Requested by @Zctym33

I groan, rolling my neck and shoulders as I carry all the supplies. I can't believe that I lost that bet to Axel, now I have to do his chores for a week. What the heck was I thinking? I have terrible luck, of course I was going to lose that match.

Sighing, I head out of the gates and back to our treehouse. It's going to be dark soon, stupid procrastination, so I better get back to the treehouse before Olivia flips. We've been there for the better part of a year now, but she's still paranoid that monsters will get us one of these days.

Although, I can't say I'm worried about it anymore. We haven't had any issues yet, and I don't really feel like walking every fast. Just meandering through the woods, watching the flowers and trees slowly change colors as the sun begins to set.

It's such a peaceful forest right now too, who would want to rush right now? I sure don't. Olivia will live if I'm a few minutes late, and I'm sure Axel's going to be asleep by the time I get there either way.

I chuckle, remembering how I first thought we'd all be so cramped in the treehouse. But if anything, the smaller space has made everything more... interesting. I never realized all the funny things Axel spurts out in his sleep until we were all stuck in there together.

My chuckle forms into a smirk, remembering that now we don't have to deal with any pesky landlords anymore. Or have to worry about the gang of jerks, also known as the PussyCats to me and Axel, deciding to take a 'morning stroll' right by our apartment while banging pots and pans. Our landlord didn't like that either.

My steps begin to bounce, a content happy feeling that those jerks don't dare to try and mess with us in the morning now. Not when there could be stray creepers lurking about. Which tend to disappear before noon, although the spiders do like to hang out in trees. Gave us quite the fright one time at a picnic.

Although those good feelings fade away when I realize I past the tree that looks like it has a moss face on it. Okay, I might be a little bit more late than I previously thought. But I should still be able to get back, no biggie.

I glance around for a few seconds, figuring out where I am, and change course. With the sun though rapidly dropping, I really hope I didn't mess up my directions. That... that would be bad.

Huffing, I shake the thoughts out. I've been living in the forest for awhile now. This is fine, all fine. I should be able to find my way back even if it gets a little dark. These are just pointless fears that are not going to ruin my nice walk back. Besides, I can run faster than some zombies... I think.

Fear nibbles at more and more at me as the last wisps of the sunset fades into a gray light, which even that begins to fade into something darker. Okay, it's getting a little hard to see all the landmarks that tell me where I'm at. And am I sure I'm heading in the right direction?

The cold prickles at me, a shiver crawling up my spine. Leaves and branches crunching under my feet as the bright colors of the forest blacken, everything various degrees of dark and darker. I can't help but gulp as it gets even harder to see.

A distant groan strikes me, I instantly whip towards the noise. Heart beginning to throb as groans and rattles begin to take hold of the peaceful silence. All sorts of monsters crawling out of caves and ravines, and which direction was I heading in?

Dang it! Olivia was right, so very right. I shouldn't have procrastinated, I really should've left earlier. I really REALLY should have left earlier.

Forgetting my meandering pace, I quickly start into a brisk jog. My thoughts snapping around wildly at trying to figure out where the heck I am. But the last bit of light I had falls short, everything's dark. Everything looks the same. Besides, it isn't even a full moon tonight. I have to find my way, like, right now.

A hiss bursts from behind the trees, my brisk jog breaking into a run. I really hope I'm going in the right direction. My eyes constantly flickering to the trees and then up, desperately searching for any sign of light from our treehouse.

A bow snaps, the thunk of an arrow embedding into the tree behind me. I turn tail and book it away from the skeleton, hopelessly lost now, but absolutely not caring as more and more monsters groan and creep out onto the surface. I gotta find some place to hide!

More and more arrows whizz by me, my heart thumping and racing as I sprint away. Every hiss driving me faster, even the groans of the slow moving zombies striking terror into me. I'm so dead. I've been caught at night and I have no idea where I am.

Olivia's going to kill me if I survive this.

A furious hiss alarms me to a pouncing spider, and I frantically scramble out of the way. This is bad, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad, this is really REALLY bad.

I try to slap myself out of it as I sprint through the dark trees. Shadowed branches leaping out at me at the last moment as I desperately swerve out of the way. I can't keep this up all night, so I better-

My foot catches on a root, a yelp bursting from me as I roll and skid over the rough ground. Instantly springing back to my feet, the distant throbs far from my mind while I scramble for some area to at least hide.

The thick wall of trees surrounding me suddenly vanish, and I quickly drive my heels into the ground from the rushing rapids that roar in my ears.

I quickly try to run upriver, my legs surging and trying to keep me alive. I wish, so desperately wish I could just jump across the river as skeletons' arrows continue to try and pelt me. But it's not like I can see the river and I'm not running back into the forest so that only leaves me two directions.

My heart just about explodes when a creeper creeps out of the trees ahead of me. I pivot at once at snap to the other direction, only to see a whole bunch of zombies dragging their feet at me.

Horror forces time to slam to a halt in that moment, in that moment where I'm frozen and trapped, when I listen to a bow creak as the arrow gets pulled back steadily. I need to move. Now!

The bow snaps and without thinking I dive into the rapid currents, my left thigh blooming in screeching pain that soon numbs up in the freezing water as I struggle to keep my head above the surface. Limbs flailing out while I take huge gasping breaths of air and water.

I cough and sputter out water as I try to fight my way above the rushing water. My body a rag doll when I'm dunked over and over again in the water. Panic screaming inside of me when my body begins to burn without oxygen.

And just as I kinda get with it, finding a frantic set of motions that mostly keep my head above the water, I hear it. The crashing of a waterfall. Oh no, no no no no. I gotta get to the sides!

Desperate, I still fail. The rapids and my meager swimming skills refusing to let me swim to the side and challenges me just to keep my head up. The black water plunging my head into cold and chaos as the roaring gets louder and louder and louder.

A helpless scream bursts from my lips as I fall, before water gurgles and floods my throat as my body smacks into water. My mind scrambled and confused from the massive jolt it took, my body slowly sinking down while the water pushes it forward.

Then the pain hits, sharp and terrible from my left thigh and everywhere burning and crying for air. I spasm, taking only a moment to find up and clawing towards it. Taking a huge gasping breath the moment my head breaks the water, coughing and sputtering like no tomorrow.

The current down here is much softer, and I immediately drag myself to shore. My drumming heart and panicked eyes forcing me to check for monsters. They don't seem to know I'm here yet, or I just can't hear them, so I'll just have to build some quick dirt thing against the cliff.

Still coughing relentlessly, my lungs convinced that all the water still isn't out, I try to dig up dirt as fast as possible. I don't get that much blocks before my ears pick out rattling bones beneath the crashing of the waterfall and my chattering teeth.

Deciding that I'll just be cramped, I run to the cliff face and begin to build. Utterly ignoring my leg as I quickly barricade myself in, shivering mad and heaving in relief once I'm done. Olivia's probably going to kill me in the morning, but I'm so glad I'm not dead yet.

My relieved state doesn't last, muscles beginning to cramp up after the sprints, swimming, lack of air, and continuing to try to shiver as my soaked clothes sap energy from me. The arrow from the skeleton thankfully only grazing my left thigh, but man has it decided to hurt again!

But with absolutely no light source whatsoever, I can't exactly tell what's happening. Only warm blood gushing onto my pants, my small dirt room reeking of sweat, blood, and rivery-fishy smell.

My hands shake slightly as I press them onto the wound, I cry softly through my chattering teeth when it shrieks in pain. I simply grit my teeth and keep pressing. I'm not going to die of blood loss after finally escaping those terrible monsters and getting out of that horrid river. I really would be a loser if I did that.

Although call me squeamish, but I hiss and squirm as my own blood seeps through my fingers. It's probably a serious wound or something, I'll definitely need to get help. In the morning though, not going back out there. I've definitely learned my lessoned about getting caught by the monsters, no need to teach it twice.

After a tremendous amount of time, mostly filled with the sounds of shivering and me whimpering from time to time, the bleeding seems to stop. I delicately peel my hands off, my stomach churning at the sticky goo drying on my hands.

I mentally kick myself, my thoughts scolding me for being so squeamish. I've had to tend to multiple injuries before. Whenever Axel falls out of a tree or Olivia's redstone flares and burns her, I handle them. I even do a fairly good job, steady and calm and everything. So why am I shaking so much now? Why am I so disturbed?

Sighing and trying to shift into a better position in my dark hideout, I blame adrenaline and my soaked freezing clothes and the monsters. That's why I'm in such a scattered state, that has to be it. With all the running and terror and fearing for my life, I really shouldn't be surprised that I'm like this. Especially when I can't even see how bad the wound is. So I'm good, I'm good. Not having any strange reactions. I'm cool, literally, I'm all good.

Shivers still engulf my body though, completely uncontrollable when I'm just sitting in my drenched clothes. I don't dare take them off though. I've accepted the shivering, but too much movement and my leg wound will open up again. I need my blood inside of me if I want to stay warm.

Besides, what's the worse that can happen? I'll probably get sick being in my wet clothes all night, but it's better than blood loss. With blood loss, I probably won't be able to think straight trying to find my way back home. With a sickness, I can push past it and then not be a functioning human being once I get back.

A squeal, sharp and terrified, pierces into my little dirt hut. At first, I dismiss it. Could just be a spider, or something, falling from the cliff. I have to stay still, that's what's important.

The shrill scream of a pig attacks into my mind, my heart squirming when it recognizes the high pitched whine of just a little piglet. Guilt gnawing at me as I know it needs help and I'm just sitting here doing nothing.

Groaning when the terrified squeal penetrates my hut again, louder than ever, I hoist myself up. My chattering teeth gritting together as my left takes on some weight, wincing when blood oozes out of it again. I might as well see this through now that I've reopened the wound.

I quickly break down a block, shouting out as the piglet's panicked whines strike at me. "Piggy! Little pig! Over here!"

A thought of whether or not pigs are intelligent enough to figure out that I'm trying to help wafts through my head. But when something crashes into me through the hole, I immediately discard it.

Shaking my head, I ignore the little guy for a moment to put the dirt block back into place. I'm done dealing with monsters. No more of those guys. They are not getting into my little dirt hut here. This is sanctuary.

The whimpers of pure fear grab my attention though. Slowly I scoot over to the wall next to the little piglet and slide down, a quiet whimper of my own coming out when my leg shoots pain at me. I really got to avoid the night, forever.

"Hey little guy." I cough slightly, now fully aware how much gasping in water and air destroys my voice. "You're safe now. The monsters can't hurt you anymore."

The piglet whines, squeezing under my arm and shaking terribly while pressed up to me. My mind torn between wanting to comfort the little guy or stop the bleeding again. Which in the end, the bleeding wins out. Since it makes sense that I can't help the piglet if I'm constantly bleeding.

Though as to not disturb him, I very gently press my shaking hands against the wound again. Hissing quietly again as the wound seethes under the pressure. But this is going to help me, this is going to help me. I've already done it, just gotta do it again.

The little guy whines, snorting softly and nudging against me as I continue to wince when blood sticks to my hands. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I peel my hands away and the blood has stopped. The little piggy, still trembling and shaking, whining happily and nudging me.

"Don't worry, I'm good now. I'm good." The piglet snorts, and despite it being pitch dark, I know he's rolling his eyes. "Okay, I'm drenched, injured, and hiding in a dirt hut until morning. Not great, but hey, I'm alive."

I sigh, my cold mind drifting to the panic I know Olivia's in right now. "At least for now. Olivia's going to kill me once I get back."

The little piggy does this curious snort and whine thing, lifting its head off my side. I think he's looking at me, but I can't really tell

"Well, okay, Olivia isn't actually going to kill me." I sigh, a bit strange when my teeth still chatter. "But she's going to fret over me, be pissed at me, and then just be... this mix of exasperation and concern. Mostly exasperation though."

The piglet hums, and I distantly realize through the cold, pain, and the fading adrenaline I'm talking to a pig. Oh well.

"Yeah, us humans do strange things. Although..." My tighten my face, in thought and to stop my teeth from being so loud. "Where's your little group? Pig family or whatever it's called. You seem really young to be on your own, especially since you're out at night."

A sad whine pierces my ears, my hand immediately snapping up and petting the piglet. Shivers running down into my fingers as I lightly scratch behind his ears.

"Hey now boy, it's okay. I'm here, I got you." I don't really think about what I'm saying, focused only on making the little piggy feel better. "You don't have to worry anymore, you're safe."

Snorting and sniffing softly, the piglet carefully climbs onto my lap instead of just my side. The area he left instantly clenching in the cold air, but I relax as he settles down again. More of his warmth seeping into my damp and shivering body.

A relived sigh blows through my nose, hopefully all this excitement is at an end until morning. My hand still shakes a bit when I pet him, but I'm grateful for the warmth from him all the same.

"Y'know, you need a name." The piglet snorts, snuggling into my wet lap. "I'm not going to forever refer to you as 'piglet' or 'little piggy'. So... what's a name appropriate for a pig?"

I hum, focusing my mental energy into that one thought instead of anything else. "Hamlet?" 

The little piggy lets out a sharp snort, guess that's a no then. Although I just can't really think of any names. Maybe it's the cold, maybe it's a part of me still scared about the monsters, maybe it's my leg. But whatever it is, no real creative names are popping up.

Groaning, I rack my unused hand through my hair. "Okay, let's see... piggy names, piggy names. Um, what about Reuben?"

The piglet oinks, his head nodding against my leg. I shuffle a bit, continuing to pet him as he sighs and falls asleep. Definitely didn't except to have a piglet fall asleep on my damp lap in the middle of the night as we hide from monsters in a dirt hut.

But sleep begins to swirl in me as well, my fingers still scratching Reuben ears. A smile resting on my face despite it all. 

****

Yay! Friendship through near death experiences! Aren't those just the best kind?

Although I think I got a wee bit carried away with the near death part until I got to what you actually requested. Ah, well, I hope you still enjoyed!

Okay, can I point out that I wanted to write 'disrecard' one time during this? Yeah, I know it's not a word and 'dis' and 're' don't make sense both being prefixes to 'card'. I know that, but hear me out.

One of my friends, eh, we're more like buddies actually. Well anyway, this guy says the silliest stuff. He isn't dumb or anything, but he acts like it. Purposefully playing on people's heads and smiling so much that you just can't help but to smile along with the goofball to matter how exasperated you are.

And he says stuff like 'disrecard'! I am SO thankful I caught it when I edited through this, because that would've been super embarrassing. Ugh, this guy's silly grammar is starting to infect me.

Whelp, I done with that now. One quick rant out of the way. So I guess that means I'll see you all next time once I'm done with the next oneshot! Bye!