The journey back to the portal was quiet, too quiet if you ask Techno. Phil didn't speak or asked the hoglin anymore questions. Guess he just ran out of interesting things to ask that are easy to answer with yes or no. Or he was just making himself go crazy over Techno again. One or the other. The hoglin was getting bored of the silence, but couldn't do anything but keep walking. He had no idea how to start any kind of conversation, especially without being able to speak.

After what felt like an eternity of silent traveling through the empty wastelands and a small forest, Techno could spot the crimson forest in the distance. 'Almost there...' He was still sad about the fact that Phil was leaving him, but it's not like he can just keep him trapped in here for the rest of his life. That would be wrong, even if it meant Techno had to be alone for a little while every day. But daily visits were a better option than an unhappy Philza, that's for sure. Making his friend feel bad was the last thing he wants to do.

"Weird... that wasn't here before..." The hoglin stopped to see what his friend was talking about. An obsidian bride that was built over a ravine that lead to the bubbling lava below. He's right, it sure wasn't there the last time they walked past this area. Then again, they are not the only people traveling the Nether. It could have been literally anyone of the other SMP people. But... Why waste obsidian on such a small bridge? Surely the person could have used cobblestone or something else.

"At least we don't have to walk around the ravine. Save some time." Phil gave a small tug at the pink fur to try and get the hoglin to walk over the bridge. But the creature didn't move. Something about this seems wrong... why was this bridge so close to their home portal? Who made it? "Something wrong? You're not scared of the bridge, are you? It's literally one layer of obsidian." Why was the hoglin so scared? It looked genuinely worried to go even near the bridge.

Phil climbed off of its back and gently pat it's neck. "It's alright big guy. It's safe. I'll show you." He walked towards the bridge, but was quickly stopped when the hoglin grabbed him by the back of his coat, whining softly. The blonde sighed and stroked over his hoglin's head. "Hey. Nothing's gonna happen. I promise. I'll show you it's safe. You probably never saw a bridge before." He started walking again and this time, the hoglin just watched. Phil walked onto the bridge, the obsidian making rather loud clicking noises under his boots. But nothing happened.

"See? It's fine. Completely safe." The hoglin hesitated a bit, before slowly following their winged friend. 'I don't like this... this feels wrong.' Phil smiled and waited at the other end of the bridge. Even when Techno placed his foot on the bridge and felt how it full supported his weight, he couldn't help but feel on edge. This is wrong... it doesn't make any sense.

Slowly the hoglin made it's way over the obsidian, watching the black stone carefully, as if it would collapse any second. The blonde just watched them in amusement. It's like seeing a dear walk on ice for the first time. He saw nothing bad in this bridge and blamed the paranoia of his pet on the fact that it probably never crossed a bridge before.

When Techno got closer to Phil, almost at the end of the bridge, he spotted something on the black stone that the bridge was made out of. Carved into the shimmering surface was a simple smiley face, barely visible if you aren't paying attention to it. Most people wouldn't see anything bad in it on the first glance, but not Techno. His heart stopped when seeing the carving. 'It can't be...'

"See? I told you it's fine." Phil grinned and kept walking, leaving the bridge behind him, while the hoglin was still staring at the obsidian below them. He hasn't seen the carving, otherwise he would have reacted to it as well. Suddenly the blonde felt how his boot got stuck on something, then how the thing snapped and set his boot free again. He looked down to see a now broken string on the ground that lead into the Netherrack. Techno was the first to hear the hissing noise.

It was a trap!

"PHIL" His scream only came out as a high pitched squeal, but it was enough to startle his friend and finally get him to move. But it wasn't enough. Techno sprinted towards him, using his large head to half push, half throw Phil as far away from the trap as he could. The blonde landed on the ground with a pained groan before sitting up, trying to figure out what was happening.

Then the TNT detonated, with the hoglin standing right above it.

"NOOOO!"