Hunter strolls along a narrow, winding path, his boots crunching softly on fallen twigs. The forest is alive with the distant chirp of birds and the hum of insects. Suddenly, he pauses, noticing a low, buzzing sound growing louder around him.
"What on earth is that noise?" he mutters, scanning the branches above. Without warning, a swarm of bees bursts from a hollow log, swirling in a golden cloud. The sunlight catches on their wings as they dart toward Hunter, who yelps and waves his arms desperately.
Hunter[/@ch_1]'s head. Frustration boils within him as he swats futilely, his face reddening beneath the relentless stings.]
Hunter clenches his fists, veins bulging as anger overtakes him. His skin flushes green, muscles swelling and shirt seams straining. In seconds, he transforms into a towering, single version of the green Hulk, his eyes glowing with fury and his jaw set in a deep scowl.
"ENOUGH!" he bellows, his voice vibrating through the trees. The bees scatter in terror, the angry green giant’s presence enough to send them fleeing. A few stragglers buzz around, but Hulk swats the air with massive hands, sending the last of them away.
Hulk[/@ch_1]'s stomping feet. Broken branches and scattered leaves mark his angry path as he stands alone, breathing heavily and surveying the empty woods.]
With the bees gone, Hulk roars one last time for good measure, his deep voice echoing through the trees. A few startled birds take flight, wheeling above the treetops. The forest settles into a wary silence, the only sound now the heavy thump of Hulk's footsteps as he lumbers away.
Hulk[/@ch_1] approaches a cozy cottage at the edge of the woods. The house is framed by sunflowers and creeping ivy, soft smoke curling from the chimney.]
Harper, Hunter’s girlfriend, is outside tending to her garden, unaware of the commotion in the forest. Hulk hesitates at the gate, his huge green hands gripping the wooden fence, his breath still heavy from the ordeal. He glances down at himself, frustration and longing flickering across his features.
Suddenly, the transformation begins to reverse. Hulk shrinks, his muscles receding, skin fading from green to a splotched mix of normal and emerald. His eyebrows, thick and now stuck in a perpetual frown with glue, make him look both comical and intimidating. His eyes remain a bright, unearthly green.
Hunter[/@ch_1] – now caught between his forms – approaches the door. He catches his reflection in the glass: half-Hunter, half-Hulk, with glued-on frowning eyebrows and vivid green eyes.]
Harper opens the door, surprise flickering in her eyes as she takes in the strange sight. Hunter tries to explain, but his voice is deeper than usual, and his words sound slightly guttural.
"Hunter, what happened to you? And... are your eyebrows glued on?"
"It’s a long story," he rumbles, trying to smile, but the glued frown refuses to budge. Hunter steps inside, hoping that by Harper’s side he might find a way to return to himself again, or at least explain why his eyes are now an unforgettable shade of green.
