Upon stepping through the portal, the Hulk had found himself in a small clearing in a forest, filled with high grass and brilliantly coloured flowers. While the immediate scenery was pleasant to the Hulk, he retained enough intellect to know that first impressions could often prove dangerously deceptive.
Turning his head from side to side, the jade giant strode through the foliage, until the sounds of frightened screams and animal snarls drew him to the edge of a cliff, at the bottom of which he saw two figures, a girl and an older man, with light blue skin and red hair, cowering against the rock wall as a reptilian monster advanced on them. His heart touched by a spark of compassion for these defenseless beings, the Hulk jumped down with a roar of "NO! MONSTER NOT HURT PEOPLE!"
Lunging forward, he seized the startled monster by the tail with his steel-hard hands and swung it against the rock wall to the side, and proceeded to hurl it over his head. The beast landed on the ground, where it lay dazed for a moment, before lifting its head to see its assailant glaring furiously at it, massive fists clenched at his sides. "Monster go away!" the Hulk rumbled. "Hulk not want to hurt monster more, but Hulk will if monster makes Hulk!"
For a moment the dalrel beast eyed the Hulk, then got to its feet...and with one last backward glance and hiss, lumbered away. Once it had disappeared, the male being cautiously approached the Hulk and said "Whoever you are, green one, my daughter and I thank you for saving us. We owe you our lives."
"Blue man...thanks Hulk?" the emerald behemoth said slowly, not having expected gratitude due to past experience.
The girl stepped forward then. "My name is Jya, and this is my father," she told him. "If there is anything you would like, we will give it to you. Let us show you our thanks."
The Hulk blinked a few times, still uncertain. Finally, he responded: "Hulk...hungry."
OOOO
It took some gentle persuading, but Orpen and Jya were able to get their newfound friend to follow them back to their home. They trekked through the countryside, the Hulk quietly absorbing his new environs as he lumbered along. Across a wide, grassy, tree-studded plain they saw a large number of buildings. "That is our town," Orpen explained, pointing. "We will soon be there now."
On passing through the gate in the wall encircling the town, the sight of the green giant caused the inhabitants to halt in their daily business and stare and point with amazement at their visitor. There were a few uneasy mutterings here and there, and the Hulk growled softly; such signs too often signalled trouble for him.
Orpen, sensing the Hulk's apprehension, gently placed his hand on the behemoth's arm. "It will be alright," he said, then stepped forward. "My friends, do not fear," he announced to the townspeople. "This stranger is no enemy. He saved both myself and my daughter from a dalrel beast back in the forest. Without him, we would surely have died."
"It is true," Jya added. "He means us no harm, as long as we show him gentleness and hospitality." A minute passed in silence, before two of the townspeople gingerly walked over to where the Hulk stood. The Hulk tensed as they came within inches of him...and then relaxed as they both slowly smiled, their faces becoming warm and friendly. And the Hulk found himself smiling too, as his doubts and suspicions began to melt away.
Perhaps he could be happy here...
