A Brotherly Bond

“Anyone else around?” Hektor heard a gravelly voice belonging to their interloper. He wasn't feeling great after being kicked by a giant, but he was conscious and much more worried about Agnes after watching her take a full-force swing from a giant in stride.

The falcon's cried again. Calming down a little bit from the battle Hektor finally realized it didn't make sense for it to be out at night. He watched as the bird swooped down and landed next to the second giant that Hektor still couldn't believe knocked out the first. While he did have the element of surprise, Hektor couldn't help but notice the new one seemed quite strong in his own right. Not as clean cut and rigid, but still bigger than the one that attacked Vinvintin. This one had a savagery to his look, not necessarily brutal but Hektor got the impression this one wasn't the type to follow a king.

This was already enough for Hektor to ponder while in the groggy state one finds themselves in after being kicked by a giant, so what happened next felt like a dream to the point he thought he might be dead after all. The falcon began to grow rapidly, and as it grew it...changed. Talon morphed into leg, wing to arm, beak to the face of another giant. Though this one was a head shorter than their compatriot, dressed in a more elaborate manner that would likely restrict movement. Embelishments in the hair, which itself was tied in a long braid that shone in the moonlight like it had been oiled. There was still something of a beard, though not nearly as full and gnarled as the other three Hektor had seen. A female? He didn't know much about giants but thought he remembered Agnes mentioning they were a lot shorter and practically never left the higher mountain valleys beyond the steppe.

Either way, the giant that had formerly been a falcon crept over to the spot Agnes landed. Gently stooping down to examine her before turning back to the other and saying, “She looks bad. But I think she'll pull through.”

“If she doesn't,” The other giant offered in reply, “Then she not worth tracking down.”

Hektor was finally able to struggle to his feet by this point and he'd heard enough to take his chances. “Can you help my friend?” He called out. The bigger giant turned and instinctively readied his club, but the smaller one stepped in front to calm him.

“Now now brother, you knew she had two companions.” The giant cooed in a still gravelly, but much less gravelly tone than the one they called brother. “The Kneeling, I presume?”

Hektor sheathed his sword and stepped towards them. “That sounds like your word for Littlefoot Tribe. Hektor Tumlin. We don't want any trouble, that one attacked us in the dead of night.”

The larger of the two giants laughed, a sharp boom that rang out across the steppe. “Hear that sisterbrother? They don't want trouble but come all this way.”

“Sisterbrother?” Hektor instantly regretted thinking aloud.

“Problem, Kneeling?” The larger giant readied his club again. “Rhuk shapechanger. Forgot where started. Not matter, understand?”

“No problem, no problem!” Hektor replied bashfully. “That actually makes a lot of sense and it's admirable you're so defensive of your sibling. I apologize if there was any offense.”

The smaller giant now known as Rhuk giggled at the exchange before saying, “See Rhek? I told you there was a word in the common tongue for it, I just couldn't remember.”

“Not matter.” Rhek responded gruffly. “Rhuk best shaman. Study from seer. Best chance to heal forest witch out here, Kneeling with sweet words.”

“I'm very pleased to hear that!” Hektor cried, “Please do uh...Rook?”

“Close enough, more of a 'huh' sound in there.” Rhuk muttered as she turned her attention back to Agnes. She waved her hands around as a gentle glow enveloped them, talking to Hektor and Rhek as she worked. “Injuries aren't too bad, this is one tough old lady. Sense to go limp on impact or maybe...were you quick enough to dampen the effect with air? By the way, Mr. Hektor. Did you say Tumlin? Is that not one of the larger Knee...Littlefoot clans?”

Rhek rubbed the back of his neck bashfully and added, “Please uh, Rhuk talk weird but very smart.”

“Yes indeed!” Hektor replied, revealing in the process that family pride could overcome extreme pain and fatigue. “Don't know if there's any of us out here, but Tumlins are all over the continent. I'm from the southern foothills, town called River's Bend. And no need, Rhuk just sounds like the city types. When the catlike girl back there realizes she's not about to die you'll see she's the same.”

“Like you, Kneeling.” Rhek replied, throwing himself down to take a seat against the trees. Always keeping an eye on the felled giant he struck. After a moment he spoke again, pointing his club at the vanquished foe. “Lieutenant. Name Naak. Dunne One-Eye like to think he have proper city army. This one soldier. Good soldier. Glad we beat.”

“I certainly know what you mean, Mr. Rhek.” Hektor said as he took a seat on a stump facing the giant. “I appreciate you coming to our aid. You seem like a particularly strong giant too from the look of you.”

Rhek let out a coarse laugh before he replied. “Heh, no one call me mister before. Sorry I wait. Need to know something about Tumlin Kneeling and friends.”

“Oh? What could that be?”

“How strong new group coming to challenge Dunne One-Eye.”

“Ah, I see...” Hektor began before trailing off. “Well, sorry we weren't quite up to the task.”

Rhek laughed again before leaning forward to examine Hektor. “You survive midnight ambush from Naak. Almost win. Kneeling fast. Cat has sharp eye. Witch? She good. Rhuk see fight in harbor town too. Like to go in as human. You only need one thing.”

Hektor couldn't help but recoil slightly as a giant loomed so close to his face, but still kept his cheery tone as he asked “And what could that be, Mr. Rhek?”

“Giant allies. We look for next good hero. Rhuk have smart plan.”

As the first rays of pre-dawn light peeked over the horizon, the party of six must have looked an odd sight trekking across the steppe. One giant in the lead with another bound and slung over his shoulder, a falcon perched on his other. Then a Littlefoot tribesman with an elderly witch and rattled thief in the back riding two horses with as many of their provisions as they could salvage. Eventually they came to a depression in the plateau expertly hidden by a large but low canopy woven of prairie grass and durable enough to support patches of loose gravel. Underneath it was downright spacious for the smaller guests and allowed the giants to sit comfortably.

Rhuk transformed again into a form Hektor could only describe as a hybrid between giant and human. She lifted Agnes from the wagon gingerly and laid her on a stone table. Hektor and Chloe both bolted to her side when they finally heard their companion speak.

“I've been in and out but I'll make it.” Her voice was pained but firm, and before she fell into a comfortable sleep as the changeling continued to tend to her wounds Agnes muttered. “I like these two. Good work Tumlin.”