Ideas and Rejects

Meeting Melvin

A/N: I've had this idea for awhile because PrpleLily asked how Alec and Melvin became friends and this idea popped into my head.

Short little chapter but ENJOY!

Kendrick was only a few decades old, comparable to a seven year old human boy, and as all young giants of his age, he was very curious about the world around him. Standing just under thirty-five feet he was much bigger than most things around him already but still only came up to his father's waist. Alec had been teaching his son how to hunt for and gather food. Which, given the young giant's enthusiasm for the event, was no easy task.

"Pop! Pop! What are we gonna hunt today, Pop?" Kendrick asked again and again as they ventured from their mountain home.

Alec tried to be patient but said, "Son, we won't hunt or catch anything if you're too loud. You'll give away our position."

"Oh..." young Kendrick buttoned his lip...for a minute or two. "Can we catch some deer?"

"They're probably the hardest to catch if you can't be quiet." Alec reminded. "But we'll catch whatever we can find."

They walked a bit, Alec constantly modeling a quieter walk for his son whose excitement made him crash loudly through the woods. Eventually, Kendrick seemed to catch on and walked behind his father with slower, softer steps.

Alec whispered, "Good. You're being quiet. Now, when we're quiet, what do we do next?"

"Um..." Kendrick made a thinking face, "Smell?"

Alec nodded, lifted his nose, and scented all around. Kendrick mimicked him.

"What do you smell?" Alec asked quietly.

The young giant thought as he sniffed, "Trees...dirt...grass...and...something else."

Alec put a large hand on Kendrick's head and turned him toward the scent he knew was there, "That way...what do you smell?"

Kendrick sniffed more, "Boars?"

Alec patted his head proudly, "Very good. Shh. Let's see if we can catch them."

In his hands, Alec held a hand woven rope net weighted with stones. It was the best way for him to catch larger groups of animals since catching them one by one would take too long and they needed many to satiate their appetites. The pair stepped quietly through the trees, careful to not snap branches and scare the pigs.

After a few moments, Alec's hand shot back to touch Kendrick's chest to signal him to stop. Kendrick did so and ducked down in a crouch behind his father. Alec made eye contact with him and pointed just ahead through the trees. Kendrick moved his head, staring until he saw the small sounder of wild pigs rooting around in the undergrowth. He could smell their musky odor easily now. Boars were delicious and one of his favorites when roasted over a fire. His mouth watered when he remembered the taste.

Poised with his net, Alec studied the scene a moment to gauge his next move. He waited patiently for his quarry to move into a better position.

"Why aren't you getting them, Pop?" Kendrick asked suddenly.

Hearing the giant boy, the wild pigs made an alerted grunting and scattered through the woods. Alec slumped out of his hunting pose and glanced back at the boy. He growled lightly.

"I told you, you had to be quiet, Kendrick."

The young giant wilted, eyes dropping, "I'm sorry."

Alec sighed, "You'll learn...or we'll be very hungry." He stood up, "Come on. Let's see if we can find some more."