Chapter 26: Life & Stone

LIFE & STONE

Baby Giant raced to the base of the cliff, his heart pounding. Worry pressed heavy on his chest.

Where was his dad? Where was Yuren?

He skidded to a stop and saw his father first.

He was sprawled out, his huge body crumpled on the ground, like he just couldn’t get up anymore. He let out a hoarse, broken sound—soft, desperate. Calling for him, calling for his wife.

But—where was Yuren?

Baby Giant gently uncurled his trunk. Tucked inside, limp and filthy, he found him. Yuren was out cold, burning up with fever, hands still clinging to the chick. The chick was breathing, thank goodness. But Yuren—

“Yuren...Yuren! Wake up!" A woman’s voice, sharp and urgent.

Baby Giant let out a cry of his own, cute as always.

And finally, Yuren stirred. He sucked in a lungful of air and coughed so hard his whole body shook, gasping, like he’d just escaped drowning. Panic flashed in his foggy eyes.

“Where am I?" He blinked, trying to clear the haze. And then it hit him—he was alive. Relief crashed over him, and he broke into a wild grin. “Thank god. We actually made it.”

The chick went quiet at last.

Yuren scooped it up, grinning. Victory.

But then he heard Baby Giant and stopped. He remembered—the creature that saved him stood right there, breathing weakly.

He climbed up, checking himself over, still in one piece. Yuren's only reached half of its giant head when he stood, incredibly unbelievable. “Thanks for everything,” he said, giving his hide a gentle pat. “We owe you our lives. You’re one hell of a dad—Your son must be so happy right now. Right, Baby Giant?”

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He answered with just a thin, tired cry.

Then his father tried to answer, raising his snout, but the sound that came out was so weak it was like smoke. His snout dropped in exhaustion.

Yuren frowned. “Hey, why aren’t you getting up?”

Baby Giant’s mother stepped closer and let out a low, mournful sound—something only they understood.

Yuren didn’t get a word of it.

Baby Giant lifted his snout, crying out too.

And something clicked—Yuren got it. Baby Giant’s father was gone. The realization sunk in. He hadn’t been ready for it, but what now? All he could do was rest his hand on its thick leg, trying to share the pain with Baby Giant's family.

Next to them, the chick waddled on, clueless, ignoring the ever-spreading wall of fire behind it. The flames grew, wild and angry, devouring the forest faster with every second.

Other giants of their kind circled around, surrounding the body. Each one cried out, their grief mixing with the heat in the air.

Silence fell.

They stepped back together.

A sudden cry. Yuren jolted—wait, still alive? He’d been sure the old giant was gone.

He let himself fade into the background, just watching.

Somehow, the mountain-sized creature wrestled itself upright again, silent now. He moved toward a tall rock, planted himself there, and threw his snout up to the sky.

The roar that exploded from him shook the ground. It echoed through the whole Sariayah forest—one long, massive cry. It held fury, grief, everything.

Yuren couldn’t understand, but the other beasts did.

Baby Giant’s eyes lit up, happiness flooding his face, but his mother stayed motionless, distant, not quite believing any of it.

At last, He wrapped his trunk around both his son and his silent mate. All those emotions poured out—a fierce, unbreakable love.

Baby Giant bounced around, overcome with joy, barely able to keep himself still by his father’s side.

Yuren just watched, smiling a little, while the chick wandered away again, drawn by some private adventure.

Then one last cry from the giant—and this time, Yuren knew it was the end. The sound was so final it left no room for doubt.

The other giants heard. Every single one. They got to work, spraying water from their bodies to push back the fire, protecting as much as they could. From the smallest to the oldest, they all listened and acted. Yuren didn’t doubt now—because of that command, more would survive the flames.

One last embrace between Baby Giant and his father.

A single, wild cry to the sky. And then everything shifted.

The great beast stiffened and, right before their eyes, turned to black stone. He became just a monument, silent and still.

Nothing but quiet remained.