All through the night, the village prepared itself for war. Swords were sharpened, armor assembled, and mighty siege weapons constructed. The work that would normal take a week was completed in less than a day. The size of the army also grew as groups trickled in from other villages eager to defend the land. The tacticians met to discuss how to fight things dozens of times their own size. Raenok was present at this meeting. A normal defense with companies of men arranged in squares and a charge at the enemy would be suicidal.
"We should set the entire valley on fire as soon as the giantesses appear, trap them inside and let the fire work. We could do it with virtually no casualties!" one leader exclaimed, gesturing wildly.
"That'd never work. We couldn't get everyone out in time. And we'd have to leave the catapults here. In addition, what if they simply walk out of the flames. Then we'd have lost our home, and our armies would be scattered. We may as well cook ourselves and lay on platters now." a second one cut in. A fight almost broke out, but Raenok intervened.
"I believe I have a plan!" He roared. The others turned to listen. Their faces showed they wholeheartedly agreed with his plan. Suddenly, the battle didn't seem like a lost cause.
"Sir! The giants are on the march! The farms and settlements beyond the woods have been destroyed, our scouts that returned found only footprints." A runner on horseback informed Raenock.
"'That returned'?" he said back.
"Apparently, some had not yet awoken after a hard night of slaughter. Several groups came upon the slumbering monsters. They awoke and had a small feast before moving out." he said grimly. Raenok nodded solemnly.
All at once, a great trembling shook Raenok, who was standing with his troops outside the village walls. All the men looked up from their tasks nervously. The tremors increased in magnitude until almost everything seemed ready to fall apart. Then it abruptly stopped. A slow, steady paced thud, thud replaced the previous cacophony. Trees at the far end of the valley fell before some mighty force. Finally, an upper torso and head was visible above the tops of the trees. The giant had flowing golden locks framing a gorgeous face. As she burst from the trees, the rest of her body was revealed. She wore only loosely draped animal skins covering her enormous breasts. From the bottom of her breasts to the top of her waist was exposed, showing off well toned skin. Another series of skins and studs of metal formed a loincloth shielding her womanhood from view. From the middle of her thigh down, her gorgeous legs seemed to stretch on forever, ending in her feet. She stood alone, and gazed down scornfully at the assembled forces before her.
"Instead of crushing your puny resistance and feasting on your village, we have decided to give you two hours to flee before us. After that, we shall enter this valley and it shall be ours. From there, we shall rule over all the inferior people such as yourselves. However, should you still be here when we return, there will be no survivors. Heed my words, and flee now mortals." the giantess boomed, and then once again glared at the warriors as if she was already feeling them pop beneath her feet. Then she pulled an iron cage from behind her back. "If you think we joke about the absolute destruction we shall rain upon you, then look at your fellows in here. They are all that remains of the northern villages. And now, they too shall perish!" The giantess unlatched the cage, sending the tiny emaciated figures inside plummeting into her open mouth. Her jaw worked and small amounts of blood trickled from between her lips. Smiling cruelly, she turned and walked away.