Pain was no stranger to Stella. Her whole life was filled with hardships and the streets were in no shortage of pain. Stella had to grow up, learning how to stomach the garbage she ate, where to find water, and how to find clothes she needed. Those were not even the hardest things Stella had to go through, dealing with death, betrayal, and abuse was far more harder to survive than eating dirty bread. She had been through so much, Stella should be a pro at surviving. So why was it so difficult now?

Food was scarce, and the only clothes to keep her warm was a gray hoodie and sweatpants. But what was probably the most alarming was the infection that plagued her thigh. Two weeks of trying so desperately to keep the cut clean were for naught. It had grown red and swollen, she couldn't even walk without feeling pain every time her legs rubbed together. Stella decided her best bet was to hangout in an alleyway until she could figure out what to do about her cut. Thankfully, no one really roamed around the place for too long since it was a dumping ground for trash. Broken pieces of wood and glass littered across the ground.

The night was still, and tonight was especially frigid. Stella had heard it was going to snow soon, winter is officially here and if she didn't find a way to keep warm, she would surely succumb to the freezing temperatures before sunrise. Stella shivered as she dug through a knocked over trash can for anything that might aid her for the night.

Her hands brushed against a soft fabric. Stella brushed away a pile of dirt and found a crumbled up was a human sized green blanket. The fabric must have been some thick wool, it was perfect for keeping warm. She pulled it out of the garbage and started to shake off the crumbs. That's when a vile stench invaded her nostrils. Stella couldn't help but gag, it smelled worse than the sewers. No wonder it was in the trash. Still, this was a victory for her. With a deep sigh, Stella wrapped the foul blanket around her and shuffled her way out of the trash.

The sound of shattered glass scraping against the pavement could be heard in the shadows. Stella froze in place, fearing it was another giant. Something small and white scurried in the darkness. It was getting closer and closer, until it got close enough for the street lights to reveal what it was. Another human.

A girl to be exact. She had long greasy black hair that draped over her face, although Stella could make out a pair of deep green eyes and dirt that smudged her face. Her white clothes were so torn, Stella couldn't say what they were originally; they obviously weren't keeping her warm because she shivered with each step she took and they hung off of her very loosely, probably cause the girl hasn't eaten in such a long time. There was no doubt in Stella's mind, that this was a feral. Humans so detached from who they are, that they can barely talk, it's no use for them when ferals are never in groups. They only know one thing, and that's how to survive and they'll do it anyway they can.

The feral raised a shaky hand at Stella. There was a glass shard in her hand, it was big and jagged. There would be no issue slicing into something with that.

"Mine." She hissed.

She wanted the blanket. Stella gripped her blanket tighter. She couldn't give up her only source of warmth, and running away could trigger the feral to attack. Stella's best bet was to try and slowly back away from the wild girl and hope she wouldn't try to fight. The feral watched with fierce eyes as Stella started to slowly shuffle away. She kept walking backwards, not breaking eye contact with the girl. It wasn't until she was halfway across the alleyway when Stella's heel got caught onto a wooden rod. She couldn't save herself from stumbling over, she hit the ground with a hard thud and let out a whimper when her thighs pressed together.

The feral took the opening and began running towards Stella at an alarming speed! A wild look flared in her eyes. Stella scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain flaring up in her thigh. She felt a harsh tub coming from the blanket that draped around her. Stella turned over and saw the feral using all of her strength to try and pry the blanket away from her.

Stella pulled back harshly. "Give it back!"

Both humans refused to let go. The pulling back and forth put a lot of stress on the old blanket, so much stress that eventually it gave away and ripped down the center. Both girls stumbled backwards with the cloth that was supposed to shield them from winter. There was no way it could do much now.

The feral growled and charged into Stella before she even had enough time to get to her feet. Stella fell onto her back and immediately felt a sharp pain in the side of her abdomen. The feral had pinned her to the ground and raised up a bloody glass shard. Stella tried to wrestle the feral off of her as she wildly swung her glass shard around. The feral attempted to stab Stella in the throat but Stella used her right hand to grab onto her wrist while using her other hand to push her off of her, but the feral was just strong enough to remain balanced. Both girls were equally matched, however Stella could feel her strength weakening, the makeshift blade grew closer and closer to her throat. Stella knew she didn't have much longer, she needed to get this feral off of her now! Her eyes darted around the alley for anything she could use as a weapon. The wooden rod was the only thing close enough for her to use. Stella stretched her left arm out trying to grab the piece of wood, meanwhile the glass was merely inches away from her throat. The feral began pressing down harder knowing the fight was going to be over soon.

Stella's fingers wrapped around the wood and she wasted no time flinging her arm upwards, smacking the feral in the side of the head with all her strength. The blow sent the feral toppling over to the side and Stella wasted no time scurrying away from her. She looked at the human who laid sprawled out on the ground, for a moment, gripping the piece of wood like it was a baseball bat. She nudged the feral with the rod, worried she would still have more fight left in her. But the girl was unresponsive, the fight was over, Stella had won.

She glanced over at the torn up blanket and sighed. All this over a dirty blanket. She dropped the wooden stick and stared down at her fresh wound. Blood began to ooze out, great another cut to get infected. As if things couldn't get any worse, flurries started to fall from the sky. The worst of winter was finally here, ready to claim the lives of anyone who was unprotected.

"Why do I even try?"

Ever since Stella got captured, she wanted nothing more than to go back to the streets where a human can truly be free. Stella thought she would be happier if she lived back on the streets. But now she's either going to die by bleeding out or she'll freeze to death. Is this what Stella has to look forward to? Even if she can survive both of these obstacles, she still has to find food and water, she still has to endure pain, she still has to face this cruel world by herself! And she was so tired of being alone. Stella hated Mike with all her heart, but he was right about one thing: there was no one out here for her.

Stella stared out across the street, all the shops were closed, including the familiar Italian restaurant known as Del Gatto. Her mouth watered, it's been such a long time since she ate there. The last time she ate there was when she was with…. Jason.

It's been such a long time since Stella thought about him. He was a giant, so he couldn't be trusted, therefore Stella had to fear him. But now that she's thinking of it, Jason wasn't like the rest. He never hurt her, he never starved her, and he refused to put her in a cage even after she tried to escape. Sure he may have been grabby with her, but he was just trying to be helpful. He didn't know how to handle humans like Glenda could.

Glenda… Stella truly missed her. In fact, Stella missed everyone in that family. They always made her feel welcomed in that house, like she was apart of that family. It was crazy, Stella actually missing a family of giants? Stella never thought she could trust giants again after what happened; she still wouldn't trust most giants in the world, but if there was anyone she turn to for help, it would be one of them.

And she desperately needed help.

Jason doesn't live far from Del Gatto. There was still hope for Stella. She grabbed the torn up blanket and tied it around her side. It wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding forever, but if she can make it to Jason, then she could get the proper help she needed! Stella rose to her feet and began walking, ignoring the pain of her thigh.

~~~~

The air grew bitter, sending chills down the tiny girl's body. Snow began to pile up around Stella, making it harder for her to move around, but she knew she couldn't stop. Not if she wanted to live. Every time she walked, her thigh burned in pain. It felt ten times worse with each step she took. Stella began fearing that she wouldn't be able to make it, that she would pass out to the point where she wouldn't be able to get up and the snow would bury her in an icy grave. But Stella knew she had to conjure up all of her strength to keep going, she wanted to see her friends again. Then she saw it. The apartment building.

Stella hastily marched forward, pushing through all the snow that tried to block her path. She made her way to the dark basement window that was partially buried underneath the snow and began banging on it.

"Jason! She screamed. "Please open up!"

Nothing happened. She screamed louder and louder, but still no answer. Stella worried he wasn't home and began brushing the snow away from the window. She pressed her face onto the icy glass and gasped in horror.

The room was dark, and everything was bare. There was no TV, no couch, no bed, nothing. Jason moved out.

"No…" Stella's face grew pale. She was too late. Her only hope was gone and Stella knew she didn't have the energy to go anywhere else. Besides, the night was dead and no one was around. Her legs buckled and Stella fell over onto her side, crying out in pain as her wounds flared up. Snowflakes brushed against her skin. Everything was so cold, but maybe it was for the better. Stella wouldn't have to suffer anymore. She closed her eyes, ready to accept a peaceful death.

"Come on slowpoke!"

That voice…. It sounded so familiar. It sounded exactly like Jason!

Stella gathered what little strength she had to push herself up and craned her neck up to see Jason towering above her. He was wearing a blue hoodie with a black jacket over top of it unzipped. A gray beanie covered his hair. He stared down the street with a cheerful look in his brown eyes. He was actually here! Stella was about to call up to him when she heard stomping coming towards them. Then Clair appeared dressed in a thick white coat. Her blonde hair was down this time, with snow lightly sprinkled over her blonde locks. She panted heavily.

"I told you I can't run in the snow!" Clair huffed.

"You can't run at all." Jason teased.

"Oh shut it."

Stella stared down at the ground. Oh yeah, Clair doesn't want her back. She made that perfectly clear when she let her leave. Clair saw her as a nuisance in her life. The whole reason she let Stella go was to get rid of her so she could be happy with Jason. And now, she finally has that happiness, even Jason looks happier without Stella in the picture. Who was she to get in between this happy couple?

She watched as Jason wrapped his arm around Clair and the two started to walk away. Stella's squeezed her eyes shut as her arms gave in and she dropped face first into the snow, letting out an audible groan from it.

"Did you hear that?" Clair asked as she stopped in her tracks.

"What are you talking about?"

"I heard something." Her voice trailed off as footsteps shuffled around nearby. "What's the…?"

The snow around Stella shifted downward as a layer of warmth wrapped around her and lifted her up. She whined when she was flipped over on her back, and sprawled out a soft surface.

Clair gasped. "It's Stella!"

"What!?" The sound of snow shifting violently could be heard.

Stella's eyes fluttered open to see two giant faces engulfing her view. Their eyes nearly bulged out of their heads as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Jason was obviously concerned but was Clair concerned or was she mad that Stella came back? She couldn't tell anymore.

"I…. I had to…" She stammered out in a plea with the giantess.

Clair shot her a confused look. "Had to what?"

Jason's reached out to Stella with a shaky hand but it stopped as if he was scared to touch her. Then his face grew pale. "Is that... blood?"

Stella looked down at her abdomen. Her blood began to soak through the blanket and spilled out onto Clair's gloves.

"What happened?"

"F… feral."

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Clair asked.

Stella weakly nodded. "Thigh."

"We need to get back to your mom." Jason said.

Clair nodded and stood up. "Just hang in there, Stella. You're gonna be okay."

Am I?

Stella didn't want to die, but she had a hard time believing she could make it over to Glenda's home. She used all of her strength trying to live these past few weeks. Maybe this was the blood loss talking, but she was tired of fighting for her life. If she was going to live, she was going to put her life in their hands now.

Jason glanced over to the weary human. "Stella? Stella!"

"Oh god." Clair began nudging the tiny girl with her finger. "Stay with us, Stella!"

The world around her grew dark as Jason and Clair's pleas became nothing more than a distant cry. She could feel her body going limp. Was this death? Stella wasn't sure, but she finally felt at peace.