Chapter 3: Plans

Kaico was having a quiet day, she was glad that the rain had ceased for the time being. Unfortunately, that meant it would be the day she would have to farm. Farming had never been her strong suit. She somewhat awkwardly took the hoe in her hand and swung it at the ground. It struck and formed a patch, which then grew over. She shook her head and sighed. She swung harder and then immediately dropped the seeds in. This time it stayed.

It took her half the day, but finally, she had some food growing in. She knew it would be a while longer before any of it could be eaten. She found herself wishing the Ender would bring her more melons. There were little other options for her, when she had left home she had borrowed - and by borrowed she meant taken - as much food as possible, but that had run out days ago. She had one other option, somewhat unhappily she took out her ax and started to chip away at the trees nearby.

She finished her first tree and had no luck finding any apples. On her second she got one. She gobbled it down and felt a bit better.

Next came the harder part of the day. She needed light sources in her house, so she would have no choice but to go underground. It was ironic that she had left her miner family only to have to go on a mining trip on her own. She shook her head slightly and heaved a pickaxe into her hand.

Thankfully she had already found a cave entrance. She walked toward it, a slump in her shoulders. How she wished she could curl up in bed and read her book.

The cave itself was very small, and also quite shallow. Luckily there were two veins of coal inside, as well as a vein of iron. She took it all, constantly looking out for mobs. On her way out she heard a small sound. She already knew what it was.

"Hello again," she greeted the Ender. "I suppose this is where you live?"

She laughed slightly, it could not answer her.

"I don't suppose you have another melon?" She joked. It didn't say anything to her. Surprisingly she felt just slightly sad.

She walked out of the cave, and even though the sun was shining she felt heavy. She pulled herself forward, but sighed slightly and dared to glance back at the Ender roosting in its cave, but it was gone.

She knew it was ridiculous, her parents would say she was insane. Monsters were not to be associated with, beyond doing battle with them.

Besides she knew what she needed to focus on. First, she needed a stockpile of food, she'd have to stay here till the crops grew in, but after that, it would be time to keep moving. Her parents would be on her tail soon, by now her father would be starting to realize this disappearance wasn't a stunt. Then her brothers would start searching for her.

She would finish growing some food, then craft herself a boat and set out across the ocean. Hopefully, on the other side, she'd find a village or town. Then she would start herself off as a builder. That made her smile, a new life. No more mining for her, or brothers who bothered and teased her. No more time with her father who tried to steer her towards his values.

Just Kaico.

She did miss her mother on some level. She wished her mother would have wanted to come with her. She hoped her mother would forgive her rashness.

The day was growing older now, long shadows cast off from the trees. Kaico was even more hungry than she had been before. She knew what she needed to do, though it didn't make her feel any happier. She would need to go hunting.

She felt sighed, she didn't even have a sword. She never liked having to harm peaceful animals. When she had her weapon ready it was already darkening. She gave the crops a long look, wishing them to grow magically before she would have to do something she did not want to. Unfortunately, nothing happened and she still needed to eat.

So she gripped her axe handle and resolved to do what she knew she had too. She never heard the sound of hissing behind her, suddenly she was thrown off her feet. She sailed through the air and hit a tree.