The Hunt

♡ ̆̈I✩

"Ack!"

The young boy groaned as he rolled down a bumpy hill, covering his head as he stopped. He sighed as he looked up, staring at the green ground. It felt soft but rough. Small rocks dug into his palms as he pushed himself up. He took a deep breath as he stared at the greenery, the tall plants growing from the ground, the bushes with small flowers of different colors. It was all so new to him. It was like nothing he's seen. He looked up at what he assumed was a sky, seeing nothing but blue and a bright yellow sphere floating around, shining beams at him through the gaps of the tall plants. He didn't know what they were called, but he knew they were a similar shape as the huge crimson and warped fungi that grew where he came from.

He took a big breath, taking in all the scents of nature. "Hmm... it's pretty here," he whispered, standing up from the ground. He looked down at his dress pants, dusting off the dirt. He fixed his shirt and vest, trying to get rid of any wrinkles it had. He reached his hands to his head, feeling nothing but his hair. "What... where is my crown?!" he screamed, spinning around as he looked.

He breathed uncontrollably as he fell to the ground, looking through the bushes. "Oh..! There it is," he smiled, sighing a sigh of relief. "I thought I lost you--" he said. The boy put the crown on his head of black hair. "I wish I could stay longer to explore you, World--" he sighed, running his hands against the trunks of the tall plants. "But I have to go home. Mom said I had to leave and learn how to become a proper future King. But I don't know how I could do that without her or Dad's guidance!" he said, turning around and looking up at the hill he had rolled down from.

The young boy carefully climbed the hill, groaning as he dug his fingers into the dirt. He chuckled as he reached the top. However, that smile fell as he realized that the portal he was pushed through was gone. "But it was right there! Where the hell could a portal go?!" he yelled, standing up and running toward the spot where the portal used to be. He could see the indent in the ground in which the portal had stood. "Did it grow legs?--Oh my! Can portals grow legs?!" he screamed, looking around the small field.

He wasn't the brightest when it came to common sense. However, he was sure good at coming up with the stupidest reasons for something. "Oh no...! How am I supposed to get back?!" he gasped, falling to his knees as he moved the dirt. He groaned as he grabbed handfuls of it, throwing it to the side. "I need to get back! I need to go home! I don't belong here!" he cried, feeling hot tears stream down his face as he rested his head against the ground.

The young boy sighed as he looked up, looking down at his vest. He ripped off the small nametag stuck between the small threads, staring down at his name written on the tag. "Prince Sapnap, huh? Not quite 'prince' like for me to get lost, is it?" he whispered, shoving the name tag into his pocket. "I wonder if I could get away with hiding here until I find a way back home," he said, smiling brightly as he looked around the field he sat on.

"Aha! I read about this type of thing in those books Dad made me read!" he said, getting up as he began to run in an unknown direction. "People used to hide out in caves while in danger from monsters! I can stay there for now!" he giggled, sitting and pushing himself down a small hill. He laughed loudly as he rolled--standing up and dusting off all the dirt and grass that stuck to his clothes. He twirled around as he ran, giggling away as he stared into the sky. He smiled as he halted, staring down an opening in the ground. He began to whisper to nothing as he crawled down, being careful not to scrape his knees.

"Great! This'll do!" he sighed as he looked around the cave, staring at the darkness within. He huffed as he looked up through the entrance, "Maybe I should get wood..."

✩✩✩✩✩

"Duu~ duu~" Sapnap sang, propping the lit piece of wood against the stone wall of the cave. He continued to hum as sat down, clapping his hands together as he shut his eyes, creating a rhythm to sing along with. "Tomorrow will be a new day! I can find a village and blend in! I could pretend to be human like everyone else--" he spoke, opening his eyes as he stared at his palms. He sighed as he frowned.

Swiiiish.... swiiishh~

Sapnap looked up at the entrance. It was sundown, the moon was bright as it hung in the sky. The clouds blended nicely with the dark sky. Small stars were scattered everywhere, shining brightly. Sapnap smiled as he stood up. He felt a sense of longing and desire as he crawled up the cave, grabbing onto the rocks that stuck out. He took a deep breath as he took in the aroma of the flowers and grass. He could hear bees buzzing as they flew around, hiding inside their homes. "Wow..!" the boy gasped, standing up as he stared at the moon.

His eyes glowed and twinkled as he traced every little detail in the sky, putting his hands up. He felt the cool night breeze hit his face. "This is amazing..! I wish we could have this in the Nether!" he giggled as he stared at the moon. He couldn't get his eyes off of it.

"Now!!"

Sapnap flinched as he looked down from the sky. Suddenly, a speeding arrow was shot, racing toward him. He gasped as he crouched, dropping to the floor. "Crap! Seriously?!" he groaned, quickly getting up and running.

"Get him!!"

He gasped as he ran, swinging his arms to give himself more speed. He stared at the hole in the ground, deciding to ditch the cave. Sapnap turned his head, staring over his shoulder. He could see a group of men and two women. Most carried bows and crossbows, each holding an arrow that was ready to fire. Others held axes or swords, lifting their arms to get ready to throw them at the prince. Sapnap bit down on his lip tightly as he took a sharp turn, dropping to the ground and rolling down a steep hill. His eyes widened as he saw big rocks. "Seriously?!" he screamed, securing his head with his arms as he continued to roll.

Sapnap chuckled as he reached the bottom, finding the group of hunters barely making it to the edge. They all aimed their weapons at him. "Put your hands up!" one of them yelled, pulling the arrow toward himself. He threatened to let go, aiming directly at Sapnap's forehead. The boy sighed as he put his hands up. "Identify yourself!"

"I..." he stuttered, staring at the men and women. He switched between each, looking at every one of them in the eyes.

"I said, identify yourself!--" he repeated.

Sapnap smiled as he abruptly turned, running behind a trail of trees, hiding in the shadows. He could hear the hunters groan and speak among each other, trying to figure out where he had gone. Sapnap quietly sighed as he began to walk calmly. He looked behind his shoulder now and then. "Nametag..." he whispered, digging through his pockets. He remembered his parents had engraved a few words on the bag of the tag. "We love you--" he remembered it read. After, their initials were engraved, too.

His brows furrowed as he came to a halt, pulling at his dress pants' pockets. "Where the heck is it?" he asked, digging as far as he could. "Oh no..." he gasped. The nametag was gone. He turned around, seeing nothing but a forest of endless trees, grass, and dirt. He frowned and turned back to look forward. Sapnap shook his head as he knew he wouldn't get it back. Just think about home... mom and dad--everyone, he thought.

It was all he could think of that night. He continued his walk through the unknown forest. Unaware of the trouble losing his nametag would cause.

End of Part 1. ̆̈