Hello, people! This is the first fanfiction I've ever published, and I'm really looking forward to getting criticism. I've already got most of the story planned out (and some written).

R&R and let a new writer know you actually read her story!

~EnderLady72

Grey saw the white canvas of a covered wagon in the distance.

"Oh, I wonder what they have." He said to himself as he pulled on his light spring jacket and rushed out the door. He was excited to meet the traders, and look at their wares. He didn't have much to trade, maybe a few pieces of iron and some apples, but it was fun to see the things the nomads had gotten on their travels even if he never bought anything.

He always had wanted to adventure, but never had. Sure, he had climbed trees and examined spooky noises, he had even fought quite a few zombies and other monsters, but that was all around the town. Grey dreamed of seeing the wonders of Notch's world, from the insanely tall jungle trees to the rarest mob alive, the almost mythical mooshroom. But somehow he just never did, mainly because he own a house with a bed, and he was determined to sleep in that bed every night. None of his little quests lasted longer than a few hours, unless he was helping with a harvest or something big. That was Grey's version of adventuring. He had made helping the townsfolk with whatever they needed into a job. It was how he got the few gold nuggets he owned.

As Grey approached the edge of the small shops and scattered covered wagons, he saw a man pulling a mule around with a lead. The mule looked very agile, unlike the stiff donkeys, and would be willing to carry a lot of stuff. It had a handsome brown coat, and already wore a saddle. It was a perfect steed for adventuring.

"Mule for sale, just 5 gold ingots!" The man told Grey, spotting him peering at the mule. "And I'll throw in the saddle, for free. What do you say, huh?" The man smiled kindly through his thick graying beard, and Grey bit his lip.

That was cheap. Really, really cheap. It was likely that the man selling the mule would not get a single gold nugget of profit off the trade. As Grey thought over the deal, his desire to adventure took over him. If he bought a mule, he go on long journeys without having to venture back home for a while. He could ride the mule, he could store things from his travels on the mule, and the mule also looked quite cool, with its chocolate brown coat and sturdy frame.

"I don't have 5 gold ingots on me," Grey admitted. "But how long will you be in town?" If the trader was going to stick around for a while, he could work up some gold to buy the mule.

The man patted the cocoa-colored steed on the neck. "A day or two. But you never know, someone else might snag this trade soon."

"Well, just know I'm interested. That's a fine-looking mule, at least to me," He said, sighing. Sometimes, doing random odd jobs had its disadvantages. Like not having much extra things to trade with.

"I'm Grey Gladson, by the way. I've always wanted a good steed to go on an adventure with."

"And I'm Jacob Kenson. I understand the urge to travel. That's why I joined this group of nomads, traveling across the world and selling horses and things."

"Neat." Grey said. "Maybe, one day when I finally get sick of this little town, I'll join a bunch of nomads too. Not now though."

"Have a good day now." Jacob said, hitching the steed to a nearby fence post.

"You too."

As Grey walked off, he started to realize how much he needed (or thought he needed) that mule. It was like his ticket to a lifetime of adventure. If he got the gold, the mule came ready to ride, saddle and all. The only thing Grey had to do was pick a direction and start riding, and he would find the marvels of the world that he always had wanted to see.

"How am I supposed to get 5 gold in a few days?" Grey asked himself out loud while he strolled down the paths between shops.

"I… might have a deal for you." A woman's voice softly answered.

Grey stopped, surprised. "Sorry, I was just talking to myself."

The woman he knew only as 'The Witch'. Her long hair was a matte white, like paper, but her green eyes shone like vibrant emeralds. Her outfit, plain jeans and a dark blue cloak, helped her blend in with some success. She was only slightly taller than Grey himself, and still looked slightly regal and magical, with an appearance like she was towering over him. Was she magical? That's what the townsfolk always said about witches.

"No, really." The witch dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans, and came out with her hands tightly closed. "I need bones, and you need gold."

Grey took a wary step back. "I won't do anything bad. I was raised to help others."

The witch uncurled her slender fingers to reveal large clumps of fine gold, easily at least 5 ingots' worth. "I'm not asking you to." After flashing her wealth, she stuck the precious metal back in her pockets. It wasn't wise to stand in the middle of the street holding glittering gold. "Just kill some skeletons during the night, and collect the arm and leg bones. Give me what you collected in the morning, and you'll get 5 gold ingots. Quite a good deal, I would say."

Suddenly Grey wanted to bolt, but he was grounded in place. The offer sounded better then he would admit, but would he be helping along a evil plan? He didn't know. He didn't even know the witch's name.

"I don't know… I don't know if I can trust someone I don't even know."

The witch sighed in annoyance, and leaned against the stone wall of a flower shop. "Well, I'm Atria Mason. Now you know me. Will you accept the offer now?"

"Grey Gladson," He got the feeling she was not going to stop pressing the deal on him. "I'll do it. I don't know how many bones I'll get, but as long as I get 5 gold, I'll be a happy man."

"Bring what you get by the wishing waterfall in the morning. I expect at least 4 unbroken arm or leg bones."

What Atria wanted with skeleton bones was not Grey's business. All he thought about as he walked back to his house was what he was going to call his mule. Maybe he was getting ahead of himself, but he couldn't help it. He was going to finally see the sights he always wanted to, and all it took was him thinking out loud in the right place at the right time.