Winter Morgan - The Heroic Visitor (For Fans of Creepers)

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Copyright 2018 by Hollan Publishing, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Brian Peterson

Cover photo by Megan Miller

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3736-5

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3741-9

Printed in Canada

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE INVITATION

I have big news. Brett and Joe stood in the entrance to Poppys house. They were breathless because they had sprinted all the way to her door. Both of them were eager to tell Poppy their good news.

Poppy smiled. I have something to tell you, too!

Brett blurted out, Really? Thats great. We cant wait to hear. Tell us.

No, you first, said Poppy.

Were going to the cold taiga to build a farm, Brett exclaimed.

Thats amazing, and it also makes my news even better, said Poppy.

Whats your news? asked Joe.

I am going to the taiga to build a large igloo and a castle. I was commissioned by the town to build those two buildings. Poppy asked, When do you guys have to go to the taiga? I have to leave tomorrow.

So do we, said Brett.

This is great. Lets craft an igloo, and then we can be roommates, suggested Poppy.

Sounds like a plan, Brett said.

Poppy looked up at the sky. It was getting dark, and she caught a glance of two vacant-eyed zombies lumbering toward her house. Oh no! Zombies! You guys have to head home. Its not safe out.

Where? Joe pulled armor and a diamond sword from his inventory, caught sight of the zombies, and raced toward them.

Brett put on his armor and joined Joe in the battle against the undead beasts that spawned when the sun began to set. They slammed their swords into the zombies, piercing the oozing flesh and weakening the creatures until they were destroyed. Brett and Joe leaned down to pick up the rotten flesh from the ground, but both let out a collective gasp when they spotted an army of zombies marching into the town.

I can help! Poppy rushed toward them dressed in armor. She fearlessly lunged at the smelly beasts, trying to destroy as many as she could. Brett splashed potions on the zombies while Joe ripped into the creatures with his diamond sword. Poppy was down to one heart when the final zombie was destroyed.

Take this. Joe handed her a potion to restore her energy.

Poppy sipped the potion as she checked out the area for any other hostile mobs that spawned in the dark. I think were safe, she said. You guys should stay at my house tonight. Its not safe for you to travel home.

Brett and Joe followed Poppy back to her house. As they reached her door, Brett felt a stinging pain radiate down his arm.

A spider jockey! screamed Joe.

Poppy put away her sword and grabbed a bow and arrow, and with perfect aim, she struck the skeleton that rode atop the red-eyed spider. Her second arrow destroyed the bony beast. Brett ripped into the spider while Poppy picked up the dropped bones on the grass. It took three precise hits from Bretts sword, but he destroyed the deadly arachnoid.

We have to get inside, Poppy said.

The gang hurried into the house and closed the door. We need to get up early, said Brett. We should get to sleep.

Poppy led them to the extra bedroom. Joe thanked Poppy for letting them stay at her house. Joe and Brett wearily climbed into their beds. Brett pulled the wool blanket over his tired body. As he drifted off to sleep, he thought about the challenges of building a farm in the ice biome. He needed to figure out a way to melt the snow. When he realized the best method was using a torch, he scanned his inventory for torches, but he had only a couple in his inventory.

We need torches, he called out, but Joe was already fast asleep. Brett could hear him snoring.

Brett tossed and turned and couldnt fall asleep. He was anxious about the trip to the taiga. He didnt want to show up unprepared, but they werent given a lot of time to prepare for the journey. Brett wondered why all of them were invited to the taiga at the same time. He started to think these offers might be slightly suspicious, but then he told himself that he was just overtired and his mind was wandering. Brett focused on the beauty of the taiga and the snowmen he would build during his time off. He rarely traveled outside of Meadow Mews, and he wanted to be excited for this opportunity rather than suspicious of the towns people and their motives for inviting this trio.

Brett didnt even remember falling asleep. He awoke and looked over at Joe, but his friend was missing.

Joe, Brett called out, but there was no response.

He jumped out of the bed as he heard Poppys ocelot meow. Sam, Brett said to the ocelot, where is everyone? He knew asking the ocelot was pointless; the small animal couldnt speak. The ocelot stared at him, meowed, and rubbed against his legs, leading Brett to assume the animal was hungry. He pulled some fish from his inventory and fed Poppys pet while he called out for his two friends. Poppy! Joe!

Brett, Poppy raced into the house, we were just filling our inventories with apples and other treats from the farm.

Joe handed Brett a bunch of apples. This is for you.

Thanks, said Brett as he placed the apples in his inventory.

Well, now that we have food, said Poppy, we should get going. The trip to the taiga takes about a day, and I dont want us to get stuck outside at night.

Good idea, said Joe as he looked through his inventory, making sure he had all the supplies he planned to bring with him.

Theres just one problem: we need torches to melt the snow, or we wont be able to farm. Do you have any torches, Joe? asked Brett.

I have three, he replied after searching through his inventory.

Were going to need more than that, explained Brett. We wont be able to find coal in that biome. We must mine on the way there so we have enough coal to craft torches when we need them. I have a bunch of sticks in my inventory, so we dont need to get those.

Poppy studied the map. No problem, theres a mountain biome on the way there. If we make a quick trip to a cave, we can find a bunch of coal. Ill help you get some.