Wither

Chapter 25-Preparation

The drumming of many legs deafened me as I marched with the other wither skeleton soldiers. A hard, uncomfortable pellet of remorse had settled in the pit of my churning stomach. I could see the Wither, Herobrine, and Notch soaring above us. I swallowed and guiltily kept my head down, my bow frame hitting my head.

We soon reached the fortress. I saw Mabel sliding down from the post to warn everyone inside. "Get her!" Herobrine teleported next to me and snarled into my ear.Miserably, I drew, aimed, and fired in less than five seconds. My bow sang its dreadful song as the arrow arced towards her. She sprinted forwards and it crashed into her leg. I heard an earsplitting scream and I grimaced to myself. Herobrine grinned and we continued to march forward.

I, along with a few dozen other warriors, dipped pieces of cloth into oil bins, lit them on fire, and shot them at the brick. Personally I thought it was stupid, but the others believed it would instill fear. The deadly, crashing noise of footsteps all at once resumed as we inched closer to the residence.

I saw Dusty and River jeering at the army from on top of the castle. The massive army loaded and shot a devastating blow in unison at my friends. It went through them and they flickered. Sora, I thought, and my heart ached painfully. Herobrine shoved me from behind and I wobbled.

"Get moving, soldier," he growled. I lowered my head and obliged, trudging along dreadfully.

*Jet's POV*

Poof was running around looking for Flint. I was worried, but not to the point of frantically scrabbling around. I lounged on a chair next to the real River and Dusty. Sora was in the spires, making an illusion of River and Dusty snapping at the crowd. Suddenly I heard a scream. I shot up from my chair to see Mabel crawling in on all fours, wailing, whimpering and sobbing. I rushed over to her and picked her up, seeing a black shafted arrow embedded in her leg. Blood caked the wound and was oozing off. She shuddered in my arms, tears dripping down her face.

Lauren yelled for her father, who came running out. She glared at Mabel and I as we walked by...I remember, before Mabel came, that I had a crush on Lauren, just after Ember and Seto got back together. She must feel like me when Ember and I...my thoughts trailed off as Romani reached me. "Sweet Jesus," he whispered, boggled at the wound. "That's going to need a healing potion..."

He took Mabel from me and, despite being a tad bit shorter than I, managed the deed as well as I had. I tagged along behind him anxiously. He set Mabel on the table, who moaned. "Hold her still," he grit his teeth as I placed my hands on her calf. He grabbed the arrow and yanked it out of the wound. She shrieked and began to yell in agony, tears streaming down her face. Romani quickly grabbed a healing potion and drizzled the salve on Mabel's leg.

"She should be in walking, and fighting, condition within a few hours," Romani said. Mabel quieted as the potion took effect. I nodded, satisfied, and stalked off.

*Lauren's POV*

Jet walked by with the new girl...Mabel, in his arms. I couldn't keep from glaring and Dusty rubbed my shoulder. I turned around expectantly and he gestured to the back wall. "I need to talk to you." I nodded and we trotted out to the wall. He pinned me to it spontaneously and kissed me. Too shocked to fight, I simply kissed back, my eyes wide. "I'm sorry," he said breathlessly. "I needed to do that in case I die out there."

I opened my mouth to complain, but found myself saying,"It's okay...I kind of liked it."

Dusty smiled; not a grin or something pained, a real smile. I beamed back and wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed him. "In case I die," I said once we pulled away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jet. He was gazing at me, his eyes locked on where my arms were wrapped around Dusty's neck. I angrily looked away and, for good measure, pecked Dusty's cheek. We walked back to our seats and sat.

I heard footsteps. Exhausted, Sora climbed down the ladder leading to the spire. "Anybody found Flint?" We all shook our heads. As an afterthought, she asked,Where's Mabel?"

"In the medic's tent," I volunteered, pointing to the shelter. Sora walked in. Moments later I heard a scream. "T-this is one of Flint's arrows!"