We walked on and on, deeper into the forest until the tunnel mouth yawned before us—wide enough for a Guardian and dark as a sealed grave. Drew stooped to enter; even crouched, the ceiling scraped his shoulders. Lin, Jif, and I followed, tiny shadows beside his massive form.
Inside, Drew's voice rumbled through the stone. He spoke of his daughter, Sarah—how badly he missed her. Jif listened, nodding with a quiet, broken empathy only another lost parent could share.
I whispered to Lin, "From a distance, people think giants like him live for blood and ruin, that they're monsters. But their hearts… they could hold an entire city."
Lin's reply was soft but steady. "We'll leave this long, dark tunnel. Jif will see his children again, Drew will be free from those corrupt rulers, and you and I—Rahin—we'll stay together. We'll be happy. I trust that. I believe the people will one day enter the city, and corruption will be erased."
Her faith felt wider than the tunnel itself. I asked, half‑amused, half‑amazed, "Where does that hope come from?"
She smiled. "I trust you. You'll change everything."
We laughed, even while the path stretched endless ahead. When Lin's steps faltered, I lifted her into my arms. Jif grinned. "Where's that speed of yours now, Rahin? You're slow!"
"I don't know," I muttered, breath heavy.
A whisper brushed my ear.
"Quiet," I hissed.
Lin and Jif heard nothing, but I did—a slithering drag across stone.
Shapes emerged far behind: barefoot hunters sprinting, bows already drawn.
"Run!" I shouted.
Arrows whistled. Drew's roar split the dark. He smashed a fist into the tunnel wall—stone cracked, boulders thundered down, sealing the passage between us and the hunters. Dust choked the air.
When it cleared, Drew lay on the ground. A poisoned arrow jutted from his enormous chest. His breath came slow, shallow.
Lin wept. Jif stood in stunned silence. I knelt beside the giant who had only wanted his child.
"I promise you, Drew," I whispered, "I'll seek justice for Sarah."
He managed a faint smile. "Then… I can die in peace."
One final exhale, and Drew—the guardian who longed for his daughter—was still.
We grieved in silence, then pressed onward through the collapsed rock until a pale light bled from ahead. At last, we stepped into an abandoned city—strange, silent, its buildings hollow, a forgotten headquarters waiting in the gloom.
The tunnel had ended, but the next mystery now loomed before us.
Tell me in the comments if you want the rest of the story.