98. What A Blizzard Can Do

     She trudged through the snow and wind, her body barely moving fast enough to find shelter before the true storm hit. It was just her luck to be caught in this blizzard… She found an opening in the rock wall beside her, slipping inside as quickly as she could.

     The snow began to fall harder outside, leaving the girl to wander in the chilled cave. It was too dark to see, so she skirted the wall, feeling around with her icy, aching fingers. It was nothing short of a miracle that she’d survived this long in such dangerous weather…

     Her hand touched something warm and she pulled away, the sheer temperature difference making her skin feel like it was burning. But, touching it again, she in pulled close to it. Whatever it was, it might be her only hope…

     Weighing the possibilities in her mind, she took her chances and huddled up to the source. Whatever it was, it hadn’t noticed her, so it should be fine… Right?

     He woke to something cold on his neck. But it was small, and it moved, and despite being so frigid, it was soft…

     He instinctively wanted to push it away, but he didn’t. Maybe it was an animal taking refuge from the storm. It must have been desperate to approach him, whatever it was…

     Still, he couldn’t ignore the curious interest in the chilled creature, wanting eagerly to know what it was. He brought his hand to it, making no noise for fear of startling it, and closed his palm around it.

     She gasped as she was discovered, squirming to break free of whatever had a hold of her. What had she gotten herself into?

     He held the creature there, against his neck as it squirmed. He really didn’t know what to think. There was the feeling of chilled little hands on his warm skin…

     He reached for his lantern, lighting it slow so his eyes could adjust. Carefully, he pulled the little creature from his neck, holding it in front of him. Just what kind of animal would get so close? He couldn’t think of an answer…

     Opening his hand in such a way that he could still grasp whatever he had caught, he stared down at the creature before him. A human…

     She watched fearfully as the walls of her prison opened above her, revealing her captor. She gasped and squirmed as the realization sunk in… She’d been caught by a giant.

     Where did this girl come from? She couldn’t have been outside, could she? For a human, this weather was deadly… He brought up his other hand, laying over her like a blanket of flesh. The girl, of course, squirmed weakly at the action, panic showing on her face. “I’m just trying to warm you up.” he whispered, blowing hot air over the little human.

     She tried half-heartedly to push his hand off. There was no telling what his motives were, and she knew she wasn’t up for any type of resistance. Her chilled body feeling like fire had been set to her as the wear on her consciousness began to set in once more…

     He could tell the girl was too exhausted to keep up her movements. How long had she been out in the cold? “It’s alright, Little One.” he said, keeping his voice soft. He brought her close, breathing warm air over her.

     She was terrified of her position, but her body couldn’t hold out any longer, giving way to sleep. She’d fought it for so long that it now overwhelmed her, making her drift into a heavy unconsciousness from which one does not easily return…

     He felt her go limp in his hands, her pushing stopped a bit too suddenly. “Little One?” he called, holding her up to his eyes. “So you’ve finally passed out, have you? Well, I’m glad. You must’ve been fighting it for some time now…” He gently shifted back to a laying position, cradling the thawing human in his palm. It would be best to keep her close, lest the cold find her in her sleep.

     He carefully turned on his side, facing away from the storm outside and settling the little human against his chest, covered by his hand. It would be a long night, most likely…

     When morning came, he looked to the little human. She was still asleep, curled up in his palm. It made him smile; the girl was much like a mouse. With gentle movements, he used his free hand to sit up, propping himself against the cavern wall…

     The girl shuffled a bit in her sleep, beginning to come out of her coma-like state. She opened tired eyes and glanced around. The girl sat up and scratched her head, brows knitted in confusion. “Where am I…?” she asked herself aloud.

     “Good morning, Little One.” he chirped. “You’re in a cave. Woke me last night by getting comfy against my neck.” He spoke in a lighthearted tone, a gentle smile conveyed in his words.

     The girl’s gaze shot up, meeting with his. She yelped and tried to scramble backwards, but was stopped by his fingers.

     “Easy, eeeassyyy.” he cooed, “I won’t hurt you, Little One.”

     The girl did not take it quite so well. She tried to push herself into his fingers, as if she could blend in and disappear from his sight.

     He responded by curling his fingers over her and closing them around her. She yelped in startled surprise, pushing against his fingers.

     “You seemed more frightened that I could see you than by my touch.” he explained. “I really won’t hurt you, Little One. My name is Talos.” He spoke softly, trying hard not to overwhelm the girl any more than she was. Talos set her down on his knee, withdrawing his hand and giving her a charming smile. He hoped it might disarm her a bit…

     She stared at him with wide eyes, trembling slightly. This ‘Talos’ giant said he wouldn’t hurt her, but her instincts made positive reactions almost impossible… “K… K-Kali…” she stuttered in response.

     Talos looked at Kali with gentleness, slowly bring up his hands on either side of her. She stiffened when she saw the massive palms blocking every direction from view. They were coming closer, enclosing around her with a certain care she wasn’t expecting.

     Talos touched her shoulders with his fingertips, just barely brushing her. The warmth that radiated from his skin eased her trembling body and helped to soothe her panicking mind. Suddenly, all that seemed to matter was chasing away the cold of the outside blizzard…

     “There. See? I want to help you, Kali. Can’t have you getting cold while you’re here.” he chuckled lightly.

     Kali didn’t respond, she simply closed her eyes and leaned in to one of his hands with a sigh of relief. Talos chuckled at the display. “Warm enough for you?” he asked.

     “Mm-hm…” she nodded, paying him little attention. Something about a desperate need for warmth can make even the most terrified human relax in the presence of a giant. And it seemed to have a softening effect on a giant, as well.

     Talos didn’t move for a bit, watching Kali with a fond fascination. He’d always found a sort of curiosity for the little creatures, often passing by settlements and watching them from afar. If not for the panic it would likely cause, he’d probably have tried to introduce himself to them. But, as always, they would run away with the wrong conclusion… Then again, it was understandable, not wanting to be in the presence of something so much larger and possibly dangerous.

     He looked to the storm outside; the blizzard that raged on, undaunted by the two lives harbored within the cave. It was certainly no place for a human to be trapped in with a creature of greater mass, but what options had he given her? A storm had been promised, and it thus blew. And several days it would continue… “Perhaps it could stop for a moment… No.” Talos shook his head, closing his eyes. The storm must pass by its own power.

     “Talos…” Kali’s voice came, breaking him from his thoughts for a moment.

     “Are you still cold, Kali?” he asked, looking to the girl. She was sitting against his hand, seemingly no longer afraid of his much larger presence.

     She shook her head, pulling her body in closer to his warm palm. “No. I just thought you might have said something.”

     “Don’t mind it. I was simply thinking aloud to myself.” He gave her a warm smile, which she returned, and gently curled his fingers around her some for warmth.

     The girl relaxed and closed her eyes, simply soaking in his heat…

     Letting his mind return to his thoughts, his smile faded. Talos knew that he could not let her leave as long as the wind and snow continued. If she had been more afraid of him, tried to run, he’d have had to block any exit. And it would only increase her fear… He just hoped it wouldn’t come to that…

     His fears soon proved to have real foundation, though. Two days later, Kali decided she wanted to leave…

     “Kali, it’s a blizzard. You won’t last long in a blizzard.” Talos tried to reason with her.

     “I survived the first time, didn’t I? I’m tougher than you think, Talos.” she replied, pulling on her jacket. Kali began to make her way to the opening of the large cave, only to be blocked by a hand, making her jump. When she calmed her nerves, she let out a huff and crossed her arms, turning to look up at the giant. “Talos—”

     “Don’t make me do this, Kali.” he pleaded, lowering himself so she wouldn’t have to strain her neck to meet his eyes.

     “Then don’t. Let me leave.” She glared at him, feeling impatient. “If I want to go, that’s my business. What makes you think you can stop me?”

     “Heh. Well, I think my size gives me a bit of an advantage, don’t you?” A smirk crossed his lips, but it was short-lived. “Look. If something happened to you in that blizzard, I couldn’t forgive myself. I’ve made up my mind to keep you safe; and if that means keeping you here against your will, then I’ll do it.”

     “Well, I’ve made up my mind to leave, Talos. There’s little you can do to sway me.” Kali and Talos stared each other down for a moment, trying to silently persuade the other of their decision. Finally, the giant broke eye contact and sighed, at which Kali smirked and turned to the exit he was blocking, waiting for him to move his hand.

     Instead, she yelped as he scooped her up without warning, standing and walking further from the opening of the cave with Kali in hand.

     “Talos!” she protested, squirming in his grip. “Put me down, right now!”

     “I’m not letting you go out in that blizzard, Kali.” Talos looked serious, but there was an underlying hint of pain in his voice… “You were chilled as ice when you came in here two days ago. The storm hasn’t let up, at all; if anything, it’s gotten worse! I’m not about to let you do something that risky.”

     “Please, Talos!” she tried. “I can’t stay here forever! The storm might continue for another week!”

     “No!” he sentenced, his voice harsh and low, echoing slightly off the stone walls. It was the loudest he’d ever spoken to her, and it broke his heart to see her cover her ears and shudder. But it was for her own good, he told himself, trying to bury the pain…

     Talos quickly reached the back of the cave, easily having navigated through a few tunnels that Kali had not seen before. There, he had made his temporary home, with a few simple furnishings and other items of necessity. He sat down on his makeshift bed, a large mat with pillow and blanket and straw cushioning underneath. His eyes settled on Kali as she looked around with wonder.

     “What…? What is this?” she asked, glancing around at the various things making up the room like a home.

     “This is my temporary place of residence, you could say. I’m generally a nomad, but I’ll settle in somewhere if a big storm might blow through.” He was glad her fear seemed to pass now that she was distracted. “I don’t have much trouble traveling in a storm, but I prefer not to. It’s always easier, and not to mention more accommodating, to just hang around for a while. It also gives me the chance to restock my supplies, if need be.”

     “Set me down, set me down!” she shouted energetically, wanting to explore the room.

     Talos chuckled as she squirmed excitedly in his hand, trying to get down. He carefully set her on the bed, laughing when she pouted. “Ahaha! What’s the matter?”

     “I said down! Not on the bed!” she whined, crossing her arms and increasing her pout.

     “Just sit tight for a minute.” he chuckled, standing up and walking to the ‘doorway’. Talos moved a few things to block the exit, closing the room in like a play pen. When he was done, he sat down in front of the blockage like a guard. “Alright. Feel free to run around.”

     Kali huffed at the giant ‘guard’ and slipped off the mat. She walked a bit in his direction, but stopped after a few steps. He was easily a mile away… Undaunted, she glared a moment in his direction before turning to a chest beside her. She knew why he did it, but figured she’d just let it go for now. There was a lot to look at, and she wasn’t getting any younger…

     Talos was glad that Kali didn’t push the issue anymore, though what he could see of her glare told him she was still sore about the subject. Relieved, he watched the little human circle his clothes chest, seeming to study it. She was so amusing, paying such close attention to the grooves etched in the wood, and running her fingers through them.

     “Talos, why won’t you let me leave?” Kali asked, keeping her attention on the objects around her.

     Talos sighed, wishing he could somehow drop the conversation. “It’s too dan—”

     “—‘dangerous’. Yeah, I know.” she interrupted, turning to look at him. “What I mean is: Why do you care so much? We’ve only known each other for two days; hardly time enough to be so attached to a stranger, don’t you think?”

     Talos was surprised she’d noticed so quickly. Was he really that obvious? “Um. Well…” he started, feeling a bit awkward, all the sudden. “I… I seem to have developed a sense of protection over you, Kali…”

     “It’s my size, isn’t it?” she asked, looking a bit hurt.

     “What? NO! That’s not it!” he said, waving his hands in defense. “I mean, er… More like a brotherly protection, or a friend… I just… I’d never actually gotten so close to a human, before I met you… They would always run away…”

     Kali felt her heart breaking for the giant. Pushing away from the chest, she no longer cared how far away he was, she just ran towards him.

     When he saw her approaching, Talos was unsure why, but it warmed his heart in a way he couldn’t describe. “Kali…?” he called in a whisper, surprise evident in his voice.

     She made it about two-thirds the distance before she lost her footing and tripped, tumbling forward a few inches.

     “Kali!” Shocked and concerned, Talos reached out to collect her, cradling her in his hands as he brought her closer. “Kali, are you alright?”

     “Ahahahahaha! Only I would trip at a time like that!” she burst out laughing, tears welling in her eyes with the humor of it. Kali held her sides as she continued her giggle fit, belly-up in his cupped hands. “I make such a horrible athlete, hahaha!”

     Talos was confused beyond words, staring down at the giggling little human. His pain quickly melted away and he found her laughter to be undeniably contagious.

     The loud, bellowing laughter startled Kali, but when she looked up at Talos, she resumed her laughter.

     For several minutes, the two just enjoyed the moment, filling the cavern with their happy echoes. It seemed like magic, the sound that returned to them from its journey about the walls. Never before had either of them believed such a friendship was possible. And now they couldn’t believe it was ever an unlikely thought.

     When they began to quiet down, they listened contentedly to the lingering laughter that worked to make the cave come alive. Talos gently ran his thumb along Kali’s arm, humming happily. He didn’t think things could be better…

     “Hey, Talos?” Kali’s small voice rang out.

     “Hm?”

     “Thank you.”

     “What for?” he asked, looking down at her with a raised brow.

     “For saving me two days ago. I don’t think I would have survived if you hadn’t warmed and cared for me.”

     “I was only doing what I thought was right.” he replied, smiling down at her.

     “Maybe. But you could’ve turned me away, yet you didn’t. I owe you my life…” Kali opened her eyes and gazed into his, sharing a grateful smile.

     “No, Kali. You owe me nothing. If anything, I should be thanking you.”

     “Oh? What could silly little me do to merit great big you’s thanks?” she teased, stretching a bit and taking hold of his thumb.

     Talos chuckled at her choice of words and actions. She really was so amusing. “You gave me a chance, is what. Reminded me that I’m not a monster, even if people run from me… Thank you, Kali, for being the bigger person.”

     “Well, now. I wouldn’t say THAT.” she joked, finding his use of the metaphor rather ironic. “I’m CLEARLY the smaller here, or have you forgotten that you’re holding me?” she grinned.

     “Hahaha! Oh, you know what I mean!”

     “In that case, you’re welcome, Talos. I can’t say I’ve found a better friend.”

     “That means more to me than you know.” he whispered, trying to stroke her again with the thumb she clung to. They both laughed and shared a smile.

     “How about we strike a deal?” Kali said, letting go of his thumb and working to stand up. “I promise to stay here, without further argument, until the blizzard is over. Be it one week or two.” she chirped.

     “Really? You promise?”

     “Yup!”

     He was so happy that she promised to stay, but he began to wonder about AFTER. Would she leave and he never see her again? Would she want to stay even then? His smile faded. “What about when the storm has passed? Will I ever see you again?”

     “Hey now… I can’t see what the future holds, Big guy, but I doubt I’ll not still like you by then. Why don’t we cross that bridge when we get there, okay?”

     “Okay…” he sighed, dropping the subject.

     “Well?” Kali asked, crossing her arms and smiling at him.

     “Well what?”

     “Aren’t you going to show me around?”

     “Oh! Uh, sure.” he said, moving to stand up.

     “Whoa! Slow down!” Kali laughed, falling back in his palm. “I need to get situated before you just up and stand!” She smiled and positioned herself to sit comfortably in his palm, resting a hand on his thumb. “Okay. NOW you may stand.” she giggled.

     They spent the rest of the evening touring the cavern and its tunnels. Talos wished it would never end, but sleep found its way into Kali’s mind, and she was soon curled up with Talos for the night.

     A week’s time past quickly as the two friends told one another of their lives before they met. The blizzard, it seemed, had passed in the night, leaving a heavy blanket of white over the land. The sky was clear and beautiful as Talos and Kali emerged from their shelter, physically prepared to go their separate ways. But Talos did not wish to see his little friend go…

     “Well… The storm has most definitely passed.” he muttered, bringing the last items of his make-shift home out into the open air.

     “That it has… And it seems we’ve reached that bridge, as well…” Kali replied, glancing over the snow-covered landscape, and up at the giant beside her.

     “So it does…” He kneeled down and locked with her gaze. “I hate to say goodbye, Kali. Is there any way we can meet here again?”

     “Hm… I don’t know. Our lives would never have intersected, if not for that blizzard…” she said, having thought it over for a moment.

     “So… This is it, then… Our last chance to see each other.” They stared at each other in a moment of shared grief. Then he stood up, taking his things on his shoulder and turning away, not wanting Kali to see him cry.

     Likewise, she took up her own belongings and turned to go. Tears streaked her face as she thought of losing him forever, and she stood there crying a moment. Why couldn’t it be easier? Why couldn’t they just continue the way they had been, during the blizzard? If she could only go with him…

     ‘If only’…? But, what was stopping her? Sure, she could return home and live a boring life, alone again in her little house. But she obviously didn’t want to. What was holding her back?

     Nothing. There was nothing holding her back.

     “TALOS!” Kali called out, turning to see him already so far. Her heart sank; there was no way she could catch up with him! “TALOS!!!” she shouted, running after him anyway, tripping with every few steps in the deep snow. It was hopeless, but Kali called out one last time. “WAIT, TALOS! PLEASE!”

     Talos stopped, certain he heard her calling for him. Was it his mind? Grief could do that… But… No. He KNEW he heard her.

     Turning around, Talos spotted Kali lying in the snow, apparently having sunk. “Kali?” he called back, taking a few tentative steps towards her.

     “Talos, I want to come with you!” she cried, trying to pull herself up and run to him, but her legs had already begun to numb and wouldn’t respond. She cried, letting the tears flow uninhibited that she could not reach him.

     “Kali!” he shouted, dropping his belongings and rushing over to help her, though making sure to slow himself as he neared. Talos kneeled down, scooping Kali up and cradling her close. “Are you sure? Do you really want to come with me?” he asked, raising her to eye level with hopeful excitement in his voice and on his face.

     “Yes, I want to come! I just said that, didn’t I?” she answered, relieved to be surrounded by his warmth again and wiping chilled tears from her eyes. “I don’t want to lose you, Talos! Never have I had a better friend, or protector! I’d be a fool to walk away, and return to a life alone!” she shouted. “I don’t know if I could even sleep without you near me, anymore!” Kali laughed through the tears.

     Talos simply held her close to his chest, trying to warm her and give her a giant hug at the same time. She didn’t want to leave him, either! She’d said it herself! “Oh, Kali… You don’t know what that means to me…” he breathed in a whisper.

     “Maybe not, but I don’t think you know what it means to me, either, Big guy.” Kali giggled, spreading her arms on the wall of his chest, attempting to return the hug. Things might not be easy, but at least she’d have him by her side…

     “Well?” she asked after a moment, pushing herself off to look up at him.

     “Well what?” he asked, glancing down at her with a raised brow.

     “Aren't we going somewhere?” she giggled.

     “Oh! Right! I almost forgot that little detail.” Talos chuckled and smiled at the little human in his hands: his little human. If he had to wander, he was glad he wouldn’t have to do it alone. Now, and forever after, Kali would be with him, by his side, for the rest of her days.

     Never before had anyone been so happy for what a blizzard can do…