Warnings: Jerome makes a very stupid decision. Aka there's gonna be some blood

     ~Jerome's P.O.V.~

"Check, check, check, check, aaaaaand check... Perfect everything's ready to go!" I exclaim as I toss the now crumpled list into my garbage.

It's super early and the sun is still rising. So early in fact that mobs haven't even started burning. I came early to the blacksmith to clean it up, pack, and put a sign up notifying everyone that Mitch and I would be gone today. Unlike everyone else in the pack I keep my possessions at the blacksmith, in the back room. Equipping my armour I swing my bag over my shoulder, briefly reaching for my 'closed' sign to tack onto the door. I'm facing the doorway that leads into the main room and as soon as I turn around to grab one last thing I'm greeted with,

      "Yeah you can go to the nether today."

      I jump like three feet in the air and shriek in a not-manly-like-at-all manor. There leaning casually against a chest is Preston.

     "Two questions. One- How the fudge did you get in here?"
     "I have my ways." Preston chuckles.
     "Okayyy... Two- how did you even know we're going to the nether...?"

     Instead of a response he simply winks and strolls away, leaving me to watch extremely confused as he walks past me and out the door.

     "Should I be concerned?" I mumble as the door swings shut behind him

I blink, and shake my head dismissing it uneasily. Passing through the door I lock it behind me and start down the dirt path leading to the maple tree. Arriving a few minutes later I patiently wait for Mitch. Finally he pops into view, decked out in shiny new armour. He's carrying a bulging backpack with his bow slung over his shoulder and a iron sword in hand.

"Ready to go?" I question as he approaches, his boots clanking over the dirt.
"Yeah. Just one question..." Mitch continues as we start backtracking to our house, "Why didn't we just meet st the house to begin with?"

~~~

My vision is instantly blurred by purple particles as they swirl and twist around me, engulfing me and transporting me to the nether reigons. After a moment of dizziness I regain my focus, noticing Mitch has spawned at my side.

     "Jeeze, it's hot down here." I point out, miserable in the heat.
     "Well no duh... There's lava and fire everywhere!" Mitch chuckles. But then he glances at me. "Although I guess with all that fur you're probably burning, huh?"
     "Yeah no kidding."

     A few meters away a waterfall of lava is flowing steadily from the netherrack, pooling in a small dip inside the netherrack. Inside this pool of lava is a zombie pigman, bathing in the molten rock. It's flesh is rotting away in most places, exposing white bones. A golden sword is clutched in its hand as it wallows around.

     "Hey look, that pigman is alone! Imma go kill it and steal it's sword for the gold." I state, pulling out my axe and trotting towards the hybrid.

     It turns to me and grunts, gazing at me in confusion.

     "No Jerome don't-"
SQUEALLLLL
     "Argh."

     I pull out my axe from being lodged into its skull and quickly snatch it's sword before it sinks into the lava. I pocket the sword and turn back to Mitch who is frowning, half in fear.

     "What? All I did was kill it."
     "THATS THE POINT. JEROME, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KILL ONE! THE REST CHASE YOU!" Mitch screeches in exasperation, causing me to wince.

     I hear a round of angered grunts sound from around the corner and all at once five more pigmen are charging at us, swords held high above their heads.

     "... Yeah I forgot about that..."
     "Apparently!" Mitch scoffs, quickly drawing his bow and shooting one directly between the eyes.

     It squeals and falls limply to the ground, blood spilling out of its head and a few pieces of rotten flesh dropping beside it. With four left two of them turn their direction to me and the remaining two to Mitch. Surprisingly agile the first pigman lunges at me and I catch the blow of it's sword with my axe, causing both of us to come to a standstill since we're about equal in strength. My eyes flicker briefly over to Mitch who's busy fighting hand to hand with a pigman, his bow tossed carelessly to the side. The second is trying to stab at Mitch but he wrenches the pigman around causing the second one to be stabbed by its own comrade. I return my attention to the task at hand and lash out with one foot, flipping the pigman onto its back. Before it can regain its footing I plunge my axe into its chest, hacking at it until it stops moving.

The I hear a squeal of anger and I look up just in time to see a golden sword swinging directly towards my head. I jump back and try to block it with my axe but instead my axe goes sailing through the air, landing far out of my reach. I stumble back and land on my butt, scooting away as the pigman slowly approaches me, seeming to toy with me until my back hits a netherrack wall. I squeeze my eyes shut and brace for impact, expecting pain any second. But suddenly I hear a pained noise and glance up in awe just in time to see the pigman fall back, a few arrow protruding through its neck. Behind the corpse it Mitch, his checkered hoodie slightly torn and shirt stained in blood. He's holding his bow and around him two pigmen lay motionless.

"You okay Jerome?" Mitch asks in concern, picking up my axe and returning it to me a second later.
"Y-yeah thanks." I exclaim in a breathy way, taking his hand as he offers it to help me up.
"... Sorry Mitch, that was pretty dumb of me." I apologize, rubbing the back of my neck.
"It's fine, just don't do it again."
"Ha. As if." I chuckle, rolling my eyes.
"Okay then let's get a move on shall we?"

I nod, taking out my iron pickaxe and waltzing up to the nearest vein of Quartz. Hoisting my pickaxe above my head I forcefully drive it through the mineral, receiving a piece of off white Quartz in return.

~~~