How Small We Are

The assault was relentless as the giant rained down massive swings with his club. He had the stamina to press the assault, driving Hektor further away from the girls with his barrage while still keeping an eye out for Agnes's spells and any time Chloe stood her ground to aim. Even striking the ground occasionally to kick up a dust cloud that would obscure vision, keeping himself close enough to Hektor they worried about hitting him. The displaced air from the heavy club's constant movement made it difficult to get a fire started. A wave of bulging earth did little to break his momentum. Chloe couldn't find targets that weren't covered by thick hides, and given the size disparity Hektor needed a distraction to engage in melee combat.

Three-on-one and they were completely outclassed. Agnes knew she would need more. Something that could hit a little harder, something that would take more effort, time they didn't have. She tried to think about what she could do as Hektor ducked and weaved through the strikes with a grace he wouldn't be able to maintain for much longer. Agnes tried her best to keep a level head as she thought. Something bigger, something weighter, something more complex.

That's when it struck. Just like her pondering on the seer's stairs. She recalled the crisis on the ship as the sirens lured it to the rocks. If these simple spells couldn't cut it, maybe combining the ideas would! Her journey thus far raced through her mind. The way she bent the wind barrier to keep bugs away, the way she took a chance and succeeded with the stone wave, the way she made Chloe's gun seem like many on board the Pahari and her rapid chain of spells to turn it in time.

She had her idea, darting as fully behind the giant as she could. Agnes knelt down in the brush. She held the tip of her shepheard's crook to the ground and urged the wind to leave her body through the staff, snaking and twisting like a root through every crack and ant tunnel under the surface. Slowly twisting and distorting it as the pocket wound it's way toward the melee. It wasn't visible on the surface but it was an extension of her, she knew she was making a good-sized channel underground. One she began to fill with water while letting the fire within heat it.

Hektor didn't know quite what Agnes was doing, but he figured when he saw her duck the best thing to do would be to keep his fight in the same general area. The steppe was so wide and open it was easy to get spread out, and Hektor realized this was the giant's strategy. Being face-to-face with the foe, he could see the traits that were the same among any tribe. A sharper haircut, heavy scars up and down the arms, clothing and weapon well-maintained. The look of a military man. Not much was known about the Giant King's forces, but it made sense there would be a few that had that Spartan mindset regardless of place or culture.

The good thing about these types, Hektor reasoned, was that while they can be creative they tend to follow reasonable tactics when they sense a battle they have the advantage in. Something his tribe had a long history of exploiting in stories told around the hearth. As long as Hektor moved in a circle, he could keep the giant in place. He was still a giant who had to hit an athletic Littlefoot Tribesman in his prime and in the dark no less, so Hektor didn't worry about his ability to dodge for now. Still, it troubled him this particular foe offered no chance to press the attack on his own.

Especially when it was only a matter of time before he realized he probably wouldn't have to worry about Chloe as much as he thought, assuming this one observed or spoke with the giant at Vinvintin. Hektor was impressed by that new weapon of hers, but this giant was clearly used to the loud sound and seemed to be wearing hides that would stop a bullet better than a crossbow bolt. The darkness and dust clouds would be hard for her as well, even if it felt like she had a cat's eyes sometimes.

Hektor didn't have to circle for long before Agnes found her opening. It was impressive to witness, he almost thought a second giant had snuck up on them like the one they were fighting but he could tell what she had done. A tendril of earth rose from the ground. Not a simple ripple like before, the way it twitched and curled suggested to Hektor that Agnes would be able to control it for a little while and it reminded him of the Gorgon Vines. A theory that was quickly proven correct as the rocky soil swung into the giant's back.

Hektor didn't need to be told when he saw his opportunity, lunging in to cut at the giant's ankle. He barely had enough time to enjoy the thrill of landing a clean hit before he felt the crash, something akin to a horse ploughing into him at a full sprint. The giant did stumble from the combined blows, but he was able to catch himself well enough to retort with a small kick. Barely more than a twitch like one adjusting after stepping on a sharp rock, just with enough of a size gap the simple twitch was a serious blow able to send Hektor's small frame flying backward several feet before a harsh landing.

“Tumlin!” Agnes cried, breaking the intense concentration she needed for the new spell resulting in the stone tendril going limp. She didn't have time to realize Chloe's shriek wasn't for Hektor as well, but for her as the fierce giant lunged. Now that he knew where the witch was and the Littlefoot wasn't a threat he wanted to swiftly close out the engagement, catching a still-kneeling Agnes flush with a mighty upwards swing of his club making use of the running start.

Time seemed to slow for Chloe watching the scene unfold. Agnes always seemed so dauntless to her, firm and resolute. Watching her launched into the air, Chloe thought about how frail she looked. How much smaller her and Hektor were than these giants. She thought about the new spell she saw and how close it felt like they were coming to turning this battle around but in an instant the giant was steadily stalking towards her.

Chloe couldn't see well as the tears sprang to her eyes. The pounding of her head and heart as panic set in drowned out the sound. But she thought she saw something. Was it Agnes's new spell again? What hit the giant from behind? It seemed like she heard that same falcon's cry as she finally fainted from the shock of their complete and total defeat.