Lost and Found

Chapter 12- Savior

     Riley writhed around, feeling something underneath her back. She slowly woke up, sitting up but then hissing in pain. She saw claw scratches on her arms and felt a scab on her back.

What, happened? Wait, am I dead? Is this what heaven looks like? Riley thought, looking around. Her surroundings were very desert like temperature wise. She began to fan herself. Or am I in hell?

"Hey, human, you awake?" A voice asked, slightly higher pitched than Markus's voice.

     Riley turned around and saw a giant with amethyst eyes, brown fluffy hair, a white shirt, and black pants. He looked different (and a scarier) than Markus.

Please let him be a plant eater! Riley thought, hoping that he hadn't saved her just to eat her. After seeing what a giant had done to a small town, she was starting to grow more and more wary about everything. Even a tree's shadow sent the human scampering for cover. He reached out towards her, and she tried to backpedal away from him, her heart hammering in her chest. She was backed against a wall of fabric, which she guess was a jacket. She curled up in a feeble position, fear overrunning her completely.

     "P-please don't eat me!" Riley begged, still curled.

     "Aww, what a shame, you do look delicious..." The giant said.

     Riley whimpered, curling up tighter. She knew where this was heading, and it wouldn't end well for her. She heard a chuckle, then felt fingers brushing her back.

     "Relax, I wasn't gonna eat you. You look like you've been put through enough. If anything I eat dead humans." The giant said. "That is if you are a runaway, are you?"

     Riley stopped shivering and turned to face the giant. He didn't look like he was kidding. "If running away means being snatched by a dragon before you can process the warning your owner gave you, then no." Riley said, shivering with fear.

     The giant knelt down, resting his chin on one arm, and petting Riley with his other hand. "Poor thing," he began. "Do you have a name? Mine's Saint."

     "R-r-Riley," Riley responded, shuddering as the giant fingers brushed her back, cautious of her neck.

     "Do you have an owner?" The giant -Saint- asked.

     Riley nodded.

     "Well, who is it?" Saint asked.

     "M-Markus, Markus Pineclaw." Riley squeaked, scared of what he'd do to her.

     "Markus, hey, I know him! He's got ice-blue eyes, right?" Saint asked.

     Riley nodded.

     "Well then, looks like that Brachiosaur's still in catch-and-release mode around humans!" Saint breathed. "I'll take you back to him, if you want."

     Riley thought for a moment on his offer. Markus never mentioned anyone named Saint! How could she trust him? Putting her trust into the hands of a man-eating giant was just like trusting a velociraptor to not eat you. If he was lying to her, she'd be sliding into his gut. But, if he's not lying, and I don't trust him, I won't get back to Markus, and he'll be worried sick about me! Great options, Riley thought, glancing back at the giant.

     "You won't eat me, will you?" Riley asked.

     "Only if you want." Saint said, smiling nervously and revealing his sharp teeth.

     Riley shuddered, then replied "We both know that won't be happening anytime soon."

     She sighed, then stood up. "Alright, take me to him then."