A competition? Music to Achilles’ ears. All the more reason to find the horse fast and return to their own tasks. “Last night it bolted away out of nowhere that’s why time is of the essence. Who knows what roams out here at night.” He’s seen the demons from afar, creatures unlike anything he’s seen before roaming the landscape and attacking whoever and whatever that caught their attention. So far their little town has been spared but Achilles knows that’s no coincidence, as he glances at Karna.
“You’ve seen those things.” He murmurs, looking down at the ground to find any tracks, finding broken twigs and flowers trampled. “So far they haven’t found us yet… Why do you think that is?” Achilles believed in the divine, a descendant himself and yet his relationship with the Gods had never been that of a good one but he doesn’t believe in that the Gods keep the creatures away from their village.
When he moves past Karna his hand brushes against Karna’s in a tease. Something about the other… makes Achilles want to reach out over and over again to make sure he is real, they are real, together. The other man is obviously guarded but Achilles knows the other knows him but so far hasn’t told him anything… What is he waiting for?
Achilles jerks his head to the side, “If we don’t find it in time, hm— a farmer without horse, I suppose. Not sure if he has the money or the means to get a new one so he’d be at a disadvantage to bring food for his family and the town in, I suppose. You have any ideas?”
animals have always been known to be more sensitive to nature around them, more so than they could ever be. he knows it like no other, for he so often relied on them when he rode his chariot. ❝ it must have gotten spooked by a demon who got too close, ❞ he concludes. the demons have been more daring than before, even though the one they are looking for is not here in this town. another reminder that this all is only temporary.
❝ i have seen and fought them many times, ❞ a never ending battle, but one which he continues to fight for the sake of his master and the people who placed their trust in him. ❝ the master — the one they are looking for is not in this town so they have no reason to come here. ❞ but recently he had reached out to the master and though they did not meet in the village itself. could it be that their encounter with one another brought the demons closer to the village?
his musings are forgotten when achilles brushes his hand against his and he looks up again. ❝ if we do not find the horse in time i shall tame a horse for him and give him that horse instead. ❞ it’s his pride as a kshatriya that does not allow him to come back empty-handed. those who come to ask for his aid will always receive what they want: that is way.
as they make their way through the forest, he looks at his companion’s back. even after all his efforts he isn’t any closer to getting achilles’ memories back. he never considered what would happen if he never got his memories back, but he knows that this cannot charade cannot continue forever. ❝ achilles, ❞ he calls out waiting for him to turn around. ❝ there is something i wish to speak to you about when we get back, ❞ if he were to tell the truth, would he believe him or would he call him a liar and send him away?