Cruel but Gentle - Herobrine X Steve

Chapter 4

The sun rose slowly, bringing light where there was once dark and pushing the monsters back into hiding. The monsters will be back again tonight though. Nothing lasts forever.

Pretty soon, the light shone on a house in the middle of a forest clearing. The owner of the house was walking peacefully to the nearby lake and carrying a rug. Due to the events of last night, the rug was blood-soaked and needed to be washed. By the owner's side was a wolf that was limping slightly. It was only using three of its four paws as one was injured. The wolf barked.

"I know, Dusky." The owner, Steve, replied. "I should find out why these dreams keep occurring but who's going to believe me?" The wolf woofed. "What do you mean? Of course I'd need to ask someone about it." Dusky yipped a couple of times. Then ran ahead as fast at she could with her injury. "Where do you think you're going? Wait up!" Steve chased after his canine friend.

Dusky was staring a the lake in front of her as Steve tried his best to wash out all of the blood on his rug. He did pretty well seen as the blood was dry. After getting out all the blood he could, Steve hung the rug on a nearby tree branch.

"How's your leg, Dusky?" Steve asked the wolf as he sat next to her. "Does it hurt?" Dusky licked Steve's face in reply. "Good to hear." He chuckled and hugged Dusky. " Steve suddenly frowned. "I honestly thought I saw someone last night, Dusky." Dusky tilted her head. "I thought I saw the man from my nightmares but, after a split second, he wasn't there anymore." Steve sighed. "I must be going crazy..." Dusky nudged Steve slightly. "What?"

Dusky got up and walked to a path that lead to a nearby village. She sat down on the path and howled softly, staring at Steve afterwards.

"You want me to go to the village?" Steve intrigued. Dusky barked what Steve presumed to be a yes. "Fine but I've got to take the rug home and get supplies!" The pair headed towards Steve's house, the rug under Steve's arm.

After that, they returned to the lake and began to follow the path to the village. The wind blew softly through the autumn trees around them. Leaves of orange, yellow and red fluttered in the breeze. It was a sunny day, only a couple of clouds in the sky. Dusky was limping along the dirt path, trying her best to walk on three paws. Steve noticed her struggling.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Steve offered. "It's not that far away now." Dusky looked up at Steve with slight curiosity then shook her head. "Okay but if you get too tired then tell me." They walked in silence after that. Steve kept glancing over to Dusky to see if she was okay.

The village was going on with life as normal. Farmers tended to crops, priests held services, librarians organised their libraries and the blacksmith was making weapons and armour. Kids ran around, enjoying the sunny day.

One child walked slowly up to Steve, tears were in their eyes. Steve watched sadly as the child gazed up at him. The child in question was a young boy and holding a old teddy bear.

"Um...excuse m-me sir?" The boy asked politely. Steve kneeled down to the child's size. Dusky gave the boy a curious look.

"Yes?" Steve answered. "Are you okay?"

"I-I was wondering if you know my parents? I c-can't find them..." Steve felt his heart drop.

"I don't know who they are but I'm sure we can find them." Steve assured. "What's your name?"

"It's S-Samuel, sir." The boy replied, hugging his teddy tighter.

"Okay, Samuel, I'm Steve." Steve introduced. "Where did you last see your parents?"

"I-I don't remember..." Dusky barked in response and sniffed Samuel. She then sniffed the air around them. "What is your doggy d-doing, Steve?"

"I...Dusky's helping us find your parents." Steve concluded. Dusky yipped and sniffed down the path. "Let's follow her, Samuel." Steve took Samuel's hand and followed Dusky. Samuel scanned the people around him, trying to pinpoint his parents.

Dusky howled and ran up to a pair of very worried-looking adults. She circled around them and jumped happily.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Samuel shouted and ran up to the pair of adults. Steve smiled when Samuel hugged his parents.

"Where did you run off to?" Samuel's father asked.

"We were worried sick!" Samuel's mother exclaimed. Dusky walked back over to Steve, a smug look on her face. Steve petted her.

"Good girl." He praised as Dusky wagged her tail.

"Steve and Dusky helped me!" Samuel cheered, pointing over to the pair. Samuel's parents smiled warmly.

"Thank you so much!" His mum grinned. "How can we repay you?" Steve was caught off guard.

"Oh! Err...y-you owe me nothing!" Steve stuttered. "I couldn't just leave your child lost!"

"We must give you something in return!" Samuel's father insisted. "We own the local library; how about we give you a book to keep?"

"Honestly; you don't have to give me anything!" Steve protested but Samuel had already grabbed his hand and his parents were leading the way. Steve reluctantly tailed them with Dusky at his side.

"Come on, Steve!" Samuel cheered. "It's right...here!" Samuel stopped dragging Steve as they arrived at the entrance to the library. Dusky gave Steve a very amused look. He was acutely aware of the 'closed' sign. "Come on in!" Steve slowly entered the library.

There were shelves upon shelves of books. A couple of tables were scattered around with chairs to accompany them. A desk was near the door, on which was a scanner to scan the books people came to borrow.

"Please, take any book you like." Samuel's mother insisted. "Feel free to browse for however long you want." Steve nervously walked up to the tall bookshelves and began to read the titles of the books he passed. There were books about all sorts of things; Redstone Guides, Building Tips and even a Blockopedia.

Dusky, who had laid down when they all entered the library, suddenly jumped up onto her three working paws, like she had an idea. She also began to search through the books, starting from the opposite side Steve had. She couldn't read exactly but she knew what she was looking for. She knew how his name was written. Her brown eyes scanned every book she passed, hoping to find what she was looking for.

Steve had glanced back at the door for a moment and let out a quiet gasp when he could no longer see Dusky there.

"Hey, err, have you seen where my dog, Dusky, wondered off to?" Steve asked Samuel's dad.

"Your dog seems to be interested in the books as well." Samuel's dad smirked jokingly. "She's over there." He pointed over the were Dusky was. She was sniffing all the books her nose could reach. Steve stared in slight shock, then laughed it off. He began to look at the books again.

Dusky let out a sudden bark. And another. This attracted the attention of everyone in the library. Dusky ran up to Steve, quite quick for only using three legs. She jumped slightly and took hold of Steve's teal shirt in her jaws. Dusky began to tug, as if asking Steve to follow her.

"What is it, Dusky?" Steve inquired as he trailed Dusky to were she just was. As soon as the pair reached the bookcase, Dusky stood up onto two paws and nuzzled a book on the third shelf from the bottom. Steve grabbed it and took one look at the title.

*The Legend of Herobrine*