E

I am graduated

On to adultingggg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECAP

     "Mm... I'm glad he found us, not someone else. Somehow, I can't stand the thought of someone else trying to take care of him." Steven murmured, gently bringing a thumb down Herobrine's cheek. The being stirred softly in response, mouth opening, closing, his eyes staying shut.

     "True. We'd both probably be dead without him." Jake's smirk was wry.

     "I'm doubly thankful then."

     "He didn't know he got himself two more friends just by sleeping on some roof." Jake snorted, gaze again flitting to the flames.

     "Seems like ages since that happened, hm? And weren't you the one to smack him with a snowball first?"

     "It was an accidentttt..."

     "You'll have to apologize for it once he can talk." Steve chuckled, sending Jake a mock glare.

     "Aye...fine...I'll do that."

     Jake grinned back, "...then we can have a snowball fight next winter."

     "If he wants to."

     "I'll ask nicely."

END RECAP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not So Frightening

     "Atta boy! There you go!"

     Steven's praise made the being's little smile widen further. He was standing, though his legs didn't hold any weight, supported by the taller human's large hands under his arms. The being's hands gripped weakly at the human's fingers, trusting the man to keep him from falling into a painful heap.

     Another little breath left him, as he forced another small foot forward, earning even more encouragement from Jake, where he sat near the fire, holding the enderling.

     "That's it, there ya go Brine! Look at you go."

     The humans had noticed how restless he was becoming, how much he longed to be able to move about instead of being trapped on the bed. After all, it had been near two weeks since the mine's collapse... and Herobrine grew impatient when his abilities still slipped from his weakened grasp.

     So, to placate him, Steven began picking him up, sitting with him outside, rubbing life back into his aching, tired limbs every night. However, he was nowhere near strong enough to even think of walking on his own again.

     Now, the humans were trying to see how strong his legs were after the bones healed a little. Herobrine could barely lift his leg, let alone take even a portion of his weight...

     Thankfully, Steven knew this and held him upright with surprising strength while the being kicked and swung his feet about a little.

     "You're so light... ach, watch my shins there."

     The being turned his head to grin over his shoulder, earning a smile back from Steve.

     "You're too bloody adorable, here... Jake, how's that roast coming along."

     "Near done, give it a few." Jake was busily tugging a string away from the enderling, as it was unraveling his shirt.

     "Ay Steve... this thing's really growin' isn't it?"

     "The baby? Well of course it is... it's meant to be near 3 blocks tall—"

     "Three blocks??"

     Steven smirked at him over Herobrine's head, "Now you won't have to use me t' get things off th' top shelf."

     "By gods Steven, I don't do that anymore."

     Steven only chuckled, helping Hero shuffle over to the fire before he sank down, settling Herobrine in his lap. The being hummed quietly, head leaning back against Steven's chest in quiet thanks.

     "Look at you buddy, all comfortable..."

     "I can't wait till he learns to talk and realizes you've been giving him pet names." Jake chuckled.

     "Oh hush, 'Herobrine' is a bit of a mouthful—aw, look he recognizes it."

     Indeed, the being had tilted his head at the name, looking at the two men questioningly.

     "Speakin' of names..." Steven ruffled the being's hair, "...did we ever name the little creature?"

     Jake glanced over, spying the baby on top of a chest, and licking a window, "Uh..."

      "I just keep calling it... it."

    Jake snorted, "It... tch. I mean, I dunno if these things come in 'boy' and 'girl' and all that..."

     "Eh, then just get creative I guess."

     The end creature must have noticed that its humans were speaking about it, as it quickly left the window and made its way in front of Herobrine, looking intent on tasting his hair. The being watched, entranced, as the enderling peered at him, standing on its thin hind legs, head tilted to the side. Then, with a soft burble, it leaned forward, placing its tiny, hand-like paws on Herobrine's unhurt shoulder, and began nibbling on his hair.

     Steven scoffed quietly, "Do you ever get tired of tasting things?"

     Of course, he went ignored, the creature vlurping and chirping in contentment as it nuzzled Herorbine's hair.

    To both men's shock... the being burbled back.

     "Vrmmp... vur."

     "Mvrrp, vlurp."

     They watched in quiet confusion as the conversation went on for a few more seconds, halting when the enderling sat back and sneezed, much to Herobrine's amusement.

     Then it flounced away to lick the window again.

     "Can he...?"

     "I think he just did." Steven murmured, rearranging Herobrine's hair into some semblance of order.

     "I'm gonna go check on that roast..."

     A series of noises spilled from Herobrine's mouth, making them both freeze, looking at him.

     Herobrine only tilted his head, repeating a few more sounds. His voice... was almost too soft, like a breeze that echoed through a dry riverbed... Certainly stronger than what Steven remembered it to be.

     "Nmm... au-ahn nem..."

     "You... tryin' to talk like us, bud?"

     "ou... aian Steen."

     "Hey, he's saying your name already?" Jake didn't even try to hide his jealousy.

     Steven smirked at him, "He's said it once... almost. When he picked me up off the cliffside and took care of me through the blizzard."

     "Ss...Steen."

     "Ay, that's it, good lad!" Steven's hand ruffled his charge's hair, "Steven... Herobrine." He poked the being's chest, making him flinch. "And that's Jake." Steven gestured to the blond, who made a face back at Steven.

     Herobrine seemed to ponder this, long enough for Jake to shake himself out of his stunned wonder long enough to go and free the roast from the oven before it caught fire.

     "'aat ayk."

     "Kiiiinda, yup. Jake." Steve pointed again at the blond, "Steve." He placed a hand on his chest.

     "Ayk... Steen."

     Steven was already ruffling Herobrine's hair in pure excitement, "You're such a smart little guy, aren't you."

     "Steve stop messing up his hair, get over here and eat!"

     "Aw shut, you're just jealous."

     "Am not!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     The air was colder.

     That was one of many things on Ephrim's mind. His body was sore, stomach empty, head aching with little sleep. Adarion's wolves snored enough to frighten away undead...

     Ephrim huffed, drawing his cloak tighter about himself as his horse picked its way along the trail, now considerably more steep than normal. They neared mountainous territory... another bothersome thing. Horses didn't do well among the slopes!

     He'd been falling behind a bit for quite awhile, now just numbly following Adarion's stupid hunches. That demon had most certainly gone the other way, he was sure of it! And he couldn't argue lest he risk losing the crazed man's support...

     Releasing a grumble under his breath, Ephrim shifted in his saddle. They'd waste months scrambling all over the continent to hunt down this prize—

     "Halt!!"

     The shout from ahead jolted Ephrim out of his gloomy thoughts, and nearly off his horse as well. With a scowl that would have sent young children sobbing to hide behind their mothers, his eyes flicked up to rest on Adarion's broad, fur-covered shoulders. As one, all the horses in the pack behind Adarion stilled, ears flicking forward in idle curiosity.

     The man hung low off his stallion, all but fallen over its neck as he stared at the ground. Ephrim emitted a loud sigh, meant to be heard by those around him. Lovely, yet another stupid broken twig or deer track that 'undoubtedly proved' the deranged hunter's claims that he was correct.

     Without a word or warning, Adarion's heavy bulk slipped from his horse with nary a sound. Impressive as it was, Ephrim still rolled his eyes bitterly.

     Get on with it already...

     A chuffed growl, and then Adarion had all but leaped into the bushes, looking very much like some shaggy hunting dog as he waded a little way into the trees and ferns, sniffing, yes, sniffing, the air and foliage.

     "Ahaha... yesss..."

     The man's muttered voice didn't need a shout to carry it to the ears of those around him. Ephrim shuddered a bit, feeling his horse shift beneath him. Had he chosen a demon to help him hunt a demon??

     With a disturbing sound, almost animalistic, the leader all but galloped back to his horse, mounting so lightly that it made Ephrim question how much the man truly weighed.

     "Aye, we near th' scent! Onward! We will be within fifty miles 'afore th' end of th' week."

     A grating chuckle accompanied those words, and it was soon overtaken by whoops and shouts of eagerness.

     "From now on ye'll be silent, dogs! Silent hunters approachin' wary prey. Keep yer eyes out men, this is no normal quarry..."

     Cries of "Aye, Alpha!" and "Down with th' demon!" followed, though with considerable restraint. Ephrim glanced up from checking his saddlebags to see Adarion's cold eyes on him.

     He froze, though as soon as their eyes met, Adarion had whirled his horse about, sending it into a canter up the slopes. Ephrim muttered a curse at the hunter as he nudged his mount into at least a trot.

     Curse that deranged and beastly man...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sheeeesh I know it's short, but got other books to write and other things to do, chat!

Hope y'all enjoy, Imma get back to deciding which book needs updatin' the most

Cheers, aye, ye mangy wolves!