The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lush, rolling hills of the Farthing Meadows. The breeze whispered through the tall grasses, carrying the scent of wildflowers. In a small, crooked cottage near the edge of the woods, a young girl named Rikkia Mør gazed out of her window, her dark brown eyes filled with curiosity. She was only twelve, but there was a quiet wisdom in her gaze, as though she could sense that something extraordinary was about to happen.
Rikkia's home was a modest one. Her father, a skilled carpenter, had died when she was very young, and her mother, a kind-hearted woman, worked as a healer in the village. But Rikkia was different from the other children. While they played with dolls or chased each other through the fields, she preferred to explore the forests and hills surrounding the village, searching for secrets hidden in the landscape. She was drawn to the wildness of nature, to the quiet places where few ventured.
It was in one of these secret places that she first encountered the giant.
It happened on a crisp autumn afternoon when the world was painted in shades of orange and amber. Rikkia had wandered farther than usual, crossing the stream that wound its way through the woods and climbing up the rocky hillsides. She had heard rumors of strange creatures—old tales told by the villagers—but Rikkia was skeptical. Myths were just that—myths.
But as she reached the crest of a small hill, the earth beneath her feet trembled. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but then the tremor came again, stronger this time. The trees around her creaked and swayed as if bowing to some unseen force. Her heart quickened, and she took a cautious step back, her eyes scanning the horizon.
That's when she saw him.
A figure, towering over the treetops, moved slowly and deliberately through the forest. The giant was unlike anything Rikkia had ever seen. His skin was the color of ancient stone, rough and mottled with moss and lichen. His hair was a tangled mass of dark vines, and his eyes, when they locked with hers, were a deep shade of green, like the oldest trees in the forest.
Rikkia froze, caught between fear and awe. She had heard the stories—the ones that spoke of creatures too large to be real, too ancient to still walk the earth. But standing before her was proof that those tales weren't just stories. This was real. And the giant, despite his size and his wild appearance, did not seem threatening. He paused, tilting his head as if studying her with the same curiosity that filled her heart.
"Who... what are you?" Rikkia finally managed to whisper, her voice barely audible over the rustling of the wind.
The giant's lips parted, and a voice like distant thunder rumbled from deep within his chest. "I am Taldor," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I mean no harm."
Rikkia blinked, unable to fully comprehend the enormity of the moment. "Taldor?" she repeated, the name strange and ancient on her tongue. "What... are you doing here?"
Taldor's gaze softened. "I have wandered these lands for many years," he explained. "I was once part of a larger family, but time... time changes many things. I am alone now."
Rikkia felt a twinge of sadness in her chest. She knew what it felt like to be alone. Her mother was kind, but she was always busy with her work. And the other children in the village never quite understood her. Rikkia had always felt like an outsider, but here, standing before this gentle giant, she felt a strange sense of kinship.
"Do you want to be alone?" she asked, her voice small but filled with compassion.
Taldor was silent for a long moment, his gaze shifting to the horizon, where the sky was beginning to darken. Finally, he spoke. "I do not wish to be alone forever. But I fear that no one will understand me, or what I have become."
Rikkia took a deep breath, her mind racing. There was something in Taldor's voice—a loneliness, a yearning for connection—that resonated deeply within her. She had always felt that way, too.
"Maybe..." she began hesitantly, "...maybe we could be friends. I don't know much about giants, but I think we could figure it out together."
Taldor looked down at her, his expression unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he nodded slowly. "A friend," he murmured. "I would like that."
And so, in the quiet of the forest, a new friendship was born. Rikkia and Taldor stood together in the fading light, two unlikely companions united by their shared sense of solitude and a mutual desire for something more.
As the days passed, their bond grew stronger. Rikkia would visit Taldor often, bringing him food from the village or simply sitting with him in the shade of the great trees. The giant, despite his intimidating appearance, proved to be kind and gentle, always patient with her questions about the world. And in turn, Rikkia found herself learning more than she could have ever imagined—about the ancient magic of the forest, about the creatures that dwelled within it, and about the untold history of the giants.
But their peaceful existence was not to last.
One evening, as Rikkia sat perched on a boulder beside Taldor, she noticed something unsettling in the air. A change. A sense of unease that made her skin prickle. It was as though the very forest itself was holding its breath.
"Taldor," she said, her voice trembling, "something's wrong. I feel... I feel like we're being watched."
The giant's brow furrowed, and he stood slowly, his enormous form casting a long shadow across the land. His eyes scanned the trees, alert. "You are right," he said. "Something stirs in the woods. I can feel it, too."
Before Rikkia could ask what it was, a distant cry pierced the air—a sound like no animal she had ever heard. A sound filled with pain and fear.
The cry echoed through the trees, its mournful wail sending a chill down Rikkia's spine. She looked up at Taldor, her heart racing. The giant's face, usually calm and serene, was now etched with concern.
"That sound..." Rikkia whispered, her voice barely a breath. "What was it?"
Taldor's green eyes narrowed, his massive frame tensing. "It is a call—a warning. One I have not heard in many years."
Rikkia's stomach tightened. "A warning for what?"
The giant didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the woods, his enormous form swaying slightly as though he were attuned to the very heartbeat of the forest. The trees whispered in the wind, their branches trembling. The air grew thick with an unsettling presence, like the calm before a storm.
"Rikkia," Taldor said, his voice low and urgent. "You must go home. Now."
Rikkia stared up at him, confusion and fear battling within her. "But... I don't want to leave you."
Taldor bent down, his enormous face coming level with hers, and his eyes softened with an emotion Rikkia couldn't quite name. "There are forces at work here that you are not yet ready to understand. If you stay, you will be caught in something much darker than you can imagine. I need you to be safe."
Her throat tightened as she tried to speak, but the words caught in her chest. She knew he was right, but the thought of leaving him alone, especially now when something felt so terribly wrong, was unbearable.
"Please..." Rikkia pleaded, her voice trembling. "What's happening?"
The giant's expression grew grim, his gaze fixed on the trees once more. "The Dark Ones have awoken."
Rikkia's heart skipped a beat. She had heard whispers of the Dark Ones—the ancient and terrible creatures of the forest, spoken of only in the most fearful of tones. Some said they were beings of shadow and flame, capable of consuming everything in their path. Others claimed they were the remnants of an ancient race of giants, twisted and corrupted by time, their minds broken by some long-forgotten war.
But no one truly knew the truth. They were only legends, dark stories passed down in hushed voices. And now, it seemed those legends were coming to life.
"What do we do?" Rikkia asked, the words slipping from her lips before she could stop them.
Taldor looked down at her, his expression both sorrowful and resolute. "There is little that can be done for now, except to make sure you are safe. The Dark Ones are not merciful. You must warn the village, gather the others, and keep them away from the forest."
"But what about you?" Rikkia asked, her heart aching. "What will you do?"
The giant's eyes softened as he met her gaze. "I will stand my ground. I have faced the Dark Ones before, but I cannot do it alone. I need you to trust me, Rikkia. Go now. The longer you stay, the more danger you are in."
Rikkia swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking into her chest. She didn't want to leave him. She didn't want to face the world alone, especially with something so terrifying looming over them. But she knew Taldor was right. She had to protect the village, and if she didn't go now, it might be too late.
With one last, lingering look at the giant, Rikkia turned and ran, her legs pumping furiously as she raced back toward the village. The woods seemed to close in around her, the shadows lengthening with each step she took. She could still hear the distant cries echoing through the trees, a haunting reminder of the danger that was approaching.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she reached the edge of the forest and stumbled into the village. The familiar sight of the small cottages, the smoke rising from chimneys, and the well-tended gardens should have been comforting. But all she could feel was an overwhelming sense of dread.
The villagers were going about their evening routines, unaware of the danger that was drawing closer. Rikkia rushed to the nearest house—the home of her mother, where she found her healing herbs spread out across the table. Her mother was there, stirring a pot of something fragrant, but the moment she saw Rikkia's face, her expression shifted from concern to alarm.
"Rikkia, what is it? What's wrong?" her mother asked, rushing to her side.
Rikkia could barely catch her breath. "The Dark Ones are coming. Taldor said we need to leave, that we need to warn everyone and stay away from the forest. They're waking up."
Her mother's face paled, and for the first time, Rikkia saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. She had always been strong, unshakable in the face of hardship, but now... now there was no mistaking the gravity of the situation.
"Get the others," Rikkia's mother said, her voice calm but urgent. "Go to the village square and tell everyone to stay inside. Lock the doors. I'll gather supplies."
Rikkia nodded, though her heart was heavy with worry for Taldor. She knew that the giant was powerful, but could he truly face the Dark Ones alone?
As she ran to the village square, a part of her heart stayed in the forest with Taldor, praying that he could hold his ground. The village would be safe—for now. But she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much darker, something that would change everything.
And the worst part? She had the distinct feeling that the Dark Ones weren't just after Taldor.
They were coming for her too.
Chapter End..