Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

"-ive? Clive?" Hamish repeated as he tried to shake Clive awake.

Hamish thought something might've been wrong when he didn't see him for the day. But as he watched Clive snoring away with a book about someone named Odysseus planted over his face, he realized that he had just dozed off.

"Clive!" Hamish yelled.

Clive grunted as he was rudely awakened. He grunted more when he rolled off his small cot.

"Wha?"

"Tha festival is startin'! Ifin yer goin' ta join better come now fer you sleep it all away!" Hamish chided as he left Clive to blink and rub away the sleep from his eyes.

Clive groaned as he crawled out of his tent, stretched and glanced about. Everything was abuzz with activity as the festival was under way! There was shouting and laughter as great platters of food were carried everywhere near the central tent.

Tables were placed around where dozens of halflings were already feasting and drinking. Meats, pies, spuds and gourds were in various states of being eaten as Clive walked about the festival grounds. Bowls as big as the halflings were filled to the brim with thick gravy and soups and the halflings were swarming it with either bowls of their own or just dipping their food in, some even just scooped with their bare hands!

He could see at least six pigs being spit-roasted over roaring fires all across the grounds. Not just that either as Clive saw a butcher's tent with just as much activity as the halflings brought several sheep, chickens, and cows over to be slaughtered for the gluttonous half-men. Some were even walking out with whole legs and raw strips of flesh!

Kegs the size of Clive's car were brought out and warm frothy beer was served to wash it all down. Clive saw that some of the railyard workers had stayed after work and were celebrating. He went over to Sam, who was chatting with the others.

"This all whos staying?"

"Naw. Some went back to get their girls and some beer and food of their own to bring back." Sam replied.

Clive saw several cars and trucks pull up. Some were said railyard workers coming back, while others were the ranchers and farmers from around town. Some waved to Clive and Sam when they spotted the two before joining the festivities.

This was fun, Clive thought as he got a cold beer from a cooler one of the humans brought. It was like a typical country party. Though with less country music and more food. But he liked it as he took a swig of his beer and began to mingle with the others.

As things got going a halfling dressed in a nice tweed coat and spectacles climbed on top of one of the bigger tables and called for everyone's attention.

"Ifin I'll 'ave e'eryones attention? Let me start by sayin' welcome ta this years Harvest Festival!"

The mixed crowd cheered and raised some mugs and bottles of booze. Once it died down the announcer continued.

"Fer our first round o' activities! A pumpkin contest!"

The crowd cheered, though a halfling ran up to the announcer and whispered something to him. He nodded and got the crowds attention once more.

"Unfortunately, with no harvest there aren't no pumpkins to judge."

The crowd of halflings aw'd in disappointment. But some of the human farmers stood and announced that among the things they brought for the festival were pumpkins! The crowd cheered as the contest resumed! Even if it was purely humans competing.

So the farmers brought out their various pumpkins for the halflings to judge. Some were the typical pumpkin. Orange and round. But the humans brought out a few that caused the halflings to stare in curiosity. Some were small and white. Others were a speckled orange and green. Some had what looked like barnacles on them!

They may not be quite as big as the halflings usually grow, but they weren't lacking in diversity and uniqueness. As the three judges finished their deliberation they announced the winner. The farmer who first offered their pumpkins for the competition! He was given a simple pink ribbon with a shiny brass button that simply read 1st!

That's how most of the activities were after that. Produce judging and food tastings. The humans pretty much stole the former, since the halflings had no harvest to offer. But it was more even during the latter as country and halfling cooking clashed!

Berry and shepherd pies met pecan and apple. Even a grill off was suggested and several folk took up their own firepits and roasted every kind of meat there was at the festival.

Time flew by pretty fast as the sun began to set and turned the festival a golden color. Then came the auctions. The halfling announcer told the halflings that the various herds of animals that Hamish and Clive had procured for the colony would now be auctioned off to any that had the coin, or cash.

Most didn't have the wealth to participate but still payed attention. Family rivalries tended to flare during auctions as wealth and status were thrown around.

Some of the sheep were herded into a pen near the table and the bidding began. It was actually pretty slow. Both the announcer and the bidding. He would call someone and look around kinda lost for a moment before calling for a counter bid. The slow process would repeat for several minutes before an older human got up and kindly, but firmly, nudged the halfling off the table. A couple others brought over a speaker and mic they brought for singing.

The older gentlemen tapped on the mic, which gave a high-pitched noise as the sound adjusted. Once settled the older man spoke.

"Lets give a round of applause to the lil feller for doin' his duty folks!"

The crowd clapped as the halfling, initial somewhat insulted, smiled and waved to the crowd.

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"But we came for an AUCTION! So lets start the biddin'!"

He was given a gavel and a side table to slam on as he begun the ever entertaining auctioneer barking.

"DOISEEFIFTYFORTHESESHEEPFIFTYFIFTYDOISEEFIFTYFIVEFROMTHEGENTLEMANINTHEBACKFIFTYFIVEGOIN'ONCEGOIN'TWICESIXTYFROMTHEFELLERINYELLOW!"

It was like a switch was flipped as the halflings found themselves energized by the man's rapid speech. Some that didn't even have wealth would throw their hands up just to keep him going! Clive saw some of the kids try and imitate the auctioneer. They laughed when one of their friends got dizzy from the endeavor and fell down.

BANG!

"SOLD! TO THE BIG MAN IN THE WHEELBARROW!"

Clive looked at who the man was pointing to and saw the largest, and fattest, halfling ever! He was so big that he was, indeed, in a large wooden wheelbarrow. Being pushed around by half a dozen halflings who had a few similarities with the blob, while two women walked beside his wheelbarrow, draped in fine clothes and even bits of jewelry.

The halfling was so big that his fat arms and legs would touch the ground if his massive girth didn't prevent them from doing so. The rolling blob cheered and gave a wide smile that revealed that most of his teeth were gone save for a few left by themselves in the girthling's gums.

He rolled up and shook the auctioneer's hand with a fatty hand and greasy sausage fingers. Clive wasn't sure how the blobling could even see with the large fat pouch that hung over his eyes from his forehead.

If he were to walk and stand he was sure the wheeled-bound man could almost reach Clive's shoulders! But he doubt he could even sit up without aid let alone stand. As he rolled on over to Clive, Sam, and the Hambingers that had joined them during the festival, the torches revealed just how oily and greasy the man was. Even the clothes he had on, though fine, were soaked and stretched.

The man grabbed a whole ham leg from a nearby platter and munched down on it as he neared the group. More grease and juices flowing down his many chins as he chomped away.

"AH! Hamish! 'Ow *chomp munch* are you this *belch* evenin'?!"

The blob and Hamish made some small talk as the two talked about the festival and the quality of the animals that him and Clive had brought. When Clive's name came up the lardling looked in Clive's direction. Clive still wasn't sure how he could see him.

"Clive! Nice ta *munch munch* finally meet you! 'Ey?! You still available? 'Cause I *chomp chomp* got some daughters tha' need a good 'usband ta look after 'em!"

The girthling spoke, but it was mostly spittle and bits of food that flew out of those thick, greasy, lips. Clive smiled politely and tried really hard not to notice how wet his shirt had gotten, or the bits of ham and fat that now adorned it.

"Perhaps another time! When our living situations are in better conditions to properly care and treat such fine women as your daughters no doubt are!"

The girthling looked at Clive for a long moment, so long that he had stopped chewing and now a thick river of drool flowed from his mouth and down his many chins. Then he smiled and laughed.

"Indeed! When my 'ome is built by these *munch munch* fine 'umans tha' you were kind enough ta *hack cough* introduce us ta! You come by 'nd *chomp chomp* I'll get you sorted with one o' my lovely daughters!"

The blob smiled and shook Clive's hand with his greasy, though surprisingly strong, hand and went back to the auction with a loud passing of gas as the next round was ready. Other than soaked and somewhat violated, he also wasn't sure where to wipe the thick layer of grease and oil off. He didn't know what to think about meeting the great creature that was far from "half" of anything.

"Hamish? Who, or WHAT, was that?" Clive asked as Sam brought Clive some paper towels and napkins. Though it did little good and Clive guaranteed he would have to burn these clothes just to get the stench of ham and grease out.

"Tha' were Carl Fallmeadow himself!" Hamish said as if the humans nearby would, or should, know that.

"Ok? Whos that?"

"Oh?! Right. Well he were tha one tha' led our people ta freedom from tha elves!"

"The elves?"

"Yup! 50, 60 years I think it's been? I were but a babe when it happened! Not entirely sure 'ow it 'appened but tha elvish kingdom we were a part of 'ad increased tariffs on our grain exports! Devastated tha economy o' tha halflin' villages! We were goin' ta starve with 'ow 'ard it hit us! So 'Ol Fallmeadow there, 'nd many o' those tha' would become the Big families, rose up 'nd threw off tha shackles o' tha elves!"

Clive pointed to the blob that couldn't even touch his toes.

"He did that?!"

"Aye! He was a grand sight back then!" Hamish said with a hint of reverence.

Course it was later when Clive had talked up a few of the more drunken members of the Big Families that he learned it was all a load of hogwash. Fallmeadow and the others wanted the profits for the vast farmlands the halflings controlled all to themselves, and weren't ones to give a portion to the elves who were actually protecting them in exchange for a cut of the halfling's harvest.

So him and the other families that would make up the Big Families, staged a rebellion against the elves, with the aid of several human kingdoms and even a few dwarf fiefdoms to take the actual brunt of the fighting. Not that Carl didn't fight, he actually DID fight against the elves! It was just that most of the war was fought by the elves, humans, and dwarves. With the halflings being more of an annoyance to the elves than an actual threat.

Once it was all said and done. Several territorial disputes were settled and the halflings were granted their "freedom" in the form of the Fallmeadow Confederacy, named after the man himself. Him and the other families would "graciously" take charge at the upper echelons of halfling society and power. During the power vacuum after the elves left they took it upon themselves to scoop up all the farmland they could get before someone else.

A few lucrative trade deals, some marriages, bribes and threats later. Fallmeadow and the Big Families are stupidly wealthy and powerful, at least by halfling standards they are.

"But if he's your leader why is he here and not in the capitol of your nation?"

"After many years he grew tired o' tha politicking 'nd retired ta his 'ome town, which was our community! Our little town was small, but it were prestigious! Fallmeadow 'nd more than a handful o' tha Big Families called it 'ome! Since then he's enjoyed his wealth 'nd tha love o' his people ta tha fullest!" Hamish stated.

Clive could see that as he watched the fatman cheer and call out bids during the auction and mingle with the others during the down time. The Big Families kept to themselves at their own tables, but he actually seemed to enjoy spending time with the others. Joining in on bawdy tales and drink with his fellow halflings. He even talked freely with the humans. Laughing and talking with them like they were old friends.

He still felt bad for the man's kids as they pushed their father's tonnage around, and the sight of him made Clive's arteries clog. But he seemed like a decent enough guy. Clive excused himself as he went to change, and most likely burn, his clothes.

With a change of clothes Clive returned to find the auction over and a return to the general feasting. Clive grabbed a beer and joined Sam and the Hambingers for the rest of the night. Drinking, feasting, he talked to a few people as the night went on and the beer flowed.

After that Clive couldn't remember much, there was alot of food and booze and faces that flashed through his mind as he groaned into his pillow as the hangover came with a vengeance. The kids were put to bed after a time, but he couldn't remember why.

He rolled over a bit and realized he wasn't alone in his cot. He peaked open a eye, earning a migraine from the small action, and looked at the warm body that was sharing his bed. A very buxom halfling woman snoozed quietly next to him, but he couldn't see her face.

As he sat up he realized that he was nekked as a slight breeze blew through the tent. As his vision stopped swimming he looked down at the halfling that warmed his bed and the very satisfied look on her face.

It was one Carrie Longfellow and she was VERY nude! Clive pleaded silently as he lifted the blanket, dreading what he might see. But his fears were confirmed when there was very obvious evidence as to what the two had gotten up to last night.

"Shit!" Clive cursed in as low a whisper as he could.

He gingerly climbed over the sleeping halfling and got dressed before leaving his tent. As he winced and groaned at the sun as it hit his face, he looked around and saw that he wasn't alone.

Bodies were EVERYWHERE! Some clothed, some butt naked, some covered in remnants of food or booze, others in vomit or other bodily fluids that he dared not think about. Some were just in piles of flesh. It looked like the end of some of the frat parties back at college, Clive thought as the only thing missing would be some college football mascot stumbling around, puking into his oversized mask.

He wasn't the only one to awaken and wander out his tent though as he saw several humans crawl out of tents with various looks of shame, guilt, or pride. Depending on their relationship status. He even saw a few of the human couples crawl out of different tents or disentangle themselves from bodies that were most definitely NOT the people they came here with!

These couples would either glare and yell before storming away barely clothed, or would turn red faced and barely look at one another as they made their way to their cars or trucks in awkward silence. While looking around he saw someone he didn't expect to see. Sam groaned and crawled from a tent just a couple tents down from Clive. Thankfully he was fully dressed. He spotted Clive and walked over towards him.

"Mornin' Clive." Sam said awkwardly.

"Morning." Clive returned equally awkward.

The two looked at one another with a bit of embarrassment. Some redheaded halfling crawled out of the tent Sam had come from and made over to Sam, barely dressed with her freckled bust in full display.

"Come by fer a visit when yer done workin' Sam!"

She cooed and Sam bent down awkwardly so she could give him a peck on the cheek before she skipped back to her tent. He coughed awkwardly.

"If you could, uhm, maybe not mention this to Jeb?"

Before Clive could answer, Carrie came out of Clive's tent as well, fully nude save for a nice lime green dress bundled in her arm. She gave Clive's thigh a kiss.

"Lookin' forward ta next time Cliven!"

She sauntered away as she blew Clive a kiss and a flirty wink.

"I won't tell if you don't."

The two men agreed and went to their tasks they had planned for today. Gingerly avoiding the many bodies as well as puddles of unknown origins.