The Story of Phil

The Forest

I walked quickly as the night wore on. This would count as the fifth village I stopped in this month, and the third cave I had slept in. 

It'd been almost three months since- since the village. I could still see that flash of metal in the sunlight, and  the white eyes staring out at me from the forest, every time I closed my eyes. 

On the plus side, my new home was- coming along. 

It could barely call itself a shack. Leaning heavily to it's right, the one story shed was made of a menagerie of wood that I was able to scrounge from the already downed trees left by some of the villagers. I didn't dare take new trees, I was too close to this village as it was. 

I just needed a place to rest until I got my bearings. Until I decided what to do next. Apparently, that took a few months. 

It rained for a week straight, trapping me in the shed as little puddles of water spread from the dripping ceiling. I'd have to patch those up better once it stopped. Another reason to make a trip into the village. 

The rain had just stopped when I set out. I picked my way through the forest, making sure to stay under the trees as I went. 

The village was already quiet. I guess I should have expected that. The sun was setting and, unlike other villages I'd come across, this one didn't have a wall to keep things out. 

I picked my way through the town, avoiding the puddles pooled in the cobblestone. I walked from shadow to shadow, hiding in the alleys between houses as I went and searched through the trash left outside. 

I had just stopped near the houses when I heard a yell from above me. Above me, a light shone down on the street. There was laughter, then another yell. 

I watched the stuffed bunny fall from the second story window onto the street below. Another cry rang out. 

"No Mommy the- she fell!" A little voice wailed. 

"I told you to be more careful" An older female voice replied. She sounded cool, a scolding but sad tone. 

"we have to get her. Please, mommy, what if a monster takes her?" The girl pleaded. Her voice shook. 

I edged my way closer, teleporting across the street into the shadows beside it. The little pink rabbit sat pitifully on the cobblestone, looking up at the window. 

"We will not. It's already past dark" The female, I'm guessing her mother, replied. "If your bunny is there in the morning, you'll get her back" 

I reached down and scooped the stuffed animal up. I could hear the little girl inside start to cry. My chest hurt from the familiarity of the sound, even as foreign as it seemed coming from a human. 

I sat below that window, listening, as the cries quieted until the light finally went out. After that, I waited just a bit longer. For good measure, of course. 

Once I was certain the room was silent, I carefully reached up and gripped the open window sill. Using the house next door as leverage, I pulled myself up and peaked inside.

The room was pink. I could see that even in the darkness. Scattered on the floor were several play blocks and other toys. In the corner stood a cute dollhouse, still open. It's occupants sat as they must have when the girl stopped playing for the night, all tucked into their beds, save for one at the dining room table. 

I scanned the room curiously. I hadn't actually gotten a chance to see or even be in a human house. It was- small. 

The bed was right next to the window, letting in the cool night breeze. It must have been how the doll dropped out the window so easy. I could see a small lump there, with a little puff of hair sticking out from under the covers, her back to the window. The little girl was fast asleep by the looks of it. I sighed relieved. 

Carefully, I opened the window just enough to slide a hand in. I did it slowly, not wanting to risk waking her up and scaring her. Why I cared so much for a human, I couldn't wrap my mind around. It's a kid, sure, but it's a human. This could get me killed. 

I reached inside and dropped the doll on the ground. I hovered there for a moment, before pulling my arm out and dropping back into the alley below. I pulled my bag onto my shoulder a bit more and started to walk. 

I froze when I heard the window opening. Slowly, I turned around and looked up. 

The little girl started at my feet. There was fear in her eyes, I could tell without looking. She was shaking. Her dark hair dangled over her shoulders, partially obscuring her face. She was holding the bunny doll. 

I blinked confused and turned to leave again.

"Thank you" Her voice rang out. I looked at her over my shoulder, but she had already disappeared back into the darkness. 

I swore under my breath. On Herobrine's grave, why did I do that? I'd be leeching from this village for three months. Three Months!  They had to know some of their things were going missing, and if they hadn't figured it out already, they would soon enough.

I hurried down the alleys, sticking to the shadows still but going as fast as I could to make it to the edge of the forest. All the way I was kicking myself mentally. Why did I do that? It messed everything up! And for what? A stupid doll the girl would've gotten again in the morning? Hell, if she even cared for it, it wouldn't have fallen out the window in the first place. 

I paused for breath in the forest just outside the village. Several lights were turned on, but I couldn't see anyone coming onto the streets just yet. I sighed and hurried back to the shack. 

I had planned on just packing what I could and leaving the rest. I'd have a few hours head start, and humans usually didn't keep hunting something when it was well out of range unless it showed back up again, something I didn't plan on doing. 

But life never works like that.