Chapter Text
It was finally done. His perfection, his magnum opus. William Bearheart had spent months on this, transplanting, tending, watering, straining and stressing over this tiny garden. It sat atop a stone table he'd had Archibald make for him, sturdy and resilient with a lip on the table top to keep the contents in. Bear had filled it with soil from his garden, and transplanted a few trees from outside. He'd put so much care and work into this. So much time spent to make his 'small one' as comfortable as possible.
No one really knew where these little beings came from. There were some hints that they'd always been there, but something happened to their dens when the magical barrier broke. In that way, Bear actually felt bad to the little nippers. Displaced from their homes over such a little magical blast. Then again, what was little to a giant could be catastrophic to something that size.
After the blast, many of his kind, as well as other giants had searched this strange new world, finding regular garden plants, some small fauna, and the little ones. Most of their colonies looked to be destroyed, and a great number of them were harmed. So many of the giants started taking them in, nursing them back to health, and making a push to domesticate the poor things.
The keeping of small ones had been approved four years after their discovery. After many of them had taken to the situation well enough. There was always an initial shock reaction, but soon enough they seamed to come around. Especially when regularly interacted with. Though many of them were still only fresh rescues from colonies.
Bear had been saving up to buy a small one for a while now. And in that time he'd made what he saw to be the perfect habitat for one.
The final piece was rigging up the shelter for the tables soon to be occupant. It looked like a little house, but made out of a semi clear plastic. Each room was it's own color. It had a little kitchen with a feeding slot on the left wall, in the form of a sliding tray shaped like a kitchen table. The sink on the back wall was a water dispenser, much like the ones used to hydrate pet mice. But this would hold no mouse. In fact, mice would probably have no use for such a place. Not even for scraps of food. As there was much more in the rest of Bears house.
There was a small restroom in the top right, made of a darker, more private plastic. This could be cleaned with a pull out tray as well. And to the top left of the little shelter, was a room Bear took great pride in. He'd hand made this room for his future pet. Sewed a little padding for the floor, filled it with tiny pillows, and even set up a little humidifier. That was the hardest part. That and the shelters temperature control.
Reaching down to finalize some of the 'garden', Bear took a delicate pare of clippers and carefully snipped a jagged limb off a one of the pear trees in the cage. To bear, a tree wasn't much bigger than a celery stalk. A mouse no bigger than a flea.
Archibald had come up with a theory, after looking into his magic books and old tales. These were what giants called 'the emulators'. A creature that often looked up to the giants, grew along side them for a while. They often had a cute habit of trying to copy what they saw giants doing. Such as building homes out of stone, without magic!
If that was truly the case, Bear wanted to see it in action. And so, he had made the decision to adopt one from the shelters. Today was the day he'd finally have it! The bearded giant was just now looking through his notes to ensure he had everything. Clothing and grooming would come after he knew what he wanted. The man wanted to adopt a young one. As they were faster to hand tame and easier to train. But then, adults were less likely to be adopted and that broke Bears heart. He decided he'd look at the individuals first. He'd make the choice when he found the one that clicked.
It had been a few years after that freak blast. Cities had crumbled, whole families had died, and then those monsters showed up. Plucked every single person they could from the ruins, stuck them in cages. Every year survivors were swept away. He'd lasted on the streets for three years with a small collection of people. However, that too, ended. All it took was one flash flood. He'd been captured not long after. Without any one keeping an ear out for those things, he'd slept right through his captors approach.
He'd been found, picked up, shoved in a box, and locked away like some animal. His new residence was more of a white cell. There were holes on either side so he could speak with the other inmates. A small room in back for him to do his business. and in the corner, a padded surface and a few blankets. One wall was made up of a thick sort of glass, with a hatch at the top. Every second day or so that would be opened and his area cleaned.
Once in a while, these titanic monsters would bring in people, new catches. Others would come and take away people. Just pull them out of their place and stuff them in another box. It got to the point where the man could actually predict what would happen just by what those giants did.
They'd walk up, reach in. The poor sap they took would scramble this way and that in attempts to avoid the inevitable. Then they'd be taken. No one stayed in that place longer than a weak or two. Aside from himself, he'd lasted three months there.
Every day he felt mocked, humiliated, and scared. Every day new faces would peer in at him, sometimes tap on the glass of his container, and leave him. They'd take a woman, or a child. It was kind of funny if he were to be honest. No one wanted an adult male like him. And no one on his end knew what happened to the people taken.
He always wondered how mice in a pet store felt. Well, now he knew. Though, that wasn't accurate either. They were at least raised in this situation. This was normal and even okay for them. An aggravated huff escaped the man, as he ran a hand through his hair. Just as he thought, yet another one of those colossi had come in. This one a female, with a child. He was sure he was going to have to deal with his wall being banged on again. That horrid sound.
Fortunately this pair knew what they wanted. And though the kid did run right up to him, their mother pulled them away. Pointing to a red head not far from them. The woman they'd picked skittered back. And he felt bad for the girl. He couldn't imagine the terror of being chosen by one of those things. Shoved into one of those cases, and taken away.
There was a great deal of shouting from the redhead. Mostly angry yells and some pleas. The mother trying her hardest to catch the woman while the child bounced up and down on their toes.
After the drama of catching her, and putting the poor girl in the case was over, the mother paid, and left, woman in tow. She and her child brushed past another giant. This one he took note of. Most of those brutes looked like different species. Some had horns, or even stone hanging off their bodies. This guy.... Well The man was sure there was something living in that shaggy, black beard of his. Other than that, he looked normal. Like a big human really.
Red flannel shirt, tuque, overalls. This guy was a regular Paul Bunion minus the cow. Must have left it outside. The man snickered at the thought and heaved a sigh. Still watching the fuzzball. Unlike the others, this one came in with his own box. Meaning he was either dropping off, or he just decided to save the place some money.
He chatted a while with the giant working the desk. Asking a few questions from what the human could gather. The till worker responding by waggling a finger a moment, and moving towards the tanks with the new fuzzface. So this was a pick up then. Someone else would be dragged off.
The man just shuffled to the side a little, curling in on himself. He didn't really want to look appealing to anyone. No way he'd be chosen. It's worked all three months he'd been living in this place. To add to the scene, he even covered his face with an arm when the two drew closer. They always seamed to go for the curios, angry, or adventurous ones. Never the folks who would cower away from them.
As Bear had entered the shelter he was greeted brightly by a young lad. Probably at his first job. He gazed around a moment only to have his attention snapped once more by the boy. "See someone you like?"
"Not yet... But I do have something specific in mind. I'm looking for one that has been here a while. Somebody who doesn't look to have a chance at being adopted." The man smiled gently as he spoke, leaning in a little when the boy shook his finger in the air and started to make his way to a tank.
"This little guy has been with us for a while now. He's really shy, and kind of easy to scare. We had him brought in after someone found him under one of those collapsed colonies. Apparently he'd dug himself a burrow and made a nest." The teller crouched down near the tank. Bear following suit. And oh, did the scene break his heart. The little fellow was all balled up, covering his face as though it would make them disappear. He wasn't shaking, but then, he probably knew by now that nothing could get through the glass.
This was exactly what Bear had in mind. No one wanted a scared little one. Perhaps if he were a baby, female or even adolescent, but not a grown male. "...Yep. He's the one. I brought a box." He spoke as he lifted the carrying case just a small ways.
Bear raised his hand and placed it on the tank, smiling down at the little guy. "You're comin' home with me little buddy."
Aside from the fearful nature, or maybe because of it, this guy was actually quite adorable too. Light chestnut hair, soft brown eyes, very fit. Perhaps this one was getting a little scruffy in the cheeks and chin. If given enough time, he'd have a beard to match Bears own. Well, that was nothing a bit of grooming wouldn't fix.
Had he not been so easy to scare, he probably wouldn't have any trouble finding a forever home. Bear was already picking a name, even thinking of nicknames. Perhaps he could get this little fellow comfortable enough to handle him. Hell maybe he would even start mimicking Bear.
These thoughts were cast aside when the teller began reaching for the cage entrance.
Bear moved back a bit and opened his carry case for his new pet. He'd dropped a bit of Lord Lavender oil in the case to help calm the little one after the ordeal. Catching was always the scariest part of owning one of these guys. Hopefully this would go with little to no stress on his system.
Something wasn't right. They stopped at HIS tank. There was no looking, no back and forth. And the way the big guy had rested his hand on the glass. A cold ball fell to the pit of the mans stomach. He'd been picked. It was his turn to be taken away as the rarely opened access hatch to his cage fell from the main wall. He was about to find out what happened to the ones who were taken. And part of him knew there was no escaping it.
Scrambling and screaming without abandon, he ran. Even if it seamed hopeless, he had to try. If he could get just out of the big brutes reach. Well that might be enough. Perhaps the bearded one would pick someone else. Maybe this would be enough for the keeper to suggest people not even look at him. He kept his gaze over his shoulder. Keeping his eye on where the offending hand would go.
The keepers hand began reaching in, and he began shushing the man. As he always did when he had to reach into his cage. Usually to clean it. Always in a three hush rhythm, followed by speaking. Almost like he was trying to comfort the human. Well it wasn't working. If anything it made it worse. Comfort meant something bad was happening.
The man was so busy paying attention to where that hand was, he didn't notice where the tap to his water dispenser was. Sure enough he crashed into it face first and fell onto his back groaning. There was no recovering from that. The hand was on him in seconds. But he wasn't about to give up. No he began kicking and fighting even biting. He was NOT going in that box. No way.
Bear jerked when he saw the little fellow fall. A small 'oh!' escaping him. He covered his mouth with his knuckles as the little guy began fighting. The shopkeeper visibly struggling with him, winced and hushed. He soon jerked his hand away from the cage with a yelp. Holding his hand, the keeper looked over a small nick the little one had caused. "Ouch! Sorry. I've never been bit by these things before." He looked a bit embarrassed.
Bear just smiled a bit and patted the teenagers shoulder. "Ah it happens. You can be as nice as ever, but a frightened creature doesn't understand that. Mind if I catch him?" He gave a soft smile to the young man and received the go-ahead in the form of a nod. By then the little guy was recovering from the ordeal by shaking his head and trying to stand again.
Bear was slow, oh so slow in his approach. Hooking his fingers around the shaken man and slowly lifting. He too ended up with a flailing and fighting little ball of fury trying t get free. However the moment he'd wrapped that first finger around the mans chest, he'd won. Lifting the little fellow, despite the biting and flailing and placing him slowly into the carry case. Even if the little guy had managed to spread himself out enough to keep out for a moment. Pressing his feet against the rim of the case. This was fixed with a short lift and a careful drop back in.
Bear had spent many a year practicing this sort of thing. Working with small animals was his passion, and his job. Being an Ecologist had it's advantages. Often he'd had to help a trapped dear, or free a little Grizzly who'd wandered into the house. Carriers and catching were never an issue for him. Nor were the occasional bites.
He looked back to the teller with a soft smile. "Mind if I give him some of his old bedding? Might help him feel better about the move." He left the lid open while he waited for the answer.
Well, despite his best efforts, he was in the box. It was much better than the first transport box he was in. That one literally smelled like piss and seamed like it was made of card board. Not to mention it hardly had room to move. This one was more like an elevator. Kind of small, but he could move about a bit. Even lay down if he wanted. The walls were a sturdy sort of marble, and it even smelled better. Kind of like lavender.
The man turned this way and that, taking in a few more details. There were small air holes, big enough for him to fit an arm through but that was it. If the lid weren't on the top, he may have been able to unlock the door and jump out. Speaking of the door, it was still open, a fact that confused him greatly. Neither of the giants were peering in at him, nor were they handling him, so it seamed a bit odd. That was until they started reaching in again.
The man yelped and dove for the side the hands weren't aiming for. He'd already been caught once and his heart was still going a mile a minute. What the hell could they want now? They had him, he was in the little box, what more was there for them to do really?
He got his answer when they started placing in a few blankets, and the soft padding he'd used as a bed up until now in with him. The case was then closed. The only thing to do now was wait.
The man began trying to climb the little air holes. Watching from the inside as he was whisked away, and paid for. The box was lifted up a ways, and that big hairy face peeked in. The man dropped from his place on the wall and scooted as far back as he could. Eyes wild and wide.
The titan shushed him softly in response. It wasn't like the Keeper did however. The sound was much softer, quieter, less like a hurried hiss. Instead, the man could honestly think of it like a soft breeze. If it weren't for those big brown eyes looking in at him.
He knew the giant was speaking, but what he was saying was muddled. With the language barrier the man may as well have been banging pots and pans together. It would have made just as much sense to him.
From there on, they left the building. The man could hear some of the others of his kind call after him. Some knew his name, called him by that. Others just called him 'you'. That was fine, he never remembered their names any ways.
The box swung a bit, just with the giants natural gate. Every so often he'd be lifted and peeked at. Again being spoken to as they moved on. At this point shame, or embarrassment was a thought lost in the past, as the man pulled one of his blankets to himself. Hugging it to his stomach for comfort.
He felt them hook left and another door was opened. A large bell ringing as they did. The sounds and smells were actually a bit familiar. The man swore they'd just walked into a pet store. Sawdust, some sort of chirping, fish tank filters. All of it was coming to him, but a lot louder and stronger.
The man started to think he had been sold as merchandise for this location. But wouldn't the big guy had bought a few more? He gambled a peak out over the area. Sure enough there were several large fish tanks. Mostly filled with sharks, whales, and some odder creatures. One tank had what looked to be another person, but with a fish tail. "A-a mermaid? Is that a real god damned MERMAID?" He asked out loud.
Again his box shifted and the fuzzy faced titan glanced in at him again. This time there was a praising tone to his voice as he spoke. They'd arrived at a particular wall in the store, and the man was awestruck. There had been tunnels, some sort of house, balls, swings, and clothing. All designed for human beings. Many of them had pictures of people interacting with the set up, hiding in the tunnels, or holding onto some of the toys. And in every picture, those people had confused expressions.
The giant peeked in again, briefly this time, and nodded. He picked up a pack of clothes and eyed some of the toys shortly. So, the man wasn't too far off in that 'pet mouse' analogy. A familiar sound dragged his attention away from those thoughts.
The man glanced at the source, outside of his box. There, a short ways away, were the mother and child who'd come in before the want to be lumberjack. And the red headed woman.
The squeaks and calls from the carrier got louder, as the little fellow began trying to reach out. His little hand waving to the box beside him. The woman carrying the other small one giggled softly. "Looks like he recognizes her from the shelter." She turned her gaze to Bear while her child encouraged their new family member to say hello.
"Yep. It's kind of funny, aside from catching him, the little guy's been quiet this whole time." Bear smiled, pulling another set of clothes down for the little guy. Finally he heard the female calling back and heaved a small sigh. "Poor things probably don't know what's going on."
It was a relief to hear from the woman again. Especially now that he knew more on what was happening. "L-look, I don't know what's going on any more than you do, but I think it'll be alright." He called out. Grimacing when she replied to him.
"Alright? ALRIGHT?! I've been hauled out of my nice warm bed, stuffed into a box, stuffed into a prison, AND NOW I'M BACK IN THE GODDAMNED BOX! How is this ALRIGHT?!" Well, she had a point. A very loud one. The woman had a temper that was for sure.
The man thought about what he'd say next, only for his box to shift. The giant was moving again. This time picking up what looked to be a sort of stick, and a large fine toothed comb. On the packaging, the man could see a gentleman looking quite comfortable and neatly kept. There was a small groan from the man. "Hey, look, at least YOU won't have a damned grooming kit shoved in your face alright?"
He was already dreading the stress of having what he was sure some sort of crude shaving razor pointed at him. The big guy was kind of a hypocrite. Perhaps it was just for the comb. That would still be unpleasant, but not as bad.
He heard the woman yelp as the mother turned away, bidding his own keeper goodbye he guessed as the family left. The man sat down at the bottom of his box, cross legged. It seamed like he'd be there a while, especially as his new 'master' began looking into different styles of what he assumed were water dishes.
So, the man tucked under his bedding, pulled one of his blankets over his head, and let himself pass out. It would all still be there when he woke up. At the very least, he may as well dream about better situations.
It was about two hours when the bearded giant actually brought him home. And he heard the cover to his little cage grind open. The man jerked awake and stared at the lid for a moment, confusion in his expression. Sure enough, the fuzzy giant peeked in again. This time his hand came down to pick the man up.
He sighed and allowed it, there was no point in fighting. Instead of struggling, he pulled his blanket over his head. The trip out was more or less okay. Aside from the fact that the big guy had to squish him against the wall to pick him up. The man was placed on something soft. The massive fingers now trying to pry him free from his burrito.
Bear had thought the action adorable at first. But as it turned out, hiding under the sheets was actually helping the pipsqueak. "Come on now, this is the last step bud. Just out of the blanket, a fresh shave and a bath, new clothes and you get to go hide and settle. Okay?" He finally had made progress as the little fellow fell loose.
The next few steps were by no means fun for either of them. During that whole ordeal he'd been fighting, that was, until the shaving razor came out. Then he'd held very still like a champ. When Bear managed to get the little one cleaned up and dressed, he placed him in the enclosure. Setting him near the shelter to go and hide. He'd decided on the name 'Sandy' for the new member of the family, trying to equate him with the name.
"Alright Sands. This is it, your new home. whatcha' think?" He saw the little guy give the entire place a rather bewildered look. Even running his hand through his hair. It was probably more than he'd seen in a while. Bear made sure to mark that down in his journal, about to give Sandy his name and finalize it.
"Sandy? Hey buddy, come on. Answer me. Saaaannndy" Finally he'd been given a look. Though it wasn't a happy one. Not by ANY means. The little fellow folded his arms and stared right up at the giant.
He'd figured out what the big guy was doing. He was introducing his new 'pet' to his home. And as far as prisons went, the big guy had actually given him a pretty good set up. He had more than enough room to run. None of those silly things he'd seen in the pet shop. And most importantly, it felt natural. Almost like a back yard.
However, he knew damn well he was still under this giants care. And he was more than aware the big guy was calling him. It sounded similar to human names, but more like something you'd call a woman. Or a golden retriever. 'Sandy' what kind of name was that really?
He decided to correct his new 'master' simply. Just by giving his actual name when ever the giant called him that ridiculous title. And so, when the big guy spoke next, he listened.
"Come on now little one. Go explore, or hide. Sandy, whatcha' doin'?" There it was, he didn't catch the rest, but he did catch the name.
"Richter" He stated, getting wide eyed wonderment from his master. The big guy leaned down, and darn near scooped Richter up if he hadn't side stepped.
"Oh my goodness! You're talking back aren't you? Aw! Sandy!"
"Richter." He corrected again. This would take time it seamed. As the giants didn't seam to recognize English as a language yet. The big guy blinked in confusion a moment, retracting his hand. And calling him again.
"Ric-wha? Whatcha' saying little guy. What are you saying Sandy?" Now he knew Bear was listening. The fact that he tried copying it was proof enough.
"Rick-uh. Terrr." He enunciated slowly. This was going to take a long time. Perhaps the rest of Richters life. But then, he didn't have much else to do with it now anyways. The two bantered back and forth for the next two hours. Just trying to establish the name.