Deep within the forest, a gnome encountered a giant…
Gonat glared at the giant. ‘Was he a threat? Could I take him?’ he thought, considering his next move. He was only half of a moon away from his homeland, and he was surrounded by the same trees his people dwelled within. He thought about his family and felt a small knot form in his stomach. ‘They are better off without me,’ he reminded himself.
Gronash was confused by the small creature in front of him. The tiny thing should be cowering away; everyone else had. That’s why he hid in the forest. But this creature stood firmly below him, meeting his eyes with its own. ‘He is so small,’ Gronash thought. ‘I could squish him with my small toe. But he thinks he’s big. Why does he think he is big?’
“Why don’t you cower?” Gronash asked Gonat.
“Why would I?” Gonat responded.
“I am bigger than you,” said Gronash.
“So?” shrugged Gonat.
“I am stronger than you.” protested Gronash.
“Maybe,” Gonat said nodding.
“Then, why don’t you cower?” asked Gronash.
“Because this is my forest. This is my home. If you decide to fight me, there are only two possible outcomes: either I win and I don’t have to leave my home, or I lose and I don’t have to leave my home. Either way, I remain here in these trees.”
Gronash thought about that for a moment, and then he asked, “What is a home?”
Gonat sighed, relaxing slightly. ‘I don’t think he is a threat,’ he thought. ‘I think he is just alone because everyone sees him as one.’
“Home is a place that you feel safe,” Gonat said somewhat dreamily. He wasn’t really sure what the definition of home was; he had never felt ‘at home’ with his people. “And a place where you can just be yourself without anyone making you feel bad about it.”
Gronash thought about that. “That sounds like a place worth fighting for,” he expressed out loud.
Gonat’s body tensed at the word fight. He cocked back his axe and once again glared at the giant. Gronash threw back his head, howling with laughter. In shock, Gonat’s grip on the axe loosened, and the weapon fell to the ground. He fumbled sideways; attempting to grab for the handle while maintaining eye contact with the giant.
Gronash laughed harder. “You know what tiny man?” he announced. “I like you. You make me laugh. Do you want to see my tree fort?”
Gonat stopped fumbling for his axe. He squinted at the giant, confused. Looking down at the ground, he saw his axe. He picked it up and stared at it. He looked back at the giant’s face towering above him. “You know what? I would love to.”
