"Breaking a sweat is not exactly what your clan is supposed to break," Power Lord said to Drake jokingly. "At least we can sweat, opposed to you who don't even have a real body!" Drake said annoyed at Power Lord's choice of unseriousness in their current predicament. Drake and his clan, the Gozrilla clan was exhausted, having fled from one place to another just to survive the relentless hordes of hunters seeking to gain glory and fame by taking down the race known as the ultimate beast!
"Your warriors might not have the resources to fight back, but I sure showed them how it is to be hunted! If you all had a safe place to recover you would show them that too! Power Lord said proud, empathizing with this strong warrior clan, who now were in a sorry state, their hooded cloaks, marked with symbols of their past hunts, torn asunder from arrows and spears, their thick muscles riddled with scars made by axes. It was not easy being tracked in this forest, since most of them had green skin, but also had an abnormal stature and bestial look that made them stuck out as sore thumb. It did not help that every hunter guild had an image of them on every wall at every establishment. It was neither a very flattering image either, only showing the savage and brutal side.
"These trees will do good for now, I smell some good herbal and medical herbs in this forest" Drake relaxing his eyes, taking in the aroma of the forest, calming his mind and body. "I already feel relaxed, but that’s only me, not every Gozrilla have the same lineage as me that they can have such keen smells like me" Drake said. "Well, they have other formidable abilities that make up for that" Power Lord grinned.
"I will go see to everyone and look if I can find something to help us recover, even by a tiny amount." Drake went towards the other Gozrillas, who were hanging around the trees. Protecting their leader was still their number one focus, still vigilant, even though they felt safe, if Drake were to fall, they would sure fall too. "Save some for me, you know I do like my tea, since I dislike the taste of alcohol!" shouted Power Lord at Drake but did not react to the comment and left with the other Gozrilla to tend to the others.
"...Ignoring me huh?" They were really in a bad spot, and Drake is quite the hard ass, but still, he usually responds with to my silly questions." Power Lord was worried about his friend, one of the few that were not family. Having met a while ago, when Power Lord was in his mercenary days, and took most of the jobs available to him. If it was protecting, attacking, conquering, escorting or hunting. The morality in these jobs was a thin line, but Power Lord still had a sense of code... Children, he could not bear to see them hurt or hurt them himself, even if it meant loss in reward or getting him in trouble, for his true goal of doing that job was for the money, but experience. And an experience was made when he met Drake all those many years ago, with him and his mother... Power Lord pondered on his journey from back then and to now. It had been a tiresome journey, but one he got used to by now, finally feeling ready to take on the real challenges in this world.
Though a real challenge had already been taken on and it almost broke him...
A low rustle came from the bush behind, and Powe Lord who had lost himself in thought awoke and focused his attention on the sound, there was a lifeforce looking at him. It was easy to sense what it was, a humanoid being, it was shy but poked its head out, a Gozrilla child. Shaking, but not from the cold, for the Gozrilla was one of the best land walkers that could swim and dive down the deepest and coldest oceans.
"Hello there!" Power Lord spoke, smiling at this small Gozrilla. "You may not have seen me before, but I am an honored ally of the Gozrillas, do not be afraid", Power with his open and lowered arms, trying to show he was a friend and not here to do harm. The young one looked around quickly, looking at every tree, bush and stump, yet still fearing something.
"Your chief Drake is..." before Power Lord could finish explaining anything, the youngling escaped instantly back into its nest of bushes. "Not here..." It was quiet, but tiny noise was made, and he could see one eye of the kid poking out, still scouting for someone. Power Lord did not take long to realize what was going on here. "I see, it is he you are wary of”, “It is understandable, he can be quite the terrifying foe once you make him your enemy" Power Lord with his grin, enjoying himself with this discovery. "I doubt those buses of yours make for good company, why do you not come down here and join me, unlike your chieftain, I know how to make a joke!" talking more comfortable now that he knew he was not the one frighting the young one, Power Lord did what was natural to him, "I might not be like those bushes you surround yourself in, but at least I am not "bush-y", ha-ha!"
Dead silence... "Tough crowd... as always..." Power Lord sat still with an awkward smile. "Come closer and I tell you another one, or maybe even better in your case, refrain from doing one!"
It was quiet, but slowly but surely the Gozrilla who was shy, did venture forth and towards Power Lord.
"Well you are not the worst size for a child, then again your race comes in so many shapes and sizes". A child, standing tall, with his barren cloak, not mature enough to earn a mark on his cloaked hooded robe, but for his stature, he had an unusual form of muscles, around his arms, like he had an extra muscle and vein for what a normal say human would.
"Don't worry about my armor, it might have spikes and look cold, but I assure its the opposite right now, but I have to keep up appearances" Power Lord with his gentle smile, invited the child to sit in his lap, The child, gathering up a small measure of bravery, stepped forward and carefully positioned themselves within the open space between the Power Lord's legs. With their back nestled against the curve made by their crossed ankles and knees bent just enough to keep them comfortable on the ground.
"What is your name warrior" asked Power Lord. "...I am.." the child still not too eager to speak, "I am not one to be offended easily, you can speak true with me, without repercussions" patting the child's head gently.
"I am no warrior, yet, but my name is Goz, son of..." brave, but not full of courage, the child, or rather the boy was still not ready... unless "I think I understand, it is not uncommon to be afraid of the chief of a clan, especially if the chief is your father!" Power Lord had hit the nail, because the moment he finished speaking, the boy started to twitch, but Power Lord held the sides of his arms and said, "That burden, of being the chief’s son, it is not necessary with me, when you are with me, to me you are the son of a friend" Power Lord ever gently said to him. The twitching stopped quickly, still suddenly rustling started to happen, and out appeared a cloaked figure, hurrying towards the two of them, dashing and then falling down towards them, splash hot water went over all Power Lord's black cape, and a hard cup hit his dark steel armor.
"Ahh! I am so sorry sir Power Lord!" A young Gozrilla stressed from his mistake, the Gozrilla, tried to use his cloak to soak up the spilled tea water. But, looking up at Power Lord and his pupilless red eyes, even though the Gozrilla knew he was an ally, he was still a menacing figure, for their clan had good instinct for danger, even with those who are friendly towards them.
"Do not worry! One might cry over spilled tea, it is worse if one is hurt by it, and I am not" Power Lord said to the young one. "Really, I can get you another one!", "No need." said Power Lord, as he guided the water up from the earth and guided water up and made it shine, removing the dirt that stained its color herbal water. "But the cup...!" No, the cup was broken, but Power Lord, to make the pieces float towards his hand and with a small shine restored it as if it never was broken.
