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    Chris tightened her sweater around her shoulders, grimacing at the darkened sky. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She sighed. Probably another text from Kellian, asking where she was. With a smile, she drew the small device from her pocket. The screen flashed white. Chris glanced to the right side of the screen and frowned. The battery was low. Quickly, to try and save battery, she replied:  Fine, on my way now. I don't need picked up this time, I have the pepper spray. Chris' finger hovered over the send button. Could you make me a coffee? Love you~

   She hit send. The message read 'sent', and the screen went black. Chris sighed and quickened her pace. Kellian'd hate it if she didn't answer. For now, though, she hoped he kept his head on. It was only eight o'clock; it wasn't fully dark yet. If she hurried, she'd get to him before it got too late. Chris glanced up as a roll of thunder moved through the sky. She pulled her jacket tighter, now almost running.

   Her feet hit the familiar forest floor with quiet taps. Her work shoes allowed easy grip to the grassy ground. Thankfully, Chris had taken this path time and time again, to the point she knew it by heart. She knew every rock, stone, and log that could trip her. Chris knew when to duck to avoid overhanging vines, and when to dart around trees. What she didn't know to look for were the creatures in the forest.

   Being a mythical vet, Chris knew many signs of predatory creatures' presence. The tingling on the back of her neck, the hushed sound of wind-like breaths in the air. Generally, she could evade being cornered or attacked by creatures that meant to do her harm. Tonight was different. Something felt off in the air the moment her phone screen had gone black. The dark was making this worse.

   Chris looked over her shoulder. Something was there, something was always there. There was no way someone wasn't watching her. Panic settling in now, Chris sped forwards. She turned around just as she ran into something.

   "-oof!" Chris wheezed. The brunette fell back, her gaze shooting upwards. "There's not s’posed to be a tree-"

   She shrank back instantly. That is not a tree. Chris swallowed, getting to her feet. Her eyes shut, and she took a moment to focus on her breathing while the creature in front of her shifted. Please be friendly please be friendly please be friendly....

   "Well loookie here~"

   That does not sound friendly.

   Chris let out a slow breath. Stay calm, keep breathing. Make eye contact and don't panic. She could do this. She’d been doing this for years.

   Chris looked upwards, her gaze meeting an azure one. To keep herself calm, Chris studied his gaze. The giant, a he by the sound of his voice, had bright, almost glowing eyes. By the glint of the moon, she could see the outline of his grin. Her hands went cold. Focus, breathe.

   "Well lookie here indeed," Chris replied. She hated how shaky her voice sounded, but she kept speaking. "Sorry I ran into your leg there, sir. I'm just trying to get home."
   The giant raised a brow, their shape well defined in the moonlight. His grin widened. Chris backed up.

   "Ah, 's no worries~. Yer t'small t'do any real damage," he chuckled. The mystery man had a distinct, Irish accent. It almost put Chris at ease, Kellian had a similar accent.

   "Ahah, yeah, comes with being small and all that..." she rubbed her neck sheepishly. "Well, uh, mister, I've gotta get going. Someone's expecting me back home and I'd really like to get back in one piece-"

   The instant she heard a dark chuckle, and saw the man lick his lips, she ran. Her abruptness seemed to surprise the giant enough to delay him. Chris sprinted as quickly as she could, now stumbling through underbrush and over logs. There was a deep rumble behind her, and an even deeper chuckle. Chris didn't stop to look back, and instead quickened her pace. Years of running from giants like this one prepared her for such occasions, and she had no plans of dying tonight.

    Tyre raised a brow. He’d smelled drafts of fear from the human the instant she’d rammed into him, but now she was terrified. He smirked. A smart girl, running as quickly as she did. He took his time getting to his feet, eyeing her tiny figure dashing among the trees. A purr raised in his chest. It’d been far too long since his last hunt… With a grin, he began after the girl. He moved slowly, knowing he’d catch the girl eventually. He could take his time with this.

    Chris continued fleeing, trees and brushes and woods moving past and around her. She couldn’t hear anything anymore. Her breathing and heartbeat became all she knew. She inhaled, then stumbled forwards. Chris’ feet scraped against the leafy ground, and she got back to her feet. She barely registered the giant footsteps making the ground tremble. All she knew were the flashes of green got faster and faster. Faster and faster and faster.

    Tyre had to admit, the kid was fast. She looked like she was flying, darting over this and that as she moved. Dare he admit it, he was impressed. But he wasn’t giving up. He continued walking after the human, following her scent when he lost sight of her. After what felt like several minutes, his ears twitched. He looked forwards. A little ways away from the pair of them was a brook, surrounded by a thicket of trees. Trees were hard to reach through. His brows furrowed. Now that would make things interesting. If he could catch her before she got to the brook, he’d be back in time for a movie.

    Her chest hurt. Chris wanted to stop, to fall, to just let herself go. She wanted to not be small, to not have to run, to not have to fear for her life. But here she was, running away once again. Her fingers grazed the pepper spray in her pocket. Would it do any good now? She didn’t know. Chris didn’t realized she’d been crying. Why was she crying? Was she going to die?

  She barely registered the trees thickening now. A glance back revealed her pursuer was reaching for her, his looming hand just feet from her back. She let out something like a scream. With whatever she had left in her, Chris pushed herself harder. She looked back in front of her, dodged a tree, and slipped on something. Water?

  Tyre swore as the girl slid into the river, her body vanishing beneath its current. He dropped to a crouch, squinting at the moonlit water. It had to be deep, considering how quickly the girl’s head vanished from view. He had half a mind to reach in and grab her, but it was getting late. For a moment, he almost felt bad. Though her fate as a snack wouldn’t have been much better, leaving her to drown in the water almost felt...wrong. He blinked, then smirked. Her head broke the surface. Briefly, Tyre debated making another grab for her.

  Chris sputtered, coughing water out of her mouth before she was sucked beneath the water again. Her limbs were floundering uselessly, pushing against the current as best she could. Had she been more focused, she’d been fine with the water. But with her being as exhausted as she was, all Chris could do was numbly go with the current. Where was the giant now?

  He watched as she moved further down the river. A grimace formed on his face. Against his better judgement, he reached out and plucked her from the water. Her pitiful trembling made him sigh. For what it was worth, she put up a good fight. Her little figure was heaving his his grasp. Her gaze moved to his, and she shook all the more. The scent of fear was diminished, but still present. Tyre lifted the girl to his face, examining her closer. She was still trying to speak. Cute.

  Chris looked into the giant’s gaze, opening her mouth. Her chest clenched, and her throat tightened. Her hand moved over her pepper spray again. Would this even work now? A fall from here would end up with some injury at least...unless he laid down, she’d fall into the water and risk breaking something. But she refused to end up helpless and dying without a fight. Her mother raised her better. So, Chris sucked in a deep breath. She’d need the extra buoyancy.

  Tyre sniffed the girl, indulging in her washed-out chocolate scent. Delicious, although weak. He raised her to his eyes again, and looked at her hands. What was she holding?... It was then he smelled something, and felt a burning. His eyes were burning!  He cried out, dropping the girl instantly. Tyre swore loudly, falling back and covering his burning eyes. Had she sprayed him with Mace?!

  Chris laughed weakly as she fell, plummeting into the water. Her hair and clothes moved with the current, anchoring her and carrying her all at the same time. How she’d survived the fall was beyond her, but she wasn’t complaining. She was alive. Her legs swung tiredly, and she broke the surface. That air had helped. The instant her head hit air, she gasped and sucked it in. The giant was in the distance now, a hand covering his face. She smiled proudly, then looked at the sky. Clouds were covering the moon, making everything darker. It was the last thing she saw before her vision went black.

~~~

  Chris awoke slowly. Everything was bright now; it was morning. Had she floated that long? Her eyes adjusted, and she groaned. When had she gotten on a couch? Pain throbbed through her body. She let out a groan, her head turned. It was then she saw someone sitting across from where she lay, watching her behind a pair of glasses. Chris stiffened, trying to speak. Her voice failed her. She managed a tired whimper.

  “Hey, calm down, it’s alright,” a female voice said. Her tone was gentle, kind...sympathetic? Chris clenched her jaws, wishing her throat didn’t feel so raw. “It’s alright Christina, you’re safe now.” Chris froze. Tingles shot up her spine. The woman, a stringy young brunette, held up Chris’ driver's license. That was somewhat relieving. “I have your phone charging in some rice, someone named ‘Big Doofus’ has been texting you all night...seems pretty worried about you.”

  Chris groaned, her head turning around. Kellian had to be so upset by now… Knowing him, he was scouring the woods and raising hell. She almost wanted to smile, and would have, if she was more reassured she was really alive, and that this wasn't some cruel form of an afterlife.

“My name’s Mandy,” the voice offered. Chris turned her head around, staring at the woman. She sniffled, nodded, and offered a weak smile.

  “Chris,” she rasped. “Call me Chris.”

  “Oh, you didn’t lose your voice! That’s good!”

  Chris blanched. Her voice sounded funny aloud. She studied the woman. Had this woman rescued her? Why? Why was she here, and why was she so afraid but couldn’t remember why? Her face contorted into a grimace, and her breathing became rapid. What had happened last night?!

  “Easy, easy,” Mandy murmured. She stood, placing a glass of water next to the couch Chris lay on. “You went through a lot last night, just get some rest and calm down. We can get you home and safe to ‘Big Doofus’ when you’re feeling better, alright?” The woman smiled. Chris stared, then mimicked her smile. For some reason, she felt she could trust Mandy. She nodded. For now, she just wanted to sleep. And so, without really meaning to, Chris fell asleep.

Mandy watched the younger woman. Poor thing had been a shivering mess when Mandy found her during a morning run. Mandy had no idea how she’d gotten out of the river. The current wasn’t incredibly strong, but it was enough to take someone under and not let them go. Chris was either and avid swimmer, or her adrenalin was something to be reckoned with. She walked into the kitchen, picking up Chris’ phone. She’d preferred it if Chris had made the call herself, but with her state of being and mind it wasn’t a good idea.

For now, Mandy put her phone aside. She set Chris’ phone back into the rice, burying it. Thanks to the pocket Chris had concealed the device in, the water seemed harmless. It was mostly superficial, stuck between the case of the phone and the phone itself. Hopefully Chris could still get it to work. Mandy rubbed her face. She sat down at the kitchen table, then made herself comfortable. She was going to be waiting a while.

~~~

When Chris woke up, she was still aching. She held her head and grimaced, then slowly sat up. Her hands moved to the covers, and she pulled them close to her chin. She breathed in their clean scent, calming herself down as she did so. Chris’ gave moved up at the sound of footsteps. She smiled at Mandy, who raised a hand in greeting.

“You’re up! Feeling better?”

Chris nodded. She grimaced as a wave of pain moved through her body. Mandy walked to the chair she’d sat in before, facing Chris. Chris shifted so she was facing Mandy, and smiled.

“I’m still sore, but I’m alive,” she admitted quietly. Her voice sounded stronger than before, though it was still ragged. “Thank you for helping me last night...and for letting me stay here.”

Mandy smiled. “It’s alright. I’m a doctor, helping people is in the job description. I’m just glad I got to you in time!”

“A doctor, huh?” Chris sat forward, wincing. “You...don’t happen to be the Doctor Mandy Hawkins, do you?”

Mandy grinned, pushing her glasses up her nose. “I am, how have you heard of me?”

“I read one of your dissertations on the digestive systems of various species of giants in the area,” Chris admitted. She leaned forward, winced, and sat back. Too soon to move much, she guessed. “I’m a mythical vet myself, so I take a lot of comfort finding minds dedicated to the wacky and weird. I look up to you and your work!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed reading those dissertations! I worry people get bored from them after a while,” Mandy admitted. “And thank you, but I’m really nothing to admire. I’m just a person trying to do my best.”

Chris nodded and sat back. “I remember you saying you had my phone in rice...and that there were a lot of texts from ‘Big Doofus’.”

“Quite a lot indeed! I’m guessing you two are close?”

“He’s my brother...to a degree. It’s hard to explain. Do you think I could have my phone to talk with him? Knowing the big doof he’s out raising hell trying to find me.”

“Of course! I’ll go get it for you,” Mandy smiled. Chris watched her leave, then moved to sit up again. It was painful, but Chris could get through it.

“You have a lovely home, did you self decorate?”

“I did!” Mandy’s voice came through the other room. She soon returned, and handed back Chris’ phone. “I was going for something relaxing, it’s good to come back home to something not totally hectic after work, y’know?”

Chris laughed, nodding. “Believe me, I do. From what I read from your papers, you have a lot of personal experience with pushy preds. Only a person with the…’inside scoop’ would know those kinds of things, if you catch my drift.”

Her smile faded quickly. She read the texts on her screen, momentarily forgetting she was in someone else's house.
Chris, where are you?
You aren’t answering kiddo I need to know you’re okay
Chris are you alright?
Kiddo I swear to God if you’re pulling another prank-
Chris please, this isn’t funny
Please be okay, be safe, love you

  She called Kellian, curling her knees to her chest. Mandy shot her a concerned look, and Chris shook her head. The phone barely rang before a very distraught voice came on the line.
  “Chrissy?”

  “Hey big guy, I’m here,” she sighed. “I...something happened last night. Someone started chasing me and my phone died before I could call-”

  “Where are ye?” He demanded, the worry clear in his voice. “Are ye okay? D’ya need me t’pick ya up?”

  “Kellian, calm down. Breathe. A doctor found me and helped me heal up.” She felt something nudge her, and looked up at Mandy. Mandy offered Chris a piece of paper with an address scrawled on it. Chris silently thanked her. “Here’s the address where I’m at, okay?” She read the note off to Kellian, then smiled as he asked once more if she was really okay. Once she reassured him, Kellian replied he’d be there to get her soon. Thankful for that, Chris hung up the phone.

  “Sounds like you’ve got an amazing brother!”

  Chris shook her head, putting her phone down. “He’s a mess, but I love him to bits,” she chuckled. Before she could say anything more, a gentle shaking caught her attention. Chris looked to the ground, at the water Mandy left her. Every few seconds, the surface of the water rippled. Kellian couldn’t have gotten here that quickly, right? She shot Mandy a look, then stiffened at the voice that came next.

  “Mandy? I gotta ask ya somethin’.”

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

    Chris tightened her sweater around her shoulders, grimacing at the darkened sky. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She sighed. Probably another text from Kellian, asking where she was. With a smile, she drew the small device from her pocket. The screen flashed white. Chris glanced to the right side of the screen and frowned. The battery was low. Quickly, to try and save battery, she replied:  Fine, on my way now. I don't need picked up this time, I have the pepper spray. Chris' finger hovered over the send button. Could you make me a coffee? Love you~

   She hit send. The message read 'sent', and the screen went black. Chris sighed and quickened her pace. Kellian'd hate it if she didn't answer. For now, though, she hoped he kept his head on. It was only eight o'clock; it wasn't fully dark yet. If she hurried, she'd get to him before it got too late. Chris glanced up as a roll of thunder moved through the sky. She pulled her jacket tighter, now almost running.

   Her feet hit the familiar forest floor with quiet taps. Her work shoes allowed easy grip to the grassy ground. Thankfully, Chris had taken this path time and time again, to the point she knew it by heart. She knew every rock, stone, and log that could trip her. Chris knew when to duck to avoid overhanging vines, and when to dart around trees. What she didn't know to look for were the creatures in the forest.

   Being a mythical vet, Chris knew many signs of predatory creatures' presence. The tingling on the back of her neck, the hushed sound of wind-like breaths in the air. Generally, she could evade being cornered or attacked by creatures that meant to do her harm. Tonight was different. Something felt off in the air the moment her phone screen had gone black. The dark was making this worse.

   Chris looked over her shoulder. Something was there, something was always there. There was no way someone wasn't watching her. Panic settling in now, Chris sped forwards. She turned around just as she ran into something.

   "-oof!" Chris wheezed. The brunette fell back, her gaze shooting upwards. "There's not s’posed to be a tree-"

   She shrank back instantly. That is not a tree. Chris swallowed, getting to her feet. Her eyes shut, and she took a moment to focus on her breathing while the creature in front of her shifted. Please be friendly please be friendly please be friendly....

   "Well loookie here~"

   That does not sound friendly.

   Chris let out a slow breath. Stay calm, keep breathing. Make eye contact and don't panic. She could do this. She’d been doing this for years.

   Chris looked upwards, her gaze meeting an azure one. To keep herself calm, Chris studied his gaze. The giant, a he by the sound of his voice, had bright, almost glowing eyes. By the glint of the moon, she could see the outline of his grin. Her hands went cold. Focus, breathe.

   "Well lookie here indeed," Chris replied. She hated how shaky her voice sounded, but she kept speaking. "Sorry I ran into your leg there, sir. I'm just trying to get home."
   The giant raised a brow, their shape well defined in the moonlight. His grin widened. Chris backed up.

   "Ah, 's no worries~. Yer t'small t'do any real damage," he chuckled. The mystery man had a distinct, Irish accent. It almost put Chris at ease, Kellian had a similar accent.

   "Ahah, yeah, comes with being small and all that..." she rubbed her neck sheepishly. "Well, uh, mister, I've gotta get going. Someone's expecting me back home and I'd really like to get back in one piece-"

   The instant she heard a dark chuckle, and saw the man lick his lips, she ran. Her abruptness seemed to surprise the giant enough to delay him. Chris sprinted as quickly as she could, now stumbling through underbrush and over logs. There was a deep rumble behind her, and an even deeper chuckle. Chris didn't stop to look back, and instead quickened her pace. Years of running from giants like this one prepared her for such occasions, and she had no plans of dying tonight.

    Tyre raised a brow. He’d smelled drafts of fear from the human the instant she’d rammed into him, but now she was terrified. He smirked. A smart girl, running as quickly as she did. He took his time getting to his feet, eyeing her tiny figure dashing among the trees. A purr raised in his chest. It’d been far too long since his last hunt… With a grin, he began after the girl. He moved slowly, knowing he’d catch the girl eventually. He could take his time with this.

    Chris continued fleeing, trees and brushes and woods moving past and around her. She couldn’t hear anything anymore. Her breathing and heartbeat became all she knew. She inhaled, then stumbled forwards. Chris’ feet scraped against the leafy ground, and she got back to her feet. She barely registered the giant footsteps making the ground tremble. All she knew were the flashes of green got faster and faster. Faster and faster and faster.

    Tyre had to admit, the kid was fast. She looked like she was flying, darting over this and that as she moved. Dare he admit it, he was impressed. But he wasn’t giving up. He continued walking after the human, following her scent when he lost sight of her. After what felt like several minutes, his ears twitched. He looked forwards. A little ways away from the pair of them was a brook, surrounded by a thicket of trees. Trees were hard to reach through. His brows furrowed. Now that would make things interesting. If he could catch her before she got to the brook, he’d be back in time for a movie.

    Her chest hurt. Chris wanted to stop, to fall, to just let herself go. She wanted to not be small, to not have to run, to not have to fear for her life. But here she was, running away once again. Her fingers grazed the pepper spray in her pocket. Would it do any good now? She didn’t know. Chris didn’t realized she’d been crying. Why was she crying? Was she going to die?

  She barely registered the trees thickening now. A glance back revealed her pursuer was reaching for her, his looming hand just feet from her back. She let out something like a scream. With whatever she had left in her, Chris pushed herself harder. She looked back in front of her, dodged a tree, and slipped on something. Water?

  Tyre swore as the girl slid into the river, her body vanishing beneath its current. He dropped to a crouch, squinting at the moonlit water. It had to be deep, considering how quickly the girl’s head vanished from view. He had half a mind to reach in and grab her, but it was getting late. For a moment, he almost felt bad. Though her fate as a snack wouldn’t have been much better, leaving her to drown in the water almost felt...wrong. He blinked, then smirked. Her head broke the surface. Briefly, Tyre debated making another grab for her.

  Chris sputtered, coughing water out of her mouth before she was sucked beneath the water again. Her limbs were floundering uselessly, pushing against the current as best she could. Had she been more focused, she’d been fine with the water. But with her being as exhausted as she was, all Chris could do was numbly go with the current. Where was the giant now?

  He watched as she moved further down the river. A grimace formed on his face. Against his better judgement, he reached out and plucked her from the water. Her pitiful trembling made him sigh. For what it was worth, she put up a good fight. Her little figure was heaving his his grasp. Her gaze moved to his, and she shook all the more. The scent of fear was diminished, but still present. Tyre lifted the girl to his face, examining her closer. She was still trying to speak. Cute.

  Chris looked into the giant’s gaze, opening her mouth. Her chest clenched, and her throat tightened. Her hand moved over her pepper spray again. Would this even work now? A fall from here would end up with some injury at least...unless he laid down, she’d fall into the water and risk breaking something. But she refused to end up helpless and dying without a fight. Her mother raised her better. So, Chris sucked in a deep breath. She’d need the extra buoyancy.

  Tyre sniffed the girl, indulging in her washed-out chocolate scent. Delicious, although weak. He raised her to his eyes again, and looked at her hands. What was she holding?... It was then he smelled something, and felt a burning. His eyes were burning!  He cried out, dropping the girl instantly. Tyre swore loudly, falling back and covering his burning eyes. Had she sprayed him with Mace?!

  Chris laughed weakly as she fell, plummeting into the water. Her hair and clothes moved with the current, anchoring her and carrying her all at the same time. How she’d survived the fall was beyond her, but she wasn’t complaining. She was alive. Her legs swung tiredly, and she broke the surface. That air had helped. The instant her head hit air, she gasped and sucked it in. The giant was in the distance now, a hand covering his face. She smiled proudly, then looked at the sky. Clouds were covering the moon, making everything darker. It was the last thing she saw before her vision went black.

~~~

  Chris awoke slowly. Everything was bright now; it was morning. Had she floated that long? Her eyes adjusted, and she groaned. When had she gotten on a couch? Pain throbbed through her body. She let out a groan, her head turned. It was then she saw someone sitting across from where she lay, watching her behind a pair of glasses. Chris stiffened, trying to speak. Her voice failed her. She managed a tired whimper.

  “Hey, calm down, it’s alright,” a female voice said. Her tone was gentle, kind...sympathetic? Chris clenched her jaws, wishing her throat didn’t feel so raw. “It’s alright Christina, you’re safe now.” Chris froze. Tingles shot up her spine. The woman, a stringy young brunette, held up Chris’ driver's license. That was somewhat relieving. “I have your phone charging in some rice, someone named ‘Big Doofus’ has been texting you all night...seems pretty worried about you.”

  Chris groaned, her head turning around. Kellian had to be so upset by now… Knowing him, he was scouring the woods and raising hell. She almost wanted to smile, and would have, if she was more reassured she was really alive, and that this wasn't some cruel form of an afterlife.

“My name’s Mandy,” the voice offered. Chris turned her head around, staring at the woman. She sniffled, nodded, and offered a weak smile.

  “Chris,” she rasped. “Call me Chris.”

  “Oh, you didn’t lose your voice! That’s good!”

  Chris blanched. Her voice sounded funny aloud. She studied the woman. Had this woman rescued her? Why? Why was she here, and why was she so afraid but couldn’t remember why? Her face contorted into a grimace, and her breathing became rapid. What had happened last night?!

  “Easy, easy,” Mandy murmured. She stood, placing a glass of water next to the couch Chris lay on. “You went through a lot last night, just get some rest and calm down. We can get you home and safe to ‘Big Doofus’ when you’re feeling better, alright?” The woman smiled. Chris stared, then mimicked her smile. For some reason, she felt she could trust Mandy. She nodded. For now, she just wanted to sleep. And so, without really meaning to, Chris fell asleep.

Mandy watched the younger woman. Poor thing had been a shivering mess when Mandy found her during a morning run. Mandy had no idea how she’d gotten out of the river. The current wasn’t incredibly strong, but it was enough to take someone under and not let them go. Chris was either and avid swimmer, or her adrenalin was something to be reckoned with. She walked into the kitchen, picking up Chris’ phone. She’d preferred it if Chris had made the call herself, but with her state of being and mind it wasn’t a good idea.

For now, Mandy put her phone aside. She set Chris’ phone back into the rice, burying it. Thanks to the pocket Chris had concealed the device in, the water seemed harmless. It was mostly superficial, stuck between the case of the phone and the phone itself. Hopefully Chris could still get it to work. Mandy rubbed her face. She sat down at the kitchen table, then made herself comfortable. She was going to be waiting a while.

~~~

When Chris woke up, she was still aching. She held her head and grimaced, then slowly sat up. Her hands moved to the covers, and she pulled them close to her chin. She breathed in their clean scent, calming herself down as she did so. Chris’ gave moved up at the sound of footsteps. She smiled at Mandy, who raised a hand in greeting.

“You’re up! Feeling better?”

Chris nodded. She grimaced as a wave of pain moved through her body. Mandy walked to the chair she’d sat in before, facing Chris. Chris shifted so she was facing Mandy, and smiled.

“I’m still sore, but I’m alive,” she admitted quietly. Her voice sounded stronger than before, though it was still ragged. “Thank you for helping me last night...and for letting me stay here.”

Mandy smiled. “It’s alright. I’m a doctor, helping people is in the job description. I’m just glad I got to you in time!”

“A doctor, huh?” Chris sat forward, wincing. “You...don’t happen to be the Doctor Mandy Hawkins, do you?”

Mandy grinned, pushing her glasses up her nose. “I am, how have you heard of me?”

“I read one of your dissertations on the digestive systems of various species of giants in the area,” Chris admitted. She leaned forward, winced, and sat back. Too soon to move much, she guessed. “I’m a mythical vet myself, so I take a lot of comfort finding minds dedicated to the wacky and weird. I look up to you and your work!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed reading those dissertations! I worry people get bored from them after a while,” Mandy admitted. “And thank you, but I’m really nothing to admire. I’m just a person trying to do my best.”

Chris nodded and sat back. “I remember you saying you had my phone in rice...and that there were a lot of texts from ‘Big Doofus’.”

“Quite a lot indeed! I’m guessing you two are close?”

“He’s my brother...to a degree. It’s hard to explain. Do you think I could have my phone to talk with him? Knowing the big doof he’s out raising hell trying to find me.”

“Of course! I’ll go get it for you,” Mandy smiled. Chris watched her leave, then moved to sit up again. It was painful, but Chris could get through it.

“You have a lovely home, did you self decorate?”

“I did!” Mandy’s voice came through the other room. She soon returned, and handed back Chris’ phone. “I was going for something relaxing, it’s good to come back home to something not totally hectic after work, y’know?”

Chris laughed, nodding. “Believe me, I do. From what I read from your papers, you have a lot of personal experience with pushy preds. Only a person with the…’inside scoop’ would know those kinds of things, if you catch my drift.”

Her smile faded quickly. She read the texts on her screen, momentarily forgetting she was in someone else's house.
Chris, where are you?
You aren’t answering kiddo I need to know you’re okay
Chris are you alright?
Kiddo I swear to God if you’re pulling another prank-
Chris please, this isn’t funny
Please be okay, be safe, love you

  She called Kellian, curling her knees to her chest. Mandy shot her a concerned look, and Chris shook her head. The phone barely rang before a very distraught voice came on the line.
  “Chrissy?”

  “Hey big guy, I’m here,” she sighed. “I...something happened last night. Someone started chasing me and my phone died before I could call-”

  “Where are ye?” He demanded, the worry clear in his voice. “Are ye okay? D’ya need me t’pick ya up?”

  “Kellian, calm down. Breathe. A doctor found me and helped me heal up.” She felt something nudge her, and looked up at Mandy. Mandy offered Chris a piece of paper with an address scrawled on it. Chris silently thanked her. “Here’s the address where I’m at, okay?” She read the note off to Kellian, then smiled as he asked once more if she was really okay. Once she reassured him, Kellian replied he’d be there to get her soon. Thankful for that, Chris hung up the phone.

  “Sounds like you’ve got an amazing brother!”

  Chris shook her head, putting her phone down. “He’s a mess, but I love him to bits,” she chuckled. Before she could say anything more, a gentle shaking caught her attention. Chris looked to the ground, at the water Mandy left her. Every few seconds, the surface of the water rippled. Kellian couldn’t have gotten here that quickly, right? She shot Mandy a look, then stiffened at the voice that came next.

  “Mandy? I gotta ask ya somethin’.”