World/Fate New

Chapter Three

Clatter And Rattle Of The Arrow Shooting Bones

[Rattling_Musical_Bones]


The young girl snuggles herself beside the Spider's abdomen as the cold night sneaks in. The Campfire continues to crackle and emit a comforting warmth for them. Hours pass by quietly in the dark before a musical tune awakens the two sleepers.

The Spider clicks its mandibles but does not rise, not wishing to accidentally shove the already waking girl. She rubs her eyes and mews to look for the source of the sound and is filled with curiosity to the new nighttime song.

Over there, across the wall, is the sound of click and clack, clatter and rattle, a jittery shamble approaches from over the dirt wall.

The visitor took wide strides as its head sways left and right with every step.

It was twice the height of the girl with an intimidating hunched stance and a bow in hand. Its body was a faded gray and made of many thin and connected pieces like an abstract puzzle.

It walks into the light of the fire and reveals its truth form to be that of an animated skeleton of, possibly, an adult human male.

Every single one of its movement creates a sound as the hundreds of loosely connected bones rub against one another like a piano playing wildly.

Its dull and empty eyes stare deep into the girl and the young girl gazes back.

She is intrigued by the sight before her and wonders whether this creature was proof that other humans exist, or once existed, in this world. Or perhaps, it was just like her and it is what it is and was nevermore than that of its humble beginning; her born a human and it born a skeleton. The 'Knowledge of the World' did not answer those questions.

The little girl stands up and so too did the spider. She circles around the Campfire and approaches the Skeleton as it eyes her with equal curiosity.

The girl puts out her left hand and waits. The Skeleton reaches out with its own left hand and touches her fingers once, then twice, then thrice, before gently holding her hand and shaking it.

She felt a cool grainy surface; while the walking bones felt a warm and soft touch.

The Skeleton's hand pops out of its wrist and it reels back going into a slack-jaw shock. The young girl examines the texture of the bones more carefully before offering the hand back and the walking bones swiftly pops it back with relief.

It looks down to see the girl point at its bow, it nudges the weapon forward and the girl quickly nods her head.

The Skeleton stands up tall with hands on its hips with an open jaw as it rattles a postured laugh. It taps a hand to its chest and gives the girl a nod and thumbs up.

[...]

Out on the field, beyond the campsite, were four pedestals of Dirt cubes of varying distance and height with an Apple set above them. Their locations were lit by a single Torch for each one.

The Skeleton stands on the camp's dirt wall in a stance that mirrored a bard telling a story. It swiftly points at each apple and, with an extended thumb, slides its hand across its throat. The girl was sitting and swinging her legs to watch the show and the Spider sat above the wall as well.

It pulls out an arrow from its Inventory and shot within the blink of an eye. One, two, three, four; all the Apples were knocked off their stands and hit cleanly in the middle with the arrowhead piercing through.

The girl stares wide-eyed at the sharp performance before applauding with resounding claps. The Spider clicks it mandibles and happily hops energetically.

The animated bones puts a hand behind its head and repeatedly performs light bows to its two audience members.

[...]

The performance of the Skeleton's archery skills lasted well into the morning.

It shot while jumping. It shot while riding the Spider. It shot while blindfolded. It shot up into the sky and let the strange principles of gravity govern the arrows' fall.

Its many talents earned it innocent and heartfelt praise from both the young girl and Spider.

And before it had realized it, the sun was already peeking over the horizon.

The Skeleton panics with an all shivering rattle and looked like it would fall to pieces at a moment's notice. It frantically looks around only to find that its action had caused the little girl to worry.

It rapidly points to the rising sun and crosses its arm in a 'x' shape.

The girl places her hands under her chin and gasps as the walking bones nodded in confirmation. Her new friend was, one way or another, in danger of the coming sun. With quick thinking, the young girl stacks Dirt blocks and creates a miniature roof to protect her new companion.

The gray bones wipes its forehead in a sighing gesture.

She places a finger to her lips and tilts her head. She wonders if there was a way for her new thin friend to be able to walk out in the sun.

An idea comes to her and she taps a fist to her palm before sprinting to her Chest, opening it up, and taking her selected item.

It was a Straw Hat; an item made of Sugar Canes and Wheat. She had created it for the days when the sun was strangely brighter and hotter than usual, though she did not use it often, the girl found that it had always protected her coolly from the sun.

She hands the hat to the Skeleton who apprehensively puts it on.

The little girl runs out into the sun and faces her new friend, she had her hands on her hips with a smile on her face and twinkling eyes looking proud.

The Skeleton shrugs its shoulders and sighs before walking out into the sun. For once it felt the warmth of the sun without bursting into flames. The animated bones' jaws was gaping widely at how such a simple item allowed it to stand in the grace of its mortal enemy without experiencing harm.

The Skeleton arches its back, placing its hand on its hips, and rattles a triumph and victorious laugh. The girl imitates the musical bones and gives a laugh of her own. And the Spider raises it forelegs and clicks its mandibles as well.

The three heartily laugh until the young girl is interrupted by a yawn and weakly rubs her eyes, she walks back to her makeshift roof and lies under the shaded grassy ground.

She falls asleep and dreams of the more fun days and nights to come.


Author Notes

Originally the Young Girl was going to encounter more exotic and giant creatures, sorta like Shadow of the Colossus or Monster Hunter, but then it stopped feeling like Minecraft, so I decided not to.

What do I think Minecraft feels like? A Somber or Solemn kind of feeling.