Tiny Hero Ch 4: A Changed Woman, Frida Catalina’s Return!

I stood frozen, staring up at the massive face of the woman who had just risen from the ocean like some kind of ancient sea goddess. Her bro

I stood frozen, staring up at the massive face of the woman who had just risen from the ocean like some kind of ancient sea goddess. Her brown skin glistened with water, and her short brown hair clung to her forehead. A playful smile curved her lips as she looked down at me, her dark eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place.

Before I could fully process what was happening, a series of wet coughs snapped me out of my trance. I looked down at the small boy beside me, who was still sputtering up seawater. Right—there was a kid involved in all this too. I knelt on the warm, slightly damp skin of the woman's palm, steadying myself on the uneven surface as I placed a hand on the boy's back.

"Hey, kid, you alright?"

The boy nodded weakly, still catching his breath, his small body trembling from the shock. I sighed in relief, glad that at least one part of this insane situation was turning out okay.

Then I glanced up at the giant woman again. She hadn't said anything yet, which was weird for an Obelisk. Usually, they liked to remind Minari how small and fragile we were. But she was just watching me, her expression unreadable.

I hesitated before dipping my head slightly. "You saved us."

The Obelisk's lips curled into a smirk. "What makes you think I was saving you?"

I stiffened as she lifted us slightly higher, bringing us closer to her face. Her breath washed over me, warm and tinged with salt. The boy whimpered beside me, clearly terrified, like I could protect him, yea right. 

"I thought I found a few merfolk," the Obelisk woman mused. "I was looking forward to a little seafood." Her grin widened. "But I wouldn't mind eating two cute little Minari instead."

The boy let out a small squeal, scooting closer to me in fear. I clenched my jaw, my mind flashing back to something Doc had once told me: They're all the same. Don't ever forget that, kid.

I swallowed hard and stepped forward, squaring my shoulders. "If you need to eat someone, then eat me." Don't ask where I was getting all of this confidence from, I honestly couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. 

The woman's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She studied me for a long moment before suddenly laughing—a deep, rich sound that made her whole body shake. I struggled to keep my balance as her massive hand trembled with her amusement.

"You never change," she murmured, though her voice was still loud enough to make my ears ring.

I blinked. "Huh?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she turned and waded back toward the shore, each step sending waves rippling across the water. When her toes touched the sand, she crouched down and carefully set the boy down. The kid wasted no time sprinting back toward his mother, who was already screaming his name in relief.

I expected to be set down too. But instead, the woman straightened back up and kept walking—right past the Minari section of the beach and into the Obelisk area.

I tensed. "Uh... are you going to eat me?"

"Hm?" She tilted her head, pretending to think. "I haven't decided yet."

I let out a long sigh. "Great. Love that for me."

The Obelisk woman chuckled before settling down onto the sand, the sheer weight of her massive form causing the ground beneath her to shift. She lifted me up a little, holding me in front of her face.

"Do you remember me?" she asked.

I squinted at her. "Uh..."

She smirked. "CrestView Elementary. Second year."

My face twisted in confusion. "What?"

"Frida Catalina." She said her name.

And suddenly, I was back in elementary school.

I remembered a scrawny little girl with oversized glasses, always hiding behind me on the playground. She was constantly picked on by the other kids—an easy target. I had done my best to stand up for her, even when it meant getting into fights I had no chance of winning. I had promised to protect her, no matter what.

"...No way," I muttered, staring up at her in disbelief. "You're—?"

She grinned, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Yep."

I ran a hand through my hair. "You gotta be kidding me."

She laughed again, and this time, it felt warmer—more familiar. "It's been a long time, Peter."

I exhaled sharply. "Yeah. No kidding." I looked her up and down. "You, uh... you really grew up."

She smirked. "Yeah. That happens."

I shook my head in disbelief. Of all the insane things that had happened today, this one definitely took the cake. I had spent years wondering what had happened to that quiet little girl I used to protect.

And now, here she was.

Holding me in the palm of her hand.