Chapter 8
The Wartho pack stalked through the brush. Hunger burned in their stomachs. Their ears picked up on movement in the brush ahead. Fangs and tusks glistened in the daylight. Anticipation watered in their snouts at the prey's flesh. The quartet thought the whole matter a fait accompli.
A loud boom snapped them to attention from that direction. A breeze rustled at their hair. Their eyes narrowed at the being flinging himself through the trees at them.
The pain god was back…again….
The leader charged. Its brain tried to line its tusks up to gore the incoming pest. It lowered its head to charge.
Banner dropped right on top of its head. Momentum's pile driver force drove the monstrous beast to the ground. Perhaps he wasn't exactly the Hulk at that point. Still his alter ego's body and muscles still worked as they always had. His alter's anger still fueled their strength.
Visis had created this situation. He deserved the rage not these beasts.
They'd offered themselves as a target (and food/transportation) so that was that.
The other warthos screamed their rage at him. As one, they charged.
Banner grinned. He got under one's beast hoof and forced it up before the other could crush him. He watched that one fall to the ground. Then he grabbed the last two by their tails. He whipped them around through the air. Then he flung them far out of sight into the trees. "AND DON'T COME BACK!" He saw Namor watching him. "Is there something wrong?"
"You fight like the Hulk. Yet you think and talk like Banner." Namor raised his eyebrow. His mind tried to understand what was going on there.
"The Pantheon of Sorcerers did this. It's a side effect of their translation spell." Banner examined the dead Wartho. "This will feed the refugees at least."
"Are you all right?" Valkyrie descended on Aragorn next to them.
"I'm fine. This one's food for the people though." Banner stalked across the area. He saw the previously stunned Wartho starting to get to its hoofs again. "I need a mount. This one's been elected."
"That?" Namor stared.
"Why not?" The Surfer shrugged. "Galactus created this board for me. You fly on your ankle wings. She has her winged horse. I think it is a noble enough mount."
"My thought exactly, Norrin." Banner climbed up on the Wartho's shoulder and sat down on the back of its neck. "All right, Porky. Time to learn your place." His leg muscles grabbed onto the hide like a vice. His hands grabbed onto the other's ears.
The beast howled. It wrenched and bucked like a wild stallion. It rushed into the trees.
"We don't have time for this." Namor ground his teeth. "BANNER! ENOUGH!"
"No. Let him tame the beast. He is doing this as much for those people in the camp." She shook her head. "He conquers their fear. He takes his anger out in this manner. Perhaps we might get that other one back to camp?"
"Whatever!" Namor trudged over toward the carcass. He wrinkled his nose. "This thing will bring the sorcerers if nothing else does!"
"Hela's Ghost! You complain too much!" She rolled her eyes at him. "We will let Dr. Banner bring it into camp."
"What? He does that too?" Namor complained.
"You are a Prince. You should understand what it means to provide for your subjects. He should too." The Surfer saw Banner ride his new friend back into view. "Is it tamed?"
"No. I picked a thorn out of its side. I found a berry that it likes." Banner patted the Wartho's neck. "Let's get that other one back to camp." He threw a vine down to them while holding onto one end of it. "The people are hungry."
"Well put indeed." She tied the rope around the prone Wartho's neck. She marveled at Banner's gentle handling of his mount. She had seen the Hulk's gentle child-like side under his rage. Now she noted the other's similar relation to the animal as Opportunity allowed. She glanced up at him. "There!"
"Thanks!" Banner urged his new friend onward. "Come on, Porky." They started through the brush with their burden.
"If I didn't see it…." Namor shook his head.
"The universe has many curious things." The Surfer took off toward the camp.
She smirked at him. Then she led Aragorn back through the trees and into the brush.
Most curious! Namor took off toward the sanctuary himself.
[Camp]
Strange and Clea boosted the previous spells with their own efforts. They talked to the other sorcerers over maps of that region. Their questions about the situation received answers. They began to understand the stakes involved.
If all succeeded, Banner and the Hulk would not be returning with them. They were in the midst of his new home…the one he would (again if all worked out) work with Jarella to tame and rebuild.
Wifrida continued to bind wounds and keep the fires going. She glanced toward Residian who had resumed his guard post. Despite their bantering and certain issues between them, Admiration grew for her fellow servant. She could see how much he cared.
Residian called, "They're returning!' He rushed over to the sorcerers.
Namor and the Surfer flew over the tree tops. They alighted on the ground.
The Valkyrie led Aragorn into view. She glanced back into the woods.
Banner rode the Wartho right up to the camp's edge. He climbed down from the beast's back. He offered a pat on the side. "Thanks, Porky."
The beast grunted. It lumbered off into the woods wasting little time in the process.
"My lord! Did you just ride that?" Residian bowed to him.
"I had to get his friend back here." Banner dragged his quarry back into the camp. "Think we can get this one cut up? I hope it's good to eat."
"Of course!" Residian rushed off to find help.
Banner nodded. He crossed the camp toward the sorcerers. "One of our friends found himself as prey rather than predator. These people need to eat. Sorry to interrupt."
"Interrupt?" Torla stared at him. "Lord Banner, this is your place. The Queen would remind you that tending to our people is her and your first duty." He bowed to him. "Well done."
"If she can't take care of our people, then I should." Banner studied the map. "What do we know about Visis' castle?"
"It is twenty leagues from here." Holi moved his finger to the spot.
"He and his allies have spells of their own around that place. It is heavily fortified, Lord Banner." Moli added.
"Due to the shielding, we cannot transport directly into the castle itself. We can put our forces on the edge of their defenses," Strange suggested.
Banner nodded. "Torla, do we have more forces scattered throughout the woods?"
"We do. They will not come out. Visis' forces hunt for us from above. We have to deal with their forces," Torla shook his head.
"I'm not leaving Jarella in that madman's hands. Whatever I have to do, I'll do it." Banner sucked in a heavy breath.
"We'll do it." Strange shook his head. Admiration lightened his tone. With each moment, he saw more of his friend's newfound purpose. "Remember you are not alone."
"We're counting on the Defenders' help. Thanks for the people and me." Banner frowned. "I'm trying not to show it but…."
"Banner, that is a Prince's duty." Namor joined them at the planning table. He had to admit that he liked what he was seeing. He saw Residian bringing others to help in cutting the meat for everyone. He saw none of Banner's expected hesitancy. "You care for these people. You bring in allies. You meet with your ministers. You care about the Queen. It will be for you to lead us into that castle on the morrow."
"Perhaps you might go in another way? Dr. Strange tells me you can breathe underwater." Torla pointed to the map. "There is an old cistern that runs from the outside up into the castle. Perhaps you might swim up it and inside?"
"It's a way to get someone inside." Banner shook his head. "But if we can't get in, Namor, you'll be alone in there."
"It is sound strategy. Besides the water will rejuvenate my strength if it is like our world's," Namor pointed out. "We need to deal with their sorcerers. There are at least four in there, Strange."
"Visis' forces are spread out across the continent trying to round up our refugees. He kept but a few hundred inside." Torla scratched his beard. "Doctor, perhaps we can block the other sorcerers who are away from there? If we can rescue the Queen and deal with Visis, that will leave the usurpers' forces too scattered."
"Once Jarella is back with us, we can use her insight." Banner buried his own heartache at that assessment. He genuinely believed in Jarella's strength and tactical knowledge. Still the mention of her name only stirred more worry in his heart. "Can we be ready to move out before First Light? I want to be in position by then."
"We can put us in position whenever you need, Bruce," Clea agreed.
"The longer we sit here, the better chance they have of finding us. I'm sure Visis is expecting me to storm in. He won't expect everyone. We rescue Jarella. Better yet, if we capture Visis, the rebels won't have any royal connection." Banner shook his head. "She and I exiled him the last time. We have to make sure he won't be a problem again. Excuse me." He stomped off toward where the Wartho meat was roasting.
The others watched their friend deal with the matters at hand. The Outcast now moved toward the center….