“I ALREADY HAVE A NAME!” I tried to scream from within my pocket prison.

The sound of my voice was muffled by the fabric and had most likely fallen on deaf ears anyway. I lay down in my hammock-like prison in defeat, lamenting my situation. It just seemed so surreal, like it wasn’t really happening. Was that because this was all some crazy dream? Or was I just still in too much shock to accept it as it truly was? The dampened thumping of his heartbeat through his shirt didn’t make thinking things through any easier. It was rather disturbing to hear something so common so loudly, and so close. If I so desired to press my hand against his chest, I was certain I could actually FEEL it beat. I was still in the middle of piecing all of this together an hour later when I was jolted out of my thoughts.

“Fer the love a’-!”

“What the Hell?” I asked myself quietly as the Giant suddenly stopped moving.

I tried to stand up in the pocket and managed to grab a hold of the pocket flap after the third try. I poked my head out and peered up at my captor, his face screwed up in irritation as he stared at his left palm. He was using the fingers of his right hand in an attempt to get something out, but he was unsuccessful. He caught me looking from his pocket and raised an eyebrow, concentrating on me instead of his own problem. I cringed a little, fearful of what he might do.

“Doona worry Runt, yer Master’s fine. No need tuh be concerned ‘bout big ol’ me.” he told me as he tried to pat me on the head again.

“You’re not my ‘Master’, Scruffy, and I wasn’t worried about you either. I was just wondering what the Hell was so important that you had to stop.” I said with disdain as I attempted to dodge his finger again only to fail, the Giant getting a few soft pats on my head in.

“Heh. ‘Scruffy’. It’s a cute nickname, I like it. But if ye must know I gotta splinter caught in my hand earlier an’ I still canna get it out.” he informed me as he lifted his palm in my direction.

“Awww…so the Big Ol’ Lion’s got a thorn in his paw?” I sneered sarcastically, obviously trying to mock him.        
                
“This ‘Big Ol’ Lion’ can handle a ‘thorn’, thank ye very much. Just thought I’d try an’ get it out while I had the chance is all. Now that I know how much it’s upsettin’ ye, we’ll just get back on our way woona we?” he replied sounding slightly hurt and started to walk again.

“Hey, I’d be more concerned about my own well being if I were you, Scruffy.” I told him in an offhand tone.

“Oh? An’ why’s that Runt?” he asked, his eyes still focused on the road.

“Well, you know what’s the worst part about small cuts and splinters don’t you?” I asked him like he was a little kid, the wheels in my head turning as an especially wicked idea came to mind.

“Oh, do enlighten me Runt. I’m just dyin’ tuh know.” he stated sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

“It’s the fact that whatever you try to do, even just barely grazing something with your hand, can cause so much pain that you just can’t bear it for too long.”

“…”

“And it only becomes more painful over time as the cut tears worse or the splinter digs deeper into your skin. And once it reaches a certain point well…you’ll just always be hurting no matter what. You really don’t want to get me started on all the infections you can get from it either, it’d take all day. All night too, maybe.” I exaggerated, hoping to get under his skin like that splinter.

I have to admit; it was fun watching the Giant try to act so stoic as my embellished observations got to him. It wasn’t much but it was the first time all day I had any power whatsoever in my position. It may sound truly evil, but being mean and malicious just felt so good sometimes. I needed to do something to get my mind off my current predicament and this was all I had, unfortunately. The Giant just kept walking forward however, and I decided to retreat back to his pocket now that I had my say. I was about to try and rest my eyes again, when I was suddenly lifted up by the back of my shirt and I heard a deep sigh.

“What’ll it take tuh get the thorn outta this Big Ol’ Lion’s paw?” he asked softly, an eyebrow still cocked as he looked down at me.

“You can bring me back home for starters.”

“We’re already headin’ fer home, in Arcadia.”

“I meant MY home.”

“It IS yer home.”

Okay, should have known that wasn’t going to work. Strike one.

“You could quit referring to me as your pet, how about that?”

“Ye ARE my pet, Runt. There’s no changin’ that.”

Damn. Strike two.

“You gonna stop calling me ‘Runt’ at least?”

“Not until I think of a good name fer ye.”

Strike Three.

“…I see no good reason to help you out then. Looks like you’re stuck, Scruffy.” I tell him with as little emotion as I could muster. “And I already have a name!”

“How ‘bout I keep ye outta the pocket an’ pouch if ye get it out? That’s my only offer, so take it or leave it Runt.” he finally suggested after he took a moment to think.

I had no idea what he meant by that, but if it kept me out of both of those almost claustrophobia-inducing places I saw no reason to turn it down. I paused a moment before answering though, to make it appear as though I was taking my time in considering the offer. He was practically squirming as he waited for my reply.

“Where’s that splinter?” I finally inquired, as he smiled that broad smile again.

He dropped me onto his left palm and pointed to a spot just below his thumb. I could just about make out a sliver of wood sticking out of his flesh as I inspected the spot. It was angled toward me and it was sticking out just enough for me to get a hold of it with both my hands if only barely. As I tightened my grip around the piece of wood, I decided it was probably best to warn the Giant beforehand.

“Ok Scruffy, this might hurt so don’t do anything stupid like, I don’t know, move suddenly or drop me.” I stated sarcastically getting myself into position.

“I woona. Just…be careful.” he responded, giving away a tone of concern in his voice.

“Ok then, on the count of three.” I tell him as I stabled myself.

“Right…” he said nervously.

“THREE!” I screamed as I pulled hard on the splinter, getting it free from his flesh on the first tug and knocking myself onto my back.

“GAH! What the Hell, Runt? They dinna teach ye tuh count where ye came from?” he replied in shock.

“Hey, you would have tensed up and flinched by the time I counted to three!” I retorted, pointing the splinter at his face.

“I doona flinch!”

“Oh really?” I asked skeptically, raising the splinter as if to plunge it back into his palm.

“DOONA!” the startled Giant exclaimed as he did, indeed, flinch.

“HA!” I cried out triumphantly, discarding the sliver over the side of his hand with a wide smirk to rival his own broad smile.

“Ok, ye got me. Way tuh go. Hope yer proud a’ yerself, Runt.” he grumbled underneath his breath as he raised me up to his shoulder, urging me to hop off.

“H-hey! What are you-?” I asked as I fell clumsily off. I grabbed a piece of his shirt just in time before I could fall down any further.

The Giant kept his hand beneath me for leverage, supporting me until I had settled myself. It was very daunting being that high up, sitting right next to the Giant and having to keep myself steady as my stomach did somersaults from the sudden elevation in height. It reminded me of one of those glass elevators, where you had no choice but to see yourself rise from the ground. I hated those elevators with a vengeance. I closed my eyes and held on tight to his shirt as he began to move again.

“Ye kept yer end a’ the bargain, an’ I’m keepin’ mine. I said I woodne put ye back in the pocket or the pouch. This is the only other place I have tuh put ye, Runt.” he told me with a smile on his face.

“Ok, you got me. Way to go. I hope you’re proud of yourself. You don’t have to look so happy about it though...” I said sullenly, as I did my best not to look down and to keep my stomach from flipping.

“It ain't just that, Runt. Even if it was pretty amusin’ I doona mind tellin’ ye.” he said as he chuckled once more. “It’s just that was the first time I’ve seen ye smile.”

I could feel my cheeks flush again as he looked over at me from the corner of his eye. I tried to turn away before he could catch me blushing.

“It looked good on ye.” he told me softly, before returning his concentration to the road before us.