One Big Problem

The giant was as tall as a mountain. Taller, considering he was found with his back resting against one of the village's more impressive hills. How or when he had arrived, no one was exactly sure. Giants hadn't been seen in their part of the world for nearly a century, and yet here he was casting his shadow over half the homes in the town. Trying to shoo his herd of goats away as they chewed the giants ragged clothes, Thorley Berkshire was only successful in stirring the stranger from his slumber.

The startled giant snorted, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and rose to his feet with the steadiness of a drunk bear. "Whaa? What's... What's going on? It's not time yet, is it?" The giant mumbled and grumbled as he scratched his head and other places unfit to mention. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to wake you, but you were sitting where my goats normally find their breakfast. They started to chew on your pants. I didn't mean to disturb you." The giant frowned at Thorley and then looked down at his clothes, ragged and torn. He reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a goat, placing it back into it's herd. Looking back up, he smiled. "No harm, my friend. Clothes are not my problem."

Thorley was caught off-guard. Believing the legends he heard as a child, what he expected was a cruel creature. Foul, blood-thirsty, and quite dangerous. Looking up at the behemoth, Thorley's eyes were met only with kindness and a gentle smile that radiated warmth. "M-My name is Thorley Berkshire. Pleased to meet you." "Name's Cecil," he grunted. The giant may have been great in stature, but he was short on details about himself or why he was there. Intrigued, Thorley let curiosity get the best of him. "What is your problem, if I may ask? What is it that are you expecting"

Cecil's eyes widened and stuffed one of his meaty hands into another pocket. Instead of a goat, this time the giant revealed a box. He carefully placed it in front of Thorley, taking care not to harm the mysterious crate. The goat-herder lifted the top of the container, only to steal a quick glance inside. "An egg? Your problem is an egg?" "Not just any egg," Cecil replied in a whisper, "a dragon's egg!"