I had been with the twins Felix and Phoenix for three weeks now, and felt way better. In fact, good enough to start my search for the lost art. I'd gotten a bit used to Phoenix's remarks - but that didn't mean I liked them - and learned to deal with them at that point. So I started out to find a cave of any kind - I supposed that was a good place to start - and found one near the evening. All the same I didn't go back. I wasn't going to until I at least had some iron or something to show for it.
As I went in, I took out a torch, feeling pretty good about myself. I was going to be fine. I had a pickaxe, a sword, and a whole lot of torches. So I started in, glancing over the walls for any kind of ore or signs of old civilization. It was said that there was a jungle temple where the book of the golems was kept. Obviously, that's what I needed to find - I wasn't looking for some great adventure. Just a golem or two to protect my home. As I went deeper into the cave, I glanced back. Night was falling quickly again, but I didn't want to be out there with zombies. I turned back to the tunnels before me and quickened my step, making my way deeper into the darkness. Eventually, the clattering of bones and groan of zombies came to me. I tensed, realizing that this was very, very bad. There were skeletons and zombies in the cave, and there were skeletons and zombies outside the cave. Great. I came to a split in the tunnel after who knows how long, and glanced back behind my back nervously before hurrying down one. A mild glow filled the tunnel, but it wasn't from my torch. Lava. I couldn't decide whether that was a good or a bad thing. Usually monsters don't come near lava. But death does.
I carefully made my way into the cavern where a river of molten rock sluggishly meandered, glowing with heat. Ugh. This was in fact a bad thing. Suddenly, I got this sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew something really bad was about to happen. Even with that feeling, I went on, edging along the side of the lava river, desperate for something to show for all the trouble I was going through. I heard a groan behind me and stiffened, slowly turning. A zombie was slowly ambling this way, and I froze in fear for a minute, images of last time flashing through my mind. I won't lie - I was scared. The only way out was on the other side of that zombie and I had no clue where the path I was on would end. I turned, running as soon as fear loosened its grip. I had the distinct feeling that I'd lost the zombie after a few minutes, and slowed down. It really was hot down there. I looked around, passing a lava fall. A path branched off next to it, and I saw something that made my heart soar on the other side of the river.
Diamonds! I glanced behind me, not taking too much into account before I stepped out onto the path, running across to mine the beautiful, beautiful blue rock. I threw the pick into the stone, separating the diamond from the scarn. I hollowed the section out, finding several other clusters of diamond. I had never been so proud in my life - Surely even Phoenix wouldn't be able to snark at this! I threw the diamonds and pick into my bag before hurrying back toward the opening. I pulled out my sword, just in case, but no monsters came near - not even creepers. I bounded out of the mouth of the cave, forcing my way through the undergrowth. I headed straight back, unable to think of anything except bragging over my diamonds. Ten in all. I could see the treehouse now, and I couldn't possibly be more excited - nothing could possibly go wrong now!
Except, it did. That was exactly when I felt the burning of an arrow firing precisely into my back, just between the shoulderblades. I stiffened up, falling straight forward onto my face, and blacked out almost immediately.
I gasped deeply, shooting upright, only to be greeted by the laughing of Phoenix. Oh, great.
"You just got totally owned by that skeleton," she informed me. "Oh, look! I can still see where your helmet fell off!"
"Of course," I responded, falling back on the bed. "I completely didn't notice. It's not like I felt it or something, end sarcasm." I was too irritated to bother actually putting correct emphasis on the sarcasm of what I was saying. "I'm getting my stuff back. Now." I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, jumping up. I went on out onto the wooden planks outside the house and climbed down the vines on the trunk, carefully scanning the area for things that would rip my limbs off. After I was satisfied that I wouldn't be killed, I darted into the open, eyes shifting nervously. I picked up my bag and helmet, then slowly backed up a few feet before turning and hurrying back up the tree. As I got to the porch, a greyish brown head came into view and a sharp yip greeted me. I scratched the wolf behind the ears before going inside.
Once I entered the cozy, leafy tree house, I tossed my pack over onto the crafting table, opened the chest, and put my helmet back where it belonged.
"So, did you get anything out of your stupid stunt?" Phoenix asked me, her tone not sounding nearly as sincere as the words she was saying. I grunted something unintelligible. She must have taken that as a no, since she started laughing at my apparent suckiness again.
"Umm, Conner... I think that there's a lesson to be learned here... One that I think everyone else already knew." Felix said, trying not to sound condescending despite the fact that he obviously thought I was an idiot for staying out in those caves so late.
"What's that?" I asked him, bracing myself for whatever humiliating comment would come next.
"Don't mine at night."