The Hermitcraft Daycare AU

Chapter 26: The Huge Moon Never Sets

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"... Joe?" Cleo called out. 

" I'm coming." a small figure stumbled outside the base, covered with iron armour from head to toe. He ran up to her with a book in hand.  

" You have the feather falling boots, correct?" she asked, kneeling down to the kid's level. 

The kid just nods. 

" Your helmet is not broken?" 

He bods again. 

" You didn't leave anything really important?" 

He only raises one book. 

"Alright…" Cleo paused for a second, observing the less enthusiastic kid. She knew why he was down in the dumps. Their reasons for leaving may be life dangerously different compared to before, but that pitiful look was the same one she saw on that boat trip. 

Young Joe frowned, pushing his book tightly to his chest as he looked back at the entrance of the base. Nothing much was said. Only the hand that she extended him broke free from his mournful trance. Hesitantly, he accepts the hand, letting her drag him farther and farther away from the base till it fades in the background. 

The ground rumbled underneath their shoes, as each minute, they struggled to even keep their balance without getting tossed to the side. Cleo held his hand ever so tightly, tighter than ever before. He did not complain. He only stayed silent. But he couldn't hide his nervous expression. Occasionally, gravity would shut down on them and everything around them levitated from the ground. She wanted to throw up. The mix of her dreadful anxiety and motion sickness did no wonders for her stomach.

But enough about her. Joe was what she was worried about. Each time they float up, Cleo would bring young Joe closer to her, sacrificing herself as a landing pad for the kid. And when the ground shakes, he nearly slams his head on the floor. His glasses weren't going to survive this. 

She never felt anything so life threatening until now. She never felt this helpless, despite having respawn. This kid's life was in her hands now, and there's no way of bringing him back if death caught up with them . They were still far from the spawn point. She wanted this journey to be over. 

… Well, there is one way of doing it quicker. That would mean adding way more risks for young Joe. But then again, we're already at risk. 

"Auntie Cleo? Why did you stop?" Joe asked, turning his head at me. 

" Hmm. Hey Joe. How do you feel about flying?" 

The kid's eyes widened, mixed with excitement but confusion. " You said it's dangerous to fly?" 

" But it will be faster." Cleo replied with a small smirk on her face. "Come on." 

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" Hypno, what on earth-" 

"I know, I know. I somehow messed it up." The temporary admin tried calming down the swarm of hermits. 

" Messed it up? The moon's big!" 

" I know! I-I don't know how I missed that part of the world.. ." 

Finally reaching their destination, Cleo landed on the ground with young Joe in her arms. Seeing as they were close, she gave the kid an extra few seconds to rest in her arms. She spotted the group of older hermits, surrounding Hypno, asking questions and yelling out things about the moon. Just by the hermits, was Renbob's iconic hippie van. Renbob silently observed the group, till he finally noticed my presence.