Turning his gaze to the horizon, Dunkin bites into the fresh red apple while watching the sun hang high in the gray sky, its light casting long shadows across the trees that swayed in the wind before he met Johnny's gaze again.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do but I'll be fine, Johnny" Dunkin spoke, his voice low and tinged with hesitation before he pulled away out of the young man's grasp and looked at him, his gaze desperately urging Johnny to not meddle in his personal problems, "I don't need fixing"
Johnny, undeterred by Dunkin's stern dismissal, opens his mouth to protest, his determination fueled by a deep-seated need to support his old friend. Before he could speak, however, a sudden pull at his hair caught his attention. He turned to find the wise raven perched on his shoulder, its presence commanding his focus.
"Johnny, I understand your desire to assist, but this is a battle that Dunkin must face by himself. There's nothing we can do for him at this moment," Corvus communicated telepathically, its voice a solemn whisper in Johnny's mind, urging caution and restraint, "we need to keep moving and find Prometheus before the gods do"
Hearing his feathered bird, Johnny looked hesitate. However, he couldn't argue knowing Corvus was right so with a heavy heart, the young man agreed reluctantly after letting out a defeated sigh, "alright" his voice a mixture of frustration and acceptance, "I'll let it go for now, can you at least tell us where the nearest village would be?"
As Johnny reluctantly agreed to drop the subject, Dunkin's gaze lingered on his old friend, a mix of gratitude and wariness etched on his face, "There should be shelter in the next village but you'll have to get across river" he offers helpfully while pointing a thumb behind him towards a horrible site while taking another large bite of his apple.
The wooden bridge that was built many years ago built by the oldest titan, Prometheus by hand with the trees grown by mother earth herself before she was locked away in the earth's core.
A legacy and gift for all humans from a time when the hamlet that Johnny used to live in was thriving.
It was used by everyone and everything to cross at one time. Now, the bridge, is broken into little wooden pieces covered in large rocks reduced to nothing and abandoned, a disturbing reminder of what once it was.
"What happened to the bridge?" Johnny stutters in shock as he couldn't believe that a historical place was destroyed without him knowing about it, even if he didn't leave village often until now that is. Johnny thinks he would have at least received word on it.
"Many of the bridges and lands were destroyed by Ares during the war years ago" Dunkin explain without even sugar coating it yet Johnny can hear a little bit of sympathy to the fallen soldier's tone. It seemed despite how much Dunkin tried to mask his inner struggles. The mutant still deep down did care and possibly regretted about the many lives that were lost or given during the war years ago.
After all, the bridge was once a symbol of peace in the tiny village, it was a gift to all human kind.
Looking over it's destroyed remains would fill anyone with utter disbelief or hopeless. It seemed fitting for the god of war to destroy any peace for humanity.
'I believe I heard stories around the world about Ares, his anger for mortals is well known' even Corvus sounded shock and confused while adding, 'I don't know how we're going to get across this, young Johnny'
"I guess this is my first task then" Johnny finally utters softly mostly to himself while stroking his chine as his golden eyes studies the bridge before he approaches, starting to remove all the small broken wood pieces and large boulders, getting ready to rebuild the bridge.
"What the hell are you doing now?" Dunkin sighs annoyed while pinching the bridge of his nose, his tone annoyed as he watched Johnny starting to move the rocks one by one, clearing the area.
"Fixing the bridge" Johnny states his goal simply as if it was easiest thing in the world, while reassuring him, "I'll leave as soon as I'm done"
"Quite messing around" Dunkin scolds him with scoff before explaining the obvious, "there's no way a mere human like you can do this on your own"
Johnny froze mid step for a minute, immersed in meditation. After hearing those words, he was hesitant to confess that he had godlike powers and was no longer mortal.
If anything Johnny is a demigod on his way to becoming fully god.
Johnny wanted to share this information with Drunkin but only when he was ready.
After all, Dunkin had asked Johnny to leave him be. So that's why Johnny offers instead, while meeting Dunkin's gray eye, "You could help me then"
Dunkin only blinks, caught aback by the respond, before shaking his head, glancing away, and muttering, angrily, "Why are you going through all this trouble?"
"The bridge is essential to everyone and I'm not going to let anyone suffer in the hands of the gods ever again" Johnny explains firmly with his tone full of determination to make things right and be the new symbol of peace for the people.
Dunkin just blinks looking at him, dumbfounded as he can't believe how ridicules Johnny sounds, "Geez your stubborn, do whatever you want" he says dismissively before turning tossing the apple core over his shoulder then using his upper arms to support his walking, starts to head back to his small make shift box that was his home.
Johnny and Corvus watch Dunkin's fleeing shape with disappointment, "He is a stubborn jackass, there's a low chance Dunkin will help us, you know that right?" The raven inquired, his tone plainly indicating that Johnny should give up and go on while watching Johnny pick up the apple core and hurl it into the forest so that the animals may eat it.
Even after all the pain he went though and knowing that time is limited before Zeus or someone stronger finds him. Johnny couldn't ignore a friend in need, it wasn't who he was.
Johnny even remind his raven friend of the vow he made, "Maybe so but I can't abandon him when he needs me the most"
With that said, Johnny begins his task walking over to one of the many tall tree's near the forest, having Convus study the wood closely and allowing the raven to pick the best wood that could be used for supplies of the bridge.
Days turned into months as the young man with god like powers would pull out the heaviest and tallest hard wood oak trees his raven friend had deemed worthy, all the meanwhile Dunkin had no choice but to watch from his small box home, making sure that the very strong human didn't kill himself, "damn, where does he get all this brute strength?" The fallen solider wondered aloud becoming more curious of Johnny's new powers every day.
Rain, hail or heavy snow, the young man with golden eyes powered though, carrying the large wooden logs on his back all by himself with his raven, Convus, staying beside him at all hours. Even when Johnny slept in a tree during the night, the raven was there almost like a guardian.
It almost bothered Dunkin at how much his old childhood friend was pushing himself every day. Even though, Johnny only gotten half of the supplies all cut down and ready for building.
It wasn't until one rainy day that Johnny is carrying a huge log on his shoulder while his raven friend snuggled close to stay dry. Suddenly, Johnny trips and falls into the mud out of breath.
" Damn it!!" Dunkin uttered then runs to the fallen young demi god to help him up," HEY! Get it together!"
The half mule grabbed Johnny's hand before pulling him to his feet and made sure he wasn't hurt, "we've got to work together or the logs you went to great lengths too will go to waste!" Dunkin ordered, while lifting up the log Johnny had previously dropped from the wet grass with ease.
Dunkin almost felt a feeling of pride knowing even after all this time, he could still lift a log like it was nothing.
" oh, so you're going to help me now?" Johnny asked smugly but also surprised at Dunkin's offer. Convus looked just as surprised at the half mule's actions while trying to shake it's feathers dry from the rain.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I just want you out of here as soon as possible!" Dunkin snorted getting quit defensive about the subject. Johnny merely chuckles while smiling even if the rain was making his hair wet before nodding, not disagreeing with Dunkin, instead, Johnny helped carried the other end of the log, stating with the determination in his voice matching his golden eyes, "Alright then, let's not waste anymore time then"