Two Heroes United: Thomas and Prasad's Journey to Kerala

The forest came alive as they approached Kannur Fort – birds chirped in the trees while monkeys were heard screeching in anger or excitement somewhere deeper inside the woods. Then there were strange howls echoing around them that made all of them nervous.

"What do you think it is?" Prasad asked one of the soldiers standing next to him on top of the fort walls, looking around nervously as he spoke in hushed tones. The soldier shrugged without taking his eyes off the jungle outside the walls facing them - it was just possible to see through all those small gaps between trees where paths had been cleared for grazing cattle or walking through these parts of land cultivated by humans or animals seeking food or water from time to time over centuries past.

Prasad continued looking around nervously at all those unfamiliar sights around him: tall trees swaying in the wind; monkeys playing atop ancient-looking palm trees; deer roaming freely but very cautiously among those who were not natives; birds swooping down into streams; enormous spiders perched upon webs that stretched across small streams here and there; people dressed in colourful clothing walking along seemingly invisible paths connecting different parts of this vast land mass known as Kerala; men sowing seeds into freshly dug earth; women digging vegetables nearby; children running around...

Everywhere he looked sent shivers coursing through him but also filled him with awe and wonder at all those sights new to him... until he turned back around to look at Kannur Fort itself once more only to realise something odd about it: there were no flags fluttering atop its walls! And then he remembered something else: most forts or castles would have flags flying atop their high walls whenever there were visitors arriving! So why hadn't anyone raised any flags? Hadn't there been any visitors here for decades? Or maybe even centuries? Why hadn't anyone raised any flags after all these years?

"Here comes our ride," said one of the sailors standing near Captain Thomas' chair, snapping Prasad out of his contemplation and drawing everyone's attention back towards their camp near the front gates facing northwards towards Cochin town - where they had started their journey three days ago - after they had parked their wagon outside the front gates so they could rest while waiting for replies from any emissaries sent ahead by Kannur Fort's ruler after receiving their request for an audience earlier today... hoping they might be granted admittance soon so they could meet whoever was in charge here! "And how did you not notice it before now?" asked Captain Thomas incredulously as he rose from his seat and marched over towards his sailors who were now observing what looked like two small horse-drawn carriages approaching them from further away along a road that ran parallel with theirs and went deeper inside this seemingly endless landmass called Kerala! Who would risk travelling via horseback through these parts where bandits might lie in wait for easy prey? They must be rich indeed! Or mad! Or both! thought Captain Thomas as he watched in disbelief as two richly dressed young men riding magnificent stallions neared closer until they drew level with them! Who ever heard of horse-drawn carriages visiting a place like this? What kind of people would be wealthy enough to afford such luxuries? These must be rulers themselves! He couldn't help but wonder if these two young men were related somehow because they looked so similar despite being different ages when it came down to it: both had jet black hair tied into ponytails behind their heads; both wore white frocks reaching down just above their knees; both wore black boots underneath which they wore dark green stockings reaching up almost halfway up their calves... no sign of weapons anywhere visible on either young man despite being surrounded by troublemakers such as himself who might want to rob them blind if given half a chance... although he doubted it would be easy given how alert these two strangers seemed despite being so relaxed sitting atop horses as though they owned this land themselves... almost as though they possessed magic powers not available to mere mortals such as himself! The only difference between them: one had light brown eyes while another had bright green eyes... perhaps three years apart in age? Such odd colouring among brothers seemed impossible! But nothing seemed impossible anymore when faced with such bizarre strangers! Soon enough, these two young men dismounted from their horses - which showed no signs whatsoever strain despite carrying two young men plus their heavy saddles weighing several hundred pounds each no doubt - while giving instructions in Malayalam (the language spoken by locals) to two servants who hurried forward so they could take care of them... clearly those two young men didn't intend on staying long judging by how quickly they rushed inside once inside Kannur Fort's main gate after having greeted everyone present with warm smiles and hearty handshakes without even bothering explaining why they were here in person instead of writing letters or sending an emissary via messenger pigeon or pigeon post instead... leaving Thomas and Prasad stunned at first before realising what must have happened: surely