The Woodland Girls

“Wow,” Naida exclaimed. “He’s huge.” “And ugly,” Larissa finished. “Shh,” Gaea whispered. “Do you see those big ears? He could hear you. Do we go around or fight?” “Well, he’s trailing us so even if we get away now, he’ll keep coming and next time we may not be so lucky. I say we fight.” Naida said. “I agree.” Larissa chimed. “Ok,” Gaea said, “from what I understand ogres are slow and…” “They ain’t slow,” Larissa interrupted. “He was able to keep up with us… wasn’t he?” “Not that kind of slow,” Gaea continued. “His thinking is slow. His mind is kind of one track, it takes him time to react so we should be able to out maneuver him.” “But he’s extremely strong,” Naida added. “If he hits you with that club of his, it’ll knock your head off. So be careful.” “I think we should go straight at him,” Gaea suggested. “Since we can’t sneak up on him, we’ll walk slowly so we can study his reaction and on my signal we fight.” The girls were in agreement, which didn’t happen often. As they approached, the ogre just stood there waiting and watching. The girls stopped when they were close enough to see the red in his eyes. The ogre then started walking slowly forward and as he closed the distance the girls separated and surrounded him. Gaea had an arrow notched; Naida with spear in hand; Larissa was ready with her knife when all of a sudden it happened. “YOU……..HARD…….TO………FIND…” the ogre spoke. He travailed over each word, like a woman giving birth, before releasing it into the air to linger like the stench of his breath. The sound reverberating in their ears until the next one boomed into existence. “….GAR….” he labored, while pounding his chest. The girls were frozen with shock. Never in their wildest imagination had they ever thought an ogre could talk. Actually, they had not given it any thought at all. This changed everything because he had sought them out. He had purpose. He was able to think and do and live. It went against everything they’d ever heard about ogre. He wasn’t just a mindless creature anymore. He was…. He is…… Gar, but what did he want? Why was he looking for them? The girls had more questions than they could express. “COME…….WITH……..ME….” the ogre continued. “No,” Gaea replied.