Chapter Text
The howling winds were angry and restless against the icy tundra The snow accompanying it, landed bitterly along the pure white wasteland of the arctic, the heavy snow was now rendered to be almost impossible for any person or creature, big or small, to walk across. It would be too dangerous to do so. Surely anything caught out here in this winter storm would be dead within hours, if not because the cold, but because of the harsh winds that we’re sure to bury them in the quickly rising snow.
This particular winter was going to be a harsh one. Not only for the already white wasteland of the arctic, but even for the grassy planes and large forests of the surrounding lands, that would soon be dusted in a heavy layer of ice and snow, brining some to their deaths and some to thrive.
The only light or warmth around was of the purple gateway to the nether, it’s obsidian frame being slowly covered by the heavy white snow, causing said glowing gateway to begin to flicker, threatening its close from the over world.
There was not a single soul in sight, no voices heard, no calls from any animals being heard over the loud winds and noise dampening snow, there wasn’t even a bird in the grey, clouded sky. It would be impossible for anything to fly in these conditions.
No living creature would be unlucky enough to be caught in this particularly harsh snow storm. That was until now.
Without much warning, a smaller than average piglin runt was thrown out of the portal seconds before it’s closing. It’s face was now being buried in the quickly rising snow, freezing it’s snout and quickly attacking its fur covered body, that was only protected by a thin hoglins Hyde made outfit, which did little to protect it from the storm that was only just beginning.
The loud winds were suddenly interrupted by a painful and panicked filled cry from the runt. The cry was being fuelled by nothing but its fear and coldness, which was already beginning to take effect on him. He couldn’t feel his hands, or his snout, or his tail that he held close to himself to prevent said coldness. and for a creature so used to the hellish environment of the nether.. this wasn’t good.
The piglin couldn’t have been older than about 7 years old. He was scared, and shaken up, and it wouldn’t be long before hunger would take him over… that was If he hadn’t frozen to death by then. though he continued to cry despite his lack of energy. Loud sobs of desperation left him, surely another piglin would hear him and come to help. Please could somebody help?
It felt like hours in that wasteland, his voice now gone hoarse from all the yelling. He had curled up in a ball behind the black obsidian frame of the previously lit portal, the black stone had been warm when it had just gone out, so he decided to stick next to it for some time. However, that slight warmth didn’t last long. Still, he stayed there, the obsidian frame offering slight coverage from the harsh winds.
He was unable to move as he tried to get any form of warmth by tightly hugging himself close, though it was all pointless now.
His stomach rumbled. All he could do now was wait for anything to happen. For someone to save him. For the portal to reignite. Or even his last breath.
His cold ears perked up ever so slightly at the sound of faint footsteps, he wanted to look, to cry, to do anything to alert whatever was coming towards him and the shell of a once lit portal. however he couldn’t do anything but pray that whatever it was would notice him and do something.
Anything.
The footsteps were getting closer, louder and faster. He wasn’t sure if he should be scared or relived, the creature was running now. Was he in danger? However, the piglin didn’t get much of a chance to react before the footsteps stopped next to him.
He could only hear faint mumbles before he went limp and finally passed out, no longer strong enough to fight off the cold or his undying hunger.
This had to be a nightmare, a bad dream that he would wake up from, and he would be back in the arms of his caretakers, warm with food in stomach with nothing to worry about but collecting gold and play fighting with his siblings ;however, that wasn’t going to happen. This was reality and he wasn’t going to see the light of another day again.
It wasn’t as if he could feel anything right now thanks to the, what felt like, hours he had spent in the cold of the arctic, but hopefully, with enough luck the creature would make quick work of his last few breaths. He didn’t want to feel it.
The Avian made his way through the woods he had been in for the past few hours. He hadn’t intended to be caught in the storm, though he kept on telling himself that a little longer surely wouldn’t hurt, even as the sky grew grey and the winds picked up, he’d still be able to fly through snow fall and make it home safely. Right?
Wrong.
He was now stranded out here, looking for anything like a cave or cabin- even a large tree to take shelter behind. anything able to hold off the blistering winds would do at this point.
His, large inky black wings were rendered useless in these weather conditions. Instead, he kept tucked under a thick heavy black cape, which had been adorned with sage green embroidery near the bottom of it, matching nicely with the similarly coloured green scheme of the rest of his clothing that was mostly hidden by his black cape.
However, even with the extra warmth from the many layers of clothing he wore, he could still feel the icy bitterness of the arctic slowly getting to him. With some hope and luck, the winged man would find something quick to help him to get out of here soon.
That’s when he stumbled upon a large clearing in the very centre of the large, dense, spruce forest he had attempted to seek shelter in. He carried on walking through it, arms wrapped around himself tight as an attempt to keep the frigid environment away from him.
Phil couldn’t help his eyes from widening as something came into view, he could hardly contain the grin that appeared on his face as he started to sprint forward towards the object in view. A portal frame! His ticket out of this inhospitable wasteland! And it was still fully intact! Well- aside from the lack of purple light coming from it, indicating that it wasn’t lit. Thank the gods he had a singular fire ball on him!
The Avian ran as quick as he could, getting singular fireball out from his leather side bag as he prepared to wipe down the snow and get out of here within seconds.
However.. his shaking hands paused by the appearance of a small pink furball next to the portal… a piglin? And a small one at that.
How did it get out here? How LONG has it been out here? Was it even even alive?
He leaned down next to it, taking the passed out piglets tiny hand and checking its pulse with his fingers against its wrist; however, he did have to make sure by checking its neck for one. It was faint and slow against his fingers. But It was alive. Somehow the freezing fur ball was alive.
Does he help it? Bring it back to the nether or bring it home to nurse back to health himself? Or should he just leave it here to be put out of his misery. NOPE. Absolutely not that last one, he’s not sentencing this child to death.
It took a split second more of consideration before he lifted him, quickly lighting the portal and stepping through it. He hoped to the gods that the piglet would wake up.
Why was he even doing this? He struggled enough with his own son, keeping food on the table during the winter wasn’t easy, but he couldn’t just leave him there, he would nurse it back to a stable condition, then bring him back to his parents. It would only be a few days, minimum a week, maximum maybe to the end of the colder season? Until summer comes again.
This would be easy.