Chapter 2: A Friendly Encounter

“AWWW, ARN'T YOU A CUTE ONE?”

The words came unexpected to Victor, causing him to stumble
onto his back again,

“Oh, s-sorry” apologised the giant tigress above him, who,
now that he had a better look at her, had a kind face, even if it was that of a
tiger, he stood up,

“Incredible” was all he could mutter, but then asked “who
are you?”

Drellnia was taken aback from this unexpected question
“umm…..I’m Drellnia, and……I seem to be lost” she said looking at her surroundings,

Victor looked behind him to see part of the city missing
then back to Drellnia “Um... where are you from?” he asked, full of sudden
curiosity,

“Gigantua” she said proudly, but a look of confusion came
across her face “um….why do you ask?”

Victor then looked as confused as her as he looked around
again “No idea where that is... err... You... Are an alien?”

Drellnia looked slightly insulted, but at the same time,
slightly thoughtful “I don't know, where am I now?” she asked.

“Um... Earth... Umm...” was all Victor could get out of his
mouth at that point,

“Earth? You don't mean Terra, do you?” she asked, sounding
slightly excited,

“No... Earth... The planet! This is our world... The humans...”
Victor near shouted, trying to explain.

“my people live under the surface of Terra, but if you say
this is Earth, then I’m not sure how I got here” said Drellnia, sounding more
and more sad, this made Victor feel worse off from when he saw her crying,

But then he realised something “You live underground? I… I’ve
seen you pop up over there” he explained, pointing behind him “Umm... But you
sort of trampled part of our city...”

Drellnia cringed lightly, looking at the destruction “err...sorry
about that, wait, is Earth another name for Terra?” she said, sounding excited
again,

Victor thought for a moment “Yes... I think it once was...
Perhaps... We would be known as Terrans... Of the surface people to you
perhaps?”

“Yes yes!” she cried, sounding excited again, but then her
eyes watered up again “but…but if that’s the case, then” she sighed sadly “then
I guess I cannot go home”

The remark confused Victor “w..why not?” he asked, wanting
to try and help Drellnia be happy,

“Because” she said “everyone who had reached the surface
world, has never returned”

This new information shocked Victor “This happened before?”

“Yes” she replied, suddenly speaking in a mystical voice “thousands
of years ago, some of my people ventured to the surface world, but never
returned”.

Victor knew why none of her people returned to her underground
world, but he was afraid of what she might do if he told her the truth, “oh... Well
that is bad news for you” he started, slightly nervous “Let’s say the...
Terrans don't enjoy having their cities crushed by large kittens... I... I
would expect they will be sending an army soon..”

Drellnia looked confused, so Victor continued to explain “A
large group of people with weapons... Coming to hurt you... You might need to
run... Hide somewhere... Until you can return home!”

Her heart seemed to stop on her as the words sunk in, she
lent down to Victor and said with fear and desperation written across her face
“help me, please”.

Victor was stunned from the request, not knowing what to say
or do “I.. Well.. He could go.. Beyond the hills.. Maybe that will give us
time..” he managed to say, trying to think up a way to help her” I mean unless
you think you can take the army on.. At your size I don’t know if they can hurt
you.”

“no, I oppose violence, even for my own protection” said
Drellnia, holding her hand over her heart, Victor started feeling something
that he’d never felt ever, was it pity or fear, or even love for this massive
creature?, his thoughts were interrupted by a whistling sound, then an
explosion on her left shoulder, she screamed in pain as blood flowed down her
arm and back.