The morning air was crisp. The recently naked trees bloomed once more with leaves. All manner of animals had begun to venture out into the wild again.

  The birds started their return migration from the warmer climates. Insects that had been dormant emerged and filled the forests with a cacophony of sounds. The large and mighty bears emerged from their dens. They had not eaten since the river froze and their hunger guided them.

  As the cold snap of winter came to an end the creatures of the forest returned. All save one. A creature that did not need to worry about something as trivial as a change in seasons. A creature with no equal in the forest, the Giant Barad.

  Unlike the other creatures of the forest Barad did not need to hide during the freezing snap of winter. The many months of winter were but a mere blink of an eye to Barad the Giant who had reigned over this forest for more than five hundred years.

  This was one of the many things that set Barad apart from the other creatures of the forest. One of the other things that differentiated Barad was his knowledge of the outside world. Barad knew that within the last two winters the outside world had changed much. At first Barad heard whispers.

  The first inkling that change was afoot was news of the death of two Titans, one right after the other. The first that Barad heard was that of Bellum the Mad. He who had defied their God and paid with his sanity. Despite the Mad one’s status as an outcast Barad did not take joy in his brethren’s death.

  A Titans death is not a common occurrence, Barad had only known of three other Titans deaths in his entire lifetime, but they were still possible. But it was only mere weeks after learning of the fate of Bellum that Barad heard other news, the death of a mighty Dragon. Not just any, but the second strongest of the Dragons.

  As had occurred in the other ocassions it had been Uraqi, the Giant’s God, that informed Barad. Uraqi informed Barad of the slain Titan’s name and the name of the Titan who killed him. But in the last two occasions, Uraqi only let Barad know that Barad and Tonatiuh had been slain.

  Barad could only speculate as to why his God would not inform him of the slayer. But it was not his place to question what his God told him or why. He could only relay to his God how grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from him. Communication with the Gods is no small matter for any Titan, no matter how strong they might be. Even Bukulkan, the Prime Giant, listens to his God’s commands with strong zeal.

  Another blink of his eyes, the seasons changed. Barad was once again approached by his God. It was not normal for Barad to converse with Uraqi so frequently, he was honored.

  “A clash between a Dragon and a Leviathan ended with decisive defeat for both. Their clash was interrupted by a new enemy. You are to cease any attacks against any other Giant.”

  The message from Uraqi was brief.

  A new enemy. One that could decisively defeat a Dragon and a Leviathan engaged in a clash. Orders to cease any attack against other Giants.

  There was only one Giant that Barad would constantly clash with, Bolno. Their territories abutted each other and Bolno as an older and stronger Giant would constantly try to encroach on Barad's territory.

  Barad wondered if Bolno as well had received the same order. To desist against attacking Giants. Whenever Bolno had encroachee on his territory he had done so when the days were shortest and coldest. Bolno was a volcanic Giant, formed deep within the earth. His being was not accustomed to the light and he abhorred it.

  Barad blinked. The days became long. There was an incident that caught Barad’s attention. He was looking at the sky and saw two Dragons flying side by side. He had never seen such a thing before. What could it mean?

  Barad blinked. It was cold now and the days were at their shortest. Barad saw no sign of Bolno. There was no attempt by his hated neighbor to encroach on his territory. But Uraqi spoke to Barad once again.

  “The Giant Bordt has been slain. A creature calling itself Artesh delivered the killing blow. You are hereby ordered to cease any clashes with Leviathans, Dragons or Giants.”

  Another Titan dead? Bordt was a younger and weaker Giant than Barad, but the slaying of a Titan was still uncommon. And who was this Artesh? Barad had never heard of him. Perhaps he was a Leviathan? Barad was ordered to cease clashes with Dragons and Leviathans. Does that mean the Gods are communicating?

  Barad understood that for every word his God uttered to him there were countless others that were left unsaid.

  Barad blinked. Life had begun to return to the forest that was his domain. He had seen no sign of any other Titan since Uraqi last spoke to him.

  Barad, although unsure of its nature, understood that danger had manifested in the world. The only way Barad could learn more about this threat would be through his God, but the Gods rarely communicated with their Titans. They were mere tools for them to carry out their will, nothing more. Any concern for a Giant was theirs to address, not for the eyes of a God.

  Thus Barad had decided he would no longer roam freely on his own domain. Something had concerned the Gods enough to force them to speak. Barad did not know what it was, but he knew that it was a threat. Could it be a rogue Titan? Barad understood that it was possible for Titans to live without the blessing of their Gods, but he knew that such beings were far weaker than he or his blessed brethren. A rogue Titan would not give Gods cause for concern. Without any clear indication of what was occurring Barad opted to wait. He would watch the seasons come and go until his God communicated with him once again.

  Barad closed his eyes. Something caught his attention. He sensed a new presence in his domain. This presence manifested itself within Barad's mind as furtives.

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  These were not the same as the gesherin that had been living in his domain since before his time. These furtives were outsiders. This was odd. Barad's domain was rarely traveled. It was hard to reach and most furtives would have little reason to stray so far into this territory. Perhaps they were lost?

  If that were the case then they would soon realize their mistake and leave. Barad waited, eyes closed, days passed. The furtives continued crossing deeper into his territory. Barad looked at them closer.

  This was not a small gaggle of furtives, this was an organized and numerous group. From their movement Barad could tell they moved in unison, in lockstep with each other. Barad could tell that these furtives were bringing along other animals with them. It seemed that for every furtive there was a pack animal with them.

  This was odd. Never in his life had Barad seen such a unified effort by furtives. Although furtive numbers were great, they were spread out through the continent. The threat of Titans kept them from coming together and forming such large numbers. But odd seemed to be the new normal. Perhaps they too had learned of the danger that had come into being. Perhaps they had been forced to unite in response to this threat.

  This group of furtives kept moving closer and closer to the center of his domain. Closer to him. While Barad was generally uninterested in the affairs of the furtives in his domain he could not tolerate having such a sizable contingent intruder upon his domain so brazenly. They were pests to him, and they had to be reminded of their place.

  Barad summoned five of his Golems to attack the furtive group. They would easily rout the encroaching furtives, halt their advance and force them to beat a hasty retreat.

  Barad saw the world through the golems’ eyes.

  In front of him he could see the approaching furtives. Barad was shocked. This was not the disorganized group of furtives that he expected. All of the furtives that Barad saw were armored and had weapons with them. Some he recognized as spears, but others sported mysterious looking curved staffs. Barad had never seen anything of the sort. He also saw some of the pack animals dragging unusually large metal objects behind them. There was a lone furtive who led the group at a sizable distance from the rest.

  It was a lightly armored human, who rode on a dashing horse. He had long brown hair that tumbled over in locks that fell onto his olive skin. This furtive carried a large spear in one hand and a heavy shield on his back. His eyes were deep and black. The furtive showed no fear, he rode along his beast with a certain bravado.

  Barad did not appreciate that. He did not appreciate how carefree this furtive seemed while he roamed in his domain. This furtive should be cowering in fear as he intruded upon his domain, he should know that furtives run from Titans. Barad would make sure to make an example out of him. The five Golems went straight at this furtive.

  “Enemy at the front!” The furtive cried out.

  The furtive spurred his horse into action. He ran straight at the golems. Barad was surprised. A furtive not running away?

  The five golems prepared to shoot their spikes at the oncoming furtive. But this furtive and his horse reacted quickly.

  Impossible!

  The furtive was so fast with his spear that before Barad could react his five Golems were destroyed. Their hearts shattered. This furtive knew where to target the golems.

  Who is this trespasser!?

  Barad no longer thought of scaring the furtive. They would be annihilated.

  He summoned a hundred golems. All surrounding the large furtive group. They all roared in unison.

  You fools will die!

  “Riflemen at the ready!” The furtive leader ordered.

  The furtives with the strange staffs took them and held one end against their shoulders. They waited as they looked down the staff at the incoming golems.

  Barad encroached on the furtives. He would soon be close enough to rain down spikes on all of them. They would be slaughtered in an instant.

  “Fire!” The leader ordered.

  Bright flashes came from each of the staffs. One by one the golems’ hearts were shattered.

  What is happening!?

  Barad could stomach this no longer. He himself would deal with the petulant furtives.

  Barad opened his eyes. He rose from the ground shaking the entire forest around him. Barad wanted to strike fear into the heart of these furtives. Despite all the uncertainty that Barad currently lived through there was one thing that could not be denied. In the natural order of things Titans ruled and furtives were at their mercy. Barad would remind these furtives of this immutable order.

  As Barad rose from the ground and the furtives spotted him they did something he did not expect. They charged towards him.

  *Fools!” Barad yelled in anger. His voice reverberated through the forest. Most animals panicked and ran, but the furtives and their pack animals did not desist.

  “You come into a Titan's domain and you dare challenge me!?” He yelled, but the furtives kept their furious charge.

  “If it's death you want, then death you shall receive!” Barad yelled as he smashed the ground.

  The ground fractured around the furtives. The furtives stumbled as the ground fissured. Several of the furtives fell into the fissures swallowed by the earth.

  The leader of the furtives pulled out a horn and blew it. Amidst the chaos surrounding them the furtives came together around their leader. They were not breaking out in panic, or retreating. The furtives instead pressed on.

  “To victory!” Yelled their leader.

  Barad began approaching the furtives now. They were now within range of him.

  “Artillerymen prepare!” The leader yelled.

  The large metal objects were now being lined up against him while others charged towards him with their horses.

  Have these furtives lost their mind!?

  Barad could not believe what he saw. These furtives were attempting to fight him. What sort of madness had consumed them?

  As Barad prepared to launch his attack he noticed something overhead. As he prepared to look a small object flew close to him and exploded.

  “Argh!” Barad yelled in agony as his senses were shocked.

  His hearing and vision had been overloaded and he recoiled from the surprise.

  Barad felt the ground shaking. It came from the direction of the metal objects pointed at him.

  The next thing Barad felt were chunks of his body being torn off. Barad could tell that whatever was causing this came from the large metal objects.

  What? What sort of treachery is this?!

  “Artillerymen! The day is nearly ours!” The leader called out to the other furtives.

  “You fools think you are close to defeating me?! A Giant!” Barad yelled in anger as he stomped on the ground.

  Now he had unleashed his full fury. The ground around him vibrated so strongly that it resembled a muddy ocean rather than solid ground.

  The furtives cried out as more of them were consumed.

  “Hold!” The leader called out. “Ready! Fire!”

  Amidst the violent shaking Barad heard more of the explosive machinery erupting. The majority of them missed, but the ones that hit smashed away at his legs and at his right arm. He was forced to prop himself on one arm and was unable to continue his attack. Instantly Barad began to reconstitute himself.

  “Vile Titan know that you have met your demise at the hands of the furtive Titan Artesh!” The leader announced.

  Artesh!?

  Barad looked up at the self proclaimed furtive Titan. He still galloped atop his horse, aiming his spear straight at Barad, no hint of fear in his eyes.

  Barad began to rise, so that his heart would out of reach for Artesh to hit. But as he approached the Titan Artesh leaped from his horse.

  Barad could not believe it. Artesh leaped high enough to be at eye level with him.

  “Die!” Artesh screamed as he plunged his spear into Barad's heart.

  Artesh cut through the heart with ease, shattering it into many small pieces.

  This can't be… A Titan cannot lose to a furtive…

  Barad crumbled. Artesh stood in front of his vanquished foe.

  “Tell your God that we are coming for him.” Artesh said and stepped away. He went to his horse and rallied his troops.

  In his final moments Barad heard Uraqi speak to him one last time.

  “Despite your pathetic death you have served me well.” Uraqi said. “Now I and the other Gods know that the furtives have declared war upon us.”