The lack of words didn't bother him, though he knew he'd have to trust the man not to be lying. It was a simple, straightforward sort of contest though, and Kel took the time to clean his hands off in a nearby bed of moss before joining the stranger at the tree. As luck would have it there was a stump on the other side of the log and Kellan settled onto it.
He wasn't quite as weathered (and not nearly as old) as the other man, but he was a forest child through and through, and he rested his elbow on the old jungle patriarch's body without flinching at the roughness or the bark or the insects that scattered at the disturbance. "I'm Kellan." Not 'kid', the lift of his chin seemed to say, but there was a light of competitive challenge in his eyes even as he gripped the callused hand that waited for him.
He didn't hesitate, bicep tensing as he tightened his muscles down to his core and heaved against the stranger's strength, seeking to push his hand back and pin it to the waiting bark below.
He wasn't quite as weathered (and not nearly as old) as the other man, but he was a forest child through and through, and he rested his elbow on the old jungle patriarch's body without flinching at the roughness or the bark or the insects that scattered at the disturbance. "I'm Kellan." Not 'kid', the lift of his chin seemed to say, but there was a light of competitive challenge in his eyes even as he gripped the callused hand that waited for him.
He didn't hesitate, bicep tensing as he tightened his muscles down to his core and heaved against the stranger's strength, seeking to push his hand back and pin it to the waiting bark below.
