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"A turtle?" I whispered as my eyes were finally able to focus on the strange creature.  I had never seen a turtle other than at the zoo or aquarium, so to witness one in the wild, standing on the beach like he didn't have a care in the world…was not what I was expecting.  I shook my head, unsure of how to react to such a sight but right when I was about to turn around I heard a even stranger sound.
I was slight, a small gasp that caused me to jerk my head around in surprise.  The turtle was not alone.
"Talli?" I said, hardly believing the words that were escaping my mouth as I took in the strange scene.  The turtle was somehow holding the tiny girl in its mouth by her tiny tube top looking thing, allowing her limp body to dangle from it.  It was amazing that it managed to stay in place and I was relieved that it did.  I wasn't quite ready to find out just how human Talli looked without her shirt.  But there was no mistaking that it was her, I could make out the strange rainbow hair and delicate face, even in the dark.  It must have known what it was doing, Talli had explained that the only friends she had were fish…but a turtle?
"Damir," she responded to me, her voice so strange and weak and I quickly set the boat down and began to walk across the small island to reach her.  The turtle looked at me hesitantly, and if turtles could narrow their eyes in suspicion, I was almost positive that this was what it was doing.  For a moment I thought the turtle would rush back into the lake, keeping her in its mouth, he only backed away for a moment before her tiny voice spoke again.
"It's okay girl," she said.  "He's…a frie…we can trust him."
So the turtle was a girl.  When I finally was standing right in front of the two, I quickly fell to a crouched position and wondered exactly what I was supposed to do next.  She was already hurt from my fishing line earlier, what could have happened now?  Why was she here?  Why did this turtle bring her to me?  "What the hell?" was all I could brilliantly say to sum up my thoughts.
"I misjudged," the girl responded, dangly limply.
"What?"
"When your friend came, and you told me to run…I wasn't looking…I should have known that there were rocks near the surface," Talli calmly explained, sucking in her breath only slightly.  A man who had not spent most their day thinking about this tiny girl probably wouldn't have even noticed it.  She was in pain.  And it felt like it was fault.  Still crouching, I moved forward and the turtle grunted, hesitantly backing away again.  I had to get Talli back in my possession again.  I searched her tiny body as best I could, looking for her injury…when I spotted it.
Her knee was spurting blood.  I tried to maintain my composure, resisting the instinct that told me to shoot out my hand and take her away.  I wasn't sure if the turtle would allow that so I pressed my hands into the sand so I could take a closer look.
"You're bleeding," I whispered.
"At least I didn't dive in," Talli said and I shook away the horrible, bloody images that filled my mind as I took in her suggestion.
"First aid," I said quietly and Talli looked up with a puzzled, and yet still pained expression.
"Huh?"
"Oh…uh," I stuttered.  "It's stuff that can help you out.  Bandages, alcohol and what not.  I have to take care of that wound.  Not to mention I can properly help the other one."
"Where is that stuff?" Talli asked.
I frowned.  "It's back at the cabin."
"With the other giant?"
"Evan is there yes…but I think he's asleep."
"Just go," Talli offered.  "We'll wait her…ah!" she gasped again, touching her knee.
"Talli," I began.  "Evan is probably asleep by now.  And even if he wasn't, I can promise that he would never hurt you."
"Like he didn't hurt that fish?"
"It was an accident," I tried to explain.  "Please, just let me take you back to the house.  That may get infected if we don't clean it up."
"You keep forgetting that I can take care of myself," she sniffed, still clutching her knee.  Why did she have to be so freaking proud at this moment?  I tried to be gentle when talking to her, but I was becoming visibly frustrated.  Perhaps the turtle could sense it as well.  Do turtles get defensive?
"Talli, please," I said.  "I know you can take care of yourself, but how about you let someone else try for a change?"
"A giant?"
"A friend," I went on and slowly began to reach my hand out towards the pair.  This time, the turtle didn't back away.  It was like he could sense that I was trying to help.  "Talli," I repeated and finally lowered my hand underneath her tiny body.  "Let me help you out.  No one is going to hurt you.  I won't let them."
Talli paused and looked up at the turtle and despite the lack of actual words it was obvious that the two were communicating.  My fingers twitched, antsy with anticipation.  I wanted her in my hands.  All the conversation between Evan and myself had obviously been forgotten.  I lifted my palm only slightly so the girl's feet touched my hand.  The sensation was wonderful.
"Okay girl," Talli finally replied.  "It's alright."
The turtle released her and Talli's small body dropped into my palm.  Trying not to feel to incredibly stupid, I watched as the turtle mad her way back to the lake.  "Thank you," I said before her body disappeared.
"Giants talking to turtles, whatever next?" Talli tried to say with a smile but you could tell that she was in pain.  I brought her close to my face so I could inspect her injury.  "Not so close!" Talli squeaked and turned her face away from mine.
"I'm just trying to see," I stuttered, trying not to let my face grow pink.  "I'm taking you back."
"And if you see the giant?" Talli asked hesitantly as I made my way back to the boat, keeping her close.
"Don't even worry about Evan," I said shortly.  "He's probably drunk, passed out or asleep," I tried to chuckle.  "We could always tell him you're a fairy."
"I am not a fairy!" Talli squeaked as I used my free hand to push the boat off the sand.  Clutching her close to my chest I hopped in and pulled away from the island.  The water was calm this late at night and despite her injuries, I was relieved that Talli wasn't talking about the conversation she must have overheard.  Still, it plagued me.
"I don't have a girlfriend you know," I tried to explain.  Wow, I was getting smoother by the minute.
"What you do with your personal life is of no business of mine," Talli responded.
"No, I guess it's not."
We made our way through the lake and the only sound I could hear from Talli is the slight sucking in of her breath and the water breaking against the boat.  I knew she was in pain, I wondered how much.  I wondered if I had a magnifying glass so I could inspect her injuries even closer.  I lowered my face to look at her.
"Are you okay?" I asked carefully, unsure of how she was going to respond.
"It hurts," she said honestly.  "I can't believe I was so stupid."
"It's kind of my fault."
"Don't be ridiculous," Talli scoffed.  "You didn't jump from the wrong side of the island.  It's completely my fault."
"But if I didn't…"
"Enough," Talli interrupted.  "I just…I just want to get this fixed okay?  I appreciate your kindness, but I really hope that it doesn't bite me in the ass."
"Where did you learn a word like that?" I couldn't help asking.
"Shut up," was her response.  But not in a cruel way.  I dared to chuckle.
"So what exactly happened?" I said as we docked.  "You hit a rock?"
"Not exactly."
"Well then what then?"
"Use your big eyes and have a look!" Talli said and sucked in her breath again.  This close to the cabin I could look more closely…a clear sharp object was poking out from her knee.
"Is that…" I muttered and quickly stood up, realizing how stupid I must have been to not have noticed it.
"I think you giants or humans call it glass."
"Damnit Talli!  Why didn't you tell me?!" I shouted and began to run towards the house.  "You didn't tell me you had a shard of glass in your leg!"
"It's not a big deal…" she whispered but her voice was growing fainter by the minute.  "I'm just getting a little dizzy now."
"Hold on," I muttered with urgency and burst through the door.  Flicking on the only light in the main part of the cabin I quickly crossed over to the kitchen table.  "Just stay here for a moment Talli.  I've got to get the stuff."
"Okay," she said her voice barely audible.  Oh damnit!!  How much time, geez!  I wish she would have said something sooner!  I crashed through the cabin, not even caring how loud I was.  I prayed that Evan was asleep, or passed out.  Going into my own room I grabbed a small red box that I had noticed before.  Thank the gods!!
"Talli…I've got the…" I trailed off.  I couldn't see Talli on the kitchen table.  Because a broad back was blocking my view.  Evan was crouched in front of the table.  I caught a glimpse of Talli, thankfully passed out as Evan began to turn around.  I didn't even want to think about the scream she would have tried to let loose if she could have seen him in that moment, so close, after what she had witnessed him do earlier.  She was terrified of him, and though Evan was obviously a pain, as I kept trying to tell her…he was no monster.
Still, his eyes looked soft as he turned to look at me, his eyes now surprisingly focused.
"Damir," he whispered.  "What the hell is this?"