How long have we been traveling? Yakkul wondered as he and Ashitaka trudged down a dusty lane. Winter had passed, and now it was spring. Warm sunshine washed over the land and the blue sky was filled with birdcalls. All around the dirt road, wild grasses grew free and in such a brilliant green that it seemed hardly real. Yakkul paused to nibble on the grass. It was sweet.

"Come on, Yakkul. We have to keep going."

Why? Yakkul asked, looking at Ashitaka. When did your cheekbones stand out so much?

"I hope there's a town soon. We have to get more food."

Eat this grass. It's good. Yakkul tugged on his reins and made exaggerated gestures of eating the grasses as Ashitaka watched.

"You're right, it is lunch time." Ashitaka smiled and led Yakkul off the road into a field of green.

Close enough. Yakkul waited as Ashitaka unloaded the packs from his back. Yakkul fell to eating the grasses again, watching Ashitaka out of the corner of his eye.

"I need to go hunt for something. We're out of food."

We are? I'm sorry. I shouldn't eat so much. You need it more than I. I can eat the grasses. Yakkul looked up to see Ashitaka holding out a handful of some grains to him. Ashitaka smiled happily above it. Yakkul turned his head and continued to eat the grass.

"It's your favorite." Ashitaka said coaxingly.

I eat grass now. Can't you see that? Yakkul wandered off relishing the last taste of the grains he remembered, but resolving himself to eat the grass they came upon, grazing as he went. He could hear Ashitaka sigh and eat the rest of the grain.

That's better. Now take the halter off and then we can run around like we used to when we were young. Ashitaka followed slowly, lost in thought.

You're thinking about San, aren't you? Or maybe home? Yakkul thought as he stopped to watch his human friend. Ashitaka drifted towards him and took off the halter. Yakkul shook his head happily and took off sprinting.

Yakkul stopped and sniffed the air. Danger! Ashitaka! Yakkul turned his head and jumped out of the way as an arrow whizzed by him.

"Hey! Watch out!" Ashitaka came running, up, haltering Yakkul swiftly.

"It's on my land, boy. And so are you. You're trespassing." An older man came out from behind a rock.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry. He's mine." Ashitaka started to lead Yakkul away.

"How much d'ya want him for? It's not every day we get proper amounts of meat around here." The man said, slinging his bow and reaching for his money pouch.

"He's not for sale." Ashitaka said flatly, having led Yakkul and the man to where he'd dropped the bags.

"You're not from around here, are ya?"

"Just passing through." Ashitaka affirmed, placing a bag on Yakkul. The man nodded as if he'd known it from the beginning. "There's a town down the road seven or so miles down." The man watched Ashitaka tie the other bag he put on Yakkul to the other one and secure them both to Yakkul. "Well, I'd be careful with him. He's meat for some of - you ride him? He's your mount?" The man finished, eyes widening. Yakkul turned and bounded off.

Yes I am. I'm his friend too.