Nikita stayed in the village for the night, sleeping in the house that she had been assigned to, thinking about what Andre and Gabriel had said. Sleep came not long after, relieving her of the aches that plagued her body from riding Blaze all of that day.
She left at sunrise the next morning, taking Blaze's tack out with her.
She saddled him and then led him through the house to the front of the small house that she was staying in where her chest waited on the cobblestones for them. Nikita attached it to Blaze's saddle and then tied him to the fence post enclosing the backyard of the house.
After that was done she put on her armor and got out the map and her diamond sword.
"Nikita." Said a voice behind her.
She turned around to see Andre and Gabriel standing behind her.
"Here." Said Andre, handing her a satchel full of food.
"This is for you." Gabriel said, handing her a turtle shell.
"It will allow you to breath underwater."
Nikita took it and put it in her inventory. She then slung the satchel around her shoulders and mounted Blaze.
She turned to them and said "Thank you," before turning Blaze around and galloping into the sunset.
As the warm orange glow of the sun washed over her, Nikita thought about Brimstone, her friends and her family. Of what she had left behind.
It doesn't matter. She thought.
The only thing that matters now is finishing what my parents started.
She glanced down at the map in the predawn light and turned Blaze northward, heading towards the Northwoods, a forest that was home to a village called Whitewood.
I'll stay and rest there for the night. Thought Nikita.
I'll also see what supplies they have.
Nikita then felt her stomach rumble and realized that she hadn't eaten since last night. She reached into satchel and felt something... smooth. She drew the object out and found that it was an emerald. She then put it back and found that the satchel was full of not only food but two stacks of emeralds.
Gabriel had given her emeralds so she could trade with any of the villagers that she found in the villages along her path, knowing that she would need supplies at some point.
Thank you. Nikita thought as she ate a piece of mutton from the satchel.
A few hours later Nikita glanced at the sky.
It was almost sunset.
She stopped Blaze and looked around. There were trees around her, and there was a cliff to her right, but otherwise the landscape was barren.
Nikita looked at the cliff.
I could dig into the cliff face and make a base there... it would be sheltered and safe.
She dismounted Blaze and led him over to the cliff, tying his bridal to a tree. Nikita then got a stack of torches out of her chest along with her pickaxe.
She then began to mine into the mountain, placing torches where needed. Suddenly Nikita heard the groans of zombies and the rattling of skeletons.
Nikita turned to see at least ten mobs swarming Blaze.
She got out her sword and shield and charged the monsters. She slammed into a zombie, sending it flying. Then she blocked a skeleton's arrow with her shield and lashed out at it with her sword, killing it.
Beside her Blaze kicked a zombie in the head, killing it instantly. Nikita grunted in pain as a skeleton managed to get a shot in on her. The arrow hit her shoulder, but bounced off the armor, saving her from the worst of the wound.
Nikita fought the mobs for what seemed like hours before they were all dead. Nikita wiped her forehead and went back to mining, digging out a 6 by 4 hole big enough to fit Blaze into. She led him inside, sealed the door and put down her bed. She fed Blaze an apple and ate herself.
"Impressive." Said a voice.
"I haven't seen someone fight off ten mobs like that in a very long time."
The Servant stood next to Blaze, looking at her with white eyes.
"Thanks?" Said Nikita hesitantly.
"Your welcome." Said the Servant.
The black creature then paused and said "Skill with a sword and bow are necessary if you are to survive out here. I would practice them every chance that you get."
Then the Servant was gone.
I will. Nikita silently promised, laying down on her bed and dozing off.
Nikita woke up the next morning sore from the fight the night before. As she sat up her shoulder throbbed in pain.
This is going to be a long day. She thought as she collected her bed and the torches.
As she led Blaze out into the soft orange glow of the sunrise a vague memory came to her. It was of her mother pointing to the sunrise, her father next to her, and her in her mother's arms.
"It's beautiful." Said her mother's soft voice.
Then the younger Nikita reached towards the sky, trying to touch the sun. She could hear her father's soft laughter then, and her heart throbbed.
She couldn't see her parents clearly, though, they were only silhouettes, shadows.
The memory then faded, and Nikita realized that tears were falling. She wiped them away and mounted Blaze.
If only I had you with me. She thought bitterly.
If only they hadn't killed you.
With the memory still fresh in her mind Nikita road out into the forest towards Whitetree. It was around midday when Nikita entered the Northwoods. She knew this because the trees were slowly turning from oak and spruce to birch trees.
Nikita looked down at the map and saw that Whitetree wasn't far from where she was, only a couple more hours and she would be there.
"Come on Blaze, we're almost there." She said, urging the tired horse on at a brisk walk.
It's eerily beautiful here. Thought Nikita as she looked around at the tall birch trees.
The looked like tall, pale ghosts in the faint mist that had descended on the forest.
An hour later Nikita saw the faint outline of a village coming into view. As they got closer Nikita knew that she had finally arrived at Whitetree.