patroclus runs away the next day, finding no reason to stay in peleus’ palace without achilles. patroclus is startled by a sound in the woods. before he can respond, achilles knocks him to the ground, overjoyed to see patroclus. chiron—a half-horse, half-man centaur—appears and introduces himself to patroclus.

chiron leads patroclus and achilles to the cave on mount pelion where they will be staying. chiron says he will teach them medicine and music, among other things, just as he taught the heroes heracles and jason. achilles and patroclus bathe later that day, and when they return to chiron’s cave, chiron says that he will teach them about forestry, hunting, and herb-picking. later that night, chiron informs them that thetis warned him to not let patroclus follow achilles. chiron, however, goes against her wishes and lets patroclus stay.