The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The way of the ninja 6, Part 98

The man-eater returned to the cave, his blood-red eyes blazing with rage and hunger. His wife eagerly awaited his return, hoping for news of their next prey. 

"Did you find them?" she asked impatiently. 

"No," he growled, his voice trembling with anger. "Just a big tree..." 

But before he could finish, his wife screeched in frustration. "Fool! They must have hidden in the tree. Go back and find them!" 

The giant's massive form shook with fury as he stormed out of the cave once again. Determined to tear his prey apart this time, the giant marched towards the tree where our heroes had taken shelter. 

Exhausted from their previous escape attempts, they huddled together beneath the branches, Mer-mer whispering, "It's a good thing he's too stupid to find us, or we'd be in real trouble." But their relief was short-lived as they heard rumbling in the distance once more.

"Quick, we need to run!" Shadow-cat urged, her heart pounding with fear. "I think it's the giant." 

Sure enough, within moments they saw the giant approaching in the distance, wearing his fast shoes and closing in on them rapidly.

"Hide!" Shadow-cat cried desperately as they frantically searched for a place to conceal themselves from the monstrous creature. Their hearts racing and their bodies trembling with fear, they knew that any moment now the giant would catch up to them...

Mer-mer and Shadow-cat leapt from the tree, their paws pounding the earth as they fled through the underbrush. The giant's thundering footsteps grew louder, shaking the very ground beneath them.

"This way!" Mer-mer cried, darting towards a narrow ravine. They skidded down the steep embankment, loose soil and pebbles skittering around them. At the bottom, a shallow stream gurgled over moss-covered rocks.

Shadow-cat's eyes widened. "I have an idea! Quick, cover yourself in mud and lay still. He won't recognize our scent!"

Hastily, they rolled in the mucky streambed until their fur was caked with dark, pungent earth. They flattened themselves against the bank just as the giant's massive feet appeared at the top of the ravine.

"Where are you, little morsels?" he roared, his voice echoing off the steep walls. Beady eyes scanned the streambed, passing right over the motionless mud-covered lumps that were Mer-mer and Shadow-cat.

Long, tense moments passed. The cats hardly dared to breathe. Finally, with a frustrated bellow, the giant stomped away, his footsteps receding into the distance.

Shadow-cat lifted her mud-encrusted head. "I can't believe that worked," she whispered.

Mer-mer stood on shaky legs, adrenaline still coursing through her. "Let's not press our luck. We need to get this pot back to that dreadful witch and complete our mission before he comes back."

After a quick but thorough wash in the stream, they set off once more, keeping a wary eye out for any sign of the giant's return. The magic pot felt heavier than ever, but they knew they couldn't rest until it was delivered...

The giant returned to the cave, his footsteps echoing ominously through the cavern. The giantess greeted him with furious shouts.

"Where are those little thieves? Did you catch them?" she demanded.

"No," replied the giant, scratching his head. "I couldn't find them. I only saw a small stream and some stones on the way."

"You fool!" cried the giantess. "You are worthless! Move aside, I'll take care of it myself."With a snarl, the giantess threw herself onto the giant's back and he ran with his swift shoes after the fugitives.As our heroes continued to flee, they heard a deafening rumble in the distance.

"It sounds like a storm," said Mer-mer nervously.

Shadow-cat shook her head. "No, it's the giant! They'll catch up to us soon... we need to act fast!"

"Wait," said Mer-mer, a sly glint in her eye. "I have an idea. We can ask the magic pot for help..."

"But what?" asked Shadow-cat anxiously.

"I know just the thing," said Mer-mer with a grin. "I'll ask the pot to turn me into a lake and you into a duck...the giants will never expect it!"

Without hesitation, Mer-mer made her wish and in an instant, he was transformed into a shimmering lake with Shadow-cat as a small duck swimming alongside him.

The giants approached, their massive feet shaking the ground. The giantess sniffed the air and exclaimed, "I smell meat..."

But the clever duo wasn't easily fooled. "Just a lake and a bird," shrugged the giant.

"You are so simple," taunted the giantess. "The magic pot has turned them, but I am far more cunning. We'll drink this lake and eat them...and claim our revenge."

Bending down, the giant and the giantess began to drink from the lake. They gulped greedily, their bellies growing larger with each passing moment. But they didn't realize that the lake was enchanted and they couldn't stop drinking until it was too late.

With a loud pop, their bloated bodies burst open, leaving behind nothing but a pile of bones. Our heroes emerged unscathed and triumphant, having outsmarted the giants once and for all.

Their hearts pounding with excitement and fear, they raced through the murky swamp to return to the witch's hut. Grinning triumphantly, Kira clutched the magic pot tightly in her hands. But as they approached the hut, a chill crept down their spines. The witch's cackling laughter echoed through the foggy air, signaling danger.

Without warning, the door flung open and the witch stood before them with a menacing glint in her eye. 

"I've changed my mind," she hissed, snatching the magic pot from Kira's grasp. "You'll be of better use to me serving my older sister for a week."

 And with that, she banished them to the lair of her man-eating sibling, where their fate was uncertain...