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I fell.  I fell so quickly and so fast that I almost lost my breath as the wind and air beat around my face.  I wouldn't survive the fall, it didn't matter.  What I found the most strange was that I couldn't see the plane that I had just been pushed out of.  It didn't make any sense.  I was relieved that despite not seeing the plane that I could still feel my parachute strapped heavily around my body.  It felt snug, but that I guess that it would have been a lot worse if it were too loose.  I looked around as I felt through the sky and finally pulled the cord that would undoubtedly save my life and my body hurtled back into the air for a moment.  There should be someone right?  I wasn't the only one that had to evacuate that plane on the way to an anime convention in London right?  I saw others go before me, and I saw others leap after me, so why…why was I all alone in the sky with hundreds of miles of blue soaring around me in all direction with the exception of a lush green island below?
It was odd to find the sight below my feet and only getting closer and closer.  I wish I could see someone, there was something so odd about the sight, you jump from a plane, you expect to see a plane…or even (gods forbid) a plane in the water.  You expect to see the others who jumped out with you, all parachuting to the ground and preparing to duke it out on an island like the Swiss Family Robinson or Lord of the Flies style.  I hoped for the Swiss.  I coasted through the air with gentleness that a feather might, a feather being a girl like myself, barely over 5 feet tall with a huge parachute on.  Still, I had to admit that the scenery was pleasant; almost soothing as I couldn't make out many others which still remained troubling to me.
"Where are the others?" I couldn't help breathing to myself.
The island was getting closer to me now, a strange scene to behold below my feet.  I could see the trees getting closer and the clouds beginning to part.  I was finally able to see where I was going to land, and thank goodness for the parachute because a fall like this would have easily killed me.  I wanted to say that the jungle looked less intimidating as more of it came into view but I couldn't shake the strange feeling that it looked big.  I couldn't see the ground below the trees, and though I wasn't there yet…something didn't feel quite right.
I began to crash through trees, grabbing for anything that would stop me from hitting the forest floor.  Several branches cut and scraped my face and my arms and I felt the parachute above me also snaring onto things as well.  I must have been making quite a bit of noise considering the dead silence that fell throughout the trees.  Maybe this place was deserted.
I felt my myself jerk to a halt in the air and I literally gasped in surprise.  Finally!  The parachute had caught something so I wouldn't plummet to the earth.  But still, as a small bead of red dripped down my cheek forcing me to give attention to what was below.  The ground still seemed so far away.  Too far.  Don't get me wrong!  I have seen trees before despite not really referring to myself as an 'outdoorsy' girl…but something just didn't seem right in this moment.  I shivered, wondering how many cuts were all over my body, regretting my choice of wearing a thin black t-shirt and flared dark jeans.  I lifted my arms to inspect the damage.  I wasn't looking to great at this moment, I narrowed my nearly pitch black eyes to watch the blood fall to the ground.  Hmmm, not a pleasant sight.  I rubbed the wounds with my hand, just to stop the blood, but there wasn't any use so I decided just to ignore it.  I was more than relieved when I remembered that I had a rubber band around my wrist so I quickly tied up my purple hair in a high and sloppy ponytail.
"So much for the anime convention," I couldn't help mumbling.  It would make sense that something like this would happen the first time I ever rode on a plane.  Bad things like this usually seem to find me and make me their target.
I sniffed the air.  Great.  I was stuck in the air, with no way of getting down.  Now what?  Even a semi-athletic person like myself would have a horrible time getting out of this stinking tree.  I looked around and noticed the size of the leaves.  Odd.  Everything in this strange place felt like it was magnified.  The trees felt too big, the leaves looked too broad and the branches looked too thick.  Licking my finger, I touched the deepest of the scrapes I received on the way down.  I winced.  Ouch.  Probably not a good idea.
A heavy gust of wind came to her then, nearly knocking the wind out of me.  What was with this world?  I began to struggle then; I needed to get out of this tree before the darkness came.  But how?  I began to tremble a little more as I looked over my feet and towards the ground.  Heights weren't exactly my favorite thing and being up here was causing me to feel more nervous as the moments went by.
I thought about calling for help, but the idea of someone actually coming was a little too scary in itself.  What could I expect to find in this strange place?  The silence was deadening, all I could make out were occasional moving in the trees.  I wanted to hear a footstep, a voice, even an animal calling.  Biting my lower lip, I prepared my lungs to shout out for help when…I finally heard something.
The sound was faint, but the sound was certainly foreign compared to the nothingness that I had experienced thus far.  But it was an odd sound and just as soon as I heard it the first time, I heard it again.  The crushing of grass…the movement of branches.  Something was coming this way.  With trembling fingers I began to fumble with my parachute harness, but began to think better of it.  If I was able to get myself free…then what would happen?  Unsnapping it anyway, I remained stationary, trembling to the core as the sounds became louder and closer.
"Hello?" I finally asked, allowing my lips to move and speak.  My voice must have sounded shaky.  "Is someone out there?"
There was no answer, only the continuing of that strange sound, almost rhythmic.  If I had to compare it to anything I would have to compare it to…footsteps.  I didn't want to think about it but it was the only thing that came to mind that moment.  It sounded like footsteps coming this way.  The trees and the branches continued to rustle with each sound that rumbled in my stomach as it approached.  I sucked in my breath when I noticed a huge movement and a large collection of birds shot up from the trees.  I was so scared by this sudden onslaught of action that I almost slid right out of my parachute seat.
"What the hell?!" I squeaked, quickly grabbing my parachute again.  I would have certainly rather been stuck in this tree than fall to the ground and die…but what would cause a reaction like that?  Imagines of Jurassic Park flooded my mind and I instinctively almost chuckled at how strange and geeky my mind worked.  "Dinosaurs," I muttered with a stupid grin.  "Whatever next will I think about?"
But the sound didn't stop and I found myself clinging more and more tightly to my only seat available in this strange tree.  I decided to try again.
"Hello?" I asked nervous as the movement came closer.  I searched my brain and allowed thoughts of movies and fan-fiction to flood my mind.  "Look, if you…trees…birds…whatever can somehow understand me…please know that no matter what you are…just let me know okay?  I think I've seen, read, or written it all so I think it would take a lot to scare me…but I really want…I really need to know what you are."  I sucked in my breath and hoped for an answer…but nothing.
"Oh gods," I muttered.  Whatever it was didn't seem to be communicating.  The leaves rustled again and the ground shook, causing me to shift in my parachute.  I covered my eyes when I felt the thing so close that…I don't know what!  "Please," I muttered into my hands.  "Don't kill me…don't hurt me," I began chanting and waited.  I could feel it's presence, the trees seemed to part right next to me and I finally peeked through my fingers.
It was a face, a face looking right at me.  A face like a humans but filling up my entire vision with its jet black hair and strangely purplish eyes.  I lowered my hands for a moment, just trying to fathom the situation.  He looked nervous and right as he began to part his lips and reach towards me, I couldn't help it.  I felt my eyes rolling the back of my head and blackness overtook me.
***
When I woke up, I looked around; hoping that the last thing I had seen was just some crazy image that I created in my own head.  I looked to the right and I was in the clear, but when I looked to my left I was startled to find that I really was not alone.  There standing next to me, was a giant, staring at me with a curiosity that could not be described.  His eyes looked soft and puzzled as they watched me dangling from the tree and before I had a chance to feel any more scared, I muttered, "Oh gods," in a showing of my massive vocabulary.
I watched him carefully as he actually introduced himself as though not else sure what do in a situation like this.  "My name's Grey.  Do you…um," his arm began to move towards my body and slowly his large hand was underneath my body.  He tried took at me again, "Do you need some help, maybe?"
Seeing a hand go underneath me, I flinched in what I hoped would eventually be the safety of my parachute.  I shook my head and tried to speak calmly but I could feel my voice shake with each word.  "Uh…no…I think I'll be alright."
"So you can talk," the creature spoke again in voice that rumbled, not necessarily because he had a deep voice, but because his voice was so large itself.  "What's your name?"  He went on and his finger twitched slightly beneath me.  I flinched at the idea of a hand being taller than myself.
"Eden," I offered quietly.  Maybe knowing my name would make him less likely to see me as something he could eat so I tried to look not as scared as I felt in that moment.  To my relief the being retracted his hand but instead leaned his face even closer towards mine.  Too close!
"I'm sorry?" he asked.  "I didn't hear you."
I flinched back even further from his looming face, that though he looked kind enough, there was just too much to fathom.  I wasn't used to this kind of attention; I tried to just exist without getting too close to others but this…giant didn't seem disinterested with my presence.  Just the opposite in fact.  I shivered but cleared my throat to make my voice sound loud enough for him to hear.  "Eden," I repeated in what I hoped was a clearer voice.  To my relief, he pulled his face away and began to scratch the back of his head, somewhat covered with pitch black hair.
"Well Eden," he began.  "I think we have a problem.  You don't want my help…" I shook my head violently, but he continued.  "But I know you can't get down on your own.  I also have a bit of a problem with just leaving people in trouble."  That didn't sound promising and before I knew it he had placed his hand, palm-side up below me again.  His face looked upset and muttered and apology before his other hand came into view.
I shrieked.  I couldn't help myself, but two giant hands coming towards me.  It was crazy!  This couldn't be happening.  He seemed to wince at my screams but kept moving his hand closer toward my squealing body.  There had to be a way to get out of this!  I began to thrash around as his fingers came towards me…and went past me to pinch the back of my shirt.  I squeaked as I felt my body soar out of the parachute seat but tried to gain composure.  I noticed that each time I screamed out he seemed to hesitate and almost wince.  He couldn't possibly be afraid of hurting me?!
I felt myself being placed onto a smooth and soft surface and I tried to understand what was happening.
I was in his palm.
I was in a giant's palm and before I could begin shouting again, I felt myself being lowered.  My stomach almost came through my mouth as he lowered himself down and placed his hand in the dirt, allowing me to scramble off.  "Well," he said.  "You said that you didn't want my help.  So yea, sorry about that."
I turned around when I heard movement and noticed that the giant was now standing again.  He was massive, easily around 60 feet tall and I was cast in his shadow.  I felt small and so insignificant in that moment.  I began to lift my chin up to meet his face and though he looked as though he wouldn't hurt a fly, I couldn't be too sure.  He was just so tall!  The sun behind his face hit my eyes and I realized it just wasn't worth trying to make eye contact.  I lowered my head.
I considering running away in that moment, but my instincts were telling me that maybe I might possibly be safe with this…giant…Grey…person.  The jungle around me, at this level, suddenly didn't seem so quiet and peaceful.  I looked at his shins before speaking again.  "I…I," I started to lift my eyes but didn't see the point.  I lost my nerve again and lowered my head.
Once again I heard a large movement and jerked my head around, assuming that giant was going to grab me.  But no, he was crouching down to his knees and they struck the ground with such a force that I took a small step backwards.  At least now he wasn't so high up that it seemed pointless to interact with him.
"I'm sorry," he began.  "I know I'm making you uncomfortable and you'd like nothing more than to be rid of me…" he trailed off then as though the words caused him pain.  "But, I think you should know you don't have very many places to go.  This is an island."
I looked around.
"As far as I know there aren't any human settlements here.  After all," he cleared his throat.  "Pretty girls don't normally just drop from the sky."  He seemed to feel awkward saying this and a hint of red crossed his surprisingly pale features and he turned away.
I looked up at the strange person, unsure of what I could say next.  It had been a very long time since someone had called me pretty and I felt the same color rush to my darker complexion as well.  I couldn't help that feeling that was crashing against me like ocean waves.  His words seemed to be coming from a good place and with a shudder I tried to imagine what could have happened if the situation had been less than ideal.  If this 'Grey' had really wanted to hurt me, wouldn't he have done so already?  But instead, despite my screaming and probably making him feel like a monster, he helped me out of the tree and lowered himself to be closer to my level to talk.
And he called me pretty which obviously made him uncomfortable.
I rubbed my scratched up arms which caused me to wince slightly and he brought his full attention back on me.  "Well I suppose," I began as I watched those dark eyes focus on mine.  "I suppose that I can go with you…if you don't mind of course!"  Even in moments like this, I hated the idea of inconveniencing anyone.  Despite my situation, I wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be a bother to this giant.  To Grey.
"Well, my place is kind of a mess," he began softly but looked down at me and smiled as worry must have crept up on to my features.  "But I think I can find room for you."  He chuckled a bit at what he must have considered a joke and began reaching towards me again, his forefinger and thumb coming close, more than likely with the intention of grabbing me.
Despite his nice smile, I didn't like the idea of being pinched by the back of my shirt again.  It felt degrading, and I was pretty sure I was a few years older than he was.  I began to back away but tripped over a rock that must have been sticking up from the ground.
I landed not too gracefully on my bottom and already damaged arms.  "Ouch," I muttered, and began to feel myself becoming scared of him all over again.  I looked up and hoped that he wouldn't try to grab me anyway.  With relief he took his hand away again and began to wave them around frantically.
"Oh god!  I'm sorry!  I didn't mean to scare you again, I just haven't even seen a human in I don't know how long," he paused.  "I guess I forgot how to act around them."
My face was probably quite a site after he said that.  He was apologizing again?  What's with this nervous giant?  I didn't understand him so instead I gathered my courage and stood up again, flinching in slight pain.  Talking to people in general, for me, is already a tough task but to talk to a giant?  A nervous giant that keeps apologizing?  I didn't understand in the slightest.  My stomach fluttered as our eyes met, eye contact was certainly not something I enjoyed.  "You, you were going to grab me!" I finally blurted out.
Grey looked surprised as the words came from my mouth and falling back slightly, his face revealed that he was a little shocked.  "Well, um, yeah.  I was.  I didn't think you'd be able to keep up on foot, so I was going to carry you.  Would you rather…I don't know," he gave it some thought, "ride my shoe or something?"
Oh brother.  Now I really was starting to become scared.  Obviously this giant wasn't used to interacting with people my size and his staggering back from my exclamation had certainly proved that.  Any movement of his, any mistake could probably kill me.  His voice, though gentle was really loud and his suggestions…well they were a little confusing.  I looked at his hands that were now resting on his knees.  "I don't mind you carrying me…but could you…not pick me up like that?  Maybe I could just try riding in your hand?" I suggested.
It looked like he had a DUH moment as his eyes widened.  "Right, right.  I'm sorry."  Slower this time he lowered his hand palm up next to me.  His eyes looked at mine and he quickly looked away and his hand began to shake.  "How did I not think of that?  Ride my shoe?  Ugh, stupid," he muttered looking away from me.
I tried not to smirk but I felt the smile creeping into my face.  He was nervous again.  Or at least he certainly appeared that way.  I shook my head, a nervous giant, maybe even as nervous as I felt in that moment.  I walked carefully towards his hand, watching his fingers move slightly and wondered if maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Sucking up my courage I touched the tip of his finger and tried to get his attention again, as he appeared to be muttering to himself still.  "Are you going to be okay?"  I was shocked that I was able to speak to him so openly already.  It took weeks, if not months for me to be comfortable with just a normal conversation, and this certainly wasn't normal!
"Oh," he said.  "Yeah.  I'd just forgotten what it's like to be around a human.  I'm just nervous.  I mean what if I slip or something?"  I noticed his hand begin to shake a bit less as he calmed himself down.  "Okay, I think I'm good.  Let's go."
I hesitated only a moment after hearing a strange loud rustling coming from behind me.  If Grey was an example of scale in this world, I certainly didn't want to see the animals!  Quickly, I used his finger as a railing and scrambled into his palm, shocked that I fit so well.  Immediately I crouched down and looked up at the being who was literally holding my life in their hand.  I hoped that he wouldn't drop me.
"Okay," he spoke once I was settled.  "We'll just take this slow and we'll be home in no time."  I felt him unfold back into a standing position and begin to walk slowly, almost as though trying to make sure that I wouldn't jostle around in his palm.  I looked up at him, furrowing my brows trying to figure out exactly what he was doing here and why he was so much bigger than me.  "So, people don't usually fall from the sky.  Might I ask how you wound up…how I found you?" he asked attempting to start a conversation.
My eyes involuntarily widened with his words.  I wasn't exactly expecting him to want to talk to him so I bit my lower lip and tried not to look shy.  The memory of leaping from that plane was still so fresh in my mind.  I did my best to explain.  "I was on a plane and I guess something happened and we all had to evacuate.  I didn't see anyone after I jumped out and I just kind of landed here…wherever here is."
I lowered my head and tried to think about what was going to happen to me next but before I could get too trapped in my own thoughts, I saw something hover near me.  I looked over and saw Grey's index finger bent towards me.  "Here, you can use that for support," he offered and looked away again.  "Uh, lucky I came along then huh?" he offered with a smile.
I was about to retort but I realized just then how right he really was.  This could have been so much worse.  Of all the crazy things that could have happened to me after I landed in this strange place, I had managed to find myself in the palm of what appeared to be a very gentle and very cautious giant.  I felt some tension fall away from my shoulders, realizing this, and I gently touched his finger again, using it so I wouldn't move around with each step he took.  Looking up at him, I tried to give a smile.
"Yeah," I concluded.  "I really was lucky."
To my surprise another blush crept into his face as I touched his finger and said those words and he smiled again.  It really was a great smile, he looked so relieved and proud in that moment.  A comfortable silence fell between us then as he continued walking and eventually we arrived at a small clearing (for him) and a gigantic cabin (for me).  This was where he lived?
"Well," Grey said.  "Home sweet home."