I Stand Among Giants

It’s a bright Summer’s day when a giant walks by a river. He has filled his time by tormenting any that comes across him and takes a lot of satisfaction from it. A faint glow in the water catches his eye. He takes a loser look and sees something round among the stones of the riverbed.

“It’s an orb,” he says to himself “perhaps even a magical one.”Feeling that he has a right to it due to his size and strength, he tries to scoop it out. The minnows in the river however, protest. 

“The orb is in our waters, giant. It is rightfully ours!” They say firmly. The giant is amused by their claim

 “I am mightier than all of you and will just take it. You can’t stop me, little minnows”  The minnows whisper to each other before they look to the giant again

“We must settle this as we both have a claim on the orb. Let’s play a game. Whoever wins gets it” 

The giant’s booming laugh shakes the trees around him. “What makes you think I will indulge in this offer?” He questions as he puts his hand in the water to retrieve the orb. 

The minnows shimmer as they swim in circles around the giant’s submerged wrist.

“The giant is afraid of minnows! The giant fears losing to us! Let’s all laugh at the giant!”.

The giant withdraws his hand, irritated at the feeling of the minnows touching it and growls

“I am not afraid of anything!” He states through gritted teeth. “I will play any game you offer” he stares at the minnows and grins as his arrogance emerges “I’ll even do it one hand tied behind my back” he says, confident that he can beat them. Then his grin grows menacing “and know this, little fish, if I win, I get to eat every single minnow who plays this game. Every scale and tail will be in my belly for dinner” 

The minnows quietly discuss the newest wager. 

“Fine by us” they say after much discussion “we know how you torment everyone so if we win, you must live in the mountains and never return to the greener lands” The giant scoffs but nods.

“The game will be in the water” the minnows add. The giant shrugs, undeterred.

“It doesn’t matter where we play, I will win all the same”He wades into the deep pool that is just to the side of the river and wraps a rope around his right hand to tie it behind his back. 

“The game is simple” the minnows say to him “the first to score twice wins. The orb itself will be the ball” The yellow flag flowers that surround the pond listen carefully and make gaps at each end of the pond to create the goal, their interest piqued. Woodland animals gather to watch this game. Most are friends of the minnows and they make banners and flags to show their support. The giant rolls his eyes. This show of unity annoys him and he’s eager to have them all cowering again when he wins. 

It doesn’t take long for the giant to score the first goal even with his self imposed disadvantage. As soon as a magpie caws for the game to start, he easily throws the orb between the gap on the north side of the pond. The woodland goes quiet. A squirrel throws the orb back into the pool to restart the game.

“Come on, minnows”, she mumbles to herself before she hurries up a tree to watch the rest of the game. As the orb floats back to the centre the giant laughs again.  “You were foolish to challenge me, minnows. I will have that orb as well as a very hearty feast of fish tonight. There are hundreds of you and it will give me great pleasure eating you all”

The minnows though are not afraid. “Our numbers are many just as you say!” They reply as they surround the orb and carry it near the surface. They are fast and determined and to everyone’s surprise, they manage to score a goal on the south side by working together. The animals watching cheer for them, delighted to see such small creatures have even the slightest of chances to win.

The giant, enraged by the very thought that such tiny things managed to score against him, snaps the rope holding his tied hand. 

“I WILL CRUSH YOU ALL, YOU PATHETIC CREATURES!” He roars furiously. In his anger, he stumbles around to catch the orb, slamming his hands into the water and creating waves and ripples to disrupt the pool as much as he can. 

The minnows, still working as a team, take the orb deeper under the water to avoid the dangerous splashes. Their tightly packed group holds it using all their strength to get it towards the goal.

“Push! Push!” They say to each other, not letting the giant’s rage or his aggressive movements discourage them.

The giant sees them as they emerge from the deep near the goal and rushes towards them but can do nothing as the orb springs out of the water and arches towards the edge of the pool. The whole woodland seems to hold its breath. It lands between the  gap in the flowers with a quiet thud and the air erupts into cheers. 

The minnows leap in and out of the water, joyous that they managed to beat the giant.

“The orb is ours! The orb is ours!” They cry out jubilantly. 

The giant wades over to where the orb has landed and grabs it. 

“I will take this anyway.” He spits as  he points to the woodland animals who are still cheering “ I am still bigger and stronger than any of you!” He lifts the hand holding the orb up high. “This is mine!” 

The orb seems to respond to his words and it glows bright in his hands. An ethereal spirit emerges from it and floats down to be in front of him. The giant smiles. 

“Ah! So it is magic after all. Are you here to grant me a wish, spirit?” He puffs out his chest “I am holding your vessel after all”

The spirit stares up at the giant and sees that he does indeed have the orb. However they shake their head.

“I have been watching from inside my vessel. You have not played with any sense of sportsmanship.” They say in a calm voice that resonates around the trees. “You underestimated the minnows, threw a tantrum when they scored and even had the audacity to take the prize even though you lost. You played without honour or respect. I will not be granting any wish to you” 

The giant is taken aback by the spirit’s scolding, his shock of their words makes him splutter in protest. 

The spirit lifts up their arms

“You will receive something however. A punishment for your misdeeds and arrogance. You will never leave this woodland again and you will be cursed to watch everyone else live free” a bright light emanates from them and the giant disappears.

The spirit turns to the minnows who look up in awe and fear. But instead of a scowl, the spirit’s expression softens and they crouch by the waterside. “For your efforts you may keep the orb, little minnows, and….” The spirit places their hands in the water “…your river and pools will be clean and clear forever, a small token of my blessings for giving the woodland a great spectacle.” 

“Thank you, spirit” the minnows reply, gratefully. The spirit smiles and then disappears. The minnows carry the orb away back to the river with the cheers of the woodland still echoing around them.