(Short one today as I needed some sort of filler chapter before the next one ^-^)

"We will never find him like this... It's like looking for a needle in a haystack." Phil sighed and cuddled more against his hoglin friend, which was still resting up from the attack. "What was I thinking? For all I know he could already be out of the Nether... Maybe he's back at the SMP grounds... or near L'Manhole..." The hoglin lifted it's head and nudged the blonde, as if it's trying to cheer him up. Phil returned the gesture by stroking through the fluffy fur on it's head.

"I should just go back home... Techno is alright. Nothing can hurt him. He can take care of himself... he's not a little kid..." The hoglin huffed in amusement. 'That certainly never stopped you from being overprotective. I'm not even your son yet you act like my worried parent.' Of course the comment would have been a lot funnier if Techno would be able to say it directly into his face. Maybe he should do it when he changes back. If he ever changes back.

Then the reality of Phil's words hit him. He was going to leave the hoglin behind and return to the Overworld, a place where the giant creature just won't be able to follow him. This obviously did not make him happy at all. He doesn't want to be alone down here!

The winged god moved to get up, but was stopped when the hoglin put it's head in his lap. "Come in big guy... I have to go back home... check on my Crows. Their probably worried sick about me." 'Well I need you more than your crows!' Seeing the sad look in the hoglins eyes made Phil feel incredibly guilty for even trying to leave them. But he can't stay in the Nether forever, even if he wanted to. "Please... let me go home. I can't stay here." It took a lot of coaxing to convince the hoglin into lifting it's head and letting Phil go.

"I'm sorry... I really am." The hoglin shook it's head no, clearly not wanting to hear any apologies. This in return made Phil stare at the giant creature with wide eyes. "Did you just... you can understand me?! Like, fully understand me?!" Now this was going to be fun. With an amused huff, the hoglin nodded it's head yes. Of course this only lead to Phil freaking out even more, rambling about how amazing that is and how mad he is that he didn't bring one of his many notebooks with him to write all of this new information down immediately.

It took Phil about 15 minutes to calm down again, grinning up at the big creature. "So... you can answer me yes or no questions without a problem, right?" When he received a nod, he almost squealed know excitement. Techno had never seen this side of his friend, but found it rather entertaining. Guess this is some of Phil's long lost researcher mindset finally returning to the surface.

"Okay okay... Oh prime now I don't even know what to ask!" He started pacing around, trying to come up with questions he could ask the giant creature. He does have some, but they aren't yes or no questions the hoglin could answer. Meanwhile said hoglin was watching their friend pacing around. 'He's such a scatter brain... so easily distracted.'

"How about... Do you have a set territory or something? Like a cave or just any kind of home area. You were suprisingly willing to just leave the forest and come with me." The hoglin shook it's head no. "Interesting... no territory. Could you make the Crimson Forest where you found me for the first time into your territory? Is that possible?" This time they took their time to think. Technically he could, there's nothing speaking against it. So they answered the question with a nod, waiting for the next one.

"Great! Then how about we go back there? And if you make it your territory, I can come visit you every day! I know you can't come into the Overworld, so I guess this is the closest we get to spending time together." Another nod from the hoglin confirmed this plan, which made Phil grin even more. Now he didn't feel so bad for going back home! "Then let's go!"

The hoglin huffed again before getting up, allowing Phil to climb on its back once more. After the blonde settled on their back and grabbed on to the fluffy pink fur, the hoglin took off back towards their original meeting spot, near the portal that will bring Phil back to their snowy Overworld home. It made Techno a little sad to know his friend is leaving, but hey, at least he promised to be back every day. So it's not like he will leave him forever.

If only they knew that they wouldn't reach the portal anytime soon...