The next few days felt like moons. Mark watched over Jack nonstop, but the human didn't wake for a very long time. When he asked Amy what was wrong, she simply shrugged and said, "These sorts of things take time." She changed the wrappings and gave the tiny man lots of tea to keep him sedated, and kept his needs satisfied, but still the human did not regain consciousness. Mark never went anywhere without Jack, and for that he came up with the excuse to stay with Amy to help her with the pelts.

"I know Tyler's going to call for the march any day now," Mark had told Ethan, "And with the issen fÿre, it's only a matter of time. We need to be prepared." So Mark was given permission to not hunt or patrol, and he could stay with Amy and their secret patient.

As he did work on the pelts, cleaning them while Amy sewed coats and thermal covers for the tents, he kept glancing over at Jack. They had swaddled him in some of the fur to keep him warm and comfortable, but it didn't hurry anything. Mark still worried. They knew nothing about this strange creature that looked just like them. Was its anatomy even the same? Working helped Mark pass the time, but it didn't slow the countless questions pounding in his skull.

Then there was a time when Amy was out gathering herbs, and Mark was alone with Jack. He picked dirt out of a thick white pelt and smoothed the fur down, when he suddenly felt someone's presence. He first checked the entrance to the tent, worried that someone had happened upon their secret, but no one was around. He returned to his seat and sighed, glancing over at Jack. And then he became alert.

Jack was moving. It wasn't much, but the tiny human was actually moving. His thick brow furrowed as he slowly rolled over on his side, facing Mark. Mark watched with hushed awe as Jack bundled part of the fur up in his arms and used it as a pillow, and he curled up slightly with his knees tucked. "Líten häna," Mark breathed softly. The human's eyes were still closed, and the young warrior had a feeling that the infinitesimal man wasn't aware of his circumstances yet. But it was more movement than Mark had seen in a quarter of a moon, and this excited him. No, he was relieved, not eager. He reminded himself to keep a broad and careful approach about everything; including his very thoughts.

And before he carried on with his work, Mark decided for sure that the tiny creature was not some object to be called an it.

Jack's eyes opened slowly. The sloppy patter of sleet met his ears, and his nose twitched as he caught the smell of fragrant herbs. He wondered dimly what had made him wake up until he noticed that there was a beeping in his ear. He reached up slowly with a groan and pushed the small chip on his neck, and he heard Susie's mechanical voice.

"Translation at ten percent completion," she announced. "Algorithm for the extraterrestrial language of MTXY-5-C92 is being calculated, stand by for the incomplete result." The hell? Jack scrunched his nose up and moaned when he tried to move. His back felt like it was on fire, and his muscles were sluggish and barely responding.

As he went still and tried to remember the last thing that happened before he had fallen unconscious, he heard the tent flaps pull apart, and a shadow crossed over him.

"Good news," Mark's deep and powerful voice rumbled in the alien language, "Tyler said we're finally moving out tomorrow."

"Finally!" Amy sighed gladly. "We've only got a few more pelts left before they're all done. Care to help?"

"Of course." Jack's breath was stuck in his throat as Mark assisted Amy with the last of the furs. What's going on? Is that talking? And what the fuck kind of language is that? Thanks to his translator, he understood two or three words, like moving or help, but it was certainly not enough to help him comprehend the foreign words that the two giants rumbled.

"How's he doing?" Mark asked quietly. Jack felt his nape tingle as he felt their gazes briefly lock onto him.

"Still resting," Amy answered simply. "It takes time, Mark."

"I know." Mark sighed and handed the newly clean pelt to Amy. She started sewing it to another fur, and Mark watched the flames in the fire pit frolic. "I'm just worried," Mark confessed, reaching down and letting the flames playfully lick his fingers. They danced around his knuckles, but he felt no pain, only their warm, playful aura. "We don't even know what he is, or why he's here. Where did he come from? What kind of creature is he? Is he passive or aggressive?"

"I have the same questions, Mark." Amy watched him sympathetically. "And they'll all be answered in good time." Mark sighed.

"You're right... as always," he chuckled. Amy winked and resumed sewing.

"Of course I am." During this conversation, Jack had slowly peeked over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his ͈̻̪͖ͧͪͩ͌͝h̹͎͇͆ͭ̅͠o͙̪s͎̺̝̳̓ͭͭͨ̿̈t̛͖͎͂̏͋̅̈̏s, and his heart slammed in his throat. No way. No, no, no, holy shit, no! Despite his exhaustion, his eyes were wide and alert as adrenaline started rushing  through him. This can't be happening, this isn't possible! His lower lip began to quiver. I need to get out of here! Holy shit! What are they planning to do with me? As soon as both of their attention was fixated elsewhere, Jack sat up and clawed out of the furry covers that enveloped him. His body shrieked in protest at moving, and he grit his teeth as he crawled to the edge of the makeshift bed. Cold air blasted the Irishman from the tent entrance, and he shivered violently as he rose up onto his feet and staggered toward it.

Amy was just reaching to grab another pelt when her eyes suddenly widened. "Mark!" She whispered urgently. Mark frowned at her and looked over his shoulder to follow her gaze, and his eyes widened when he just barely managed to see Jack stagger out of the tent. He swung around and shared an alarmed look with Amy.

"He shouldn't be walking yet!" Mark jumped to his feet and rushed outside, scanning the ground. But to his amazement, he didn't see the tiny human. Where did he go!? Wondered Mark with flabbergast. It was raining ice, the worst kind of weather to help Jack. He hurried along the camp and searched the wet, sloppy ground, and he didn't look up until he smacked into someone.

"Ah!" It was Ethan.

"Sorry Ethan!" Mark swerved past the confounded young man and hurried off. Amy smiled sheepishly from her tent and waved awkwardly when Ethan gave her a confused look.

"What's up with him?" Ethan asked. Amy felt her cheeks getting hot despite the cold weather.

"Oh, uh, n-nothing! I just lost a piece of jewelry, that's all," she lied.

"Oh." Flustered, Ethan nodded and went on about his way. Amy sighed and watched as Mark vanished behind the trees. I hope he finds it.

Jack was tempted to drop dead and let the cold claim him. But he couldn't. He knew he shouldn't. His lips were already blue; frosty flakes crowded his hair, and the white in his facial hair made him look older. He trudged through thick slush that came up to his shins, and though he couldn't feel his legs it meant that he couldn't feel the tear that ran down to his calf. The bandaging that Amy had so carefully placed were frozen and peeling off, and the cold air was suffocating the poor human.

No... can't... can't give up. Gotta... get out. He sneezed and almost fell over. Is it just me, or... or is the world shaking? He was feeling tremors in the ground: Footsteps. Jack shivered and turned to the closest tree roots. It must be one of those giants that caught me, he thought drowsily, Well no way in hell is it getting this sexy body! Then again, I'm not exactly sexy right now... As he wormed his way into the roots, Mark approached with his nose in the air. He was trying to smell for the Irishman, but he couldn't place any scents with this cursed wind and sleet.

The warrior muttered a curse and ruffled his frosty hair. What am I going to do now? He wondered. He could barely feel the freezing air, but a little tyke like Jack... He looked down to shelter his eyes from the wind, but then he frowned. He went down on one knee and touched the soggy snow; there was a tiny trail of dents before him; small footsteps. I'm no tracker... but Ethan said he found tracks just like these. Mark's head came up, and he turned toward the tree that Jack was cowering under.

Jack's breath hitched as he watched Mark's feet come closer, and his eyes stretched open widely as the giant slowly crouched and peered under the gnarly roots. Their eyes met. A tiny, horrified gaze met a large and concerned one. Mark's felt his breath falter as he took in Jack's miserable appearance. He looked so frightened, so cold and alone. Jack was still trembling, but now he shook harder as fear mixed with the cold, and he cowered pathetically before the gargantuan warrior.

"Oh..." Mark breathed. Jack shivered and tried to wriggle deeper into the roots, but he winced as his leg throbbed dully with pain. "Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay..." Mark put a hand up and shushed softly. "I'm not gonna hurt you," he murmured soothingly. His eyes were locked on Jack's, fascinated by the intense blue irises. But Jack crumpled under his reverberating voice. His breath came and went faster, squeaky gulps of air that did nothing to fog the air around him. Mark winced a little, trying to figure out a way to get Jack to trust him.

"Come here, líten häna," he said gently, trying to reach under. "You're gonna freeze in this weather." Jack panicked at the immense hand reaching for him and kicked with his good leg. It did nothing physically against the wall of skin, but Mark immediately stopped and flinched. I'm scaring him. He slowly pulled his hand out and looked at Jack again. The human was losing his strength, and fast. If he didn't warm up soon...

"I know you're scared," Mark rumbled softly, "But if you don't let me help you, then... you're going to die." Die was one of the very few words that translated correctly in Jack's multilingual chip, and his breath caught in his throat. What's he trying to tell me? What is he saying? Jack blinked rapidly and studied the young giant. He looks... concerned? Why the hell would he be concerned? Jack felt his stomach do a flip. Unless he's evolved enough to detect and express emotions. In that case he'd feel obligated to help me! ... right? It felt like a long shot. It was too risky. But as Jack felt his energy waning, he realized that, in fact, he had no other choice. Either way, he was going to die, so why not try approaching the giant alien that was capable of smushing him with his thumb?

Jack leaned forward. Mark held his breath and kept still as the human dragged his quivering body out of the shadows and slowly stumbled closer to him. As Jack left the security of the roots behind and entered the giant's shadow, he shivered as Mark's warm aura washed over him. It reminded him of the pain in his leg, and he gasped as he almost fell over. Mark's eyes widened.

"Whoa, easy." He put his hand underneath before Jack could collapse in the sleet, and he scooped the freezing human up in his big warm hands. Jack wheezed miserably as Mark cupped him to his chest and hurried toward camp. The fÿre in my body will keep him warm enough until I can get him back to Amy. As he made it to the edge of the trees, he glanced down at the tiny man. Jack's eyes were half closed, his arms lay coldly over his fingers, and he was still feebly shuddering. He was watching Mark with a blank expression, fatigue clouding his blue eyes. Mark felt his heart give a small squeeze, and he held the human a little more tightly.