All That From A Snowball (A Herobrine Adoption Story)

Returning

          The human repeated the sounds again, tapping his chest, pointing again. Perhaps...he wanted the being to repeat them...

          Opening and closing his mouth, trying to figure out how to make the sounds, a little noise left his mouth, much to both of their surprise, "S-teentam..."

          The human blinked, then amusement creased his face, "Ssss-t-ee-v."

          "S...teen..."

          The human clapped his hands, making the being jump again, and he spouted off some gibberish. His face was...not distressed anymore...good. Perhaps the mortal was feeling restless, wanting to hear another human voice. They were social creatures...much like the being longed to be.

          As the human chattered on, the being relaxed against the wall a bit. He'd stayed up for several nights, caring for the human...not wanting to sleep in his presence. However, the cheerful drone of the voice lulled him to sleep, helped by the crackling of flames, the warmth surrounding him. He'd never stayed in caves long...it usually brought suspicious humans close...

          Steve's voice drifted a bit as he watched the little guy slump against the rocks, eyes closing slowly. A grin crossed his face, "Sleepy aren't you... Well, I would be too if I had to listen to myself talk all day..."

          Leaning back against the wall again, still feeling keenly helpless, Steve sighed, "Well, sleep little guy, you earned it. I do hope you can learn to talk though...you're a curious fella."

          Even as the wind roared and whined outside, the two occupants of the little cave slept deeply, each comfortable in the presence of the other. It was Jake, alone in his house with only a catlike creature to comfort him, who was truly suffering.

          However, his grief would not last long.

          The next day, when Steve awoke, it was...oddly quiet. Only the soft pop and crackle of the fire and the occasional soft noises the being made were present. The wind, the blizzard, it was gone.

           Sitting up a little more, ignoring the pain in his arm and shoulder, Steve squinted at the narrow entrance of the cave. A soft yellow light poured from it, no longer was it choked by the cold blue darkness the snowstorm had blanketed the land with. The miner broke into a smile. Good...no blizzard meant he could see Jake again!

          A dull throb in his leg, however, quelled his hope. Ah...right...he still couldn't walk. Glancing up, Steve saw the being staring at him, and he offered a slight smile, "So...any...plans for going home...?" He pointed outside, hoping to communicate better with gestures.

          Eyes widening a bit, the being glanced over at the entrance, back again, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Yes...it was possible to go back to his dwelling-place...

          However...it would undoubtedly be painful for the human. He would have to crawl, his leg was still far too injured to bear weight, the being could sense it. Even a little could interrupt the fragile healing just beginning and shatter the leg all over again...

          Teleporting was out of the question, sadly enough. The last time the being had teleported the human, the injuries had worsened, though it had been necessary. He could even feel how it affected the man's head and breathing, how it had sickened him in his sleep. No, he would not risk teleportation...but perhaps...he could help the man walk. After all, he'd carried the man and managed not to injure him...and the human seemed gentle and trusting enough.

          The being could also sense the longing for his fellow mortal within the human's heart, see it in his face, the way his body behaved. His instincts revealed that the man needed companionship.