Bite, claw, bite, claw. Claw, kick, flex wing, bite, scratch.
The moves replayed in my head as I lay curled in the net that had delayed my flight indefinitely.
Quite possibly permanently.
Probably best not to think about that.
The evening before had been raining, leaving me earthbound in these woods. This afternoon, in my haste to reach the next leg of my journey, I tumbled head-first into a net. I was annoyed with myself for not seeing it because I had seen a number of them the day before, albeit in different locations.
I had tried to get myself out, but I wasn't able to get my feet under me, so I ceased my struggling and waited. And plotted while I waited.
Kick, bite, scratch, flex wing, claw.
It wasn't long before I heard the snapping of twigs and the rustle of dry leaves, announcing the arrival of the flightless giants; a species that did what they wanted with no care for anything else. This group of six looked very happy when they saw me and I heard them babble excitedly in their obscure and flat language. Of course they would, I thought, they were going to eat me! How little-old-me was going to be enough to feed all of them was not something I wanted to think about.
The tallest one, who looked to be their leader, approached me slowly, as if reducing his speed would make me feel calmer. He spoke with the others as he disentangled me, and from his movements, I knew he had done this before. His hands were quick and sure, but also surprisingly gentle.
Before long, he had me out of the net and shifted me until he held me by the legs. The others crowded around as he pointed at my wings, my head and my front. I flapped my wings, and the others backed away, but the giant holding onto my legs just held on until I got tired and folded my wings.
With his other hand, he pinned my wings to my side and put me into a cloth sack. With the opening tied shut, I couldn't see where they were taking me, so I stayed still and refined my plan as I waited. And waited. After what felt like forever, I heard more voices. More giants, I thought dismayed. How many more were there?
The sack opened and a different hand reached in and pinned my wings to my side. With the bag removed, I looked around only to see that I was surrounded again, but this time, the group was enormous; there had to be at least twenty of them all crowded around me. Perhaps it was foolish of me to try and escape with so many eyes watching, but I had to try, right? So every time the opportunity presented itself, I squirmed and flapped my wings.
Unfortunately for me, the giantess had a firm grip and I was unable to claw, kick or bite her. It was while she held me upside-down that I felt a cold band clamp around my leg. I flexed my leg, and relief flooded me when I felt it move.
That was it, I thought angrily. If they were going to kill me, then kill already. I wasn't going to let them torment me before I'm killed. Just as I was going to throw caution into the wind and fight my way free, the hands pinning my wings disappeared.
Stunned, I sat in the middle of the giantess's open palm, not believing what was happening. They were going to let me go? Just like that?
As the knowledge sank in, the same giant that stuffed me in the sack nudged me.
Without a backward glance, I quickly flew off. I didn't want to be around when they changed their minds. I still had a long way to go before I reached my final destination.
Feeling a bit peckish, I dropped down to pick finish off the last elderberries on the bush before flitting over to the twinberries someone had missed. I glanced up at the heavy, grey clouds darkening sky and nearly groaned when I felt a drop of rain hit my wings.
It looks like I'd have to delay my flight south another day.
I quickly picked my way through the forest, giving the gigantic nets and the giants themselves a wide berth. I hunkered down in the dense bush I had taken shelter in the night before and waited the storm out.
Tomorrow evening, I thought as the rain splattered on the leaves outside my shelter. Tomorrow evening, I am leaving this place.
