24 A Horse Called Nightmare (1/2)
ฅ/ᐠ｡ᆽ｡ᐟ \
Unable to relax, Mina paid close attention to the rest of the journey. The area they traveled in was now outside the forest but she saw nothing but the hilly terrain. There were grassy but dry patches on the uncultivated land. The air was warm and when the wind blew, a layer of dust whirled like small, harmless tornadoes.
Mina almost called out to Tarou to enlighten her about the area but the mouse hitched a ride with Barca. From her vantage point, Tarou is clearly having an enjoyable trip. Barca has been handling grains to the little mouse who was only too eager to reach for them. Mina could only shrug when she remembered how Tarou lectured her on separating human and animal affairs. Unable to conceal her interest, she heard her own curious meow.
”I wonder where we are.”
”Barren lands,” a voice answered through a grunt.
”Nightmare?” Mina asked, startled with the reply.
The horse grunted in response and suddenly Mina realized something.
'Did the horse just answered me?'
'This horse's name is really Nightmare?!'
'Who names their horse Nightmare?'
For the first time, Mina took the time to observe the horse who was black from head to toe. Nightmare reminded her of the sky at midnight, black with a tinge of blue. The horse had muscles everywhere and probably not even an ounce of fat. If the animal was human, he would be one of the lean guys with six-pack abs.
'Nightmare is the perfect picture of tall, dark, and oozing hot horse. He should have been called Dreamy. Or something.'
While evaluating Nightmare's assets, Mina couldn't help but be curious about someone else too but she stopped the urge to feel the human behind her.
'What am I doing?!'
She has been acting like a little lady from the modern era all day.
'It's all because of that dream. Right now I am a cat and I should act like one.' After slapping herself mentally, she couldn't help but ask another question.
”Have you been with the general for a long time?”
”Five years,” the horse grunted.
”How long will it take to reach the capital?”
”Before nightfall.”
”What is the general like?”
Just when she asked the question, the horse continued to trot leaving her wondering if Nightmare did not hear the question or merely ignored her.
***
The rest of the journey was uneventful. After taking a break to eat their meal, the group continued towards the capital. Nightmare grunted from time to time but he seems to be too focused on the road ahead that Mina did not have the heart to disturb his concentration.