Citizen 1160 Achilleus

Warmth spread across Achilleus' face as he stared out of his window into the early morning sun. Like every morning he admired the view for a few seconds. The sun covered the sky in a peachy color. One he particularly enjoyed. Olive branches swaying softly in the wind, right beneath his second story window.
And the first few sounds of birdsong and insect chirping reaching his ears.

He sighed a long, tired sigh and stretched out lazily across the bed. Neck, back and, in Achilleus' opinion, too many more joints quietly cracking at the movement.

Rolling himself over he reached the edge of the bed, feeling his soft rug against his paws.

With great effort he left his bed and headed towards the edge of the room, where a slightly worn down straw mat was waiting on him and his daily morning routine.
He bent down towards it, grabbing at its edges to straighten out any creases it might have. Once he was satisfied with how the mat was laid down, he straightened back up and stepped onto it.

Eyes closed and inhaling a deep breath, he let his thoughts go. The early morning sounds started blending into the background and only a calm state of emptiness was left to wash over Achilleus.
He lowered his upper body again, palms resting against the straw mat. Legs remaining straight. A slight stretch made itself home in his tense muscles. Weak at first, but getting stronger as he increased the effort he put into the exercise.
Breathing in, muscles tense. A few seconds. And out, letting his muscles relax again.

Achilleus repeated the exercise 2 more times before he was satisfied to move onto the next exercise.

Knees now lowered onto a soft towel on top of the mat, he folded his upper body to lay on the mat, reaching for its end with his paws. It ached quite nicely and the Rex immediately felt the soreness of sleep leave his muscles further.

Another sigh, less tired and more content, escaped.

He finished his routine up with another 2 or 3 exercises while sat, legs crossed and stretching neck and back a bit further.

Finally content and smiling, he hoisted himself up onto his legs and moved down the stairs into his tiny kitchen. For all the space he had upstairs in his combined bedroom and living area, his kitchen was a bit lacking. It would be a tight squeeze with more than 2 people working on the food and the small table only had space for up to 3 people to sit and enjoy their meal. Sometimes he thought about moving to extend the space he had available for guests… But he wouldn’t get another apartment with a view as great as this one. That he was sure of. At least not at this price.

While his thoughts were, once again, roaming around, flooding back into the spotlight in his mind, the rex swiftly moved his paws in practised motions. Preparing himself a small plate of fruits and cheese from the market yesterday.

The strong smell of the cheese wafted throughout the tiny kitchen and it made his mouth water in anticipation. It didn’t take long until it was all scarfed down and he prepared another portion, this time ontop of a cream coloured and double layered cloth. A tight knot closed the fragrant package and it was hard not to devour it on the spot like he had done with the earlier portion.

From a hook a little further off from the stove, he procured a small canvas bag and stuffed the wrapped package inside. A few other items, rope, fire stones, water skins and other items useful on long travels, went into the bag as well and Achilleus swung it over his shoulder swiftly.
A greater anticipation than the dinner could have ever wakened started brewing inside his gut. A tumbling and twisting, as if sth was brewing inside his stomach. Today he’d see for sure if all the rumors were true!
But first he had to go gather a little more information at the market. He couldn’t leave based off of one tiny rumor he overheard in the bathing house after all.

Excited for his little endeavor today, Achilleus pushed forward through the curtains covering the entrance into his apartment. He was immediately greeted by a street slowly coming to life. Quietly merchants were setting up the last of their wares for the mornings and the first clients started trickling into the wide, sandy streets.
The short rex started looking around. Eyes slightly squinted as he tried to judge which of the merchants was most likely to have more information on this mystery.
To the right he heard loud bickering and when he left his gaze to wander there, a short boy with golden hair was setting up a fruit stand together with a very tall, broad rex covered in pink scales. Behind them a dark purple rex was lazing around and drinking from one of the wines the trio seemed to want to sell. The pink rex was loudly criticizing his companion for “Drinking away all the Goods!!!”. A slight chuckle escaped Achilleus at the very odd trio. But sadly those three were unlikely to be of much help to him.

His gaze wandered again and ahead of him a few merchants were surrounding a drunken rex. In her wake a bunch of trampled goods laid spread on the street. She must have stumbled into them on her way from the pubs…

Preferring to keep away from those two troublesome paths, Achilleus opted to head into the street towards his left. He chose a slow pace. A relaxed stroll, as he eyed the merchants to both of his sides until one stood out to him. It was an older rex, age starting to show on tattered scales and magic growing slightly less vibrant than that of the younger rexes crowding the stalls around him.
But with his age he surely must have the connections to at least be able to tell him where to go for his information! 

Achilleus approached the tiny booth with determined steps and a warm smile plastered on his lips, hoping to seem friendly and trustworthy to the old man. Trustworthy enough to share his sources with him.

“Good Morning Sir!” he greeted. He only received an acknowledging grunt in return.
“What do you want, Youngin’ ”
Achilleus’ smile faltered just a little at the rough greeting. Worry seeping into his mind that the old man wouldn’t be as helpful as he had hoped.
“I’m looking for a little information. About a rumor I’ve encountered recently”
“Rumor about what? Ya gotta be a little more specific than that, if ye want me to help…”.
The old man scoffed at him and regarded him with displeased eyes. He was obviously not a huge fan of talks with strangers…
“Ah- I’m sorry. I’ve heard about a ‘Beauty’ inhabiting the surrounding cliffs. Just a bit off from the city. Do you have any further information on that ? Maybe a few more details could help me”
A very loud, deep laugh shook the old rex’s chest, followed by an immediate coughing fit. He turned and spit towards the walls behind him. Now grinning, the old man turned back to Achilleus and regarded him mischievously.

“So that’s what you’re after. Haha. Sure I can help you. But do you have something to offer in return for my help ?” Achilleus couldn’t help but be a little puzzled at the sudden change of attitude. But he had to concede. He trusted the man to not be lying about the information he had.

“I am honestly not sure what I could offer you, but I’m sure we could agree on some kind of payment. Is it gold you want? Fabrics? Treasures? ”

Another whole body laugh.
“Hahaha. No need. No need. I just want a favor, that’s all. Just be ready to make some time for me when I approach ya”
He didn’t quite know how to respond to that. What could the man ask of him? What did Achilleus have to offer? Not much, he thought…. Well it was the mans loss then.
And so he nodded and moved closer when the man beckoned him to.
The old rex got way too excited when he started to relay all that he had learned from his nights at the bars and days at the market, leaving no detail left untold.

Achilleus felt a little giddy about having immediately stumbled upon such a valuable source of information.

After a while he kindly thanked the other rex and turned to make his way out of the city. Southwards towards the cliffs the stories he had listened to the past thirty minutes, had described.

It took a while to reach said cliffs. Around an hour walk from the bustling city. Across grass plains, through fields and orchards. Past farms and more rural housing and even further out until not a single soul was left to watch Achilleus march further towards the rocky landscape.

‘Look for a rock formation at the edge of the cliff. It kind of looks like a giant fist. A bit east of that you should find her house, nestled into the cliffs’ the old man had told him.

He scanned the line of the cliffs. Left to right and right to left again. A few rocks could classify as a fist, he thought… But none really stood out to him.
His best option must be to just try all of them. He had neither the time nor patience to have some unnecessary inner debates about the “fist likeness” of a rock.
Slowly he directed his feet towards the first one. A smaller and rather smooth “fist”. He rounded it a few times, focusing on it’s east side but checking all directions to be sure. But all he could find east of the rock were a few little lizards. Lazily enjoying the rays of the sun that now stood strong in the sky. Though they scattered as soon as Achilleus approached them further.
A disappointed sigh escaped him.
Well onto the next one…

The next rock… slightly larger than the last one and with more rough corners. Seemingly missing a “finger”? It looked a little more like a fist than the previous one, but who knows what the old man or his information sources would interpret as a fist. Achilleus surely had seen some artworks from the local stonemasons that people had praised in high voices, that had left Achilleus wondering what he was supposed to be seeing in the blobs of white marble.

He rounded the rock towards the east side and looked off into the distance. Nothing.

A few birds were rounding the skies, but other than that, Achilleus’ couldn’t make anything else out that caught his attention…
So it was time for the last rock. The largest of the three. Large enough to tower above a two story building even.
As Achilleus approached from it’s west side, ready to round the rock and be disappointed again, he started to smell sth. Slightly twitching his nostrils he tried to pick up on the fleeting smell again, but the wind had changed directions again.

With a bit more fervor he approached the rock further. And now the smell was back. It smelt burnt. But not like the destructive forest fires he knew from the regions around the city. No. It was closer to the familiar smell of his stove. The coals burning controlledly. Mixed with a slight tinge of herbs.
Surely this must mean he’s at the right place now ?
The small rex took a slight tumble. His increased excitement making him a little less careful and thus less steady on the loose rocks covering the steep cliffside.
What all he was ready to do for a pretty woman, he thought. She should be so happy to have him come all the way out here and visit her!
As he rounded the giant boulder, the smell had increased enough for him to identify ít as the pleasant smell of fresh Lentil Soup cooking. His stomach, not happy with not having a second meal yet today, started rumbling at the thought of a nice hot bowl of soup.
When he saw where the smell was coming from he was astounded. There was indeed a little home nestled into the cliffs. Perfectly hidden from above by an overhanging cliff and shielded from the west by the giant boulder that was flush up against the walls of the house.
Achilleus puffed out his grey chest a little and weaved his hand through the Pompadour on his head. He had to look presentable at the first meeting!
A deep exhale and he approached the door. Two short knocks. There he stood. Waiting.
After a few seconds the wooden door creaked and a female rex was looking out at him, judglingly.

The other men hadn’t joked when they had described her as beautiful. Even though her fur was slightly tussled, likely from the work in the kitchen, she still looked well put together and like she put great effort into her appearance. She had worn subtle jewelry and a clan apron hugging her figure…
Of course he was immediately smitten. A beauty like this was worth the trek!

He opened his mouth “Hi-” BAM !!
The door was closed again.
“Go return where you came from.” he heard from the inside. Oh she had a beautiful voice too, he mused.
But he’ll have to try and convince her of his greatness…
So he tried again. A knock. And without waiting for the door to open, he started introducing himself.
Admittedly he embellished his life a little bit. It was mostly just leisure and fun for him, but that wouldn’t sound important enough to a young lady.
“I come from the city where I’m a known merchant. I carry all kinds of wares and was wondering if you’d like to take a look. A beautiful lady like you deserves jewelry as stunning as you are!”
He heard a thud inside and a second later the lady was at the door again.
“You don’t have to go and lie to me to try and worm you way inside. There’s no chance. Go back while I ask nicely.” Anger was written in her eyes and her faces was scrunched up in said emotion.
And was that disgust? Lingering alongside it ?
She’d be a tougher nut to crack than he thought…
So Achilleus put on his best winning smile and tried again. 

“Are you sure my lady? I’m positive I-” and in the next moment a broom connected with the side of his face.
The bristled stung against his cheeks and he was glad for his natural reflexes. That would have hurt in his eyes for sure…
But the force of the broom made him lose his footing and next thing he knew, he was tumbling further down. Meters away from the little hut, where the lady was now standing in the open door. Broom in one paw and the other paw rested against her hip. Fury etched into her beautiful features.

It was the last image he remembered before he hit a rock that made him momentarily lose consciousness.
When he awoke the sun was still high in the sky….
He must have not been out for very long then…
Achilleus groaned in pain as he lifted first his head and then his body from the ground. Quickly feeling the back of his head, where he had hit the ground, he could not find any traces of blood or any sign of injury other than a bulge that seemed to indicate the growing dent he’d gain from this little adventure…
“Damn it…”
But even if he was a very insistent charmeur. Even he could realise that a broom to the face must mean the lady was not interested…
Maybe he’d try again another day. Maybe actually bring her something to win her over ?
He hadn’t thought of it this time, before leaving.

Defeated he lifted himself from the ground and tried to suppress the onslaught of moans escaping him from moving his aching body.

So much for the relaxing Yoga this morning… All for naught.

~ Harowaja