I left the village behind, occasionally looking back. Besides that shack, it was my first home. I wasn't sure how long I would be gone, but a part of me told me that I wasn't coming back.

Jewel was anxious now that we were out. She kept sniffing things, running ahead, and having a good time. I was starting to wonder why we even left. There is nothing but death out here.

And the Capitol. My mind told me.

But I couldn't be able to get there right here, could I?

I was just glad that the sun was coming up. The villagers would be worried about me, but I just need to explore. And figure out Jewel's crazy antics. That too.

-<+>-

We managed to make it to a snow biome. It was barely snowing light little snowflakes that Jewel tried to destroy and eat.

I was really wondering how I could get back to the village. I didn't have a map, I didn't know where I was going, and I didn't think Jewel would care about going back.

We trudged along through the snow. Occasionally, I saw a snow golem, snow with a pumpkin head, standing around, so maybe someone has been through here. Maybe they were still here...

Finally, I found something. An igloo. It was  a half-sphere of snow with a little door. I was wondering if anyone was home, since smoke was coming out from the top.

I opened the door, to reveal a spherical room. A fire was in the middle, outlined with red carpet. A bed was on one side, and a chest, crafting table, and furnace was on the other. It seemed pretty home-like, despite being pretty small.

I didn't want to be rude, but I opened the chest up. Nothing. Huh. Maybe they just built it and left? Or maybe they grabbed their stuff and left. But why?

I closed the chest and looked around for anything at all. Then, I saw something. Behind the bed was a trapdoor. I opened it and saw ladders going down.

Well this was exciting. Maybe I could find something good, or people good. Or something bad. That works too. But I had a sword, so hopefully I'm good.

I put my sword away and started climbing down. What I found at the bottom, I didn't expect at all.

-<+>-

SQUEEEEEEEEE

sorry. This next part I love.

K moving on.

-<+>- SkyDoesMinecraft/Adam's POV (did you see that coming?) -<+>-

"This is bad news bears."

Jerome was right. We were in a bad situation.

"Well it's not like the world is ending right now." Leave Dan to be optimistic.

"Yeah, but it could be soon." Mitch insisted.

We were all in the council room. The rows and rows that usually contained around one hundred people were now empty. The only people in the room were the chosen ten-Me, Ty (Deadlox), Dan (DanTDM), Ian (Ssundee), Jerome (JeromeAsf), Mitch (BajanCanadian), Preston (PrestonPlayz), Lachlan (Former CraftBattleDuty), Rob (Woofless), and Vikk (Vikkstar123). We were in our semi circle stands a few blocks above the ground. The whole room was made with quartz, and had quartz column and chiseled quartz block designs. The ceiling was a giant glass dome so there was no light needed elsewhere.

"Come on, Mitch! Donz think like that." Preston, with his lava creeper skin, was just being funny with all of this.

"We need to focus." I rubbed my temples, or where I would think they were. My face is a cube, so that was difficult. "How can we win this war."

"Who says it's even a war yet?" Ty asked.

"H.B. did." We didn't say his full name. "Remember the note?" I pulled the note out of my little cubby in front of me.

"It reads, Gather your men. I'm ready. Are you?"

Silence.

"Maybe he was talking about going to eat brunch together?" Lachlan asked.

"You're kidding me, right?" Ian looked like he was about to facepalm.

"We are just trying to stay upbeat and hopeful." Vikk stood up for Lachlan.

"Yeah. We already don't have nearly as much men as H.B." Rob noted. "We can't lose hope, too."

Most people nodded in agreement. I swear, me, Ian, and sometimes Ty are the only practical people. There was a time where we were funny and hopeful, too, but all of that is crumbling as well with our side of the war. Yes, we have a big army, but only half of what H.B. has.

"So... now what?" Dan asked.

"I don't know." Preston shrugged. "Just wait and see?"

"We can't wait." Ian said as if it pained him.

"Perhaps we can attack first?" Mitch and Jerome asked at the same time. Merome.

"Yeah, a surprise attack could maybe give us a chance." Ty noted.

"Please." Vikk sneered. "H.B. probably has his forces crawling everywhere."

"So what can we do?" Dan asked innocently.

I sighed. "We should finish this when everyone else is here."

Everyone nodded.

"Let's go do the Hunger Games Simulator! I wanna chop skulls." Jerome grinned evilly.

Just then, I felt something. "Wait. My budder senses are tingling."

"You're still going on about that?" Mitch rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious." I closed my eyes. "Something is happening, and it has to do with budder."

"Good or bad?" Ty pretty much worshipped my budder instincts.

"G-good." I smiled. "Something good is finally happening."

-<+>- Kat's POV -<+>-

What I found at the bottom, I didn't expect at all. It was a room made of gold. Gold lined the walls, blocks of it were everywhere, and it was in the two chests on opposite walls. Somehow, there was no light, but the room was lit up. But there was some kind of alter at the end. On it, was a book.

I walked over cautiously, and looked at the book. It was bright yellow, with gold trimming. The title, in gold, read The History Of Gold.

I raised an eyebrow, but then looked around. Where was Jewel? She was probably up in the igloo.

I carefully took the book, but nothing happened. No boulder rolling to crush me, no avalanche, nothing.

I sat down, and opened the book. There was a table of contents. The first chapter was about the gold ore, the second was about weapons, and so on. I looked down the list, when something caught my eye. Chapter Eleven- Golden Apples.

I opened to the page number, and started reading a short summary.

The golden apple is an overpowered weapon. It is made by an apple surrounded by golden ingots (picture is shown). There are also the legendary golden enchanted apples (nicknamed "Notch apples"), made by golden blocks surrounding an apple. They are expensive, but are worth it, giving you insane regeneration, fire resistance, etc.

Huh. That's cool. I kept reading.

There is a (not very known) myth that the Council of Minecraft considered making the existence of Golden Notch apples. They would have been made by surrounding a Notch apple with 4 golden ingots in each corner, and golden blocks on the rest. The user would be invincible, so they were banned and never continued.

I closed the book. That was interesting. If there was a war, Golden apples and Notch apples would help.

I decided to take the book with me, in case there was more to learn. Then, I headed up.

-<+>-

"Hey Jewel."

She was snuggled up near the fire. She looked so cute and innocent, not the annoying pest she was a few hours ago. Wait, was it a few hours? What time is it?

I looked out the door at the sky. I couldn't see the sun, but the sky was turning pink. How long were we walking?

"Good thing we found this place." I sat down on the bed. Not a bad day. I didn't die, so that's good.

I laid down, and fell asleep.

No dreams. No nightmares. Nothing.

It felt like I laid down a minute ago, but I was wide awake. The igloo was dark except for the fire, which went out a little bit. Jewel was still curled up.

I took a peek outside, and it was still dark. It was pretty weird that I felt up and ready to go.

"I guess we can risk it. I'll be better than last time." I shuddered while remembering the zombies and skeletons and creeper.

"But for a little protection..." I climbed back down the ladder.

The room seemed somewhat barren since I took the book from the pedestal. Nevertheless, I opened one of the chests and grabbed some gold. Then, I threw down a crafting table I made a while ago and crafted a gold chest plate and boots.

"That'll do." I climbed up the ladder. Jewel was waiting for me. She seemed less anxious, though.

I opened the door. The night greeted me with darkness and a cool breeze. Why was I doing this? It looked creepy.

I walked out. Jewel jumped on my back and climbed to my shoulder.

"It's okay." I told her. Then, I went around the igloo, and continued my journey.

-<+>-

Usually we heard a sound, like a growl or a hiss, but nothing happened. Like they were in the trees waiting to strike at the right mo- okay not making me feel better.

Despite the darkness and shadows from the trees, the night sky was bright. It was a bright navy blue, and beautiful stars filled up almost every space. Haha, space. I made a funny.

I climbed up a tree, careful not to have Jewel fall off. That would be funny, though. I made it to the top, and sat down, staring at the sky.

"Beautiful." I breathed.

"Isn't it?" A male voice said behind me.

I turned around, wide-eyed, but saw no one.

"Um... Yeah..." I responded, hoping to make him talk again. But nothing. I decided to go back down.

I was walking for a few minutes, before I saw something. Smoke. A bunch of it, about a 100 blocks away.

I was wondering if I should go or not. It seemed dangerous, but someone could be in danger.

I ran toward the smoke.

-<+>-

"Burn it all!"

He kept saying that over and over. The giant zombie. He was triple the size of a regular zombie, and was very buff. (<> he looked like hulk with a torn blue shirt and jeans that reach his knees<>) I could tell he was a mutant.

He, along with around 40 zombies, were setting the trees on fire. They already burned a lot, and seemed like they wouldn't stop.

"Burn! Find him!" He roared again. The zombies groaned.

I was hiding behind a tree, Jewel shivering on my shoulder. I wasn't sure what to do. All I have been doing for the past minute was watching, and waiting. They were looking for someone, a male in particular. Maybe it was the same guy from before.

"Do not stop!" He pushed a zombie who hesitated. The zombie fell, and ran to torch another tree.

"I gotta do something." I whispered to myself. I pulled out my sword.

Just as I was about to suicide out there, I heard a whoosh. In the night light, I saw something fly towards the hoard. An arrow hit the mutant zombie in the shoulder.

He roared and pulled it out. "What is happening?!" He probably wasn't smart enough to say more than 3 words at a time.

I grinned as another arrow was shot from across me, hitting a regular zombie, who fell.

I climbed up another tree, and brought out my bow. Setting Jewel on the tree, I notched an arrow. I shot it, and hit a zombie.

"No, no!" The mutant yelled as he watched his men fall. He managed to punch away some arrows, but more were coming.

I had no idea who were shooting those arrows, but I liked them.

Finally, only a few zombies remained. I shot one, and the mutant zombie saw me. He looked shocked, and furious. Then, he jumped up, and stomped the ground as he fell. The ground broke under him, and he went through it. After he was gone, the ground repaired himself.

I waited. What just happened?

Then, 4 figures appeared from the woods. They had swords in one hand, and bows in another. I couldn't see what they looked like, but they all had dark blue hoodies with the hood on.

They stared at where the mutant zombie disappeared, exchanging looks. They started speaking, but I couldn't hear. Then, they ran away from where they came.

"Wait!" I yelled. I didn't know what I was doing, but I wanted to meet them. I grabbed Jewel and jumped down.

I ran after them, not knowing where I was going.

After a few minutes, I came across something else. A wall. A 10 block tall stone wall that stretched in both directions. I couldn't see the ends, since trees were in the way. There was no door, no sounds. Nothing.

"Hey!"

I looked up and saw a guy on the wall. He had on iron armor and a diamond sword. I was jealous.

"Who are you?" He looked ready to attack.

I didn't feel scared. "My name is Katherine."

He raised an eyebrow. "Put the sword away."

I had my sword out, so I put it away.

All of a sudden, a 3 by 3 hole opened in the wall. I remembered that Pistons can move blocks.

"Come in."

I walked in.

-<+>-

Not really a great ending. I really enjoyed writing this chapter. More excitement coming soon :)