Lost Amongst Many

Chapter 42

-Preston's POV-
The slime- Pete- was surprisingly literate for his age. He was using words that only a surface-dwelling creature like himself would know. Of course, being a child, he was much more active, bouncing off trees, running in circles, hopping about, and somehow still keeping close to me.

I found the border of the bacca meadow. I stepped into a familiar territory, so I walked a bit more confidently.

Pete followed close on my heels, cowering behind me.

A rustle next to me alerted that a bacca was here. Turns out, it was Jerome. Pete hid behind me, but I dragged him out so Jerome could see him.

"Creeper! You have returned. Who is the slime?"

"My name is Pete. Who are you?"

"Name is Jerome."

"Is Mitch nearby?"

"Yes, he is in the den, still asleep. Why?"

"I was just curious. Come on, Pete."

"You headed to the meadow, I presume?"

"Yes. I will meet you in the den, hopefully with Mitchell awake."

I walked away, back where Jerome had come, and easily found the meadow. I made sure Pete stayed close, and ducked into the alpha den. Mitch was indeed still asleep, so I left him undisturbed.

Pete somehow got hold of my bag, and was digging around for some reason.

"What is this?" He asked quietly, pulling out a few berries.

"Pete do not eat-"

He ate them before I finished.

"Why can I not see?!"

"Pete this is why you do not eat foreign foods before learning what they are. Those were stingberries."

"Stingberries? What are stingberries?"

"They give you night vision and blindness for roughly 10 minutes."

"Ten minutes? Why? And why did you pack them as food?"

"Because their effect does not work on me. I live in the same world as them."

"What? What world do you live in?"

"The Nether."

"You are from the NETHER?!"

"Yes. That surprised you?"

"Yes! How are you in the surface world if you are from the Nether?"

"I have a portal, Pete. The same one my kind has used for who knows how long. Now settle down before you wake Mitchell."

"I still cannot see, you know."

"I do. It will wear off in time. Just rest. Or at least be quiet and entertain yourself."

I watched him mess around blindly in my bag, until he pulled out something.

"Pete, I swear if you eat that, you will regret every decision that led you to it."

"Why? Will it heal the blindness?"

"Why would I restrict you from something helpful?"

"I do not know! Maybe you want to see me suffer?"

"No, and be quiet."

"What even is this?" He asked, fingering the fruit.

"An apple. But do NOT eat it. It is not a surface world apple. It is a Nether apple."

"The Nether has apples?"

"Yes, potash apples. Now put the apple down." I demanded, calm glaze over my anger.

He heeded my voice, thankfully.

"Wait. A potash? What is a potash?"

"A type of apple."

"Haha very funny. But what is it?"

"Exactly as I told you. An apple from the Nether."

"Why are you so anxious about it?"

"When have you ever seen something helpful to a surface creature that came from the Nether?"

"Never."

"Exactly my point. Now stop digging through my belongings. Can you see yet?"

"A little bit."

"Give it a few more seconds. It will clear up."

"I can see now."

"Good."

Jerome returned, his nails digging small holes in the dirt.

"Is Mitchell awake?"

"No. Why is he so tired?"

"He had a long day yesterday. He was trying to help his younger sibling Kenneth with something and it took longer than they expected."

"What was it?"

"I do not know."

"A bow." I heard a groggy voice say.

I turned and saw Mitch sitting up.

"It was an Ultimate Bow."