For four months you had been responsible, diligent, and committed to surviving at this size. It had worked out, and you had thousands of photographs, pages upon pages of records and observations, amazing memories. You were working on your main thesis, that humanity must embrace this new life for the good of the planet and its own survival. You were really going to risk that because you wanted to indulge some silly desires? No. You're getting the water. You suit up, and then descend a small stairwell from your main living quarters. There, in the base of the cylinder are two AAA batteries. Your emergency backup. Unlike the rest of the structure, they were the only normal sized items in your shelter. At just over a quarter inch, they were head and shoulders above you, even laying down. One of your papers discussed the amazing potential to harness small amounts of energy to power entire miniaturized cities, this one could power your shelter for weeks. It could also power the recharger for your transposer. Your hand tracks down the giant battery as you begin looking at the wiring. Everything seemed in order. The rain storm last week had been torrential and you had worried about leaks. However, you had chosen your location well, the spot between the large roots was sheltered above by the tree and was on a small hill. Well, a hill to you, a mound when you first arrived.
With the inspection complete, you head up the stairs and prepare your small survival pack, packing a large receptacle for the water. It would take 5 trips, but was very manageable weight wise. You had learned that even without the suit, your were able to lift larger objects than you ever could at normal size. Perhaps something to do with the compactness of the muscles. You open the metal door that leads to the main staircase. It was a second layer of defense, should some creature penetrate the staircase room, which also was a storage area for supplies and water. You thought about the two times that had almost occurred.
The first time was when you had foolishly ignored your own suit's sensors. It was the 3rd week, and you'd yet to come across the mega fauna yet. Well, this mega fauna was something you'd have laughed at 3 weeks before. 50 feet out of your shelter, you noticed a rustling in the grass no more than a football field away, a large heat signature. The giant creature emerged, a chipmunk. It had to be around 100 feet tall, as it sat on it's hind legs and began chewing on some nut. You watched in awe, as the mega creature towered over the surrounding landscape. You didn't think of the danger until the creature's head turned towards you, beady eyes seeming to pierce you. Chipmunks were omnivores...
With that you took off towards the shelter, desperate to get inside the hatch before it was too late. You felt the ground thundering behind you. How could something so small create such tremors you cried to yourself. You spared one glance back, to see the 100 foot chipmunk bearing down on you. You reached the hatch to your sanctuary, and frantically opened it before it was too late, you dove inside and then reached up, pulling it tight and sealing you off from the outside world. A gigantic collection of fingers crashed down on the outside, trying desperately to gain some kind of angle on the small hatch. You'd sat on your bum, while you watch the chipmunk's paws slam against the outside of the door. The power shook the insides of your structure, and you briefly worried it would dig and uproot it. It was nearly 3 times bigger than your entire shelter after all. However, the creature soon gave up, you were just an insect to it after all, not worth too much effort. One last slam of its paws on the exterior, and it moved off, low thumps accompanying its departure. Such power in such a tiny creature. It wouldn't be the first time you doubted whether humans should try to live at this size.
The second time involved Trevorina. She had ambushed you, back before you knew to look for her due to her obsession. You hadn't managed to close the hatch when you dove inside. Her spindly legs reached into the opening, threatening to pull you out to her waiting maw. You had pulled your combat knife, jabbed one of her legs, then her terrifying face appeared over the entrance, staring through your very soul with murderous intent. You'd tossed the knife, it landed in one of her eyes. A horrible squeal and and she had retreated, the knife left behind in a bloody mess. She wasn't anything compared to the chipmunk, but she terrified you far more than it ever could.
You opened the hatch and conducted your customary scan. Nothing on visuals, nothing on heat. Time to go gather some water. You exited the hatch...
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author