Walking silently back to Sydney's 'camp', the two occasionally stole small glances at each other, trying to read the other's emotions and get their own thoughts straight.
"Herobrine?" Shelby started, looking over to him. He caught her glance and quickly dropped it; unable to look her in the eyes.
"What exactly were you two talking about?" she finished, voice cautious but dripping with anxious curiosity.
"It's nothing. I'll tell you later." He replied, trying to avoid the subject as long as possible.
The redhead glared at him for a moment, but quickly gave up and matched his downward gaze.
"Great, so you were talking about me." Her voice softened and faltered, betraying the hurt she felt.
Torn between telling Shelby about Sydney's statement thus setting the deal or giving her nothing to go on, he just watched her for a moment. Unfortunately, he waited too long and the young woman stormed off, leaving him alone in the woods.
"Shelby!" He called after her guiltily. She didn't turn back.
"FUCK!" he yelled, aiming to kick a tree before remembering he still didn't have any shoes. Instead he set his arms on fire and repeatedly punched the tree, setting it ablaze. Swearing again, Herobrine extinguished the oak and then slid down in, resting his head on his knees. He let out a rattled sigh, trying to calm himself down.
This was why he had to let her go. He wished he could go home with her even, but there were so many reasons against that decision. First of all Notch, there were so many complications that would arise around him. Although rationally he could just ignore him and try to be less contentious, there was too much burning anger seated in his mind. There was also the matter of his newfound powers. Control over fire, immunity to lava, some form of levitation. Not to mention the voices he heard once and the strange mental aversion to relationships. They were too dangerous and uncontrollable; it would be foolish to put other people at risk.
Think of them as gifts
Snapping his head up, the man frantically looked around.
"Hello..?"
What did I tell you about-! Oh shit! This voice was different, more feminine.
"Who's there?" Confused, Herobrine stood up carefully and surveyed his surroundings.
"Are you reading my thoughts?"
There was no reply.
'Think of them as gifts' the male voice had said. He'd never thought that these unnatural abilities could be seen in a positive light, and he did considerate it. Although taking the advice of a disembodied voice that then got yelled at by another disembodied voice wasn't high on his priority list.
How about he mess around with these 'gifts'?
Untwisting his sword from his belt loop and leaning it against the tree, he prepared himself mentally for what he was planning. Holding out one arm, he set it on fire. After taking a breath, he held out the other and set it similarly.
But he could do so much more. Closing his eyes, he centered his focus on the energy in his body, willing it to flow to his legs and feet. He wanted to fly.
Inch after inch after inch, his toes slowly lifted off of the ground and a mind-numbing adrenaline rush raced through his body. With them still hidden, Herobrine felt the burn of his own eyes beneath his lids and let go of all his thoughts.
Up, up, he went, feeling the sun hit his skin and the swirl of autumn wind stray his hair. Curiosity drove him to look out and see the sights. And an amazing view there was to see. Breaching over the tops of the trees he could see the edge of the forest he'd just rose out of. The sun lit up the edges of the leaves while the dark shadows they casted lay in contrast. The slowly-thinning tree line blended into bright grassy plains that appeared to stretch to the horizon, the only landmark in sight being a small village… right where he left it.