All That From A Snowball (A Herobrine Adoption Story)

Returning

          The being was rummaging around now, gathering everything together, letting the fire die, throwing concerned looks in Steve's direction often. Steve, still fighting to calm his racing heart, watched him, confused. Were they leaving already...?

          His question was answered when he found himself staring at a rather frightened-looking being, who was lifting up the miner's arm and settling it across his thin shoulders, hauling Steve up with astonishing strength. The smaller man had all of Steve's belongings slung over his shoulders, packet up in the satchel, and his own cloak was wrapped tightly around Steve's broken leg, keeping it warm.

          Surprised, Steve could only utter a small thanks as he was helped out of the small opening, which forced him to duck his head, out into dazzling sunlight. Smooth humps of pure-white snow reflected the early-morning sun straight into Steve's eyes, making him grunt, hurriedly squeeze his eyes shut against the sting. Slowly and carefully, his support inched him forwards through the deep drifts, one arm around Steve's waist, holding him upright, the other clutching the miner's arm. Step by shuffling step, blinded by the light, his leg throbbing with every movement, the being helped Steve through the forest.

          Bringing the human home.

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         Nearly an hour of painfully slow walking later, Steve managed to glance up, squinting harshly to see through the glare of the sunlight. Through the trees before him, he could just make out Jake's cabin, smoke still rising from the chimney. He sucked in a quiet breath, a grin spreading over his features, feeling the being flinch beside him, "Th-the...the cabin! Oh, Notch...we made it..."

          The being only pinched his lips together. This was madness...he was approaching a human dwelling in broad daylight, with a human leaning heavily on his shoulders. Granted, the other man was wounded, unable to fight, but the thought of being so near these creations still made his stomach churn with nervous sickness. What if he became frightened of them again, and lashed out??

          Grimacing, the being shook his head a little, speeding up his pace. The faster he could get the human home, the faster he could get away from them and keep them safe from his power.

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          Steve felt the being pick up the pace, and he struggled to keep up, joyfully watching as the cabin grew nearer and nearer with every step. Snow was piled up, nearly halfway up the windows, and the white powder on top of the small dwelling was even thicker from the storm. Soon, Steve could just make out movement inside the house. Curse Jake, he should have been in bed, the scoundrel.

          Then, the door was shoved open, and the hunter himself was standing in the doorway, a grim look of determination on his face, dressed in his warmest clothes, keeping weight off his own injured leg.

          However, that forbidding look melted away when his eyes locked on Steve, limping towards him through the snow...and a few tears of utter relief began to sting his eyes.

          "Steve!?"

          Jake suddenly began plunging into the snow, nearly forgetting his injury in his eagerness to embrace his friend, "Steve!! O-oh Notch I thought you...I thought you were dead..." His voice cracked a little, and a warning throb in his legs stopped him in his tracks, as did Steve's gloved hand as it stretched out to him, as though telling him to stop.

          A little grin was on Steve's face, relief in his eyes, "I'm alright...I'm alright...But s-slow Jake...he's jumpy as a newborn colt."