by Greyson Mann
Without his weapons, Will had no choice. He had to run and hide. But where?
Water. You’ll be safe in the water. He crawled toward the edge of the lake and plunged in just as an arrow whizzed overhead.
The cold water took Will’s breath away. He surfaced a few feet from shore and heard the thwang of another arrow. Skeletons! They surrounded the lake, their bows raised. Will gulped down some air and dove back under.
He swam in circles, but there was nowhere to go!
He held his breath till his lungs ached. When he finally popped back up, a crack of lightning lit up the lake. That’s when he saw it—the outline of a wooden boat.
Will dove back under and swam with all his might. Finally, his outstretched hands found the wooden planks of the boat. He used his last bit of strength to pull himself over the edge.
As arrows sailed overhead, Will tumbled into the hull of the boat. He tucked himself into a small, wet ball.
This, he thought with a shiver, is going to be a very long night.
CHAPTER 5
What a terrible dream, thought Will, stretching. I can’t wait to tell Seth!
He squinted into the morning light and saw a branch dangling overhead. Where was the dirt roof of his hut? Will sat straight up.
“Oh, man,” he said, grabbing the sides of the rocking boat. It wasn’t a dream! His empty stomach churned with the water around him.
But all was quiet now. The monsters had retreated, and Will could think of only one thing—getting back his tools and weapons. Were they still on shore, or had they all blown up with that electric-blue creeper?
Will slid a paddle out of the bottom of the boat and began rowing. When the boat bumped onto the shore, he hopped out and raced toward his shelter—or what was left of it. The black crater in the ground was still smoking.
Will spun in a circle, searching for his bag. He tripped over hunks of zombie flesh, which made him want to gag. Sure, he was hungry, but he wouldn’t eat that flesh—not in a million years.
Where were his things?
Finally, the glint of iron caught his eye. Will sprinted across the wet grass and slid to a stop in front of his sword—his wonderful, amazing iron sword. He lifted it and kissed it, glad that no one was around to see.
His bow and his bag were resting nearby. Will did a happy dance before bending to pick them up. And then he saw it—a creeper prowling in the distance.
Will’s blood boiled with anger. He knew he could avoid the creeper. It was far enough away. But instead, Will grabbed his sword and charged.
Angry words spilled from his lips as he ran. “You good-for-nothing creeper! You ruined my fishing. You ruined my house. You ruined my night. You ruin everything!”
But just before he could reach the creeper, someone stepped in front of him. The red-haired girl seemed to come from out of nowhere. She pulled something from her sack and launched it at the creeper.
Will heard the smash of glass. The creeper toppled over, leaving nothing but a trail of gunpowder.
“Got ‘im!” said the girl with a triumphant look on her face. She tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and put her hands on her hips. “Hi, I’m Mina.”
“I didn’t need your help,” spat Will. The words came out harsher than he’d intended. “I was going to destroy that creeper myself!”
Mina took a step back. “For your information, I wasn’t trying to help you,” she said. “I was trying to collect more of this for my splash potions.” She knelt down and started scraping gunpowder from the ground.
“Splash potions?” Will couldn’t help asking.
“Sure,” said Mina. “You know—like the splash potion of harming that I just used to take out that creeper. I also brew splash potions of weakness, slowness, poison…” She counted them off on her fingers.
Will raised his eyebrows. He’d never met a potion maker before.
As Mina collected the last of the gunpowder, she turned to him and asked, “Do you live around here?”
Will glanced at the burned-out hole in the hill behind him. “Nope.” He started to walk back toward the hole to gather his things.
“So where are you from?” asked Mina, falling into step beside him.
“Little Oak,” said Will, hoping Mina had never heard of the tiny village.
Her eyes widened. “Hey, that’s where that famous builder lives, isn’t it?” she said. “Do you know him?”
Will groaned inside. So much for meeting strangers who wouldn’t know Seth. He shook his head and changed the subject. “Actually, I’ve got to get going. I’m on my way to the jungle.”
Mina stopped him in his tracks. “No way,” she said. “So am I. We can go together!”
Great. Will’s stomach sunk. He remembered the way Mina had stepped in front of him to kill that creeper. Did she think he needed her protection?
Like I told Seth, I don’t need a babysitter, Will grumbled to himself. I can survive on my own. But would he ever get the chance to prove it?
CHAPTER 6
Will gazed at the trees stretching toward the sky. They were getting taller now. Thicker, too, and covered with lush green vines. I made it! thought Will. A shiver of excitement ran down his spine.
But as he quickened his step, he heard Mina right behind him. I didn’t make it. We made it, he corrected himself with a sigh. Mina had no trouble keeping up.
“I’m hoping we discover a jungle temple,” she said. “Usually you can find pretty cool treasures inside, like gold. I need that to make glistering melon for my healing potions.”
Glistering melon? Will’s stomach twisted with hunger. He thought about asking Mina if she had any of that melon with her right now, but he didn’t. She already thought she’d saved him from that creeper. He didn’t want her to think she had to feed him too.
“Stop!” Mina suddenly whispered.
Will whirled around, expecting to come face to face with a monster. Instead, Mina was pointing at …
“A cat?” asked Will. He could barely see the spotted cat prowling in the thicket of trees.
“Not yet,” Mina whispered. “He’s an ocelot now—a wild cat. But if I feed him a little fish, I might be able to tame him.”
“You have fish?” asked Will. His mouth watered at the thought.
But Mina didn’t seem to hear him. She pulled a piece of fish from her pack and crouched low, calling softly to the ocelot.
Its green eyes peered at her from behind the trees, but as soon as she took a step forward, the cat ducked into the bushes. There were hanging vines and tall grasses everywhere—so many places for a cat to hide.
Mina tried again and again. She stalked the cat around a small pond. She even tossed her fish toward the ocelot, but every time she got close, it darted away again.
“It’s not working,” Will said for the third time.
Mina waved away his words with her hand. “It just takes a little time and patience.”
She sounds just like Seth, thought Will. He blew out a long breath of frustration. His new companion was sure slowing him down. And he felt so hungry. He gazed upward, wondering if apples grew on jungle trees.
Nope. Just golden-brown cocoa bean pods. But as one plunked into the pond, Will was struck with an idea. Mina could chase the cat all she wanted. As for him? He was going to fish.
He unpacked his fishing gear and tossed his hook into the pond. The water was so still, his bobber barely moved.
C’mon, bring me a tasty salmon, thought Will. Any fish will do—xcept a pufferfish. Pufferfish were poisonous. They were the worst thing you could catch, except for maybe lily pads.
Will stared at the bobber, hoping it would dip into the water. And then it did! He yanked back on the pole and started reeling in his catch.
It was big. It was heavy. It was round and yellow. It was … a pufferfish.
“No!” said Will. “Are you kidding me?”
As he unhooked the fish from his line, he heard Mina laughing from behind.
&
nbsp; “Hey, you caught a big one!” she teased.
Will shot her a dirty look. “Maybe your bad luck with the cat is rubbing off on me. Did you catch him yet?”
Mina shook her head. “But he’ll be back,” she said with a smile. “Till then, I’ll hang out with you.”
Great, thought Will. He was about to toss the pufferfish back into the water when Mina held out her hand.
“Wait!” she said. “I can use that fish to make a potion—the potion of water breathing. My bottle is almost empty.”
Will shrugged. “Be my guest,” he said, tossing her the fish. Then he cast his line again into the water, hoping for better luck.
The bobber ducked underwater instantly. “Already?” said Will, gripping his pole. “Please don’t be a pufferfish. Please don’t be a pufferfish,” he chanted as he reeled in the line.
As the fish broke the surface of the water, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was a beautiful pink salmon. He could almost taste it now! But as he unhooked the fish, Will had an uneasy feeling—like he was being watched.
He lifted his gaze and saw two green eyes staring back at him through the tall grass beside the water. The cat blinked slowly and took a step forward.
Will swallowed hard. He wasn’t the only one who wanted that salmon.
CHAPTER 7
The ocelot was so close now, Will could almost see the saliva dripping off its sharp teeth. He sucked in his breath. What do I do? He didn’t have a clue, but he knew someone who did.
The last thing he wanted was to ask Mina for help. Actually, he thought, the last thing I want is to get eaten by an ocelot. So he swallowed his pride and whispered, “What do I do?”
“Hold the fish steady,” whispered Mina. “Don’t move.”
Will’s hand shook, but he kept it outstretched.
The ocelot crouched low and took a slow step forward, as if he were stalking the salmon. Then he took another step. And another.
When the cat was just feet away, Will couldn’t help it—he dropped the fish and snatched his hand back.
“Don’t scare it away!” Mina cried.
But she didn’t have to worry. The ocelot pounced on the fish and gobbled it up. Then he licked his paw, cleaned his face, and sat down in front of Will as if he were a sweet little kitten.
Mina shook her head. “I can’t believe he chose you,” she said. “After I tried so hard!”
Will shrugged. “You can have him.” He still couldn’t take his eyes off the cat, as if it were going to turn wild again any moment now.
Mina groaned. “It doesn’t work that way! He’s yours now. He’ll only follow you.”
“What?” Will whirled around to face Mina. “That’s dumb—I don’t believe that.” To prove his point, he packed up his fishing gear and headed toward the trees. But sure enough, when he glanced over his shoulder, the cat was following him. And Mina too. Will felt like he was leading a cat parade.
He stopped short. “What am I supposed to do with a pet cat out here in the jungle?”
Mina narrowed her eyes. “You take care of him, that’s what. And he takes care of you too, by keeping the creepers away. Creepers can’t stand cats.”
Will paused. He’d be glad to never see another creeper, that’s for sure. But when he looked down at the cat, he wondered again, What do I do with him? He shook his head. “I told you, I don’t want him,” he said firmly.
Mina’s face scrunched up with anger. “I can’t believe you tamed an ocelot—something I’ve always wanted to do. And you don’t even appreciate him!” Her voice bounced off the trees.
“Well I never asked for a pet cat!” Will shot back. “I never asked for either one of you to come with me. You just slow me down!” The words tumbled out so fast he couldn’t stop them.
Mina pulled back, as if he’d shot her with an arrow. “Fine,” she said in a trembling voice. “I won’t go with you, then.” She took a step in the other direction. “Enjoy the jungle, Will.” Then she ducked under a mass of tangled vines and disappeared.
Will wanted to take his words back, but Mina was gone. And the cat stared up at him as if to say, Let’s go, master. Lead me somewhere!
So he marched forward into the jungle alone—almost. Every time he turned around the cat was right there, like a four-legged shadow. “That would be the perfect name for you, wouldn’t it?” mumbled Will. “Shadow.”
As if to say yes, the cat meowed and wound around Will’s ankles. When he started to purr, Will crouched low and held out his hand. The cat rubbed his head against it and licked Will’s palm. He was pretty cute.
But then Will thought of something—something awful. Night would fall earlier here in the jungle, where the tall trees blocked out the sun. And in that darkness, mobs would spawn. Will could fight the monsters with his bow and his sword. But how could he protect the cat? His cat?
The pond, he thought instantly, remembering how he had survived the night before by going into the lake. But would Shadow go into the water? Could he even swim? It’s our best shot, thought Will, turning around to head back to the fishing pond.
But as he pushed through the tangled vines and bushes, he realized something: he wasn’t sure anymore which way was forward and which way was backward!
Will spun in a long slow circle, panic rising in his chest. His cat just sat on the ground nearby, watching and waiting.
“What do we do now, Shadow?” Will asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Build shelter. The answer came to him quickly, and he knew that it was the right one. It’s what Seth would do—and it’ll keep us safe.
Will searched for a hillside to burrow into, but there wasn’t one. He saw plenty of wood for building, but no space in between the trees to build. Now what?
He stared at the sky, hoping for inspiration—and he got it. If he couldn’t build a house on the ground, he’d have to build one off the ground. A house in the trees. A tree house!
Will ran his hand over the thick net of vines wrapped around the nearest tree trunk. Was it thick enough to climb? “Only one way to find out,” he said out loud. He grabbed a hold of one vine while stepping onto another. Then he began creeping slowly up the side of the tree.
A few feet up, he realized he’d forgotten something. He glanced back at the ground, where the cat was waiting patiently.
“Well, Shadow,” said Will with a smile, “are you coming, or what?”
CHAPTER 8
By the time darkness fell, Will had built a crude tree house—a platform under the canopy of leaves at the top of the tree. Vines hung down all around like green, leafy walls.
“Not bad, is it, Shadow?” Will asked.
The cat blinked a slow reply.
“I mean, I know Seth could build a better one.” Will closed his eyes and imagined the amazing tree house Seth might have built. It had walls and windows, lots of levels, and a rope bridge leading to a nearby tree.
“But Seth’s not here,” Will reminded himself. “So I did the best I could.” He lit a torch and settled back to wait.
When he felt the pains of hunger, he remembered the salmon he had caught hours ago. “I’m starving,” he said, “but you’re not, are you, Shadow? You have a belly full of delicious fish. My fish.”
Shadow meowed an apology and rubbed his head against Will’s hand.
Then they both heard it—the first distant moan. As the grumbles and groans grew louder, the cat leapt up and began pacing.
“It’s okay,” said Will. “Zombies can’t climb trees. We don’t have to worry about them.”
He didn’t tell Shadow what they did have to worry about. It wasn’t the skeletons, because they couldn’t see through the vine walls. It’s the spiders, he thought with a shudder. They could climb trees. He swallowed a lump of fear and snuck a quick peek over the edge of the platform.
The zombies were down there in full force now. They grunted and bobbled around, running into the base of the tree. Will took a deep breath and reached for his bow a
nd arrow. Then he leaned back over the edge.
Thwap! Thwap! Thwap! He took out the zombies easily. They were like sitting ducks! Soon, rotten flesh littered the ground. But one of the zombies had dropped something else: a carrot.
Will’s mouth watered. He was so hungry! Could he climb down and get the carrot before more mobs showed up?
Thwack! An arrow struck the platform just beside Will’s hand. He yanked his arm back inside the vines and listened to the rattling of skeleton bones below. Then he heard something else: a low growl from inside the tree house.
Will turned his head slowly in the darkness and saw two glowing eyes. Was it an Enderman? A bolt of fear ran through Will’s chest. He quickly looked away.
Never look an Enderman in the eye, he reminded himself. But was it too late? He held his breath.
Then those eyes appeared again. Two green eyes—not purple. It was the cat who was growling at the mobs below.
Will blew out a sigh of relief. “It’s okay,” he whispered to Shadow. “You’re safe in here with me.” He only wished it were true.
Arrows pinged off the wooden platform, and then came the sound Will had been dreading—the scuttle of spider legs.
He jumped to his feet. How many were there? He swallowed his panic and dared to look over the edge.
An arrow whizzed past his ear, but not before he saw the monster. Will cried out in horror.
It wasn’t a spider creeping up the jungle tree. It was a spider jockey, a skeleton riding a spider. And it was deadly.
Will’s mind went blank. He had imagined this moment when he was riding that silly pig back on the farm. But now he felt frozen, flooded with fear. How could he fight the spider jockey all on his own?
When Shadow let out a pitiful meow, Will sprang into action.
Thwang! Thwap! Thwat! He leaned over the edge and released a wave of arrows. Then more. He reloaded until he had fired his last arrow. And finally he heard it—the satisfying grunt and rattle of the skeleton toppling to the ground below.
