Sizeran Dilemma Chapter 4 rough draft

Sizeran Dilemma Chapter 4

Alicila pushed her way through the forest until she found the road. “Finally.”

She bent over and gently touched the dirt beneath her fingers. “Now, I just follow this to Terrondale.” She looked back and forth. “But which way is which? Huh. I wish there was some kind of road sign around here.”

Alicila suddenly heard a strange humming sound. She turned around and spotted a strange woman walking down the trail in an exotic fur coat. “Oh, great. Another person to freak out about my size.” She ducked behind a nearby tree. “Damnit.” She squeezed her chest in. “I am not so sure about this.”

The strange woman came closer and closer before suddenly stopping. “Hmm.”

She looked around. “I would advise you come out, darling. Make things easier on yourself. Trust me, you don’t want to try things the hard way.”

Alicila shook her head. “No, I have been through this routine multiple times in the last few days. I know what you are going to do.” She turned around only to trip on one of the tree's roots and fall flat on her face, her body creating a giant thud when she landed. She shook her head and looked up to see the strange woman running over to her.

“I got you now?” She arched her head as she approached. “Huh? You are a Sizeran?”

Alicila twisted over onto her back. “Please get away. I am sick and tired of this. Don’t hurt me.”

The strange woman laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, darling. I won’t dream of it.” She sat down in the grass. “That back there. Oh, that was just in case you were one of those peaky little Lulvix Alliance fools.” Alicila raised an eyebrow. “They, well, to put things straight, haven’t liked us after we screwed them over a few months back.” She let out a hearty chuckle.

Alicila shook her head. “So you aren’t going to try and hurt me like the others.”

The woman smiled. “Darling, of course not.” She looked at Alicila’s terrified face. “Honey, what is wrong?”

Alicila held up her hands. “Yesterday, I changed in size, and I can’t change back. My mother tried to help me, but I don’t’ know what happened to her.” Alicila ran her hands through her head. “I just. . .” She slammed her hand onto the ground. “It should have been me.”

The exotic woman walked up and rubbed Alicila on her leg. “Hey, it’s alright. This isn’t your fault. Look, I don’t know much about you or your family, but I am sure your mother was just trying to protect you.”

Alicila shook her head. “Ya.” She looked down at the strange woman. “Thank you.”

She sniffled. “Umm.”

“You can call me Nora, honey. What is your name?”

“Alicila.” She wiped away a tear.

“That is a fine name. How old are you? I only ask as well; with Sizerans, it is hard to judge your age and all. Your people constantly change in size.”

Alicila sighed. “I just turned twenty a few months ago.” She shook her head. “I feel foolish acting this way. I should be handling this better.”

“Oh, come now, darling. You just lost your own mother. I am surprised you kept things together like you did.” Alicila nodded her head. “Now, can you tell me what is it you were doing?”

Alicila sighed. “I was trying to find someplace called Terrondale. I think maybe the people there could help me.”

“Ohhh.” Nora nodded her head. “Well, maybe they could, darling. The people in Terrondale are decent folk, alright. They deal with quite wonderful things alright.”

Alicila raised her head. “You think they can help me figure out this size-changing curse I have?”

“Cruse?” Nora looked at the look in Alicila’s eyes. “You don’t know what your people change in size?”

Alicila threw up her arms. “My people? Why do people keep saying it that way? I am not a Sizeran ok.”

“Ok, ok. Look, we can try and help figure this out. But I am not sure what we can do, darling.” Nora turned around. “From what I hear, Terrondale is a place where people go to spend some time away from the Lulvix Alliance, and well, they make some crazy things there. But maybe, just maybe, someone could help you.”

Alicila moved onto her knees. “Well, if they can, I would be very grateful. I am starting to be a bit sick of being this size.” She closed her eyes and raised her voice. “It just isn’t fair.” Her body suddenly grew a few inches.”

Nora turned around. “Whoh there. Calm down.”

Alicila opened her eyes. “I just grew again?” She pulled at tight clothes. “Noo.” She slammed her hand against a nearby tree, almost uprooting it.

“Look, just calm down. We will figure this out, ok. Look, let’s just focus on heading to Terrondale first and see if they can do anything alright. No reason to give up hope yet, right?”

Alicila nodded her head. “Yes. You are right.”

“Now then, let’s stand up and follow me, honey. I know a dandy little shortcut to the gem of the town.” She clapped her hands together. “I think you will love it when you see it. The town is quite beautiful. And you do have an advantage. You can take in all of the gorgeous sights all at once.”

Alicila shook her head. “Maybe. I am having a hard time trying to see the positives of being this tall.” She knocked aside a tree branch. “I may not be that much larger, but it sure makes a difference.” She swatted another branch away. “Ugh, these damn trees.”

“Well, something my father told me when I was a little girl was to try and find the positive side of the darkness.”

Alicila narrowed her eyes. “That sounds like an odd way to put it.”

They came to a massive hill, once more finding the road. Nora chucked, “Well, my father was a bit of an odd man. Not always there nor the best at forming his words.” Nora put her hands into her fur coat. “Still, I think trying to find the positives in your situation is a good thing. As you might be this way for a while longer.”

Alicila sighed. “Well, I. . .” She shook her head. “I am not so sure what is good about me being this big.”

“Oww!”

Alicila turned her head as Nora fell to the ground. “What is wrong?”

Nora rubbed her leg. “I think I ran into one of my own traps.” She pulled a small blue dart out of her leg. “Oh shit.”

Alicila bent down. “What is going on?”

Nora smiled and looked up at Alicila. “Look, honey, I need you to carry me down this road to Terrondale.”

Alicila shook her head. “What? No way.”

Nora grabbed Alicila’s torn leather pant leg. “Look, that dart was filled with a Terrondale special poison. I need you to get me to the town as I won’t be walking in a few minutes. Please.”

“But I. . .”

“Darling, I need you to trust yourself that you can do this.” She shook her head. “Show those people who tried to hurt you before that they were wrong. That you can be a good person.” She cracked a smile. “Don’t be afraid.”

Alicila nodded her head. “I will do what I can.” She used both hands to pick Nora up and cradle the exotic woman in her arms.

“Oh, one more thing, darling. If anything weird happens, just keep going. The Terrondale poison has some odd effects, so don’t freak out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just hurry, ok.”

Alicila raised an eyebrow. “Umm, ok.” She looked down the road. “This is kind of weird.” She began to run down the road, ducking and weaving between the trees.  I wonder what she would mean by things becoming weird.

Alicila looked down to see Nora’s skin turning blue. “What is going on? Are you alright?”

Nora nodded her head. “I am fine. Just keep going.”

Alicila shook her head. “But you are turning blue. I think we should—

“Look, I am touched by your concern, darling. But just focus on getting us to town.” She suddenly held her hand over her mouth. “Oh my. I can feel the pressure starting to build already.”

“Pressure? What pressure.”

“It is nothing, darling.” She put her hand over her stomach. “Just keep going.”

Alicila narrowed her eyes. “I do not like this.” She spotted small wooden buildings and long green rows of crops. “I see something up ahead.”

Nora turned her head as her chest rose like a balloon. “It’s Terrondale. Just don’t run through the crops. Don’t need to cause trouble by trampling on anyone's harvest.”

“I will just stay on the road.” Alicila blinked as the road suddenly vanished and transitioned into flowing grasslands. “Hey, that isn’t fair.” She turned around. “Why does the road just end?”

“Alicila. Can we please just keep going, darling?”

She looked down at Nora. “What in the world? Why are you getting so big?”

“Darling, please.” She rubbed her expanding sides. “That dart was filled with a blueberry poison, and I am turning into a blueberry. Now get me into town so I can have the antidote.”

Alicila took in a deep breath of blueberry-scented air. “Who would leave a blueberry dart out in the woods?” She narrowed her eyes. “You did this to that Lulvix soldier.”

Nora laughed. “Of course, darling. I protect my town from those horrid people.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me you came from Terrondale?”

Nora’s legs began to thicken. “Well, I wanted it to be a bit of a surprise.” She looked at her expanding body. “Look, we are wasting enough time. I am getting big enough. Can we please hurry to town? I am having trouble seeing my toes at this point.”

Alicila nodded her head. “Yes, you are becoming heavy.” Alicila groaned. “Soon, I will have to become even bigger just to carry you.” She turned around. “So I get you to town and get you the antidote, and then you help me?”

“Of course, darling. Now, let's hurry.” Her legs began to sink into her round waist. “I don’t exactly like being a big blueberry.”

Alicila sighed. “Ok. Don’t worry.” She tightened her grip on Nora and hurried towards the tiny hamlet. “We are almost there.” She looked down at Nora and her ever spherical body. “Just hold on.”

A group of people with long pikes jumped out as she approached the village. “Hold it right there.” The young man walked forward. “Who are you, and why did you bring that person back here.”

Nora waved her chubby arm. “Stand down, Resin. It’s me, Nora. She is with me.”

Resin dropped his weapon. “Nora? What happened to you?”

She shook her berry cheeks. “Steeped into one of my own traps again. Thankfully this kind young lady was here to help me back to town.”

Resin waved at Alicila. “You can set her down now. Once she is fully juiced up, we will roll her over to the juicing building.”

“But I can carry her over there.” Alicia’s arms wobbled. “Ughhh.” She suddenly dropped Nora onto the ground. “Crap.”

Nora bounced on the ground like a giant ball and laughed. “Wow, that was fun.” She looked at Resin. “Darling, it is good to see you again.”

“Nora, I told you we need better safety standards around here. This is the fourth time this week one of our own people has turned into a blueberry.”

Nora laughed. “Oh, come now. This experience isn’t so bad. Don’t be a sour berry.”

His face turned red. “Just roll her to the de juicing station.” The others touched Nora’s giant round body and rolled her through the town. She waved her tiny hand as she moved. “See you in a bit Alicila.”

Alicila gave a small smile. She then looked down at Resin, who was staring up at her with crossed arms and a hard, amber-eyed stare. “So I guess I should thank you for bringing Nora back.”

“Umm, she said I could find some help here.”

He turned around and picked up his pike off the ground. “Well, I am not in the department to help you. You will have to wait until she is de juiced.” He turned his head. “Why don’t you shrink down and head into the inn. It should only take an hour.” He walked off.

Alicila sighed. “Well then.” She looked around. “I am here at least.” She kicked the dirt in front of her. “But I guess I am stuck waiting for Nora to be de juiced.” She shivered at the thought.