“Civ! Tha-tha-” Civ tried to cover Luk’s mouth to avoid sound from escaping.

  MUFFLE

  MUFFLE

  MUFFLE

  Luk can’t help but point his finger at the creatures in front of them.

  “Shhh calm down Luk. Shhhh.” Civ focused all his attention on stopping Luk from screaming.

  MMMMMRR!!!

  MMMmmrr!!!

  MMmmmrr

  ..............................

  “Are you okay now?” Civ silently asked.

  Luk nodded.

  Civ slowly releases his grip on half of Luks' face.

  “Sorry, I can’t control myself,” Luk replied.

  When they saw the footprints earlier, he braced himself. But seeing these giants made Luk afraid.

  “It’s fine. Even I was shocked and scared.” Civ admitted himself. He was also scared and startled by the giants. But biting his tongue stops him from screaming. His hands are still shaking, but he tightened his grip to control the shaking.

  Both of them are facing the giants. Crouching in tall grass that has trees in the middle.

  “Luk, if you don’t want to, you don’t need to look at them.” Civ comforted Luk.

  Luk takes a deep breath. “Whew… I’m fine now Civ. Let’s finish this!”

  Civ nodded. They slowly turn back to see the giants. When they peeked in the grass, what they saw was six giants! These giants have the same features as humans and are all naked. Based on Civ’s observation, four are male, and two are female. Three of the four male giants are almost the same height compared to the last one. The females were both of them had the same height. But a bit shorter compared to the male giants.

  ‘A family of giants?’ Civ commented to himself. It seems that the older-looking male and female might be the father and mother. While the rest might be their offspring based on the facial features of the rest.

  But one thing that made Civ's hair stand.

  ‘They are using clubs!’

  Compared to the human-sized club, these giant clubs were as thick as a mature tree!

  All of them look intimidating. Their brows are connected, and their faces are a bit deformed.

  ‘I don’t want to face them head-on now.’ Civ thought of fighting one of them if isolated in order to gauge their abilities. But it seems they are traveling in groups.

  After Civ carved the appearance of each of these giants in his mind. He looked around their surroundings.

  “Civ, look at the animals around!” Luk commented.

  He looks around. His eyes widened!

  All of the animals were grouped in front of the giants. As if these are waiting to be killed.

  These animals were ploped like kneeling. They are bowing so low that their faces are touching the ground. Upon focusing on one of the deer at the back, Civ noticed this deer was shaking. It's trying to stand!

  The deer was able to stand with all of its energy. After that, it turned its back on the giants and ran away!

  But after two steps. The eldest male giant noticed the deer and shouted.

  ROUH! (STOP!)

  The deer immediately stops. All of the animals in the area bowed their heads even lower. Their bowed heads were almost buried in the ground. Even Civ and Luk stop in a moment. Luk covered his mouth. While Civ's eyes widened.

  ‘What?!’ Civ's heart beat was racing fast. It’s not because of the voice of the giant. But because of how the giant speaks.

  ‘I-i-i I can understand them?!’ Civ exclaimed.

  On the way it was spoken was different. But the purpose was the same. It was to stop the deer. Civ wants to come to a conclusion. But he needs more convincing proof.

  STOMP

  STOMP

  STOMP

  The oldest male giant stood where the escaping deer was bowing. Then he grabbed the deer by its back hooves. Hanging head down. The giant raised it higher, above his head. Then -

  CHOMP!

  *CHOMP!* CRACK

  *CHOMP!* CRACK

  The giant eats the deer’s head.

  Everyone around heard the munching and cracking of bones on the oldest giant's mount.

  All of the animals around were visibly shaking. Even Civ and Luk, who are around twenty-eight meters away, were able to witness and imprint it in their heads. Luk's face went pale. As for Civ, he tried his best to control any involuntary movements of his body.

  The oldest giant returns to the place where the group is. Seeing where they sat, it looks like they are sitting in a big log that has fallen down. The tree was thrice as thick as the trees they had back in the camp.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  ROUH (Can)

  ROUH (Me)

  ROUH(Eat?)

  One of the male giants spoke. The oldest giant nodded. The male giant grabbed one of the boars near them. Same thing, he grabbed it by the back feet and bit half of the boar's face. The boar was unable to make a sound because of how fast it had happened.

  The giant also returned to its seat while holding the lifeless boar like a baby holding its stuffed toy.

  The giants just sat down and enjoyed their food.

  “Civ, we've already seen them. Let’s go back!” Luk whispered.

  “Not yet.” Civ replied.

  Looking around, Civ noticed a hanging fruit that looked like a grape. He aimed at it and hit it.

  THUD

  But after the Civ and Luk heard the sound of the falling fruit, nothing happened.

  ‘We heard it, but not them?’ Civ was confused.

  He tried again, hitting some fruits, but was within fourteen to 12 meters away from the giants.

  THUD

  The animals around that heard jolted, trying to stand up. But still no reaction from the giants.

  Civ tried to hit a fruit near the giants, less than nine meters.

  ROUH? (WHAT)

  ROUH? (LOOK)

  The oldest giant commanded, and the youngest giant stood up and looked around. But it returned right away after a few seconds.

  Civ clicked his tongue.

  Still not satisfied, Civ stood up and shook the tall grass in front of him.

  “Hey Civ! What are you doing?!” Luk tried to control his voice, not shouting too loudly.

  But Civ did not stop and continued shaking the grass more.

  The tall grasses moved left and right. But these giants are still not noticing.

  “Let’s go back to the river Civ!” Luk starts tugging Civ’s hands, trying to drag his friend.

  Civ stopped and put down his hands. “Alright.”

  Luk and Civ crouched while walking away from the giants. But then Civ stood up-

  “Awo awowo oh oh AWO AWO OH OH AWOWOWO”. Civ imitates the sound of a monkey while shouting as loud as he can towards the giants!

  The giants noticed the sound, and they followed where the voice came from. But they see nothing. The oldest giant stood up and said something.

  “ROGH” (Youngest)

  Hearing the command, the youngest of the giants walked towards Civ and Luk.

  STOMP

  STOMP

  STOMP

  The ground was shaking while the Civ stood still, staring at the walking giant. ‘HUH?’

  His eyes widened, focusing on this giant. While observing the giant, he smiled.

  “Luk! Nock your arrow!” Civ instructed with a firm voice.

  “Ha?! A-as you command.” Luk’s hands are shaking. But since he was officially commanded by the Chosen One at this moment, he needed to fulfill his task.

  Both of them pointed their arrows at the giant. Who was slowly walking to them.

  Civ aimed his arrow at the eyes. But he changed his mind. He said to Luk.

  “Shoot the arm at my command,” Civ reminded Luk.

  Luk nodded. He gritted his teeth as his hands were shaking.

  After three more steps from the giant, Civ shouted.

  “Shoot the arm!” Civ and Luk release the arrows at the same time. Hitting the giants with both arms!

  RAUHH

  The arrows penetrated the skin!

  Seeing the result, Civ stood up and commanded.

  “RUN!”

  Hearing the word Luk waiting since they arrived here. He quickly picked up their belongings and ran away as fast as he could.

  Civ followed Luk’s lead. But looking back at the giant, it looked pissed. But he blinked slowly.

  The giant was still walking!

  Realizing this, Civ matched the speed of Luk and laughed loudly. “HAHAHAHAHA”

  Hearing the laugh coming from Civ, Luk was startled. “What is it Civ?”

  “Hehehe nothing. I think we already finished our task here.” Civ replied.

  They ran non-stop away from the giant’s camp until they arrived at the place where the fallen log the placed is.

  “Luk, let’s stop here.” Both of them stopped here. The smell of the earth, grass, and sweat filled their noses. They open their waterskin. Drink a lot of it and pour some of it in their heads to cool down their steaming body.

  All they heard was the whistle from the wind and swaying leaves.

  “Hehehe HAHAHAHA” Luk laughed while lying down.

  Civ looked at laughing Luk and smiled. Letting this guy express what he wants.

  ‘I know that feeling.’ Civ said to himself.

  Luk laughed for more than a minute. He sat down and looked at Civ and said. “Whew! I thought we would be killed by those giants. Now I know we can outrun them!”

  “You are right Luk.” Civ agrees.

  What Luk said was right. These giants were big. Their jaws and whole faces were deformed. Their arms were thick. Good for swinging, but there are limitations. Their legs are also thick, but it seems they can’t move like normal humans.

  Now, Civ was able to get a glimpse of what he remembered from the last attack. These were the same giants that attacked them last time!

  ‘So this is not only a defense, but it's also a revenge!’ Civ smiled sinisterly.

  Now that he is here and in command of the camp’s defense, things will be more interesting.

  “Do you think the giant is still chasing us Civ?” Luk asked.

  Civ did not reply immediately. He focuses his hearing to the north.

  SILENCE

  “I doubt it. But still, be vigilant.” Civ replied.

  Luk nodded, and they continued resting for a few minutes.

  “Luk, let’s continue to walk back to the river. We need to return there before the Sun Goddess sleeps.” Civ stood up.

  “Before we return, bring some of this.” Civ harvested five hands of bananas. He gave two to Luk. They tied it to their spear. These bananas are still unripe. When they return to the camp, he hopes they will be ripe by that time.

  Civ and Luk were safely returned to the river just in time to appreciate the orange sky.

  They refilled their waterskin. Then enjoyed their dinner by eating berries and dried meat.

  While they are lying down, staring at the starry night, Luk asked.

  “What do you think about the giants? Do you think we can defend ourselves?”

  Civ crossed his arm while lying down. “It is a tough question, honestly, Luk. I believe we can, but the real question is-”

  He paused, sat, and looked down.

  “Ho-how many sacrifices do we need to save the tribe?” Civ's voice was shaking.

  He was confident he could cause damage to the giants. But in a battle with a stronger force, unexpected things might appear. When that happens, the tribe needs to be ready for anything that will come to them to save the whole tribe.

  Luk silently listened as he continued to stare at the starry night.

  After a few moments, he replied. “I agree Civ. But please make sure you don’t sacrifice yourself to us. You are the reason why the tribe is living better. We need you Civ. We want no harm befall you.”

  With that sincere reply from Luk, Civ felt touched. Then an idea comes to his mind.

  “No harm, be-fall.” Civ starts caressing his chin.

  Noticing the change in mood from Civ, Luk asked. “What is it Civ?”

  A moment later, Civ replied. “I think we can try to avoid confrontation with the giants. But I need to plan it better.”

  Civ nodded. He lay down and said to Luk. “Luk, let's sleep early tonight. We need to return to the camp tomorrow as soon as possible.”

  “Alright.” Hearing the excitement in Civ’s voice, Luk smiled. They stared at the night sky until they fell asleep.

  The morning came, and Civ and Luk finished their breakfast. Wash their bodies and prepare everything they need for their travel.

  “You ready Luk?” Civ asked.

  “Yes Civ!” Luk replied. Smiling ear to ear.

  “Alright. Let's return to the camp!”