A Knight's Gift

Chapter 3: Meeting a Lumberjack

     Ashley is leaving the town of Vershire, not to head back home but rather to follow up on a suggestion she was given about a job she could perform to earn some more much-needed coin. From what the giantess has been told there is a lumberjack who has recently moved outside of town and is currently cutting down trees that various people have ordered and is preparing to deliver them as Christmas trees. With Ashley being as large as she is, she could easily perform the deliveries herself. Stepping back onto the snow-covered ground, Ashley can't help but curl her toes because of how cold it feels to her. Despite her discomfort, she continues to walk towards her destination, leaving behind large footprints in the snow.

     It doesn't take the giantess long to find the cabin that she is looking for, her long strides can cover great distances. She can see smoke coming out from the chimney, meaning that there is a fire going and a clear indication that someone is there. What really tells her that she is at the right place are all the trees that are bundled up and loaded into a cart, ready to be delivered. She picks up her pace, eager to meet the lumberjack that resides here and hopefully make some extra coin for the gift that she plans to purchase for Sir Gabriel.

     The lumberjack is busy cutting down yet another tree, one that is roughly the same height as she is. She is so preoccupied with what she is doing that she is unaware of the giantess who is approaching her. Dressed warmly in a thick coat, which is hiding their red shirt along with the slightly built physique he gained from her profession, and wearing a thick pair of pants and a pair of boots on her feet; the cold temperatures aren't bothering her that much. She lumberjack has her red hair done up in a ponytail, the only indication that she is a woman. Most would say that being a lumberjack is a bit of an odd profession for a woman. But being nine feet tall, Alana certainly has the strength to perform her job well.

     With the current tree falling to the ground, Alana looks down at it then back towards the other trees that she needs to fell. She sighs, holding her ax down at her side as she sees just how much work she has left. Just about everyone in Vershire has ordered a Christmas tree from her and they all need to be delivered by Christmas Eve, meaning that she will be busy. She has promised Chrissie, the half-sister of her late best friend, Claire, that she would spend plenty of time with her during the holidays. With all the orders she needs to fill she is afraid that just won't be possible. Alana becomes distracted from her thoughts when she hears a series of loud thuds coming from behind her.

     Alana listens to the series of sounds, swearing that they sound like footsteps, loud footsteps. She immediately dismisses the sounds for what they sound like, knowing that it would be impossible for anyone to produce footsteps of that volume. This doesn't change the fact that the sound is approaching her. She hears one more thud, this one being even louder than the rest, and it sounds as though the source of it is directly behind her. Tightening her grip on her ax, Alana readies herself to use it for self-defense. She turns around, only to stop cold at what she is seeing. Alana didn't know what to expect, but she could never have prepared herself for what she is seeing. She is so shocked at the sight that she drops her ax.

      Before the lumberjack is a skirt which is covering a massive pair of knees and she straight ahead she can see someone's stomach. Being at such a tall stature, Alana is not used to anyone towering over her. Yet this woman completely dwarfs her, and she is kneeling on the cold ground. She begins to slowly look up, her eyes following the woman's form until she can see her smiling face.

     "Hello," Ashley says in a warm and friendly tone. She can tell that this woman is shocked to see her, and she can't blame her. Having just arrived, it is obvious that this woman hasn't a chance to meet the giant woman. Waving at the shocked woman, Ashley continues to smile in an effort to seem friendly as she introduces herself. "I'm Ashley, a woman who just happens to be fifty-one feet tall."