Rustling

‘It isn’t moving.’

‘I know.’

‘But you said we’d follow…’

‘I know what I said,’ he hissed.

The giant twisted its head, glanced in their direction.

They froze.

The giant looked away.

The thin one backhanded his companion.

‘Why’d you do that?’

‘For making me yell at you.’

‘Huh?’ was all he could muster.

They turned back to the road. The giant had vanished.

‘Now you’ve done it.’

‘What?’

‘He’s gone.’

‘Who?’

‘The giant!’

‘Oh.’

‘And that means the stick!’

‘Oh no.’

They both heard a familiar rustle. Without both sticks, there was only one thing they could do.

‘Run!!’ the thin one screamed.

But he knew there was no escape.