Ruben's Adventure
Chapter 3: Coming Together

Disclaimer: I do not own Minecraft or any rights associated with it.

Ruben, Paul, Sarah, and Jack had made their small cave function as a quaint little base. Ruben, Jack, and Paul would cycle in pairs to dive into the dungeon so that one could mine and the other would watch his back. The other guy would remain with Sarah on or near the surface to go hunting for animals and bring in wood for fuel and tools. Sarah had also learned how to grow trees and crops with artificial light from torches. They'd upgraded the two doors into the mine and out of the base so now they were iron and some levers had been made so they could open and lock the doors at night and when they weren't there.

In the past few days Ruben had learned more about enchanting, fighting, and alchemy from his companions. He seemed to be growing quickly as an adventurer and was no longer the novice that had set out two weeks ago with nothing to his name; now he had a full suit of diamond armor with some basic enchantments and two diamond swords with another set of basic enchantments and a few strength potions he'd brewed himself using Sarah's ingredients, with her permission.

Today Ruben and Paul were down in the mine, Ruben was standing guard while Paul mined away at an iron ore vein they'd found. According to Paul; iron could be used to make an anvil, and with an anvil they could repair their gear and trade enchantments or improve them if they had enough materials. This was the group's next big project. After that they planned on gathering some animals into the base and breeding them so they wouldn't have to travel out each day.

"See anything?" Paul asked as he picked up a block of iron ore.

"Nothing, that pack of zombies earlier was all we've encountered,"

"Didn't you and Jack have an easy trip yesterday?"

"We still met more mobs than that," Ruben said, "I just feel like something's gonna happen,"

Paul scoffed as he finished mining the vein, "Come on, I've got all of this,"

He switched his pickaxe out for his sword and they turned to leave when they saw a figure rushing down the tunnel toward them. They recognized Jack and waited for him to approach.

"What's wrong?" Ruben asked,

"Stranger- in the- woods," Jack panted out, "Ambushed- me and- Sarah. He- has a dog,"

"Uh oh," Paul said.

"Dog?" Ruben asked him.

"You know there are wild wolves that roam our world, well there are some with the knowledge of how to train and befriend them and make them pets, those who do earn themselves a valuable ally as the creatures are known to be vicious against anything or anyone that attacks or upsets their master,"

"Come on then!" Ruben shouted as he rushed up the tunnel to the door.

The other two followed him and they rushed out of the base, letting Jack take the lead he showed them the way to the place where he'd been attacked and they found a figure standing in the clearing, a dog and cat sitting obediently on both sides of him, his iron sword was held at Sarah's throat. His iron armor didn't shine with enchantments like Ruben's and Paul's, but it still made him look intimidating, and the bow on his back made them think he meant business.

"What are you doing here?" he asked them.

"We're hiding, from an assassin," Ruben said.

"Which assassin?"

"Martin," Sarah told him.

He let her go and shoved her back toward the others, Ruben caught her and they looked up at the figure. He was sheathing his sword on his back with his bow. He bowed his head and crouched down slightly.

"My apologies, I thought you were outsiders come to ruin my way of life,"

"Who are you?" Ruben asked,

"I am Adam, I am a Huntsman," Adam answered.

"Adam, what would you say to joining up with us?" Ruben asked,

The Huntsman looked the group over and considered the offer,

"I assume that being a Huntsman means you're good with animals?" Ruben asked, "We need someone like that,"

Adam nodded his head in agreement, the group righted themselves and Adam whistled quietly, the dog and cat rose and followed Adam as he was led back to the group's base. When they returned Adam explained he had a pack of dogs waiting back at his home and that he would need to secure all of his belonging there. Ruben and the others divided into teams, two of them would go with Adam to get his things while the other two would stay behind to guard the base until their return.

Ruben was voted to go with Adam along with Sarah. The trio departed from the mountainside cave and made their way through the trees, Adam leading the way. The group arrived at the largest tree in the center of the forest and Adam led them around its truck to reveal a ladder. He began to climb and after a minute his dog and cat disappeared. Ruben and Sarah shrugged before climbing up after him. They stopped in a large room that had a double chest and a crafting table, and furnace. A bed was tucked away in a corner and two small rooms that had red carpet on the floor. Adam opened the chests and looked through before handing Ruben a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Those are yours, you seem to know how to handle a weapon," Adam said.

He continued searching through, taking out items such as: food, wheat, seeds, and carrots. When he was done he picked up his crafting table and furnace along with his bed and the two pieces of carpet. He left the house intact and when the group was gone he closed the trapdoor that led up into his house. Ruben led the way back to their cave; they noticed the sun setting through the trees and increased their pace to beat the approaching night. They arrived just as the sun disappeared over the horizon and shut the door behind them.

"How did it go?" Jack asked as he and Paul stood up from the furnace.

"Without a hitch. Paul, how do you enchant a bow?" Ruben asked as he produced the weapon given to him by Adam.

"Come here then, I'll show you," Paul led Ruben over to the enchanting table.

"You can set your bed over here," Sarah said leading Adam over to their quarters.

He set his bed down and laid the two red pieces of carpet on the floor next to it. He whistled and his dog and cat came over and sat down next to the bed before going to sleep. Adam climbed into his bed and went to sleep.

Ruben had his bow enchanted with Power I and put the strap around his shoulders so the wooden half was on his chest.

"That doesn't look like it's comfortable," Paul said, "Try the other way."

Ruben slipped the string around the front so the wooden handle was on his back.

"That's much better, thanks," Ruben said to Paul.

"No problem,"

The two of them settled in their own beds. Sarah took a set of potions off the brewing stand and laid them on Ruben's bed, they flew onto his belt and she nodded before lying down in her own bed. Jack was the last to get up and head to bed.

The group awoke the next morning and dispatched teams as they had before, now including Adam in their outside team. Sarah and Ruben were with him while Jack and Paul were to go digging into the ground.

The groups bade farewell before going to work. Adam readied his bow and his hand rested close to his arrows. He showed Ruben the stance so both them would be ready to shoot at a moment's notice.

"Now, be on the watch for Grrr," Adam said.

"What's Grrr?" Ruben asked.

"He's another adventurer, though adventurer isn't the word I'd use," Adam said.

"What word would you use?"

Adam paused and considered it before answering, "Savage,"

The trees above them rustled loudly; Ruben and Adam had their bows aimed up and at the ready. A figure dropped down and rolled coming up on his feet, they noticed his hair was silver and long. He wore only leather pants and a stone axe was held in his hand, ten wolves appeared around them growling.

"I assume this is Grrr?" Sarah asked as she pulled out a splash potion of harming with her off hand while a stone sword appeared in her right hand.

"That is indeed him," Adam said in an exasperated tone.

"We don't want to fight you," Ruben said lowering his arrow and bow.

Grrr growled at him and readied his axe; the wolves took a step closer.

"Put your weapons down," Ruben whispered to his comrades.

Sarah put the potion back on her belt and sheathed her sword on her back; Adam lowered his bow reluctantly and removed the arrow.

"See? We come in peace," Ruben said putting his hands up.

Grrr glared at them skeptically before sliding his axe into a holster on his belt, a simple bark-like sound echoed through the trees and the wolves stopped growling and waited patiently.

"What do you want?" Grrr asked them.

"So you speak?" Adam asked in surprise.

"Not now Adam," Ruben said putting his hand out in front of the Huntsman, "We only seek to obtain food and wood for fuel and tools,"

"You would destroy the forest?" Grrr asked,

"No no, we'd plant the trees, have you not noticed the saplings that have been appearing around the woods?" Ruben asked,

"We have, we thought it was the one in black," Grrr said, "A trick to dispose of us,"

"The one in black? Do you mean an assassin?" Adam asked,

"Yes, an assassin," Grrr agreed, as if hearing the word stirred a memory inside him.

"Grrr, if you are the target of an assassin, then it's possible it is the same assassin we're running from, come with us and we will help you defeat him," Ruben said.

Grrr considered this, putting his hand on his chin as he thought. "We will follow you outsider, at least until we find our own way or you prove yourself unworthy to lead us,"

"Alright," Ruben said.

Grrr signaled his wolf pack to follow Sarah, Ruben, and Adam as they continued into the trees. The group chopped down trees, replanting the saplings, and Adam showed them how to lure animals to them with wheat, carrots, and seeds. Ruben found a stray wolf; Grrr and Adam explained their secrets of taming the creatures to be a pet. Ruben took the bones that were offered by Grrr and gave them to the wolf, it took three before the beast seemed to warm up to him. Grrr reached into his pocket and handed Ruben a black squid ink sac.

"What is this?" he asked,

"To mark him as yours, if you notice my family has gray on their necks, and Adam's has red,"

Adam nodded; he'd noticed the difference in collar color and knew that to Identify Ruben's they'd need a new color. Ruben smothered the ink sac all over his dog's collar and the piece turned black. Ruben snapped his fingers and the dog sat up and followed them. As they continued to travel Grrr explained the 'way of the wolf' to Ruben; the dog would attack anything that hit it, or him or if he hit it, with the exception of 'moss beasts'.

"Moss beasts?" Ruben asked,

"Towering creatures that hiss and explode,"

"You mean Creepers?" Adam asked,

"They are known by that as well,"

Grrr noticed that the sky was beginning to get dark and voiced his concerns to his comrades.

"Looks like we'll have to find shelter for the night, no way we're gonna make it back in time," Ruben said putting a hand over his eyes so he could see.

"Let us find a cave, my family and I are known through these woods as the predominant pack and will guarantee safety in one," Grrr explained.

They let him lead the way and soon found themselves in a dark cave, Ruben lit it with torches and they began burning wooden planks to form a fire in the back, they posted two of Grrr's dogs on guard duty and waited the night out. Grrr and Adam told stories of their epic battles, how Adam would slowly pick off some of Grrr's pack with his arrows from the trees while Grrr would climb up after him, they would engage with sword and axe, and then Grrr would prove the victor, though Adam continued to deny this, and the process would repeat.

"How long have you two been out here?" Sarah asked,

"Since I was thirty cycles," Adam said, "As is the custom in my village,"

"Thirty cycles," Ruben said to himself, "Are you perhaps from a village located on the ocean shore?"

"I was,"

"Then we are of the same village, what about you Grrr?"

"I was left here by my parents at the age of two cycles, the wolves found me and I was raised in their care,"

"Two cycles?" Sarah exclaimed,

Grrr nodded.

They sat in silence after that, waiting for morning. As the sun poked out from the horizon they doused their fire and picked up their torches before setting out for the cave. They arrived within a few hours and gasped at the sight they beheld.

The opening to the cave had been blown open. They rushed inside to find no one, their tools and blocks had remained untouched, but when they checked the chests they found their ores and potion ingredients missing.

"Who could've done this?" Ruben asked as they looked around.

"Martin," Sarah growled.

"How did he find us?"

"We weren't really hidden Ruben, it's obvious to see us when we light torches at night in the side of the mountain," Adam said,

"But what about Jack and Paul?"

"We're here!" Jack's voice shouted to them.

They followed the sound and looked over a cliff that once marked the entrance to the mine, Jack was supporting Paul on his shoulder, their armor was dented and scuffed but they looked alright, the group noticed a corpse lying in the mine behind them, his bloodied body and missing tools gave the hint that Paul and Jack had killed him and taken his gear.

The group up top used some sticks to make a ladder and threw the pieces down to the guys at the bottom, they made their way back to the room and looked around at the unnoticed destruction.

"How long were you down there?" Adam asked,

"A few hours at most, we had returned and were smelting the ores to wait up, but it wasn't you guys who came to the door. I'm guessing the guy who blew up the front door was Martin, the black body suit and enchanted diamond sword gave him away, the way he moved around was also unsettling; he seemed to teleport around the room as we tried to hit him. The two guys he brought with us we figured out were a Spellblade and a Summoner,"

"Summoner?" Ruben asked, "What is that?"

Paul cleared his throat to speak; "They're a type of magic user Ruben, like myself who uses ancient powers to improve our tools and weapons, they use magic to create Golems from snow and iron. The constructs obey their masters and attack whoever they command against. We were lucky to escape to the mines where the fall damaged to the golem too much and we were able to defeat it with relative ease,"

"Paul did take an arm to the gut and slammed into a wall," Jack added,

"Minor details,"

"The point is Martin found us and is now preparing a second assault, we need to pack up and get out of here," Jack said,

The crew set to work immediately, they found out their materials that had gone missing were on Jack and Paul, the two had grabbed what they could while they fought off the attackers, and retreated into the mine when they were sure there wasn't anything valuable left. They gave the potion ingredients to Sarah and the ores to Ruben. The group took all the torches they could, their tools, beds, crafting tables, furnaces, brewing stand, enchanting table, and Adam had grabbed his dog and cat's beds. After that they set off from the cave, leaving it behind to find themselves a new home.

"I think we should build a city," Paul suggested.

"A tree is always a defendable place," Adam said.

"What about another cave, this time not one that's so obvious," Grrr stated.

Ruben stopped the small caravan. He turned on the spot and looked at the weary faces before him, he considered each option before sighing.

"We're gonna need walls, a town isn't easy to defend without them,"

Paul, Jack, and Sarah grinned while Adam nodded. Grrr didn't seem to care either way and went to work helping the others. While they did that Ruben laid out the foundation of the city, marking off a large area of the desert they'd found themselves in. He looked up from his work to see a cloud of sand fast approaching, not able to tell what it was he whistled loudly and drew his bow, aiming an arrow at the cloud. Adam had his bow and arrow ready and stood next to Ruben, the rest of them drew their weapons and waited patiently. They heard a voice call from the cloud, but weren't able to tell what it said. They just knew that instead of a desert storm they found a herd of horses with two riders commanding them. The first; a broad man with a black beard who wore scorched leather trousers and tunic with a white apron, the second; another broad figure who wore a leather tunic boots and trousers. He sighed as he disembarked from his steed and stood before Ruben and the others.

"Setting up a town are ya? What would you say to two more?"

"What can you offer us?" Ruben asked.

"I'm Mark, a Herder, and this here is Bill. He's a friend of mine from our last city, he was the blacksmith there,"

"A herder and blacksmith, excellent additions to a growing city!" Paul shouted.

The group let this be their answer and welcomed the newcomers. They quickly built a paddock for the horses and continued to work on building the city. It took three days before just the houses alone were complete, the wall was about five blocks high and a storage shed had been made. A few additions to the paddock had been created to contain wild animals that wandered into the city. They'd also started a small farm that currently contained wheat, sugarcane, and carrots.

Ruben overlooked the work one night as he waited for the sun to set. Jack walked up behind him and sat down next to him, he also overlooked the buildings that stood above them.

"Kinda nice to be in charge isn't it?" Jack asked.

"It is, and while traveling with you all I've learned so much," Ruben said.

Since Mark and Bill had arrived Ruben had learned about smelting ores and how to craft them into armor and weapons, so now he didn't have to wait on the others to make him tools. Adam had also shown him how to make and string a bow so he could replace the one he had. Mark had taught Ruben how to breed animals and the different tricks to lure them over. He'd also tamed a second wolf with the help of Grrr. Paul made the group an anvil and showed Ruben the idea of fixing and repairing armor so it didn't break using piece of armor he'd collected from other adventurers and the raw materials. He also showed how to add enchantments from books they'd been making from their farm.

"Yeah, having others along has its advantages and disadvantages. Anyway, don't stay up too late, we've still got plenty of work to do."