1 Chapter 1

Tai nimbly flipped over the school's barbed-wire fence with his friends' help. Not even a second later he sprinted across the open field, making a beeline towards Block C and dove into the thick foliage by a windowsill. He shifted, careful not to make any noise, and made himself comfortable as he listened to the teacher inside the classroom. His tiny frame was completely hidden.

"...besides our Thumbling Tribe, there is the Human Tribe, the Cinderella Tribe, the Giants Tribe and a few others. I'll be writing them all on the board." The sweet, crisp young voice was loud- which was the reason Tai always came for her classes. It definitely wasn't because she sounded lovely.

He fished for a mirror shard wrapped in cloth from his pocket, and with a practiced motion lifted it up to a suitable angle and read the notes written on the chalkboard. As long as it didn't reflect light inside, he should be alright.

Eight other tribes huh, that's cool-

Tai felt his ten year-old shirt being yanked from behind with a strong force as he was hoisted up mid-air.

"What're you doing here, brat?", the school's security officer scowled as he stared at the obviously malnourished kid. Tai grinned sheepishly at the bulky man. After a few seconds, The security officer seemed to have come to a decision and made large strides in the direction of the principal's office.

Tai's smile vanished, his heart racing as he wrestled the officer to no avail. Realizing where he was being taken was only five steps away, he wriggled and tore his body through his undersized shirt. He fell to the ground as the officer grabbed at his arm.

Tai yanked his arm away before the officer got a good grip on him and sprinted towards the fence. Quickly skating the fence at the cost of a few slices on his body, he bolted to the nearest alley and never looked back.

Tai continued his sprint to a dark area of the alley, where four 12 year old boys just as scrawny as himself sat. 

"What happened?!" Tito, the shortest of them, came running towards him, scanning him from head to toe repeatedly. Tai let out a long sigh and brushed his curly green hair strands away from his eyes. 

"I got caught"

"Well, good thing you got away," sweat was all of a sudden plastered on Tito's baby face. "You learned anything?"

With that question, the four boys stared at Tai expectantly.

"Yeah," Tai said with a triumphant smirk."Besides our tribe, there's eight other tribes. Apparently, in size, we're the tiniest of them all. The largest tribe is called the 'Giants' tribe. The human tribe has the most people, and we're only as tall as their thumb."

"What about the other five tribes?" Tobey asked. His shoulder-length auburn hair fell neatly on his shoulders despite his dirty appearance.

"Got caught." Tai sighed. He'll definitely do better tomorrow. "Alright, let's forage for some food". 

"It's been a month since the last food distribution. If there is anything left to forage in this city, it's gone" Tobey chimed in. Tai paused. Tobey was right. However....

"Let's ask Tizporah, that homeless girl"

"You mean that suck-up city rat? I'd rather die. Let's just steal." said Tariq. His lanky body towered over everyone else.

"You forgot what happened the last time we tried to steal food?" Tobey looked up at Tariq in obvious disappointment . It's always nice to have Tobey around. If it weren't for him, he would be the only one in the group with a brain. 

Tai walked to the end of the alley, his mind already made up.

"She doesn't have parents like us. Besides, a "city rat" would definitely know these parts better than we do"

"I'd still rather die." Tariq said behind him. The malice was thick in his voice.Tai couldn't help but laugh. "Well, I guess you'll be dying today". 

Having dealt with Tariq, Tai stuck his head out the alley. The clean, cobblestoned sidewalks, beautifully sculpted wooden houses, and well dressed people walking about already made this place foreign land to him. He glanced to the left. There sat the school, somewhere he'd definitely be one day. Beyond the school's fence, the security guard was nowhere to be seen. He's safe.

"It's midday, she should be around here somewhere...any ideas, Tim?" Tai asked. At medium height, Tim's skin had a light tan, just like his. Staring into the distance, Tim's stone-like face had no reaction. The womanizing bastard was definitely playing dumb. Seems he has to reel out a bait...

"I have the latest Thumbling Beauties magazine-"

"She's three blocks away from us, by the bridge. In five minutes she will be roaming the streets, so if we hurry we should catch her." Tim said, his poker face reigning supreme.

Everyone stared at him, unimpressed. Tim broke out in a sweat. "Uh....if I had to guess, I'd guess she was there". Tito laughed boisterously, falling to the ground and dusturbing every passersby. 

"Thank you Tim," Tai nodded in satisfaction. If he didn't know Tim was deceptively delicate, he'd have been laughing with Tito. Tim already looked like he wanted to cry.

The five boys quickly made their way to the bridge, ignoring the unwanted attention their raggedy dressing brought.

On their way, Tai felt a stinging pain from his empty stomach. The hunger pangs got more and more painful throughout the past week, and he was getting bonier by the day. To distract himself from his depressing thoughts, he glanced at the green foliage that peeked above the towering walls of the Thumbling Tribe. The vibrant green leaves from the distant forest glowed in the sunlight and calmed his heart. 

In no time his group reached the bridge. There they saw Tziporah cleaning the river bank, picking up any garbage that floated by. 

"Hey Tziporah!" Tai shouted to her as they approached. She gave Tai a sidelong glance then continued her work. Tai didn't mind. He stepped from his hesitant friends towards her. 

Her waist-length jet black hair was clumped together by unknown substances. She was 11 years old, one year younger than him. Frail, slender hands gracefully reached for a soiled baby nappy and tossed it into a large, dirty cloth bag. Trodding up to her, Tai swung his arm around her shoulder.

"How u doin" Tai gave her a toothy grin. Tziporah froze, cranked her neck towards him, then smiled. Her half-burnt face was frightening, but he didn't care. "Hello Tai," she started, "What can I do for you today?"

Tai grinned brightly at her greeting. "You know any spots where we can find food? We're starving here."

"Everyone is starving here", her smile faded as she shrugged off his hand.

"Everyone poor, you mean. Though you should be fine, since you're busy being the garbage collector of rich folk" Tariq spat.

"Shut it", said Tai, "Tzipor-"

"I don't know of any spots" Tziporah quickly said. "I apologize". She returned to cleaning the river bank, seemingly serene.

Tobey coughed awkwardly,"Well, since we have already cleaned out all the foraging spots yesterday, I guess this is where we part ways." Tai was unwilling to give up, but seeing his friends slowly stepping away from Tziporah, he sighed.

"Yeah, this is it guys," Tai said, "We'll meet again tomorrow, same alley". 

Tobey, Tito, Tariq and Tom walked away, each to their own business. When they all left, Tai turned to Tziporah, and realized she was looking at him.

"I'm sorry about that"', he said, embarrassed ,"Tariq doesn't like anyone with enough money to have three meals a day"

"Mmm", Tziporah once again began cleaning the river, ignoring him. Tai, not minding her lacking reaction,  laid on a patch of moss near her and stared at the clear blue sky of the afternoon.

The soft wind on his face and the subtle sounds of the garbage being fished from the water sang a lullaby to his ears and calmed his heart.

"Why do you always do that?" Tai's attention was snapped into reality with the question. He turned his head and saw Tziporah staring at him with that blank look she always has.

"Hehe, do what?", he'll just play dumb.

"Everyday you come around me. Why?", she stepped towards him. 

Tai beamed, "You look lonely, that's all". Her blank face seemed to have cracked at his words.

"Uh.....thank you", she managed to say. 

"Here. I think you would like this", She fished for a pocket sized book from a hidden pocket and gingerly gave it to him. 

Tai's eyes widened, and he snatched it without courtesy. She continued, "It's about a Thumbling warrior's adventures outside the tribe. My favorite part is where he said: 'A Thumbling knows he is not at home when even the grass is two times your height'. He died, sadly"

Tai's heart began to pound. A book. He actually has a book.

"Thank you", he managed to say after a while. Now he felt bad, he had nothing to give her. "...do you want to see my plant collection?" Those were the most valuable things he's got. 

"No thanks" she cracked a smile, "I'm cleaning the river". 

"You know, just because it's your job doesn't mean you should be doing it every second of your life. Take a break sometimes" Tai couldn't help but say.

Tziporah laughed. "This was never a job. It's my hobby. Some people just happen to appreciate it and give me food sometimes." He 1stared at her, speechless.

He spent 20 more minutes by the river bank, nose-deep in the book. Realizing it was almost nighttime, he bade farewell to Tziporah and went home.

...

Tai carefully opened the delicate wooden door of his house. Making a beeline to the kitchen, there he saw Theresa, his mother, preparing dinner. It was the last ration of food left. Tiidrick, Tai's father, sat by the small dining table. Tai sat opposite to him, his stomach growling.

Not long after Theresa dished out dinner and sat by the table as well. Three bowls of steaming brown slob and each only had enough for two mouthfuls.

"Tsk" Tiidrick, Tai's father, stabbed into the blob and stuffed a spoonful in his mouth.

"Our last meal you mean. Been askin' around today. The food quota's gonna be handed out in the next four weeks. We won't survive." Tiidrick's broad shoulders wilted, much to Tai's surprise. He never saw his father so discouraged before.

Theresa abandoned her dinner and gently embraced Tiidrick. Tai was not letting his dad's mood impact his meal, though. In a minute the bowl was licked clean.Theresa gently coughed, looking at him.

"Tai, dear, could you please go upstairs to your room? Your father and I need to talk."

Tai acquiesced and went up stairs, not that it mattered. With all the holes in the already poorly constructed floor and walls, you can hear anything. Entering his room, he sighed and plopped on his bed made of leaves sown together with hay stuffing. Not comfortable, but it worked. The moonlight shone through the cracks in the ceiling, encasing the cramped room in ethereal light.  His mom and dad's conversation drifted into his ears.

Not long after, his door creaked open and Theresa's bony yet slender frame stepped in. She gently sat by the edge of the bed and lovingly caressed Tai's rich green curls. She smiled.

"I always wonder who you got your green hair and eyes from. I remember when you were just born, and the first thing I saw when you opened your eyes were two beautiful emeralds staring back at me." Theresa wistfully twirled her fingers in his hair. "You do need a haircut though" She giggled.

Tai had to admit, his mother was beautiful. The moonlight beams serving as a backdrop only accentuated her soft facial features. Taking her sweet time, she began to hum a lullaby, still caressing his hair.

"We will survive somehow. Don't mind your father, he was just a little frustrated". Tai gave her a reassuring smile. She always managed to calm his mind.

 "Okay ma"

She gave him a light kiss on his head, and continued to hum the lullaby until he slowly faded away into slumber.