Stranded on a Tiny Planet
Chapter 8: Sick

Pixie had slept peacefully in the warmth and safety of Merco’s pocket until early morning when she was awakened suddenly by a violent shaking from the giant’s body. She opened her eyes fast just as the tremor subsided. The cloth surrounding her wasn’t dry anymore and the heat radiating from him was noticeable. Sometime during the night, he had rolled to his side and his pocket had become a hammock against his wall of a chest. Behind that wall she could still hear the pounding of his heart, but it was faster now; not relaxed. She poked her head out and could see his face which didn’t appear serene but knit with pain and distress. He shivered again, his flesh vibrating her to the point of discomfort. It subsided again and slowly he began to awaken.

Merco could barely open his eyes come morning. His body chilled and shook as the sledgehammer in his head pounded away. He had his jacket piled under his head for a pillow, but the ground was less than comfortable and the burning pain in his head never ceased, so sleep had not been forthcoming. He gingerly touched his head and cringed as a bolt of pain seemed to crackle like electricity across it. It felt hot to the touch. Infected. He closed his eyes dismally, knowing he had no medicine nor any expertise to seek out the local plant life for some sort of relief. In time the wound would grow more septic and being a head wound it would hit his brain first, killing him.

“What a way to go. Dying slowly of sepsis on an alien planet. So much for trying to survive by my wits. A stupid head wound is going to be my death blow.” He thought miserably.

Merco painfully pushed himself up into a sitting position. It felt like he weighed one thousand pounds. His head spun, sending a wave of nausea over him. The heat...it was so hot. No...that was the infection burning through his body. Not to mention the uncomfortable, pasty scratch of thirst clawed at his throat. He smacked his dry lips unpleasantly, realizing there wasn’t any water here. If he wanted water, he’d have to trek back to that lake...a daunting task given how he felt.

“Merco?” Pixie’s tiny concerned voice came from his pocket.

He glanced down at the plumed lavender head peeking out at him and managed a smile, “Hey there, Pixie. Sleep well?”

She blinked up at him, her blue eyes conveying concern.

“Guess I’m not feeling so good today.” He said groggily, “Need to replace some water.”

Protectively, he held his hand over his pocket to prevent Pixie from falling out as he stood up. It wasn’t easy and vertigo swirled his senses violently when he rose. He staggered back unsteadily trying to wait out the dizziness and correct his bearings. Slowly he regained balance, but the weakness was consuming his energy fast. He retrieved his spear stick, leaning against it as a walking stick. He looked around and saw the familiar rock formation in the distance and knew the lake was angled to the left a bit further. With slow steps he began walking back.

He looked down at Pixie guiltily, “Sorry, Pixie. I know I said we’d replace your family today, but I need water. Once I get a drink we can start looking again, ok?”

She obviously didn’t understand his explanation, but it made him feel a bit better to say it aloud. Hopefully, he could keep his promise.

...

Pixie knew something was definitely wrong with her giant caregiver. Despite how big and intimidating he was, the weakness he was exhibiting was palpable. His face was marked with a pained expression and his movements felt forced and jerky. She wanted to ask him what was wrong but knew they wouldn’t be able to communicate that. What she did know was he didn’t look well.

Nearly a nublar had passed and Merco’s impossible strides became slower; his steps more stumbled. Pixie could feel his huge breaths become more pronounced against her back. She looked up at him only to see his eyelids drooping and his brow shining with sweat.

Suddenly, there was a violent jerk in his step and Pixie cried out as Merco fell forward. Trees snapped and the forest shook with a quaking [boom!] when his knees and left hand hit the ground. When he hit, Pixie held onto the lip of his pocket for dear life but fell to the bottom of it helplessly. Merco’s chest swelled wide with every pained breath, tightening his shirt around her. His heartbeat was loud and fast in her ears.

“Merco!” she cried out. “Are you all right?”

She could see him above, eyes screwed shut and hunched over. All at once his hip shifted to the right and his whole body toppled over onto his side. Pixie screamed briefly as she was jostled harshly. After the shaking subsided and she composed herself, Pixie pushed her head up out of Merco’s pocket again.

“Merco!” she shouted at him with worry.

He didn’t answer as he lay on his side, breathing in a pained manner. Luckily, he fell on his right side, placing his pocket upward and away from the crushing weight of his body. Pixie wriggled a bit and pulled herself out of Merco’s pocket. She carefully held onto his shirt and with some courage slid down the slope of his chest to the ground. She stood back from him, laying as a living mountain before her.

Before she could do anything, a voice spoke in her language from above, “Shh! It’s all right. Come this way!”

She looked up with a start to see two Ansheeta like herself flying down from the trees nearby.

...

As Anu and Traynar flew toward the lake they at once spotted the tremendous silhouette of the giant in the distance.

“There! There he is.” Anu pointed.

Traynar nodded and gestured for her to follow him. Together they flew at an angle away from the giant but intended to intercept his path just before the lake.

Traynar flew higher, judging the path and distance before he pointed to a particularly large tree, “There! Land there.”

Anu landed on a branch, leaning against the thick trunk as Traynar landed on the other side of her. Both of them watched and waited. It wasn’t long before the rhythmic tremors of the giant’s footsteps were felt through the forest. Oddly, he didn’t seem to be moving very fast for something of his size. The pair waited, expecting to see him appear any second. Unexpectedly, a massive crash followed by a seismic quake shook the area. Anu and Traynar held onto their tree and then looked to one another.

“What happened?” Traynar asked.

Anu unflinchingly flew upward to gain a better view. From the higher vantage she spotted the giant, but he wasn’t standing or walking. He was on his knees, bent to the ground.

“He fell!” Anu announced with shock.

Before Traynar could respond, Anu shot in the fallen behemoth’s direction. He cursed but followed after her. As they flew high above, the huge being suddenly collapsed onto his side and lay still.

They stopped midair, staring.

“Oh no! Did...did he crush it?” Traynar asked with horror.

They flew closer and suddenly Anu pointed, “Look! His pocket!”

Neither could believe it as a thin, delicate, lavender form emerged from the giant’s shirt pocket and steadily slid down his chest to the ground.

“It’s her! She’s Emerged!” Anu exclaimed quickly flying down toward her.

“Anu! Wait!” Traynar tried but she clearly wouldn’t listen.

Anu flew down toward the young female Ansheeta, raised her hands and said in a hushed volume, “Shh! It’s all right. Come this way!”

The unclothed female turned abruptly, shocked to see her, “Who are you?”

Anu spanned her hands openly as Traynar appeared beside her, “My name is Anu and this is my mate Traynar. We’re here to take you home.”

“Home?” she glanced around, “Where is my family?”

“They are back in Anashee, waiting for us to bring you to them.” Traynar explained, never taking his eyes from the fallen giant before them, “Come with us.”

At first, they assumed she’d race toward them, eager to escape her giant captor. But instead she stepped back and turned touching the giant’s arm.

“But...Merco is hurt,” she pointed to the angry looking wound in his head.

“Young one, get away from him!” Traynar warned in an intense whisper. “He kidnapped you; stole you from your family. Please, come with us.”

She shook her head with refusal and huddled against Merco’s tree sized arm, “No! He took care of me. He helped me. I can’t just leave him!”

Traynar shook his head with frustration until Anu hovered forward, “If you will go with Traynar, he will take you to your family. They are all very worried about you.”

“But...Merco...” she began to protest but Anu interrupted her.

"I will stay and help Merco.”

Traynar’s eyes widened at her announcement and he flew close to her, arguing in a whisper, “Are you insane? What do you think you’re doing?”

Anu looked him in the eyes, “I’m just trying to do what’s right Traynar. She’s right. He is sick and letting him suffer and possibly die isn’t right.”

“Healing him when he could destroy everything and everyone we know isn’t right.” Traynar insisted with intensity. “Not only that, helping him is treason!”

Anu pursed her lips, “Only if you report it.”

Traynar blinked at his mate, “Anu...”

“Are you going to report it?”

There was a long pause but Traynar threw up his hands with frustration, “No. But I don’t like it Anu.” He protectively touched her face, “I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you.”

She smiled, taking his hand, “Isn’t that why you wanted me to be your mate? I’m never dull.”

He smiled back, shaking his head, “Well...yes. But this goes beyond excitement. Seriously, though, what is your plan? Why are you risking your life for this?”

Anu gestured to the fallen giant, “Wouldn’t you rather he be our ally than our enemy?”

“Well...obviously an ally, yes, but how do you know that’s even possible?”

She pointed to the young female before them, “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Threaten you?”

The young female shook her head, “No. He took care of me.”

Anu looked at Traynar pointedly, ”That is why I think it’s possible. He had the power to do anything he wished to her and yet he chose to care for her. Back at the lake he didn’t hurt me either. Those aren’t the actions of a malevolent beast.”

Even though her statements sounded bold and determined, inside Anu was just as frightened as her mate. Even if the evidence was clearing her doubt, the primal fear still remained. There was a distinct possibility her actions could doom not only her but every Ansheeta on their planet.

Traynar sighed heavily and finally gave a nod of consent, “All right...I’ll...go along.” He reached out to the young female, “Come. Let’s get you home.”

The Emerged female looked at him and then to Anu to detect any sort of lie but found none in their expressions. She stepped away from the giant’s arm and took Traynar’s hand. He turned, draped her arms around his neck and shoulders, and told her to climb on his back. She did so and slowly, he flew up and away, stealing a last look at his mate.

“Be careful. Please.” He mouthed.

She waved with understanding, watching them leave. As he flew away, there was a quiet cheer coming from the trees. Anu glanced around, suddenly realizing the EFP scouts were nearby, watching the exchange. Luckily, they were well enough away to shield the conversation from their ears and only got to see them “rescue” the young female. However, this presented a problem. Traynar wouldn’t report her aid of the fallen giant, but the EFP scouts would not hesitate. She would be demoted for disobeying orders...possibly even thrown in prison for treason. She needed a valid excuse to send them away. Quickly, she flew toward the trees and in no time, she found the scouts hidden amongst the taller trees. She landed next to them on the branches.

“You did it! You saved her!” one of the female scouts whispered with excitement.

“I can’t believe you got that close!” a male scout exclaimed.

She nodded and gave a fake smile, “Traynar needs help flying her back. It’s a long way to Anashee.”

The three scouts looked amongst themselves, unsure, “But, we’re not supposed to leave our scouting mission. We have to watch the giant until Squadron 2 relieves us tonight.”

Anu gestured to the unconscious form, “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. He’s fallen unconscious from a sickness. I will take over your watch. Getting the young one back to Anashee and to her family is top priority at this point. And besides, the Council will want to know of this latest development.”

The scouts’ female leader known as Hitalel, nodded but said, “I will stay behind and the other two can help Traynar. That way we can watch each other’s back in case he wakes up.”

Frustration boiled in Anu’s mind. Hitalel’s logic was sound so arguing the point would only raise suspicion. She would have to be sneaky to help Merco without looking like she was helping him. The other two scouts flew up and out of the trees after Traynar, leaving Hitalel and Anu alone to watch.