joy by the soldiers below. 

“So few…” Charles mentioned forlornly. “Where are the rest? Especially the more recent tributes?” 

“Ah! Many of them have chosen to stay in Giganterra of their own free will. Including Candy, Millie, Iris, Jackie, Addison… uh, Eren…”—he pointed towards her—“And my girl Tanya.” He caressed her with his finger, and she hugged it in return. 

“Really? They chose to stay?” Charles asked, directing his attention to the human women. The hostility and skepticism dripping from his words was palpable. 

“Absolutely. King Ronny is my fiancé,” Tanya explained. Eren looked teasingly at Joey and poked his neck. He scratched his cheek and flushed. 

“I don’t believe it,” Charles mumbled. He stiffened as he seemed to recall something. “Wait! What about the men? What about… my advisor? Gio?” 

Ronny’s smile faded into sadness. “Oh… I hate to be the one to inform you, but… tragically, they did not survive the reign of the old tyrant.” 

“Oh.” A flicker of regret crossed Charles’s features, but he maintained strict control over his emotions. “I see.” 

Ronny didn’t want to dwell on this uncomfortable truth, so he hastened to move the conversation along. “I’ve dismissed the guards that watched the walls around your country. We plan to demolish the barrier entirely, so that you will no longer be prisoners within your own lands.” 

The smaller king blanched. “What? No! Then we’ll be at the mercy of any giant oaf that comes clomping along! That’s a terrible idea!” 

“Actually, no. As it turns out, this was a lie to keep you all contained. My royal scholar, Milton, has done extensive research on Minimaterra. Your country exists on enchanted lands that will shrink any giant creature, whether man or beast, that sets foot here against the will of the giant king. You are protected by the same magic that curses you into this existence.”  

“Impossible,” Charles murmured, his mouth hanging open. 

Ronny knew his words were blunt, but he felt compelled to be honest, in order to gain trust. “If it makes you feel better, I can engage one of my trusted knights, Sir Maneat—erm, Sir Martin, to patrol the border to expel any ruffians.” 

“I still don’t believe it. How could you possibly know if that’s true? Did you shrink someone yourself?” 

“No; nevertheless, it’s true. In fact, Milton dug into the archives and found records of political prisoners that were exiled to Minimaterra and shrunk, never to be heard from again. The kings of yore used this place as a dumping ground to eliminate any person they found to be… inconvenient.” 

“Why are you doing all this now? Why tell us these things? What is your motive?” Charles demanded to know, digging into the heart of the issue. 

Ronny paused to collect his words, stroking his chin. “My father was a terrible man. He committed horrific atrocities. I… I don’t want to follow in his footsteps. I want to do everything I can to right these wrongs. I want to use my birthright to carve a path forward to a new beginning for our two kingdoms. Does that make sense?” 

“I suppose it does.” 

“Will you work with me, to realize my vision? Will you trust me? I am here. I have clawed through the worst filth you can imagine to be standing before you here today. I have overcome my worst fears and slayed the beast looming over me for my entire life. I have risked everything, life and limb, sacrificed my honor and dignity, betrayed and conquered. I have opened my heart and soul and now I bare myself before you in humble acquiescence. Will you accept me?” 

Ronny dropped to his knees, careful not to squash any humans in the process, to be somewhat more level with the human king. He held out his hand, close enough for Charles to reach out and touch his finger. The smaller man stiffened.  “What do you say?” 

King Charles hesitated tor a long moment, thinking hard. Finally, he extended his arm and laid his hand on the tip of Ronny’s middle finger. “I accept.” 

------ Epilogue ------

Under Leon’s guiding hand, Giganterra prospered. King Ronny was beloved by the people for his just and open rule. He rolled back his father’s more oppressive and draconian laws and reduced the heavy burden of taxation from his citizens. He hired scribes and scholars to make public the knowledge that had been locked away in the royal library, including the true history of Minimaterra. While Ronny was lamentably ignorant on leadership, he was willing to learn, and Leon was more than willing to use his knowledge to aid the new king. 

Ronny promoted Milton to be his chief royal scholar. Milton was eager to take the position and pursue research projects that would benefit the kingdom, as well as enrich his personal knowledge. Millie chose to stay with the kind giant who had saved her. They helped each other heal from their past losses, and soon became romantically involved. Milton treasured Millie and uplifted her, while Millie admired Milton for his compassion, gentleness, and intelligence. He made her feel safe, despite being a giant. 

Iris stayed with Milton as well, slowly recovering from her traumas. Over time, she became less afraid of Milton, and to a lesser extent Martin, though she still felt deeply uncomfortable around other giants. She started to speak more and show more energy. She liked to work out in the garden and enjoy the warm sunshine. She became good friends with Millie and Candy. Though she was uncertain what she wanted to do moving forward, she was grateful to have a comforting environment where she could finally rest and have peace, where she wouldn’t be eaten constantly. 

Ronny fired Bucky from the head chef position and put Chef Cruor in charge of the kitchen. Cruor was ecstatic to finally be able to cook and refine his art as he saw fit, without the boss pushing him around. The quality of the food dramatically improved. Addison, who had become attached to the chef, chose to stay with him rather than return to Minimaterra. She assisted him when he cooked in the little ways that she could. She was very happy in her new role. He guarded her jealously, not allowing anyone to touch or hold her without his direct supervision. He lost some of the weight that Bucky had packed on him, but he no longer resembled a scraggly wolf. He experienced euphoria through his art and his special connection with Addison. 

Ronny retired Ajax, removing the magical stone from his head and destroying it. The guard was given a proper burial and mourning. At Milton’s urging, Ronny also freed the unicorn from the basement. He wasn’t sure what to do with Hunter, as he didn’t entirely trust him, but Hunter was content to be left alone and continue his experiments—albeit only the ones that Ronny deemed ethical. 

Initially, Jackie planned to return to Minimaterra, but she decided to stay to support her friend Iris. Milton gladly accepted her into his home, just as he had with the other tiny women. Chester couldn’t resist stopping by to visit her. Despite his gluttonous nature, she had to admit she had developed a basic respect for him that was turning into fondness, especially with his good deeds of saving Iris and helping Ronny kill the evil king. He showed restraint for his urges and had provided her some comfort during her confinement, after all. To her surprise, she got along very well with Chester, and he treated her with the upmost care. She found herself wanting to stay in Giganterra even after Iris recovered. She wanted to spend more time with Chester, a desire he was more than happy to indulge. 

Joey was promoted to knighthood and won the esteemed position of the king’s personal guard. Eren chose to stay with him; she found him fascinating, endearing, and attractive, and she enjoyed the adventures she could have everyday in the giant country. Joey was amazed by Eren’s boldness. They fell hard for each other and experienced a very fiery and passionate romance. 

Sir Maneater was welcomed back at the castle and restored to his original post. Candy got to experience the fairytale romance of her dreams with the handsome knight, who treated her like a priceless treasure. He was tasked with patrolling the border of Minimaterra where the wall used to be, not to keep the humans inside but to protect them from any disreputable giants seeking a pet or snack. At first, the humans feared him, but the more intrepid explorers learned how sweet and friendly he was and spread the word. With time, the humans regarded him as just another feature of the landscape, or even as an ally or friend. 

The citizens of Minimaterra were glad to finally have the walls removed, though many chose to stay within the miniaturized country. The braver humans explored the surrounding lands, usually under Martin’s watchful eye. They could also request giant escorts if needed. They prospered greatly with plentiful aid and resources from Giganterra. Though many humans continued to distrust the giants, relationships between the two countries improved significantly. 

Ronny didn’t quite understand why his late father had considered relations with King Ivan’s kingdom to be so critical, until Leon explained to him that Hardon had lusted after Ivan’s daughter. With that knowledge, Ronny dissolved Bianca’s marriage to Ray, since they obviously weren’t a good match. Bianca was broken inside after everything that had happened, and she mourned the loss of her small men, particularly Cesar. Although they didn’t leave behind any physical remains, she made small graves for them in the palace garden, where she would often sit and mourn. She made a gravestone for her unborn baby as well and placed it alongside Cesar's grave. Even so, she set her sights on moving forward and helping Ronny build a better life for the rest of the humans. It was the only way she could think of to atone for her transgressions and honor the lives of those lost to her father’s brutality. 

Tanya stayed with Ronny, of course, and became his queen, cementing the alliance between the two peoples. Even though Ronny had to deal with the stresses and responsibilities of ruling a kingdom, he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. Tanya was his light; she made him feel whole. He loved her with his entire heart, and he was thankful to her for freeing him, and indeed the whole kingdom, from the yoke of his tyrannical father. 

When Tanya suggested that Ronny create a new crest to represent his rule, the new giant king agreed with alacrity. He disposed of the sable wolf with silver and purple, and adopted a new emblem, a gold phoenix upon an azure background. Like a phoenix, Giganterra had risen from the ashes of destruction to be reborn into something new, something noble and beautiful. A new age had begun. 

Writing Masterpost

Tag List: @maybeiamdownbad @tinycoded360 @yummynomms

[tinycoded360]

Definitely Not A Mouse

Thank you so much for all the love on the previous part!

Previous: A Not So Average Night

Next part coming soon!

—————

Tucker bit back a yelp of terror as the world seemed to bottom out. He tumbled into the bottom of the bag alongside the chips, his small weight slightly crushing them. He found himself partially buried under the yellow salt-coated food, thankfully it was nowhere near heavy enough to crush the borrower.

Gravity forced him down as the bag shot high into the sky, the rapid motion causing bile to rise in Tucker's throat. He was jerked this way and that, slamming into the aluminum walls along with the chips as the human's thudding footsteps carried him away. A few moments later, a door slammed shut and the movement abruptly stopped.

The only thing Tucker could hear was his own hyperventilating breaths. The bag crinkled above him and a yellow light quickly filled the darkness. He threw up a hand at the sudden onslaught of light but it left as quickly as it came, covered by a giant green eye. Tucker balked further under the chips as the eye immediately zeroed in on him. The human gasped and Tucker was pitched forwards as the bag lurched away from the human's face.

"This....what...." A shocked voice rumbled outside the bag. There was an uncomfortably long moment of silence that filled Tucker with terror. He scrambled to get his feet under him but the tangle of chips effectively kept him stuck in place. Chips cracked underneath him as Tucker strained to get some control over his situation. His hand tightened on his weapon. If he could just reach a wall then he can easily cut his way out before Shawn got any ideas....

"Seriously Shawn?" Gus complained angrily, slamming another door shut. "How are we supposed to prove it wasn't the husband? You heard what Lassiter said!"

When Shawn failed to respond, Gus glanced over to his passenger. He gasped, "Shawn!" His friend has done ridiculous things in the past for the sake of solving a case, but this was on a whole new level. "Did you seriously take food from their house! Are you insane?"

Shawn finally pried his eyes away from the bag to look at Gus with wide eyes. His mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish out of water, something that rarely happened to the man.

Gus narrowed his eyes, "I'm not moving this car 'til you tell me what's going on with you." His voice was low and stern. It was clear he was not exaggerating.

"This is evidence for the case. At least I think it is...." He uneasily looked between Gus and the bag. Shawn could feel the slight shifts of whatever was stuck in there, solidifying the fact that this was real. Of course he knew something was in there when he snagged the bag, but he was expecting a rodent or a bug or anything that didn't resemble a tiny human. He ran a hand through his brown hair. "Let's just go back to the office and figure out what's going on." He finally decided.

His friend still didn't move the car, instead he was now criticality eyeing the chip bag as if he could see what's inside. Gus sighed, "Is there anything in there that's creepy, crawly, and has a bunch of legs?" He asked.

"No." Shawn answered aloud, inwardly hoping he got a good enough look.

"Alright then. But if we go to prison for tampering with evidence, I am testifying against you." Gus warned before turning the car on and beginning the short drive back to the office.

Inside the bag, Tucker flinched at the sound of the engine and toppled over as they began to drive. He landed in between a gap in the chips sinking even deeper into the bag. The conversation overhead confirmed his fears that things will only get worse from this point on once they arrived at the humans destination. Tucker had to escape before they had a chance to examine him.

He squirmed to free himself so he can cut a hole through the thin aluminum wall, but the chips proved more cumbersome than he initially thought. Each movement made it harder for him to free himself, and the car's sharp turns didn't help at all. It was like being stuck in a deep ball pit where any action to get out only made things more difficult.

It was all too soon when the engine went silent and the bag jerked again as the humans climbed out of the car. The bag shook violently each time Shawn took a step, ruining what little progress Tucker made towards freedom. Outside of his prison he heard some keys jingle and another door opening and closing. They arrived at their destination. Tucker's heartbeat roared in his ears and he renewed his struggles to get out.

Shawn walked over to his desk in the shared office space. Gus curiously watched as he pushed aside all the clutter on his desk while clutching the chip bag to his chest. He knew he must have noticed a small detail that no one else could hope to see. Shawn's keen eyes is what made him such an effective detective, no matter how annoying his process can get. But Gus failed to see how a bag of chips can be important to the case, especially in a way that made Shawn so uncharacteristically nervous.

Finally Shawn turned towards him. "Listen. I have no idea what's going on here, but promise not to freak out."

The seriousness in his friend's voice sent a jolt of worry through Gus. He warily eyed the innocent looking bag one more time before nodding in agreement, "You have my word," he swore quietly.

Tucker paid no mind to the rumbling conversation overhead. He had just freed his weapon when the bag suddenly flipped, tilting into a menacing slope. He cried out as he began sliding towards the bag's opening. Tucker's free hand desperately reached out for anything that could stop his descent, but only grasped air. His boots harmlessly dug into the sleek material underneath him as chips nearly as big as him pushed him towards the light. Tucker ungracefully tumbled onto the hard desk among the chips and crumbs, landing on his stomach.

"Wha- is this for real?" A voice boomed above him.

He whirled around in a panic. Frantic eyes landing on not one but two looming giants. His instincts screamed at him to run but Tucker's body was paralyzed as their gazes pierced right through him. All he could do was stare at the humans while his brain seemed to short circuit while coming up with a plan.

"Is this real!" Gus repeated as he stared at the impossibly tiny figure. He hesitatingly took a step towards the desk.

This kicked Tucker into action. He jumped to his feet and began sprinting across the desk to the other side. If he could get over there then there was still a chance for him to escape. The air shook from the humans surprised yells but he pressed on. Shadows covered the table in darkness as both Shawn and Gus stepped closer to the desk. Tucker held the nail tightly as he ran on, more than prepared to use it when the human grabbed for him.

He stumbled as their heavy footfalls shook the surface but his eyes stayed locked onto the far edge of the desk. He was so close! His lungs felt like they were on fire and his bag thumped against his side as he poured all his power into his legs. Tucker jumped over a pencil and unlatched his hook from his satchel. His hand stretched out, ready to lodge his hook into the desk and jump down. He still had a chance.

All too suddenly, Tucker collided with something hard. He fell onto his back from the momentum losing his hold on his hook, his mind spinning as he tried to figure out what just happened. The wall he hit curled around him and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. Tucker's brown eyes widened in panic as fingers longer than he was tall restrained him into a fist.

He struggled against the fingers. He pushed and shoved and kicked, but the fingers didn't budge one centimeter. Tucker was too weak to make any sort of impact. Vertigo all but slammed into him as the hand rose up into the sky. Tucker temporarily seized all struggles and squeezed his eyes shut to focus on keeping the dizziness away.

"You are real..." A low rumble shook him to the core. Hot breath washed over Tucker and his body started trembling uncontrollably. He forced himself to peek an eye open and immediately flinched back. The human held him mere inches away from his face. Green eyes bigger than Tucker's head scrutinized him closely.

Tucker resumed his struggles but his limbs remained effortlessly pinned down. His bag dug painfully against his side. His hand still gripped his weapon with a solid hold, If he could just free his arm then he could make this human regret ever touching him.

"Dude are you seeing this!" The human exclaimed as he held out the squirming figure to his friend. “It looks like a tiny action figure!”

Tucker's breath escaped him as the voice vibrated his entire body. It served as a clear reminder of how much danger he's in. He's up against beings so powerful even a voice can overwhelm him. His heart rammed against his ribs and no matter how hard he tried, Tucker couldn't catch his breath. He wasn't sure if it his sheer panic or the fingers squeezing him that caused it. He didn't know what to do. He was completely helpless. He was only ever taught how to avoid getting caught, not what to do if he got captured. If he could do anything at all.

Especially against a psychic. He didn't know what that even was, but it's clear the human had strange abilities. Tucker hung his head as he took in another shaky breath. Will the psychic read his mind and find out about borrowers? He will fail his kind whether he spoke or not.

"I think you're holding it too tight." Gus observed with eyes still full of shock. 

The hand shifted again so Shawn could see Tucker's face. "Oh, oops," he murmured as he began loosening his fist. "There, that should be better."

Tucker immediately pulled an arm out of the fist and squirmed to try and free the hand holding the nail. But to his horror, two enormous fingers immediately came into view, dwarfing Tucker in their shadow. A finger and thumb lightly pinched his exposed arm, holding it out for inspection. Tucker froze, fearfully watching the fingers holding his arm.

The fingers shifted to reveal the tiny hand resting on a fingertip. Shawn's eyes widened, "Whoa," he whispered breathlessly. Even with the minuscule fingers stretched out, the tiny hand could barely cover the tip of his finger. It was unreal.

Tucker was shocked by the comparison as well, although it left him more frightened than fascinated. He was so small next to a finger. A freaking finger! It took everything in him not to try pulling his arm back as the fingers continued to hold it out at an uncomfortable angle. His bones were thin enough to snap from one tiny shift made by the human. He was at Shawn's complete mercy.

"Look at this! This is insane!" He exclaimed excitedly, unknowingly hurting Tucker's sensitive ears. Gus stepped closer to gawk at the insane size difference, putting Tucker in between two enormous humans. After a few excruciatingly long moments, Shawn seemed to lose interest in the tiny limb and let Tucker protectively pull it back towards himself.

"This is the craziest thing to ever happen. Ever." Gus stated as he unbashedly stared at Tucker. He leaned in closer, his brown eyes locking onto the leather strap on Tucker's shoulder. "I think it even has a little bag!" The giant face lit up with excitement.

"Wait really? You're kidding!" Shawn's fingers opened while his other hand came swooping in towards Tucker. Before he could even act, large fingers pinched the bag and began tugging it off him. He quickly clutched the strap with his left hand while keeping a firm grip on his nail with his right.

Tucker dug his boots into the thick skin of the human's palm as he played tug-of-war with fingers larger than him. It wasn't much of a match. The satchel was easily pulled off his shoulders and was lifted up into the air, but Tucker's unrelenting grip on the bag left him dangling from the strap. He didn't care. That bag was one of Tucker's most important possessions and he would be damned if he let a clumsy human get it without a fight.

"C'mon little guy, just let go." The human coaxed. A hand rose up underneath Tucker to serve as a safety net before Shawn shook the bag. He grunted and squeezed his eyes shut as he was swung this way and that, but thanks to all his years of climbing, Tucker still had an iron-grip on the strap. The hand underneath him lifted closer to his feet and he quickly tucked his legs up, doing everything he can to stay out of the human hand.

Eventually the hand was only a few inches underneath him, expectantly waiting for Tucker to drop down so it can squeeze him to death. Instead, he pulled himself up and looped a leg through the leather strap. His brown eyes were locked onto the fingers pinching his bag and his hand tightened around his nail.

Both Shawn and Gus exchanged uneasy glances as the little creature refused to let go of the bag. Shawn was not expecting it to be that attached to the object, and he was even more surprised when the little thing ended up dangling in the air. As much as Shawn wanted to pluck it off the strap, he didn't want to risk squeezing it too tightly again. Something that small could be killed with a simple flick of his fingers. So, he opted to be patient for once and wait for it to get tired and drop to his awaiting palm.

Of course it wasn't that easy as the little thing actually climbed up the bag. Shawn smiled as he watched it, reminding him of a tiny little ninja. It's kinda adorable.

Of course, the humans couldn't see when Tucker's gaze hardened and his body tense in preparation. In one smooth motion, he lifted his body just high enough from the strap and sliced deep into Shawn's finger above. The hand reflexively snapped opened and a loud, pained shout shook the air. Tucker gasped as he started to plummet to the floor far below him along with his bag. Surprisingly, he welcomed this free fall. He got out the human's grasp. That's all that mattered.

Of course, this brief moment of peace was ruined as he hit a surface that was far too close and leathery to be the floor. Tucker didn't even have a chance to catch his breath from the impact before a hand cupped over him, trapping him between two walls of flesh.

"Shawn! You okay?" Gus asked as Shawn plucked the nail out of his finger.

"No, that actually hurt." He complained, "I'll probably need a tetanus shot after this." Shawn grumbled. He watched as blood slowly pooled out of the cut before placing a tissue over it to stop the bleeding. He nodded towards Gus' cupped hands, "At least your catching skills are improving." He added gratefully.

Gus glanced down at his hands. He cringed as he felt the creature's slight weight moving around in there. He hated that feeling, especially knowing it was an unknown creature that resembled a human. At what felt like tiny pokes against his skin, Gus belatedly realized the danger he was now in.

He quickly thrust his hands back towards Shawn. "Take it back." He demanded.

He flinched away before Gus could deposit the creature back into his hands. "What? No! I don't wanna get stabbed again!" He argued.

"Well I don't wanna get stabbed either!" Gus shot back.

A smug smile briefly appeared on Tucker lips as he kicked and shoved at the borrower-sized fingers surrounding him. Even if his escape failed, he was glad he scared the giants a little bit. At this point he'll take any victory he could get. Hopefully they learned their lesson not to manhandle him so carelessly.

But the more he kicked and pushed to no avail, the more helpless he felt. A lump caught in his throat at the realization of how weak he is. Tucker never thought of himself that way before. He has gained muscles from his daily climbs around the house and has even killed giant rats in battle. Compared to a human, however, he’s weaker than a baby.

His prison continued to vibrate as the humans spoke loudly. "What do I do with it!" Gus asked sounding just as panicked as Tucker felt.

"Just-uh-put it on the desk!" The words barely left Shawn's mouth before Gus dumped Tucker back onto the desk. He grimaced as he landed painfully on his shoulder but that didn't stop his adrenaline filled body from shooting back onto his feet. His eyes frantically scanned his surroundings for an escape. The ground shook as both humans got down on their knees to be more level with the borrower, although they still loomed menacingly over him.

He warily eyed the giants as he waited for their next move. After the stunt he just pulled, Tucker was in for a cruel punishment. That's how humans work after all. If you fight back against their control and power, they will just crush your spirit until you're nothing but an obedient pet. Tucker will never let that happen, even if it kills him.

Gus leaned forward, "So.... What exactly are we gonna do with it?" He picked up a pencil and gently poked the little thing's side, watching as it reeled back. Gus still couldn't believe it was real.

Meanwhile, Shawn was busy gathering up the objects the creature was carrying: a fishhook and string left on the desk, the nail, and the tiny bag now lying on the floor. Personal belongings say a lot about a person and he figured the same would apply to the little guy.

His green eyes narrowed as he quickly examined each object. The string on the fishhook was long enough to reach most surfaces like tables and counters. Shawn vaguely remembered the creature carrying it on its bag when they first put it on the desk. It's definitely used as a means for the little guy to get around. The stinging cut on his finger made the nail's use pretty obvious, but the bag was another story. Shawn could hardly believe the craftsmanship of the satchel. He would assume it came from a doll house if it wasn't made out of real leather with noticeable wear and tear from years of use. The bag even had a little clip holding the flap down, something even the most steady human hand couldn't accomplish.

He left the objects on the far side of the desk and glanced up to examine the little guy's clothes. By all means they looked like clothes he would find in a store. It wore all black and dark grays, colors that let it blend seamlessly into the shadows. The stitching was far too intricate to be made by human hands. The brown boots looked to be made of the same leather material as the satchel.

Shawn's eyes narrowed even more as he noticed what looked to be specks of saw dust on the dark fabric. Interesting.

The more details he noticed, the more his stomach twisted with guilt. As much as he wanted to, Shawn knew he couldn't ignore the evidence that was quickly stacking up. The tiny man is an intelligent being. And they just took him from his home and possibly his loved ones.

Shawn blinked and looked at Gus, who was staring at him with a quirked brow. The tiny person was still standing on the desk with wide eyes burning holes into the humans.

"Let's talk about that somewhere else," He said, finally answering his friend's question. Shawn got up to his feet and walked over to the kitchen, searching through the cabinets until he found what he was looking for. Shawn hid it behind his back to avoid scaring the little guy into running away. He quickly made his way back to the desk before placing a glass cup over the man. He briefly watched as he held his hands against the glass, glancing nervously between the humans.

Shawn told himself he wouldn't be in there long, but that didn't stop the guilt from rising even higher.

Gus frowned at the method used to keep the little guy there, "This better be quick." He said quietly as he walked into the office lobby. Shawn followed closely behind and shut the door once they were alone.

"I think that little guy is intelligent." Shawn blurted immediately.

Gus crossed his arms over his chest, "How so?" He asked, tilting his head.

"The fishhook is used for transportation, the nail is obviously a weapon, and his satchel is way too advance for an animal or bug to create."

His friend nodded along the more he spoke. "The clothes too. They look like they could only be made by tiny hands." Gus added, looking more and more upset. "It -he- really is a person."

Shawn sighed and rubbed his temple, "And we just kidnapped him and manhandled him."

Gus pointed a finger at him, "There's no 'we,' that was all you."

"That's not helping me feel any better Gus!" Shawn groaned into his hands. "I thought it was a mouse and I was just gonna chase you around with it for a bit." He admitted blatantly.

"You would be doing this case by yourself if you pulled that off." Gus placed his hands on his hips.

"Relax, I would have only chased you for like three minutes." He paused for a moment, "Maybe four. Anyways that's not important," Shawn waved off Gus' annoyed glare, "We need to figure out what to do with the little guy."

Gus paced around the small lobby in thought. "Well if he's intelligent, then he must speak some sort of language." He reasoned. "If it's English, then we will simply ask him who murdered Kirstin and let him go on his way."

"Go where?" Shawn gestured wildly with his hands, "That house is a crime scene. It can't be safe for him. Especially with Carlton investigating the area.”

Gus stopped his pacing in front of the door to their workspace. "We do this one step at a time. Let's focus on communicating with him first."

Shawn nodded, “Alright, let’s get this guy talking.”

Gus held an arm out, blocking Shawn from walking through the door. “I’ll do the talking, you just focus on not scaring him further.”

He frowned, “Fine.” Shawn reluctantly agreed.

[tinycoded360]

Went ahead and did another art from the story I've got going on dA, this time with a scene from the first chapter. If you want to check it out, you can find it [Here].