Hello readers, I am the author, Vinarth! Thank you, CaptainClipy, for being the first to review my story and for encouraging me to update! Thank you everyone for taking the time to read my story, please review if you want to see more updates! (And PM me if you find any mistakes)

Chapter 4 - The Traveler

_Cupa and Steve encountered no resistance on the way out of the cave; it seemed that Magister gave off enough light to repel monsters.

_In a week's time, they had finished a wooden hut against the side of a mountain with a workable door. Still as an extra precaution, they took shifts each night. Because he was finally able to sleep at night again, Steve became ten times more productive.

_Cupa showed Steve a fruit tree that made a fruit that tasted like an under-ripe plum, but was the size of a large apple. Calling it a plumapple tree, this food supply made hunting for meat from pigs and other animals unnecessary.

_Cupa managed to get some wool off the roaming sheep, and, winding it tight, made it into strings. With this she made a hammock for the person who wasn't on watch.

_Magister spent a lot of time "thinking" and really only lit up the house at night.

_One week after that, they went exploring, and that is where the next chapter of our story begins...

- [ ] -

_"Ready?" Steve shouted from outside the hut.

_"Hold on!" replied Cupa, "We have to make sure we remember everything just in case we can't make it back before sunset."

_"Come on, we'll make it back way before then, just throw whatever you got in the leather backpack I made."

_"What if we forget something?"

_"Cupa, with all the stuff you brought, you two could stay a night and fight off twenty zombies!" Steve reassured her.

_"Okay, but what if—"

_"Just go explore already!" Magister suddenly interrupted, "You've already wasted an hour of sunlight!"

_"Ok we're going, watch the house while we're gone!" said Steve

_"Will do!" said Magister

_"Bye!"

_Both Cupa and Steve were aiming to find the highest point they could so they could map their surroundings out. Their house would be easy enough to spot from a high place; it was against a mountain and in a clearing.

_Finding the tallest tree in the area, Steve took his pack off and pulled various items from his pockets, setting them down as well. "I think that we should climb this tree to find where the highest point in the area is," he suggested

_"Ok... sure"

_Steve grabbed hold of the lowest branch and pulled himself up. "Are you coming up?" he asked, giving her his hand.

_"No thanks, I'm not the strongest..."

_"That's not true at all! You beat the shit out of that enderman I looked at!"

_"True..."

_"So come on up..."

_"No."

_"There's a great view!" He teased, giving her a little nudge.

_"NO."

_"Why not?"

_"I'm scared of heights OK!"

_Steve burst out laughing and Cupa blushed.

_"Sto-op it!"

_"The great, fearless Cupa, slayer of hundreds of horrors, gets dizzy a few feet off the ground? I don't believe you!"

_"No! It's true! Leave me alone!"

_"Fine, suit yourself. I'll just take a quick look." Steve quickly climbed up the tree to get a look of where they were. He enjoyed the wind, sun, and fresh air that resided above the tallest of trees. He squinted down to where Cupa was, and found that she was looking up at him as well. He gave her a little wave and surveyed the surroundings.

_"We're in luck!" He called down to her

_"Why's that?"

_"Just a sec!" He made his way down the tree with ease, swinging on a few of the branches. "Okay, with the pond in front of us being 12 o'clock, our house is at 7 and the tallest mountain is at 2. It looks pretty overgrown though.

_"It must be in another biome; probably jungle."

_"Wait, there are biomes here too?"

_"Yep."

_"Wow..." Steve briefly spaced out in wonder, unaware that he was looking in Cupa's direction when he did this.

_"So are we going to go sometime today or what?" she teased, poking him back.

_"Y-yea, let's go now!" Steve scooped up his things.

_They journeyed onto where the forest and jungle biomes met. Steve thought it was an interesting experience transitioning from one to the next. It felt like he walked through some sort of remarkable bubble that prevented winds from occurring between the two temperature zones. Cupa just walked right through it without batting an eye, giggling at Steve's dumbfoundedness.

_"Wow the temperature and the upward climb make a killer combo," said Cupa as she took a drink at a brook they found. As dangerous as the monsters made the wilderness, at least the water was almost always clean and fresh.

_"Yea, next on my to-do list is make some canteens." Steve noted aloud at Cupa's sloppy drinking, "You realize you're getting it all over your shirt?"

_"Does it look like I give a fuck?" She winked.

_Steve rolled his eyes, "In about 20 minutes, lets continue with our hike."

_"Is minute a measurement of time?"

_"Yeah, wait— I thought Magister gave you all the information he had on humans. You should know about how long a minute is."

_"Teacher can't give me all the information at once; instead he gives me small lessons about once every seven days. If he had enough energy, he could technically teach it all to be in an instant, but it would involve consuming a ton of matter."

_"Woah, slow down! He can teach it to you in an instant? How? He consumes matter to run? What do you still have to learn?"

_"Ummmmm…" Cupa thought for a moment, "So, it works like this, I believe the word he used was program? He 'codes' the information into my brain?" She bit her lip, thinking hard, "I really don't know how it works, but I know that I go to sleep and I wake up knowing things! It's fun! Some things that he does requires more energy than others, and to get the energy, he absorbs the matter around him. As for the topics that I have to still learn, I don't really know, I just know that there are seventeen left and two big ones are human anatomy and sex."

_"Okay…" Steve said, not understanding all of what she said. Better not make a move on her then, he thought, "Getting back to what I was saying earlier; you know what a day is, but you don't know what a minute is?"

_"Yep."

_"How did you understand my 12 o'clock mapping then?"

_"I didn't, I just followed- AAAAAAAAAH" Cupa suddenly screamed.

_"What?" Steve jumped up, drawing his sword. "What is it?"

_"C-c-cat!" She hid behind a log.

_"Oh, come ON! You have to be kidding!" He said, stuffing it back in his belt loop.

_"G-get it away f-from me!"

_"I know ocelots and cats repel creepers in-game but-"

_"Stop talking and get your ass over here!"

_"Fine, fine" Steve walked between Cupa and the cat. "Shoo! Before Cupa beats you or something!" The ocelot sat down and began grooming itself. "Up you go!" Steve said, scooping it up by the scruff of the neck. He brought it further into the woods so that it wouldn't run into them again.

_"T-thanks" Cupa said when Steve returned, "I know it's an irrational fear, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still scared."

_"That's two for you today,"

_"Shut up…" Cupa said a little too coldly.

_"Are you ready?" Steve asked after a few seconds

_"Yeah, we can go when you're ready."

_"Lets go then."

_They reached the top of the mountain about an hour later, a little after midday, and they were burning up. The hike, the heat and the humidity drained their energy. They sat down on the open rock to take in the breeze and view.

_"Plumapple?" asked Steve

_"Yes please"

_"Here you go. Uh... Cupa? What are you doing?" She took off her hoodie to reveal, not a shirt underneath, but a green bra. "Cupa? What are you doing?" Steve repeated.

_"I'm burning up so I thought I would shed some layers." She simply replied.

_"Cupa, keep your clothes on please; it's making me uncomfortable."

_"Why should I; you never have a shirt on"

_"Thats because it got torn up and is no longer wearable! Plus I'm a guy!"

_"What does having a deep voice have anything to do with it?" Cupa asked as she unclasped her bra.

_"You know how Magister hasn't taught you about sex yet?"

_"Yeah," The bra fell and Steve turned around.

_"Cupa, put your bra back on or you're going to regret this when you find out what sex is!"

_"Okay, fine! If it means that much to you!" Cupa shrugged as she put her bra back on.

_"Yes it does, thank you!" Steve said, turning back around, "Maybe we can make a more modest top for you so you don't have to wear that hoodie in hotter environment."

_"Can we rest a little before we map stuff out?"

_"Yea, it might be a good idea." Steve laid down on his back and Cupa put her head on his chest.

_They both made the mistake of closing their eyes.

- [ ] -

_Cupa was the first to notice the temperature change. It was a little groggy and much cooler than before. She began feeling around for her hoodie but couldn't find it because it was dark. Dark? She suddenly realized, jumping up just in time to see the last of the sun slip below the horizon.

_"Steve! Wake up!" she yelled, shaking him awake.

_"Huh?" Steve murmured opening his eyes "Shit!" He shouted and shot up. "What happened?"

_"We fell asleep together, as in, at the same time" She said zipping up her hoodie.

_"Dammit! And we have no light because Magister is at home!"

_"Afraid so"

_"How did you survive your nights alone?"

_"I turned into a creeper and waited it out. You?"

_"I ran"

_"Well we can see if the moon comes out tonight, and we have a sword so it shouldn't be a problem."

_"But if the moon doesn't come out..."

_"We're screwed"

_Steve was silent a moment before finally sighing and walking toward the forest, "Well, I'm just going to wait the night out in that really tall tree! Are you coming?"

_"Wait Steve, how about this?" Cupa began her suggestion, "I go in the forest as a creeper, scout it out a little and then come back and show you a safe route."

_"I don't even care about mapping anymore, lets go!"

_Cupa scouted ahead of Steve alone for a little while, there didn't seem to be any monsters, so she gave him the ok to walk next to her. They walked side by side in silence. It's amazing how much he's changing, Cupa thought, before he was a coward by default, now he's more confident and fine with taking on a monster or two.

_"Cupa?" Steve asked.

_"Yes?" Cupa whispered.

_"Stop walking; I hear something."

_They stopped walking and listened. A moan was heard to their right and a spider slurp behind them.

_"Fight or Flight?" He asked

_"Flight" Cupa responded, "Just because we only hear two, doesn't mean there's a lot more."

_"Lets go!" Steve took off deeper into the jungle.

_Cupa turned into human form and chased after him. He was hacking at the underbrush as he was going, clearing a path for her, but she was still running out of breath keeping up with him. Steve suddenly stopped dead, and she ran into him.

_"Am I hallucinating, or do you see that light too?"

_Cupa looked over his shoulders and sure enough, she saw a faint orange glow. "It's probably just surface lava," she said.

_"But, it could be someone's house!"

_"You're too optimistic!"

_"Well, I'm tired of being pessimistic!" He shot back and ran toward the light.

_They broke through the trees and into a lit clearing. There was a tent and a man sitting on a log sharpening a metal sword with a rock. He was pretty old and could've easily been 50 or 60; he had deep wrinkles, a dark scar under his eye, and a long grey beard. That having been said, he was very muscular, with broad shoulders and probably pretty tall. He looked at Steve, looked at his sword, looked back at Steve, and then behind Steve where Cupa was hiding, before finally saying "Ya know, I thought I 'eard someone runnin' around out there."

_Steve stood forward. "My name's Steve, and this is Cupa." she waved her hand a little before backing off again.

_Why was I so scared of this guy? He's a human after all! Cupa thought, "O-our house is about two miles that way and we were trying to get back."

_"What the fuck ar yer doing out 'ere then?"

_"We overslept..." Steve explained, sighing.

_"Ah, and the two of yer live together then?"

_"Uhh, yeah, two is much safer than one. You know? Safety in Numbers?"

_"So this is the 'two kids meet in a hostile world and have sex' kind of story?"

_Steve blushed and continued, "NO, I've only known her for a little over a week."

_"That don't matter in this world!"

_"Steve?" Cupa whispered from behind him, "I didn't know sex is something that you can have?"

_"Not now Cupa..." He whispered back then addressed the man "I'm still a decent person though!"

_"Oh really?"

_"I'm a Christian!"

_The man burst out laughing. "I know plenty of lustful Christians! That don't got nothin' to do with it!"

_"I have moral standards for myself and I keep to them!" Steve declared

_"Morals? In hell?"

_They stared at each other for a little while before he said, "I like ya boy, ya got quite the character!" Then he chuckled. "I'm a traveller; the night is no threat to me! I'm a blacksmith; I forge the tools that keep me alive! I'm a man; I know how difficult it is out here! My name is Beard!" He put out his hand and Steve shook it.

_Cupa felt a giggle leave her, and she hid behind Steve again, embarrassed.

_"What?" Beard asked

_"Nothing," she said, "Your name's fitting!"

_"Alright, we're heading home now, it would be nice if you came along, but you don't have to." Steve offered him.

_"To be honest, I'm bored out of my mind just fighting zombies because I can; I'll come with ya! Give me a moment to pack up my things"

_"Alright!" Steve said as Beard disappeared into the tent.

_"Steve," Cupa whispered to him, "Why are we inviting him to come along?"

_"Let's face it Cupa; we need help."

_"But I just have a bad feeling about him..."

_"I don't, I believe he's a really good guy that knows the land well and we can learn from him. You'll need to listen to him closely if you want to live as a human."

_"I know but, it's like this sixth sense..."

_"Cupa," he gave her a hug and Cupa noticed how much shorter she was compared to him "It'll be fine," he whispered into her ear, reassuring her, "I promise."

_Cupa noticed his embrace caused her stomach to feel fluttery and her mind to be put at ease. Why did he have this effect on me? Was it some power humans had? She hugged him back because of the warmth and confidence he gave her, but that's when he broke away.

_Beard hobbled out of the tent. "Ok, 'ere is to show that I'm not gonna kill you. I got two presents." He handed them out, "Steel Dagger for the lady, and new shoes to run in for the gent!"

_"Wow, thanks!" Cupa said, thankful she didn't have to rely on Steve for their only weapon.

_"Steel? Not Iron?" asked Steve

_"Yep! It's the strongest metal I got, and doesn't rust as fast as a pig eats shit like iron does!"

_"What is the alloy for Steel?"

_Beard started rolling up his tent, "Iron and Carbon!"

_"How'd you get your hands on some carbon?" Steve was asking questions not in a quizzical way, but in a curious one.

_"Pig Iron!"

_"Cool?" Steve said, not fully understanding him.

_Beard stuffed the tent up into an enormous backpack which he threw over his shoulders. "Let's move out!" He ordered, handing Steve the kerosene lamp that was lighting up the site.

_They continued the hike down the mountain in silence, listening to the slightest moan or hiss. It was a much longer trek down the mountain than up. We were just about to cross into the forest biome when Steve stopped and whispered, "Creeper"

_"Where?" Beard eagerly said.

_"Downhill being 12 o'clock; 10:30." he pointed

_"Ahh, I see the bastard, watch this!" Beard took out a bow and a single arrow. He rested his backpack next to him and strung the bow. Pulling back, he said "Good riddance, vermin of the earth!" And let go.

_The arrow sailed through the air and hit the creeper in the eye, killing it instantly.

_"Okay resume hike!" He said and got his backpack on. Steve and Cupa followed in silence.

_Even after the long nap, Cupa was tired; She wasn't used to all this walking and couldn't wait for the hammock at home, or even better, resting on Steve's chest again.

_After another mile, they were close enough to the house that they could see the blue glow. Unfortunately, between them and the house was a huge pack of zombies.

_"I count Fifteen…" Steve sighed, "Cupa, I think you're going to need to explode."

_"Say what?" asked Beard

_"Okay, Steve." Cupa paused a moment before turning to Beard, "Beard, this might be hard for you; don't kill me please." She focused her energy into transformation and turned into a creeper. Looking back at Beard again, he stood in shock, his hands shaking. Cupa ignored him and walked over to the zombies. They all walked toward her, thinking she had something to say. Instead she exploded, instantly killing them all before turning back into a human and climbing out of the crater she made.

_"F-f-fucking f-f-freak!"

_"I'm not a freak! I just have some abilities!"

_"Get away from me you demon!"

_"Demon..." Cupa murmured, Why do first impressions never go well?

_"Beard! That's enough!" Steve shouted walking over to comfort me.

_"It's not enough! She's the fucking enemy!"

_"Then why did the enemy just help us? Huh?"

_"..." Beard thought about this for a moment, looking back and forth between Cupa and the crater. Finally giving up, he stated, "I'm going inside to make a coffee."

_"Ok..." Steve said.

_"Anything else I should know about?" Beard asked

_"I don't think so," Cupa said, paying more attention to Steve than him.

_"Thank God," He dragged his feet inside and closed the door. Not three seconds later they heard a yell from inside, "Oh dear God! What the fuck is that?"

_"That" Steve said, "would be Magister!"