Chapter 4
A few weeks has passed by and a couple of Pages in Gohan's journal was already filling up, he wrote about his emotions, drew a map of the area and marked places necessary for his survival, organize his inventory list, make notes in his improvements in Ki usage and the names he wanted to use when he started developing attacks.
it was just a few days back he was in deep concentration and not realizing he was gathering energy in an imploding way, his breath hitch as the force let go forcibly from his inward to his and surrounding outward, it felt like a pulse, a wave, slowly moving and encompassing the area, everything was black and fuzzy except for the white outlines the waves would lit up when they pass, it's like the world was a blackboard and everything in it was drawn in white chalk
Gohan sharply exhaled, what was that? His eyes widen, by now he is well versed and aware that there are many beings around him, but this was something else, he felt them, the energies synchronizing, animals dancing in delicate balance, plant life swaying peacefully, before he can make heads or tails of things, the feeling and view was gone, his legs was wobbly, he'll certainly remember more on how less alone he was in this wilderness, weither that terrified him or made him happy, he wasn't sure.
The half Saiyan's interest peaked, he spent most of his days obsessing on what that was, was it Ki? Whenever he had free time between, building his base, filling up his inventory gathering berries and apples, he would sit down and put all this attention and effort in replicating the energy, he was doing well so far with practice and not so efficient use of stamina he manages to copy the view albeit in way smaller scale, but it's a start, he was proud of it
One night, dark blue filled the sky with twinkling stars thickly spread across, it was cold yet it didn't felt harsh, Gohan was sitting by the fire he made himself and was massaging his calves, suddenly he sensed an energy he had yet to categorize on his journal, it felt strong like a storm with blinding light blue light but it wasn't wild and unkept it was like experiencing a storm from the safety of your home, he scrambled to get up and instinctively held a defense stance
"Already learning to sense Ki, good progress kid" the boy relaxed almost instantly, after hearing the low baritone voice, it wasn't anything or anyone he didn't knew, it was just …
" Mr Piccolo!" Gohan felt elated, firmly stopping himself from clinging to the taller guy's leg
Piccolo scanned the kid's humble base, he felt a little nostalgic, it reminded him of his home hidden behind a waterfall
The hafling honed in and focus, then he saw it, it was so small and fast, Piccolo smirked and his ears twitch again, seeing that felt like a 'win' for Gohan so he inwardly said 'yes' privately celebrating, it wasn't anything big, but ever since their talk on his first night here, Gohan pondered about Piccolo how the guy throughout their talk had a permanent scowl, how he spoke as if he was thinking on what to say, constructing the most efficient way to relay his messages and reply, barely letting any emotion show, the half Saiyan wanted to get a read on this elusive Namekian, his intrigue growing more and more
The Namekian questioned the absence of meat in his pantry
"Don't you need those for nutrition, why aren't you hunting " Piccolo begrudgingly understood the importance of a healthy human diet
The boy put his head down feeling sheepish not wanting to admit he didn't know how to hunt nor how to start going about it" I- I'm working on it "
The taller one nodded in response, taking another scan around before preparing to leave
" wait " Gohan's mind raised quickly skimming his thoughts and memories for anything he can use as topic, he is pretty fine being in his lonesome now, but he wanted to talk for comfort
Piccolo paused his steps, waiting for the boy to speak further
" I-I thought of something, something to strengthen the mind " he felt his palms being sweaty, why was he nervous
" ….. I see, that's great " The green alien wasn't educated in Social nuances therefor missed Gohan's invitation for him to inquire further so they can discussed it longer
"Keep it up " and with that Piccolo gracefully shifted to walk out the cave and blasted of again
Gohan chased after him, only catching a glimpse of him at the sky flying away, if Gohan knew or was allowed to, he would probably curse right now, not because he was mad, he was just upset at the nervousness he felt and that he didn't know how else to express his dissatisfaction
Oh well, he had all night to dwell on it if he wanted to or just sleep