一年後

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一** (Chapter One)

eng: One year later
~

Skeleton

~

I never found them.

A year ago, I left my family in search of warmth. I couldn't bear watching them shiver with rattling bones. I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have.

I returned a week later with a bunch of wool. Turns out that a few miles away from our campsite were livestock and a few plants that could survive the cold.

I rushed back to our campsite at once, hugging myself in order to generate a bit of warmth. I had gotten lost a few times along the way, but I was able to retrace my footsteps.

My footsteps halt when I step foot back into the camp. My breath slowed.

There's no one here. This can't be right; I'm positive that this is the campsite!

I looked in and out of tents. I looked inside the Elder's tent. There was nothing but snow and ice.

"M-Maybe they finally decided to leave," I whisper. Maybe Elder decided to leave after all.

The blotch on my arm was starting to get a lot larger now. I can't stay here. I need to find warmth before I freeze to death.

Without looking back, I re-enter the forest. This time, I wasn't planning on coming back.

~

This brings us to the present day, a year later.

I have almost used up all of my arrows to hunt sheep and other livestock.

I cough bitterly at the cold air hitting my face. With every step I took, the wind seemed to be getting stronger.

It's my second year trapped in this cold, unforgiving biome. Most of my bones were covered with a light-blue hue by now.

I never knew how to build. I was never taught. Therefore, I didn't know how to build shelter for myself. Every night I slept outside.

Before we were trapped in this cold and unforgiving biome, each skeleton was assigned their own specialty. There were three classes: Builder, Archer, and Melee. After skeletons were turned into sinister wither skeletons, some of us were forced to learn their ways in combat.

I, of course, was taught the most useless skill of all: Melee combat.

I remember complaining to Elder about my role placement. "I'm a normal skeleton! Melee combat is for the wither skeletons!"

But, of course, my complaining went unheard.

I can still work with a bow, but my aim is abysmal. I remember when I snuck into a training session for the archers. When it came to hitting a bull's eye, my arrow ended up landing halfway across from where it was supposed to land.

After that, I didn't use the bow anymore. I'm decently skilled with a sword— at least, good enough to survive.

My feet trudge through the icy snow beneath me. My breathing was extremely labored and desperate. I've been walking for hours on end in search of food. I hadn't eaten in days, and my health was getting dangerously low.

As much as my body wanted to give up, I couldn't. I kept walking on, bearing the pain of the unforgiving cold.

My feet suddenly catch onto something. I yelp and trip, landing face-first. I groan and shake the snow off of my face. I grit my teeth.

I turn around to find out what I tripped over. My eyes scan the cold icy ground. I spot a royal blue cloak.

"What is this...?" I murmur, picking up the thin piece of cloth with my shaky hands. The cloak was slightly ripped, but I didn't mind. I place the piece of clothing over my shoulders and continue to walk on.

~

Dawn was near. Still, I had no food.

I plop down onto the cold, snow-covered ground. The cloak provided a small amount of warmth; this I was thankful for. I chuckle hopelessly and lean against a tree trunk.

"The legend... It says that strays were once normal skeletons that... t-that were trapped in an unforgiving biome of ice and snow." I glance down at my frost-colored bones. "Is this what my destiny is? To become a stray?"

"This cloak... According to legend, strays wear cloaks just like this one. I..."

My whole body felt numb. I ran away all for nothing. My family probably found a way out of this biome. I should've just stayed with them. I shouldn't have left alone.

"Alone," my voice cracks slightly as I hold in my tears. I close my eyes and lean against the tree trunk, hoping that I can lull myself to sleep.

~

I awoke to the sound of a growl. The sun was starting to set by now.

"H-Huh?" I force myself to stand as I scan my surroundings. There's something nearby. I can feel it. I don't have any weapons on me. I was never taught how to craft them, so I used what I was given. My last sword broke months ago.

"H-Hello?" I call out, "Anyone there?"

I hear footsteps. I frantically look around. Nothing.

Another growl. A small shadow comes into view. My eyes widen when I notice the shape of the shadow.

A wolf.

But how could this be? Nothing could live in this unforgiving biome of ice and snow. I haven't seen a wolf in years.

The wolf bares its teeth and starts to charge. Finally coming to my senses, I start to run. Luckily for me, the sun had completely set. I didn't have to worry about burning alive.

I kept running and running. The wolf was hot on my trail, determined to catch me.

I take a quick glance through my inventory. A bow. It was almost completely used, a red bar indicating that it would break the next time it was used. I also had a couple of arrows on me.

I pull out my weapon and shakily load an arrow, stopping in my tracks for a moment to aim. My hands shook as I pulled the arrow back.

If I miss, it's over for me. This shot most likely won't kill the wolf, but it might scare it off.

The wolf was a few feet away from me by now, and it was ready to pounce on me like fresh prey.

I release the arrow and hope for the best. My eyes flutter shut. I'm going to die, aren't I? My abysmal aiming can't save me.

Moments passed. I wasn't dead, not yet. I open a single eye cautiously. The wolf was gone.

The bow disappears from my hand. Who knew this old bow would end up saving my life?

Suddenly, I felt something. Something that I haven't felt for over two years.

Warmth.

I stood on a soft bed of luscious green grass. A warm breeze swept past my shoulders.

"I-Impossible...," I whisper.

There was life all around me. Cows, pigs, chickens, and even a few parrots. There wasn't a flake of snow in sight.

"I... This is..." I was flabbergasted. I didn't expect the sudden change in temperature, let alone the complete biome change.

I snap out of it when I hear voices.

"...I'm telling you, Zombie. Herobrine assigned an impossible assignment!"

"Yeah, seriously. I can't believe he wants us to find diamonds in one night."

"Ridiculous."

The voices were starting to get closer. I hop behind a tall tree, hoping I won't be spotted. I just escaped that cruel world. I can't die just yet-!

"D-Did you just see that?!" A voice exclaims, "I saw something move behind that tree!"

Shoot.

"I'm sure it's just your imagination, Zombie."

"No, Enderman, I'm serious! Creeper, tell me you saw that!"

"No...?"

"I swear, I saw something move!"

A sigh. "I'll check it out. C'mon, Creeper."

My hands tighten on the cloth of my cloak. I've got nothing to fight with. My weapons are all gone. I don't even have a single arrow left. My inventory is completely empty.

I yelp when a tall, purple-eyed mob and myself lock eyes. I didn't recognize this mob.

Next to it was a creeper.

"...Wow, Zombie was right."

"Did you guys find anything?" A voice says. A zombie came into view.

"Yeah, it's a skeleton. Though, I've never seen one that looks like this..."

"H-Hey there," the zombie says. I stare at it, dumbfounded. What am I supposed to say?

"I-Is this guy hostile?" The zombie whispers to the tall mob, cowering behind it. The mob narrows its eyes. "Get Herobrine. I'm not sure."

I decide to run while I still can, sprinting as fast as I can away from the three mobs.

"Hey!" The creeper shouts, "Get back here!"

I continue running, pushing past brambles. I hear a small poof sound behind me.

The tall mob stood a few feet away from me. "Don't move." I halt in my steps, fearful to look behind me.

"Here it is, Herobrine! That's the skeleton I was talking about..."

"Stay put, students," A new voice says. Another poof was heard, and a tall human appeared before me. I start to backpedal. They just keep on coming!

"Hello there," the human says, "Do not be afraid."

"D-Don't... Don't attack me... P-Please, I don't have any weapons-!"

"My intention is not to hurt you." I pause for a moment and look into its eyes. They were blank.

"T-Then... Why were you following me?!" I exclaim, my grip loosening from the hem of my cloak. The human chuckles. "My students were worried that you were some kind of threat."

"T-Threat?"

He chuckles. "Students, this mob isn't hostile. I believe this is a stray."

"What's a stray?" The zombie asks.

"A stray is a light-blue boned skeleton that usually resides in snowy biomes. I'm surprised to see one so close to town."

A stray? Is that what I've really turned into?

"Are you lost?" The human asks. I nod slightly and sigh. "Yes and no. I don't exactly have a home to return to anymore, but I don't exactly know where I am either."

"Maybe he can join Monster School!" The creeper exclaims. A few murmurs of agreement.

"Do you wish to join us?" The human asks, extending his hand, "We do have room for another student."

"I..." What should I say? Should I trust these mobs? Should I trust this human?

What do I even have to lose, I guess...

"S-Sure."

"Great! Follow me, young stray. I have a lot of things to show you."

~

A/n: Unedited chapter, expect grammatical errors.


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