Don't worry about Maple, guys.
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Soldier down.

Battle cry.

Shrapnel.

Immortal down.

><>Herobrine's POV<><

     Gah! Dang-it!

     My leg once again slipped from under me, and I tumbled to my side, barely catching myself with my bruised and splitted hands. My fingers trembled as all my weight was put upon them in order to relieve my bleeding palms from the rough bark digging into them. It was going to be a long day..

     I used my good leg to place below my torso and lift myself up slowly. As much as I wanted to push myself and go faster, I had nowhere to go, and none remaining to be considered a threat to me. I was truly lost. There was no home... Not anymore.

     I grunted with the force I exerted to keep myself going forward. Perhaps I could build a small shack to live in for the time being, however, in my injured state, even a simple mound of dirt would be quite the challenge. Even though there was nobody going after me, my instincts were telling me to continue forward. As much as my body wanted to rest, I didn't dare go against my instincts. They were the only thing I could truly trust in.

     My right leg wobbled under me, my ankle deciding to not act normally, instead pretending to be jello under my weight. Even the slightest divot in the terrain would upset it, either sending a jolt of pain up my leg, or making me nearly lose my balance and fall again. My back also throbbed, as there were still several shards of glass cutting deep into my flesh. Pulling them out would only be a nightmare, though. A pain I kept putting off for my future self to handle. A small cut on my chin let blood leak down from it and onto my shirt and neck as I pushed myself forward.

     My leg was the one which decided it was time for a break, making me fall forward with an unpleasant sounding 'plunk!' I simply laid there for a while, catching my breath, not caring that the grass was tickling my face and pricking my nose. A soft wind blew, bring forth the scent of a living creature. I tensed as I lay there, not sure whether it was an animal of prey.. or the killing type. If so, I had little remaining strength to defend myself. I was physically, and energy drained. Perhaps even a little mentally drained. Maybe if I stay still, I can both be unnoticed and not have to use any more of my valuable strength.

     A shuffle in the bushes made me give up that wish, springing up and over-top my bad leg in order to back up against the tree behind, which my back gently pressed against, since I wasn't desperate enough to press that glass further into my back. I watched with fixated eyes on any and all movement before me. The bushes were thick ahead, and held within it patches of brown and grey. I squinted slightly, trying to identify the creature. The beast paused, two brown eyes peering through the bushes at me. Likely, it was examining me as much as I was examining it. We were both silent, in our heads sharing a secret conversation about which would be the one to make the first move.

     A soft whine pierced through the thick leaves, and the head of a domesticated wolf appeared through them. It's snout, eyes, and ears were black, while the rest was brown. As it stepped further out, I noticed two things. First, the creature actually looked quite shy for it's size. Perhaps it could feel the weak ura of my remaining power. Two, the domesticated wolf looked nothing like the typical grey ones. It's fur came in large patches of grey, brown, and black, even some lighter tan. His tail even curled up a little, unlike the straight tails of wolves. This must have been one of those 'dogs' humans were so fond of. Despite it's domesticated look, the creature's looks were still very wolf-like, keeping the long, thick, and tough fur. The beast was meant to last. It was born to survive in a place like the wilderness.

     The dog continued to stare at me once out of the bushes, a mere six or so feet away from me. I wondered for a moment why it was not making any moves, until I realized it wasn't just looking at me, but looking directly into my eyes. I bit my lip at this realization, instantly feeling uncomfortable. I was supposed to be the one intimidatingly boring my eyes into the other's soul. Refusing to show any signs of discomfort and/or weariness, I turned on a scowl, staring the creature back just as intensely. His eyes weren't cold like mine, however. They simply held a curious, somewhat knowing look in them. It was hard to read his face; heck, I was never good at reading faces!

     Finally, after too long of staring into the dog's deep brown eyes, I pulled my head away, instead looking down at the grass beside me. After a moment of embarassing silence, I heard the creature yawn and sit down, scratching behind his ear with his hind leg to relieve an itch. My scowl had dropped, but a frown came about me when the idea that this mut was bragging that he had just won the staring contest drilled itself into my head. Using the tree behind me, I slowly lifted myself to my feet, my muscles already sore from all the walking, and continued on my way, trying to find out where my instincts were leading me. The feeling of direction had left me, however, and I was left clueless. Maybe if I just continued going forwards I would find a good place to rest.. at least.

     I began my journey once again, walking several feet before I heard some shuffling behind me. Turning around quickly, I spooked the dog who had started to follow me.

     "Get away you dirty animal!" I growled. He got the mesaage right then, and quickly cowered away for the bushes once again. I sighed, glad that was over and that I could continue in peace.

     I stumbled over rocks for water seemed like all day but in reality had only been one or two hours. The terrain was moving up into an incline, which was not doing well for my ankle. At least the rocks were smooth and round, because then when I fell I didn't have to worry too much about scratching up my arms anymore. Only small, thorny plants were there to deal me that pain. I absent mindedly began to wonder why I never wore gloves. Oh yeah, fire. Maybe I would have to come up with some kind of padded fireproof gloves that wrapped themselves all the way to my shoulders or something, or at least my elbows. Things like that would have helped me a lot in positions like the one I was in. 

     I trudged on, my ankle throbbing and breaths heavy. My blood had all but dried up mostly, acting as a thick pasty glue more than a normal liquid. Even sweat began building on my forehead: something only exerted in times of real struggle. And this wasn't one of those times. I couldn't dare compare it to a bad time. Those times had been much, much worse.

     I was out in the open. The trees had long ago left me. Or had I left them? My head was spinning. My last fall had opened up some cuts pretty badly, and blood dripped from my fingers like water during a raid in the middle of a downpour. The glass in my back reminded me that I still had a lot of self care to get done. But, by then, I couldn't even lift my arms. Is.. is it always so hot? I swayed atop the hill I had finally successfully climbed. Behind me was the thick green forest. Before me.. was a dry, baren land, filled with nothing but dry plants and those same smooth but large stones. I looked far towards the horizon. This terrain seemed to stretch on for miles... Of course.. Just my luck. I listened in again for my instincts' directions, only finding them dormant and unwilling to help me out. Welp, guess it is still forwards. Eventually I will gain some sense of direction.

SssSsssSSssss..

     What was that?! I turned to my left, quickly spotting the brown scales of a wicked snake. It hissed at me ferociously, showing much lower signs of intelligence than that dog had. As much as I wanted to step on top of it's tail, let it try to bight me, before having it's skull crushed by my own hand.. I was in no such condition. If it were venomous, I might even be hindered if I were to be bitten.

     The snake snapped for an unprotected part of my leg, making me take a quick step back in surprise. Bad move. My already injured ankle screamed at me the moment it landed awkwardly on a stone, and my body gave into the temptation to fall. Oh, that snake must have been so surprised it could take me down so easily. I could just imagine the confused look changing to a smirk spreading across it's diamond shaped face. I grunted in my fall, quickly sitting up so I could have a good look at my foe. The snake curled itself into a spiral, a spiral that slowly but surely was making it's way towards me.

     Though I had faced much worse than this, my eyes widened slightly, knowing deep inside that I was in no condition to tackle the elements and their creatures just yet. I looked towards the ground for any sharp rocks as the slithering serpent came my way, searching for a sharp object I could use as a weapon. None was found. There is a downside to there being nothing but smooth stones around you. I pulled my good leg back as the snake snapped at it. The serpent barely missed. It just continued slowly slithering in a compact coil towards me, still looking at my legs as it's target.

     With nothing else I could use to smash the snake in front of me, I reached over my shoulder for my back, and quickly grabbed a large shard of glass sticking through my shirt. The small amount of contact alone disturbed my entire back so much that it felt as if it were on fire. In that moment, with my heartbeat rising to unnecessary levels, I yanked it out of my back, feeling the shard sliding out from several inches under my skin. Hot blood oozed out with it. I could see it in the snake's movements. It was just about to bite my knee.

     Everything went slow-mo when the serpentine struck it's neck outwards. My arm shot outward, bloody glass shard in hand, and the sharp side made perfect contact with the creature's neck. I watched as everything sped back up, and the serpent's head went flying down the steep side of the hill. The creature's leaking corpse laid flailing in fury before me... A weak smile rose on my face as my heartbeat returned to normal. I wouldn't have to figure out if I could die of poisoning in a weakened state afterall. That.. was close.

     After my breathing settled, which didn't take too long, I used my good leg again to lift my body up. My swollen ankle throbbed in protest, knowing it needed a break more than I did. Spiteful of my own pained situation, I looked onward, to the nearly lifeless horizon. I grumbled, taking a step down the steep side of the hill. It would be quite the journey. With the rocks so smooth and the slope so steep, I began to wonder if it was safe to descend in my current state.

Crack!

     That was the sound of my weak ankle as it gave up on me, slipping between two boulders and snapping as I fell forward. I shouted in pain, pulling myself into a ball quickly, knowing where this was going. I was tossed around by rocks as I fell, every now and then a plant scratching me for good measure. I couldn't even comprehend where I was going or how long the spinning would last. Eventually my hands gave out, letting go of my knees, and I landed harshly on my shoulder, bringing the sound of yet another 'crack!' into my ears. I didn't even realize the bumpy ride was over until I was laying still on my back, my lungs simply trying to breathe; glass digging further into the meat of my back.

     I could feel my entire body pounding with my heartbeat as I lay there. My chest ached. My whole body throbbed with the consideration of it's new bruises... How much longer could I last like this? My mind spun. The sun was now directly in my face, radiating pure lava down on me. I know it was just an over exaggeration, but I could feel my skin baking under the heat; my blood boiling; and the rocks under me only acted as the bottom of the oven I was now trapped in... Could I ever get out of this? Maybe I should have just waited for my instincts to come back to me. If only I hadn't been so quick to wander. So resistant to accept that I needed to rest... If only I had been built to last..

     My face twinged when a stinging pain inside my brain overwhelmed my thoughts. I didn't know exactly what it meant. Did I need water? Food? Shade?! I lifted my hand up towards the sun in my anguish. With dazed eyes and gritted teeth, I snarled, "C-curse you.. Notch.. Curse you!" And, my hand dropped far off to my side, signifying that my body had had enough. I fainted... I was too weak.