AN: Finals coming up means Chapters take a backseat. This Chapter also took a while to sort out. The perspectives bounce around, but I think the humor is still there.
Saw the new Minecraft update with dolphins and tridents. What will they think up next?
Also, the Chapter title took me a while to come up with. All things considered, I think it fits everyone's perspective's pretty well... mostly.
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add blood.
Beta: Myself
Chapter 91
The Strength We Draw
[Cobb]
I was being hunted.
I ducked low in the underbrush and kept still as a pack of eight dogs ran past. One of them was brown-collared and took a moment to pause and sniff the air, almost as if it sensed my presence, before it took off in a different direction with its green-collared fellows.
I waited until the sound of their paws died out before daring to slip from my hiding spot. That was the third time I had nearly been spotted since looking for the others and the sun was beginning to set. I took out my map to check how close the others were and had to stifle a groan after seeing the white blip moving further and further away.
If I knew things would have turned out like this, I never would have stormed off. I thought to myself as I debated what to do.
Blood: Kill them all…
Heart: No. That doesn't help anyone.
Blood: Does too…
Heart: No! Why is—look, you're new here, I get it, but you can't command all of Cobb's actions.
Blood: Uh-huh…
Heart: As the latest member of the Council of Internal Organs, your voice—
Brain: An admittedly menacing voice.
Heart: —and your opinions are on equal footing with the rest of us.
Blood: Right. Right…
Heart: When we come to a decision, it's only after we've all had a say. Even if we are figments of his head.
Blood: I got it…
Heart: Great. Now that you've calmed down, we'll listen to what you have to say.
Blood: Okey-dokey…
Heart: …
Blood: Kill them all…
Heart: For God's sake—
Blood: Wait. Uh… You didn't let me finish. Kill them all… in a calm, controlled way that, uh, promotes unity… or… something…
Heart: That doesn't sound reasonable or comforting.
Blood: Nothing is more reasonable than dog genocide. British Pet Massacre. Look it up…
Liver: But… but… I don't want to kill all the puppies…
Blood: Well, you need to break a few puppies to make a puppy omelet. I think…?
Brain: Seriously, are you guys hearing his voice? It's like he's gargling gravel.
Liver: I don't like him. He's t-t-terrifying.
Brain: Hmmm. Blood. Keep frightening Liver and I think we'll get along juuuuuuust fine.
Blood: I will do anything to fit in…
Stomach: I'm hungry.
Lungs: *Sigh*
Bladder: Yeah, I could go for some food.
I quickly munched on some rotten flesh.
Stomach: NO! Not that! Ugh! I meant real food! Bleagh!
The latest addition to my ever-growing roster of internal organ voices was a bit… violent. He sounded like a crazed serial killer and didn't that just paint my mind as the picture of good health.
But that was a problem for later. Preferably to be dealt by a psychiatrist rather than a pack of hunting dogs. They had attacked me without warning and it was obvious that they were chasing the others further and further away from me.
But I couldn't just kill all the dogs.
Blood: Yes you can…
There were too many to fight. And I couldn't keep searching for Floyd, Soul, and Lenz when it was nearly dark. I'd have to deal with dogs and Mobs.
So there was only one thing to do.
Dig a hole. Bury myself. And wait until morning.
…Then again… I did have a lot of dirt. And a door.
Hmm…
[Lenz]
"We shouldn't be sitting here."
I looked up from the torch illuminating the tiny underground cavern we were using for shelter. It was safer than braving the night with all those wolves out there.
The only problem was my current companion.
"There's a bounty hunter after Cobb and we're just sitting on our hands. We should be out there looking for him." Floyd argued as he paced around the torch.
I shook my head at the thought. "I want to find him too. But it is dark, we do not have a map to track him, and the hunter—Hunderprest, was it?—and his dogs are searching for wanted criminals."
"So we should just wait around? Is that it?"
"I know enough to say we should not be running around in the dark." I explained carefully. "We would be doing more harm than good."
Floyd relented at my reasoning, falling onto his butt and letting out a frustrated huff. "Even if you're right, it feels like we're just doing nothing."
"Then let us try something constructive." I got to my feet and nibbled on some steak as I walked the length of the cave. It had been carved into the side of Mt. Mur, but the entrance was narrower than the rest. Easy to conceal with leaves picked up by my wire cutters.
"So... any reason you carry shears around?"
"Wire cutters." I stressed in annoyance. "And yes, actually. They are useful in disabling tripwire traps. A common staple for any BRTK."
"BRTK?"
"Basic Redstone Travel Kit, obviously."
"Obviously." Floyd rolled his eyes, but caught something on the ceiling's cave. "Hey, look." He pointed up and I followed to where the torchlight danced along the stone surface. "Iron Ore. I can use that."
The blue-haired Crafter withdrew an Iron Pickaxe from his backpack and laid out some cobblestone to nerdpole. While he busied himself with gathering iron, I covered the cave in torches. The two of us would be there for a while and I did not want Mobs to spawn on top of us.
Bits of iron ore and cobblestone rained down as Floyd chipped away at the ceiling. I glanced up to see if he was nearly done, only to feel a cold droplet hit my cheek. I brought my hand up and felt the moisture on my face as a few more dripped onto my glasses.
Looking up, I saw the culprit. The ceiling Floyd was digging at was leaking water.
My eyes widened. "Floyd, wait—!"
Too late.
He chipped at another chunk of ore and opened up a source of water that quickly cascaded down. It crashed atop his head and encompassed his nerdpole, causing him to slip and crash into the ground. I was swept aside as the water flooded the cave floor, carrying with it all the torches I had painstaking set up.
Darkness smothered us like a blanket, making it impossible to see. And with the cold, damp water splashing the floor and causing us to splutter about, it made everything more miserable. It pushed me over the edge.
"Why did you fail to notice the water droplets?" I accused to the surrounding darkness. "Now we are as blind as the bats that used to call this place home!"
"It was an honest mistake." Floyd countered from somewhere to my left. "Now quit whining and help me find the torches."
"We cannot place torches with all the water flowing around! Use that walnut you call a brain!"
"Walnut—? Listen here, nerd. I need to see where the water is flowing to stop it. And what ever would I need to see in the dark? Hmm, let me think. Ah, that's right. A damn light!"
"Well I do not have a redstone lamp, so I cannot help you!"
"What else is new?"
I froze at those words and narrowed my eyes towards the direction of them. "…Excuse me?"
"You haven't been a help since you got here!" Floyd argued, and I heard a few approaching splashes. "We wouldn't be separated from Cobb and Soul if you hadn't started this whole thing in the first—"
"If I had not?" I questioned indignantly. "You mean if you had not taken the arrows for yourself! Your selfish desire to show me up is what disgusted Cobbert enough for him to abandon us! If not for you, perhaps we could have dealt with Hunderprest as a team instead of separately."
"I had to!" Floyd shouted so close it made my ears ring. I felt something bump into me and realized with a painful wince for it to be Floyd. "You were being an arrogant asshole claiming bow superiority. Someone had to take you down a peg. Someone had to show you that the rest of us can shoot arrows just fine!"
"Arrows and Redstone are all I am good at!" I shoved back, startling the blue-haired Crafter into silence. "So forgive me if I take pride in the few things I contribute to this group! I am not like you or Soul! I am not overflowing with physical prowess! I am only an engineer trying to cope with all this adventure!"
The water was seeping into my shoes and pants, weighing me down.
"I am not physically strong like you, Floyd. I cannot wield an axe or a sword like Soul or Cobbert. That stuff… that is all out of my depth. I went to college before all this, for Jeb's sake!" I slapped a hand to my forehead before holding out two fingers. "The two things I can do. Archery and Redstone. And you have been trying to take away even that. When will it be enough? When can I keep something only I can do?"
"Wait, what? No, no, no! That's not what I was doing at all." I was getting used to the darkness and could see him frantically waving his arms in denial. "I never meant to make you feel worthless, I just… I just wanted to broaden my horizons. I wanted to do more."
"You never had to." I shook my head, hoping his eyes could see it through the darkness. "Cobbert accepts that he cannot use a bow. And he accepts that he can never understand redstone because he has me to explain it for him."
This time Floyd shook his head. "I'm not Cobb, though. I'm not satisfied letting others cover for me. I don't just want the solutions to the homework; I want to know how to solve them myself."
"But that is flawed. Everyone is better than others at things." I tilted my head. "Even you must have something that only you can do."
"I—well…" He traced a hand over his eyes and turned away. "No. No, I… I don't have anything like that." He clenched his fists. "But even if I did, I wouldn't want to rely on that one thing I'm judg—I'm good at. I'd want to learn everything I can. I'd want to use it to survive. To become stronger."
Huh? That does not sound right. "What are you talking about? You already are strong. You fought well against those guards and Cobbert thinks—"
"Cobb didn't see me with Silent. Or Teal." He added darkly. "I was taken apart. People died…"
"…I am sorry." I offered quietly. "I did not know that—"
"That I wasn't as strong as you thought?"
I blinked, struggling for the right words. Comparators I was bad at this. "I… you and Soul just seemed so confident and stalwart. I never thought you weak. Stupid, sure. Selfish, like you would not believe. But never weak." I confessed, much to the blue-nette's annoyance. "Between you two and Cobbert I… I felt out of place in the presence of such strong Crafters; the nerd that should feel lucky to be included."
Floyd let out a sigh. "Lenz, I didn't really mean anything negative when I called you a nerd. Take one look at the Beginners. We're ALL nerds. You're just nerdy in a smart way." He offered a smile. "I can't think of any place you'd fit in better."
"Bar the N.E.R.D.S.?"
"…I don't know what that is."
I kicked at some water, ignoring how my legs were thoroughly soaked. "So… you do not think Cobbert will abandon me?"
"What? No! Definitely not." He dismissed readily. "Where did that even come from?"
"I…" I hesitated. "I have been in a group before. A large one. Full of meatheads whom I depended on for survival. They were… less than kind, but they kept me around and I figured such treatment was par for the course." I adjusted my glasses. "I greatly prefer my arrangement with Cobbert and the Beginners. I never feel like I am being abused. I… my voice and suggestions are heard. I am learning—no, craving to be of assistance. For others as well as Cobbert. I have saved lives and pushed past what a meager college student could accomplish. And every day I find myself wondering if I could do it all again, but better." I took in a breath after my long-winded diatribe and fixed my tinted gaze towards an attentive Floyd. "I do not want to lose that."
"You won't have to. Cobb isn't going to abandon anyone."
"But…" I hesitated once again, finding it tough to voice my greatest fear. "But… I worry he only brought me with him to… to…"
"To what?"
"To replace you."
Floyd took a step back. Even in the darkness, it was hard to miss his look of shock. Cobbert had picked me up only after Floyd left. What if I was just the backup friend? I forced my gaze down, wondering how he would take it.
He laughed.
"Cobb? Replace me? Pft…" He let loose another laugh before stepping forward and groping around in the darkness for me. Once he caught my head, he rubbed his fist into it.
"What are you doing?" I exclaimed fearfully as I clutched at my head. "Are you trying to squash my head flat so my brains dribble out my ears!?"
"What!? No, it's called a noogie!"
"I thought you were reasonable enough to listen to my fears in an unbiased way, but clearly this act of aggression—"
"A noogie is a form of endearment." He interjected, lifting the fist from my head. "It's what meatheads like me do to someone when they're talking nonsense. Cobb never replaced me. He was worried sick when he thought I was dead, and he would've been worried sick if it was you, or Soul, or Erin, or any of his friends."
"So then… he will not turn on me if I become useless?"
"No. He won't." Floyd clarified, easing my worries. "But if he does, Soul and I will kick his ass and make him take you back."
"That is—ZOMBIE!"
I quickly pulled out my bow and shot the spawned Mob behind Floyd, twice. Then Floyd spun and bashed the Zombie upside the head with his pickaxe before dealing the final blow.
"Maybe we should continue this conversation in an illuminated cave."
"But… we do not have the space for torches."
Floyd thought for a moment before smiling. "I got an idea. And a use for a door I've been holding onto for the longest time."
The blue-nette placed down a furnace and deposited the gathered iron ore and a wooden door as fuel. The furnace roared to life, casting a warm glow in the previously pitch black cave. Floyd and I were quick to patch up the flowing water, and soon the cave floor was dry again.
The furnace died out quick, however. Doors being an unreliable heat source. Floyd hastily poked some sticks into the furnace to keep it going, but that was even worse fuel. "Ugh, I need more stuff to burn. Any luck with those torches?"
"No, but now that it is dry, I can use my own torches." I placed a redstone torch down and connected it to several repeaters spanning in different directions. When the furnace finally died out, the cave was left cast in an eerie red glow, as if dyed red.
"It's dim, but it beats stumbling around in the dark." Floyd complimented while placing down his Crafting Table and making what little iron ingots he could smelt into a new sword.
"...Are you sure Cobbert will not abandon us? He seemed pretty mad before."
"That was only because he realized he was stuck with two Crafters that didn't like each other." Floyd defended, flashing me a small smile. "But that was then. I bet we can prove him wrong next time we see him."
I smiled. "I would like that."
And so, the two of us passed the night away, sitting around a campfire made of redstone and trading tales of our pasts.
As friends.
[Cobb]
"Yeah, that's it you little fucks. Bark at that dirt shack." I whispered under my breath as I peeked out of my hole. The cool night air passed over my head.
In front of me was a hastily constructed dirt shack—Crap Shack 2.0—with a simple door attached to it. Other than that it was empty and dark; No windows or torches to light it up. It cost all of my dirt, but it was doing its job well.
The green-collared dogs had stumbled upon the dirt shack and had howled to alert their fellows. What had initially been five dogs had snowballed into thirty. And they were all sniffing at the thing, rubbing their noses and faces along it.
"That's right. Keep sniffing it. It's a suspicious dirt shack and merits your full attention." I murmured as I watched them fruitlessly paw at the door. They didn't have the thumbs to open it.
Little did they know, I had a layer under the dirt shack floor made up of six TNT along with a small tunnel connecting it to my hole. I readied my flint and steel as more and more dogs gathered around.
"Yeah… keep checking out that shack." I nodded and sunk into my hole when the number of dogs reached fifty.
I carefully crept through my tunnel to the TNT and lit the two nearest blocks before turning and sprinting back the way I came. Behind, I heard the hiss of primed TNT and braced myself for the explosion.
*KABOOM*
There were several whines and whimpers from the poor hounds as the TNT went off, demolishing the masterpiece of architectural brilliance that took me all of thirty seconds to erect. I peeked my head up just in time to see the bodies of most of the dogs go up in smoke. One or two of the brown-collared ones were still alive and were struggling to their paws.
I leapt out and buried my sword in them before they could recover.
Blood: Yesssss… Let the hatred flow through you like a…
Heart: Cut it out.
Blood: Ah. You make a good point. You should cut out one of the dogs' hearts next time…
Heart: That isn't what I meant!
"Well… TNT's gone." I said as I kicked aside some dirt torn up from the blasts. If I had more, I could have re-used the Trojan-Crap Shack plan.
Menacing howls echoed through the night and more dogs were probably incoming. I slid back into my hole and carefully concealed it so the dogs wouldn't find me. I sat in silence, ears perked, as I waited for the threat to pass.
Multiple paws drummed above as the dogs quickly responded to their fallen comrades. I heard more howls—sad ones—followed by angry barks. How could I gauge the emotions of dogs? I don't know, it wasn't like they were having a doggie funeral up there. It was just sort of a 'what would I do' scenario. I would be just as sad and angry if my friends were blown up.
And for all I knew, they could have been.
I got to find those guys.
I waited a few moments longer, wondering what was keeping the dogs around so long. Surely they would have moved on to another part of the woods if they were looking for us. So why stick around? Did they know I was there?
The faint sound of growling caught my attention. It sounded close. I pressed an ear to the dirt ceiling hoping to hear, it better. I figured one of the dogs was right on top of me. Maybe I could quickly pop up and kill it without being noticed.
The growling got closer, but it wasn't coming from above. It was coming from behind.
I slowly turned around and spotted the brown-collared dog the guttural growls were coming from. Its eyes were narrowed, its lips drawn back in a snarl.
Ah. The tunnel connecting me to the TNT. I forgot that the explosion it caused would expose my hiding spot for all to see and now it was biting me in the ass. The dog. The dog was biting me in the ass. And not in the affectionate I-wuv-you way.
"YEOW!" I exclaimed, wrenching my bottom around as the animal kept digging its teeth into me. It was official. I hated dogs. Man's best friend my ass!
Ow, my ass!
As I struggled with the mutt, a series of sharp barks echoed down the tunnel it had come from. I saw dozens of dogs pouring in, white fur coming towards me, punctuated by angry snarls and growls.
Thinking fast, I busted the dirt ceiling and hoisted myself out of the hole I dug myself into just before the dogs reached my spot. However, my relief was short-lived as the fifty or so dogs left above pounced on me, forcing me to the ground.
"Gah! Get off!" I hissed as I lashed out with my blade. I managed to bat three of the dogs aside before they got smart and bit my wrist. My sword tumbled to the ground, lost amongst the sea of white fur bearing down on me.
There were a few sharp bites and the dogs took it in turn to jump on my face or gut with all their weight, but I realized with a start that they weren't killing me. Even though they easily could have.
Despite the number of their fellow dogs I killed, they wanted me alive.
For what, I didn't know. And I didn't want to find out.
I brought my arms up and tried to push the dogs aside while searching for my sword, but one of the brown-collared dogs barked some orders and I soon found myself face-first with three green-collared dogs as they launched themselves at me.
"Bwah! Get off me already!" Every time I shoved their muzzles away, three more dogs would take their place. Some biting, others just head-butting me into submission. I could barely breathe or move amongst the tangled mass of moving fur.
Four brown-collared dogs watched from afar, howling into the night sky for backup. I rolled onto my side and kept low as I tried to crawl away. The tide of dogs followed along, never giving me a moment of rest.
"Ugh… help me mysterious green-haired Crafter!" I tried.
…
Nothing.
"Oh come on!"
As if hearing my prayer, a flash of green leapt from tree to tree and a cascade of water was poured over me and the writhing mass of dogs. The animals whimpered and shivered as the water swept them and me aside. Some dogs backed away while others dried themselves off by shaking their fur, splattering water everywhere.
I scrabbled around on hands and knees before finding my sword and used it to cut past the small amount of dogs obstructing me.
"Thanks mysterious green-haired Crafter!" I shouted to the trees, despite knowing the Crafter would already be gone. Whoever he was, he liked to help by pouring water.
I struggled to my feet and took off in a random direction as the brown-collared dogs barked frantically. More howls split the night sky and I could almost feel the hounds snapping at my heels.
Also, that one dog was still chomping my ass.
"Off!" I demanded, jabbing at the mutt taking a mouthful of my rear. One of the jabs caught it in the eye and it whimpered before letting go. I would have felt bad if my butt didn't already feel worse.
Animal cruelty could bite my ass.
[Carys]
Attila grabbed the sword and lunged for me with murder in her eyes.
Not at all surprised by this sequence of events, I brought up a forearm, blocking her arm—and by extension the sword—from gouging my eyes out.
"You…!" She started to scream only to be silenced by a palm strike to the lower jaw. Her teeth clacked together painfully as she was pushed to the back of the cell, but she recovered fast.
And recklessly.
She ran back at me, a roaring inferno burning in her eyes, as she reared back a fist. I moved to catch it, but was surprised by a feint before she spun on the spot, the sword poised to decapitate. I ducked quickly and allowed the blade to pass over, rattling against the cell bars at my back. Kalmarin watched on anxiously—probably more for Attila than me—while Z7 followed the fight with a dull expression.
"Why didn't you come sooner!?" Attila screeched before I jabbed her in the gut with my elbow. It was a low blow, and it caused the girl to buckle, but I wasn't one to miss an opportunity. I grabbed hold of the bars behind me and pushed up and off of them to deal a devastating kick to her chin. She was lifted into the air by the force, her face brushing against the ceiling, before gravity set in and sent her crashing to the unforgiving floor.
"My people…" Attila whimpered into the floor as she slowly picked herself up. "My community needed you then… but you didn't show up until after they died…" She glared at me fiercely. "Why!? Why didn't you come sooner!?"
I remained silent as I regarded the girl. She was panting heavily and missing a few Hearts, but the fire in her eyes had yet to die out.
"Well?" She asked after a while. "Say something! Don't you feel responsible for them!?"
I narrowed my blood-red glare. "Why would I feel responsible for a community of weaklings I had no business caring for?" Attila's head snapped up. "If they died, it's because they couldn't evolve. Because they were dependent on anyone but themselves. Because they relied too heavily on you." I smirked cruelly. "Only to be let down."
"RAAAAGH!"
She flung the sword at me and I tilted my head to dodge it. But the blade bounced off the cell bars and spun in the air where Attila had already jumped to catch it. She aimed for a heavy, overhead swing that would have hurt considerably if I hadn't been ready for it.
But, being me, I was ready for it. My hands moved fast and seized her wrists, matching all the strength behind the strike with my own. The blade was suspended between our faces for a moment before I gave a sharp twist.
She hissed in pain, but refused to let go until something snapped. The sword slipped free of her broken wrist and clattered to the floor before I pulled Attila by her seized hands, spinning around and smashing her face and body into the cell bars. She let out a gasp of pain and tried to struggle free, only to freeze as my knee brushed against hers.
"This is reality." I whispered to her, pressing her face further against the bars while pulling back on her seized wrists. "You couldn't win against me, just like you couldn't stand up to those Hackers. Your community—How many years did you spend caring for them? Worrying about them? Babying them? When instead you could have been preparing like me. Training. Researching. Gaining allies. Planning for what came after. You think I did all this on a fucking whim? Foolish girl." I spat, throwing her across the cell where she rolled into the back wall.
"It took time! Resources! Information! I enacted Overshadow when it was convenient for me! When I was certain I would win and the Hackers would be dead at my feet. And you whine and blame me because my arrival wasn't convenient for you? For your weak community? Please."
Attila shifted slightly, her hair obscuring her eyes but doing little to obstruct her sobs. Gods, she was sniveling like a baby. It was making me rethink the offer I was about to give her.
"You're… right…" She choked out between sobs. "I… I couldn't protect them… and just-just… blamed you, because I-I… I didn't want to blame me." She lifted herself up, but her tears pooled around her hands. "I… I couldn't save any of them. They meant everything to me… and I—"
"You lost them because you were weak." I cut her off, causing her to flinch. "Because this world takes and takes from you until there's nothing left. And unless you become strong enough to keep what's yours and take in return… you'll die."
I learned that a long time ago.
"H-How…?"
"Hm?"
"How did you do it?" She asked, looking up with a burning desire to know. "Killing Hackers. Destroying the Cult's Southern Division. How did you become so strong?"
My eyes glazed over, adopting that thousand-yard-stare reserved for when I remembered what it was like so many years ago. Everything I endured…
"It's no great secret." I spoke softly, though my voice carried throughout the cell for everyone to hear. "You just lose everything you ever care for… until you have nothing left to lose—when even death starts to look appealing. Only then, when there's no pointless baggage or connections weighing you down, can you fight unfettered. With no fear. With no hesitation. With no weakness. When there's nothing to live for, but life… and revenge."
Z7 nodded respectfully at my words and Kal furrowed his brow, but made no attempt to argue. Attila listened to my words with rapt attention, drawing something from them.
A brief memory flashed through my mind… a woman putting on a brave face… myself, bawling my eyes out. It sickened me, and I was quick to expunge the recollection.
"Strength comes when you can fight with the recklessness of one with nothing left to lose." I summarized, regaining my senses. I was there, standing in the cell.
But not that cell.
"Now… what to do with you." I drawled, nudging my boot underneath my discarded sword before kicking it up into my hand. Attila looked up at me as I approached, and I could see the unease in her eyes. She had no idea what was about to happen.
"You're already on the right track to becoming strong." I cocked my head, resting a hand on my hip. "You've lost it all… most people can't live past the pain, the loss. And I bet you want to die in the quickest way possible." I held out my sword and pointed it at the girl. Her eyes were focused on the blade in firm determination.
"But getting yourself killed," I continued with a shake of the head, "you'd just be doing the cult's job for them. Is that what you want? To do those killers a favor? Or how about the Hackers and Griefers? I bet they'd be satisfied hearing they wrecked your life enough to make you kill yourself."
Attila's eyes darted slightly, as if coming to a realization, before they narrowed fiercely. And burning behind her grayish-green eyes with twice the intensity was an overpowering thirst for vengeance. The kind I liked to see in all my Paragons.
And I knew I had her then.
"So here are your choices, because I can't let you know my identity as the Angel of Death." I explained. I thrust the sword forward, but stopped short of her face. She didn't even flinch. "You can either choose to die, and I'll honor your final request, or…" I flipped the sword around so that the handle was facing her. "You can join me—join the Paragons—and help ensure that the Cultists, Hackers, and Griefers regret ever crossing us just before they die." I saw the glint in her eyes and smirked. It seemed almost pointless to ask, even as I pushed the handle of the sword further toward her.
"Interested?"
A brief moment of silence. The girl licked her lips slightly. I waited patiently for her answer. Ready to kill or welcome. Though I knew which option she was leaning towards.
Attila took hold of the sword—and her future—with both hands.
My smirk widened. "Welcome to the Paragons."
[Floyd]
"I had to leave it behind. It was weighing me down."
I shook my head in disbelief as we traipsed around the sunlit forest. "Iron armor isn't that heavy."
"For everyone else, sure. But my engineer physique was not made for such a burden." Lenz defended while adjusting the leather cap still atop his head. "Not like leather. Leather is light."
"And about as resilient as wet tissue paper." I countered.
We had been trading combat tips all throughout the night. Little ways to improve ourselves. It was eye-opening to hear it from someone else, especially from someone as observant as Lenz. We had been discussing an exchange of lessons—he would teach me how to shoot a bow and I would teach him how to run without falling to the ground in exhaustion like an anemic dog—when the topic of armor came up.
"You need something with more oomph."
"Oomph?"
"Yeah. Oomph! I've heard of chainmail armor. It's supposedly light, but it has the same resilience as gold."
"Chainmail is impossible to craft though." Lenz hummed to himself. "I would need to trade a Testificate for it."
"Well we'll find you some in Jolin. They must have a place for it. Maybe even get you some Enchantments."
"I am looking forward to it." He smiled, only to pause. "But not as much as I am looking forward to piloting an airship!"
That was another thing. He really wanted that airship.
All in all, Lenz was a better guy than I gave him credit for. The whole feud we had going was just a big, stupid misunderstanding. And now, without the fear of Cobb abandoning him if another archer took his place, he was more than happy to teach me what he knew and share some of his arrows.
But I was more than happy to turn them down, figuring he could put them to better use than a rookie archer like me. At least until I learned better.
We were just about to discuss the potential of the Bounty Day's tipped arrows when a loud howl cut through the air. It sounded far off, but was answered by several dogs.
"Hunderprest's hounds…" I angled my head to try and pinpoint the sound.
"You think they found Cobbert? Or Soul?" Lenz asked, looking worried. He had every right to be. Those dogs only howled when they had something worth showing the rest of them. And a Crafter worth a thousand emeralds was high on their list.
"I guess we'll find out." I pointed in the direction I thought I heard the howls and Lenz and I took off.
Hopefully, we would find him before Hunderprest did.
[Cobb]
Why did it feel like trouble followed me around like a pack of vicious dogs?
Brain: Those are actual vicious dogs dum-dum.
Oh, right.
The dogs were belligerent. I had been running all night, avoiding the dogs at every turn. Sometimes I barely had enough time to catch my breath, swallow some food, and gain my bearings before they were upon me again.
Sometimes Mobs got in the way and I sort of hoped they would keep the dogs busy. But no. The dogs swarmed the monsters and killed them with practiced ease. Funny enough, the dogs even went after the Mobs attacking me. Some Skeletons learned that the hard way when they shot at me only for the dogs to literally tear them apart. Same with Creepers, Spiders, and Zombies. If they tried to kill me, the dogs would intervene.
And now that the sun was up, they were having less trouble pursuing me. Just when I thought they were all behind me, a pack of twenty would cut me off, forcing me to go a different way. Then, more of them would run at my sides, keeping me in a straight path. I couldn't even double back with the dogs snapping at my heels.
But they didn't attack me. They just kept spurring me on with snarls and howls and gnashing canines. On and on. Through bushes and past trees. All the way until I found myself in a large clearing against the side of Mt. Mur. A steep, rocky slope barred my path and the dogs all spread out to surround me.
I wiped the sweat off my brow and hastily gobbled some more food as I regarded the dogs surrounding me. "Okay…" I panted out, beyond exhausted. "You got me here… now what?"
The dogs growled in reply. They were certainly intelligent, and it was obvious they had been herding me here. And that they wanted me alive.
Sounds like something a bounty hunter would do.
The thought barely crossed my mind before I felt the ground give way beneath me. I let out a startled yelp as I found the gravel I had stood upon give way to a gaping pitfall. It was the same gravel trap Lenz had used at the Battle of Halstatt. Only this time, I was on the receiving end of it.
I fell to the ground like a sack of bricks, groaning. I coughed out a bit of dust and shakily got to my knees just in time for something to splash against my back.
"Son of a bitch…" I cursed as I felt my body slowing down. Splash Potion of Slowness. Shortly followed by a Splash Potion of Weakness. I was able to turn my head just before my body became paralyzed and I spotted the Crafter that hit me. Wild, dark-blond hair. Sitting atop a horse. Looking pleased at his latest catch.
"Now that's what I call the catch-of-the-day!" Hunderprest boasted.
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III], 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Golden Shovel [Silk Touch I, Unbreaking III], 1 Flint and Steel {Weak}, 13 Cobblestone, 14 Ender Pearls, 12 Torches, 5 Coal, 2 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Stick, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 4 String, 49 Steak, 64 Cooked Mutton, 55 Baked Potatoes, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Unbreaking I], 1 Iron Leggings {Weak}, 1 Iron Boots, 46 Emeralds, 1 Map {Ringwood Region}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}
[EXP: 18]
Inventory (Floyd): 7 Ender Pearls, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Bow, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 4 Iron Ore, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Fire Resistance {8:00}, 2 Flint, 8 Rotten Flesh, 5 Bones, 6 Gunpowder, 16 String, 10 Ink Sacs, 62 Cooked Chicken, 46 Apples, 3 Wool, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Entry Pass}, 4 Emeralds
[EXP: 24]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 2 Levers, 4 Wooden Buttons, 1 Stone Button, 5 Redstone Torches, 17 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 16 Redstone, 61 TNT, 1 Hopper, 1 Dispenser, 3 Blocks of Redstone, 5 Pistons, 10 Cobblestone, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 9 String, 25 Gunpowder, 55 Steak, 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Green], 56 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Pumpkin, 32 Sugar Cane, 8 Leather, 18 Feathers, 10 Flint, 64 Emeralds, 14 Emeralds, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}
[EXP: 6]
Inventory (Soul): 6 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Slowness {1:30}, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {1:30}, 1 Milk, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Crafting Table, 14 Oak Wood Planks, 10 Steak, 9 Emeralds, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Map {Ringwood Region}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}
[EXP: 36]
AN: Nearing 200 Favs and Follows. This story is currently in the top 10 of the favorited Minecraft genre fanfics. Now if only I could get that movie deal...
Anyway, Floyd and Lenz reconcile and learn about each other for the first time. Soul is completely absent. Cobb is running, running, and more running. And Carys is being a badass, as is par for the course. Though I do enjoy hinting at her past.
And Hunderprest is doing what a Bounty Hunter is supposed to do: Hunting you down for your bounty. Him and his dogs are tenacious, alright.
Leave a fav, follow, or review... or else!
Nah, I'm just kidding... or am I!?
No, I'm not...
Ok, bye.