Difference

Ch3

To Birch's surprise his pillager ''friend'' wasn't even hurting him. Birch legit thought of scary scenarios that this pillager could do and he yet didn't try anything. All he knew about this Pillager was a male and a raid Captain, which didn't help his case.

The weirdest thing was two days here and nothing happened. Honestly for someone holding him hostage, he wasn't doing a great job. Most times the pillager went and sat in the corner quietly and took out a knife and began to whittle a piece of wood.

Birch didn't know pillagers could do something so...not scary? Birch has met many but this one was kind of different.

" Hey, you like making stuff from wood?"

Birch tried again to chat, hoping he maybe trying talking about his interests could make a conversation. Birch likes to whittle in his own free time, so maybe this could break the ice.

" Nah, something I picked up living here. Do you ever give up?" The pillager grumbled, looking up from his work.

" Nope. I like to make stuff out of wood too. Feel free to check out my bag, I got some nice monster figures done just recently." Birch said proudly.

"Will you leave me alone then?" The pillager put his craving and reached for Birch's bag and began to search it quietly.

" Whatever floats your boat, uhhh- What can I call you? "

" Just call me Captain." The pillager grumbled, pulling out a wood carving shaped like a llama. " You guys sure like these things... "

" Of course! Llama are actually very protective creatures. "

Birch's shoulders fell, remembering he was separated from his best friend due to his own fault for running away from her. He hoped she went back to the village.

" That carving is based on my llama, Cookie.."

"Hmmm, don't you guys have two? Also, it's an animal. They are dumb."

" My other died from your kind." Birch glared at the pillager for a second, but then played with his thumbs nervously, " Per usual I was adventuring out and was being picked on by patrolling Illagers. Of course my Llama got a bit too protective and she was killed off. "

" Oh..." The pillager seemed to hesitate for a brief second, "Well you should teach your pets not to retaliate." Captain laughed, putting the figurine back.

Then, Birch's anger bubbled up at once. Birch stood up fast, seemingly startling the pillager, only briefly. Birch balled up his fists, glaring daggers towards Captain.

" H-How fucking dare you disrespect the dead! Do you even have respect?"

"My, someone feisty?" Captain seemed not phased of Birch's display of frustration of disrespect." Villagers are usually weak, including you wandering traders."

" You know what? I'm leaving. " Birch thrown his hands in the air, quickly turned away and began to walk into the darkness, not even attempting to get his bag as he walked past the pillager.

" You're going to get yourself killed!" Captain yelled back, but didn't move from his spot, watching Birch leave.

===

Birch sobbed quietly to himself as kept up his brisk walk in the darkness. How fucking dare that low life be so insensitive? Creme was everything to him and now she was gone. Cookie was probably next and it was all his fault.

Hasn't he lost anything before?

Birch coughed, shivering. This ravine was so fucking cold. He stopped walking and looked up, hoping to see if he could see the sky, yet he only saw darkness.

This was stupid. Leaving that camp was so fucking stupid. Even if the pillager was there, at least he was protected. Safe from everything. Including himself.

Suddenly, Birch's cheek throbbed, causing him to wince and stumble to the cave floor. He felt dizzy, so he clutched his head to attempt to relax.

That is when he heard a bubbling noise. It sounded similar when someone was gargling water.

Birch glanced up, squinting in the darkness to see something crawling out of a water pool- It was dark, but he could make out a humanoid shape; Two, glowing eyes watched him, making the same gurgling noises towards him.

Birch slowly stood up, unsure what to do as the creature continued towards him. He could try and call for the Captain, but that could cause more to show up.

Then, something fast whirled past Birch's head, hitting the creature straight in the face. Birch whipped around and noticed the Captain was there.

"I suggest you get your butt back here, trader." Captain grunted, gestures back towards camp. He was loading another arrow into his crossbow.

Birch with no hesitation was happy scrambling up to the pillager. Despite hating him so much, he did just save him from whatever that was.

He was surprised that he actually came looking for him. Touched even.