Sebastian doesn't know how long they have been walking. He carefully navigated over a few rocks and sidestepped patches of deep mud that threatened to reach his ankle.
He guessed it was around noon. The sunlight was dimming as the vast sky turned to a light, dusky purple and pink.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a large pond filtered through the hazy mist.
He turned around and narrowed his gaze upon Atlas's body. He could see that Atlas is exhausted and cold. His body was shivering as he had folded his arms across his chest in attempt to gather warmth. He had overlooked the fact that humans could get cold easily. Even though Atlas wasn't a human, he appeared as fragile as one.
Sebastian realized they will need to stay here in the night, surrounded by a faint layer of snow around them. It's a good thing winter is coming to an end. Everyone can tell spring is near due to the trees bursting with life, new flowers are born.
Sebastian walks closer to him as he grips his shoulder, his words were casual and light. "Hey. We'll be staying here for the night."
He raised an arched brow and he said with a tight-lipped smile, "Uhh? Why can't we go home? I'm freezing out here."
Sebastian curves his lips into a faint smile, "I know. That's why I'm going to make a fire. Before we can go on the road, we need to get clean off the blood on our clothes. We can't have anyone asking questions."
He raises his arm to point toward the location of the pond, Atlas follows where his gaze were looking. It was a large pond surrounded by water lilies, leaves, and large round green looking things floating on top of the water.
Sebastian led Atlas toward it as he said, "Take your clothes off. You need to wash yourself and your clothes as well. I'll dry them off."
At those words, he drew a sharp breath as his senses became vigilant. HIs eyes were lowered, uncertainty clouding his expression. "Uhh? A–Are you going to wash off as well?"
Sebastian regarded him with a more scrutinizing gaze. Something about Atlas's words struck him as odd. He heard the sound of his heart quicken, his anxiety rising.
Is he afraid? Does he think I'm going to do something to him?
Sebastian's father's words flashed through his mind. His father had mentioned about scars on Atlas's body.
He said in reply, casual and easygoing. "No. I have to make the fire. After you finish, you will dry the clothes while I take a bath."
Sebastian turned around and headed further away from the boy. His back felt a sensation of goosebumps climbing his back.
He was aware that the boy was staring at him with intent scrutiny before he could hear the sound of rustling clothes being removed and sounds of soft splashing water.
A few distance away, he made sure he was close by if anything happened. He gathers some branches in his arms as he gathers them together on the ground.
He started looking for some flint rocks that were needed for striking fires.
After finding what he needed, he tucked his leg under his chest on the ground as he slammed the rocks together, which made a clashing noise.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
He did it again and again. Nothing was happening. He was starting to lose hope until sparks of red flame came alive, and he drew it near the firewood and caught fire.
He set the flint rocks down. The red flames burned brightly like glowing embers. It was like a monstrous thing.
There are times it sparks as if it wanted more than to leap, willing to land where it may.
He remembered something. Atlas must have been injured since his shirt was bloody. He needs to find some herbs that are used to treat a variety of conditions.
He rises to his feet, despite weariness taking over his limbs.
He walks around as he gathers some plants, such as yarrow. It has a flat top of tiny white flowers that look like lilies. He mashed it together with mud and aloe.
He used an aloe plant that would hold the ingredients together as he mashed it together with the flint, making a beating sound as perspiration clung to the side of his face.
A stinky aura fills the air as the ingredients turn into a brown, gooey, or mucus kind of sense. His eyes narrowed into slight satisfaction.
He looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps. Atlas was walking forward with black damp hair cascading down his pale face. His clothes were soaked, dripping across the ground.
A slight scowl curve crossed his face as he said with displeasure, "Get close to the fire. I need you to take off your shirt."
Atlas's eyes dilated with unease. His body was tensed with edges as he jerked his head. "I—I'm not taking it o—off."
Sebastian rose to his feet as he strode toward him. He crossed his arms as he said with clear annoyance. "If you don't take it off. You're going to get sick and freeze. The fire will dry your clothes."
Atlas looks at his hand that was carrying something. He narrowed his gaze, his tone filled with a hint of suspicion, "What's that? It stinks."
A chuckle came out of his chest, his lips tilted into a teasing grin. "Of course, it stinks. It's for you. I'm going to put it on your wounds."
Atlas steps backward as if to ward off a great evil. His stance was wary, and his eyes were alert. He shakes his head as he glares at him like a hissing cat. "I said no. I don't want it."
Atlas lets out a gasp of surprise and shock as Sebastian runs forward and grips his neck with lightning speed, which Atlas didn't see coming.
His neck was held in a gentle grip, but the hold was firm and solid, not giving any chance for Atlas to budge.
Sebastian could hear his heart start racing. He tried to let a relaxed smile curve across his lips to ease his taut nerves. "I know about your scars."
Atlas stiffened at his words as he scrunched his face in horror. "You—you know? How?"
"My father told me," he replied casually. He tilted his head curiously, "Is that what you're worried about?"
Atlas was silent for a moment. He swallowed hard before he answered with a tight-lipped. "Yes. They're not p–pretty."
Sebastian raises his fingers to rake through his unruly hair. He said with a hint of a smile, "Little fool. I never cared about your scar. No matter what you look like on the outside, you'll still look the same to me."
Atlas slaps his hand away from his hair with a scowl and looks into Sebastian's eyes. His eyes weren't gentle or sweet, but they were sincere, and a deep profoundness could be seen from his gaze. It assures Atlas's deepest fears, so he jerks his head nervously.
"A—Alright."
Sebastian watches his trembling fingers tugging at the hem of his sticky shirt as it falls to the ground.