Callahan stumbles on their way back from the void. They land on all fours, struggling to catch a breath.

Something feels wrong. They are not in charge here like they were. Not quite. Something faintly cries out to them in their mind, but it’s not easy to make out.

Is it because of their interfering? Is it because-

No. Something’s off with the world. Maybe things will be fixed after a bit.

They stand, swaying. Their hood has fallen, but the fluff around their neck has dimmed slightly. Still enough to blind if not careful.

They look up- and see a piglin. One that looks… only vaguely familiar.

They give a wave.

In his other hand, he pulls out a cloak, that had been lined with his own white neck fluff trimmings. The overworld is much, much colder than the nether, and the piglin was probably freezing.

it shivered. it could not be cold. it should not be cold. it stiffened its hands, its arms, resisting every urge to draw itself closer, to huddle for warmth.

it drew a stuttering, shaken breath, and takes the figure's hoof. it is much warmer, yet harder, than its own. with trembling legs, it stands.

Callahan stumbles on their way back from the void. They land on all fours, struggling to catch a breath.

Something feels wrong. They are not in charge here like they were. Not quite. Something faintly cries out to them in their mind, but it’s not easy to make out.

Is it because of their interfering? Is it because-

No. Something’s off with the world. Maybe things will be fixed after a bit.

They stand, swaying. Their hood has fallen, but the fluff around their neck has dimmed slightly. Still enough to blind if not careful.

They look up- and see a piglin. One that looks… only vaguely familiar.

They give a wave.

it walks, and walks, and falls face first on the ground, tripping over something small, insignificant. it shutters in a deep breath, flinching instinctually, before carefully opening its eyes. before it are two hooves.

the sphere-like thing it is holding is not just gold- it is not heavy enough, not as shiny as the gold it is holding in its other hand, and something about it feels - off. it touches this to its lips too, and finds it to be a gold coating over something else. something that smells sweet, delicious, and makes its mouth water as it holds it.

(tradetradetradeGIVETHEMSOMETHINGyoumustTRADEFORGOLDtradeforgoodsGoldgoldgoldgold)

Eat. Heal. it picks up the golden object and brings it back to its mouth, gently placing it in and taking a bite. it crunches wonderfully under its teeth, and it is wet, it is juicy, it is delicious- it feels energy slowly being restored to it. the wounds from the cuffs fade as they are healed, and it stares in awe. gold heals. golden object is healing. it must save this, them, for when it needs it, for when the pain is almost too much to bear.

the Being has healed it. they have rejected its trade. is this kindness? is it pity? it is useful, and can be of use to them. how can it show them so?

It then occurs to him that piglins’ custom is to trade for gold. Had he accidentally given more instead of taking? It then occurs further to him what the piglin had been offering. Himself. And the deer had rejected him out of ignorance.

He takes his comm again, trying to come up with an alternative. Struggling to find anything while also trying to mentally translate, he settles on a few words. He once again holds it out to the piglin, resting a hoof on his shoulder to gain his attention.

it has not spoken its language in years. it picked up a few of the sounds from the overworlders, the Spawn, struggled to mimic them on its own, but its throat is out of use. it is out of practice. yet another thing that it cannot do.

it attempts to croak out a few grunts anyway, and to its surprise it successfully says - "trade?"

Callahan stumbles on their way back from the void. They land on all fours, struggling to catch a breath.

Something feels wrong. They are not in charge here like they were. Not quite. Something faintly cries out to them in their mind, but it’s not easy to make out.

Is it because of their interfering? Is it because-

No. Something’s off with the world. Maybe things will be fixed after a bit.

They stand, swaying. Their hood has fallen, but the fluff around their neck has dimmed slightly. Still enough to blind if not careful.

They look up- and see a piglin. One that looks… only vaguely familiar.

They give a wave.

it walks, and walks, and falls face first on the ground, tripping over something small, insignificant. it shutters in a deep breath, flinching instinctually, before carefully opening its eyes. before it are two hooves.

the sphere-like thing it is holding is not just gold- it is not heavy enough, not as shiny as the gold it is holding in its other hand, and something about it feels - off. it touches this to its lips too, and finds it to be a gold coating over something else. something that smells sweet, delicious, and makes its mouth water as it holds it.

(tradetradetradeGIVETHEMSOMETHINGyoumustTRADEFORGOLDtradeforgoodsGoldgoldgoldgold)

Eat. Heal. it picks up the golden object and brings it back to its mouth, gently placing it in and taking a bite. it crunches wonderfully under its teeth, and it is wet, it is juicy, it is delicious- it feels energy slowly being restored to it. the wounds from the cuffs fade as they are healed, and it stares in awe. gold heals. golden object is healing. it must save this, them, for when it needs it, for when the pain is almost too much to bear.

the Being has healed it. they have rejected its trade. is this kindness? is it pity? it is useful, and can be of use to them. how can it show them so?

Callahan stumbles on their way back from the void. They land on all fours, struggling to catch a breath.

Something feels wrong. They are not in charge here like they were. Not quite. Something faintly cries out to them in their mind, but it’s not easy to make out.

Is it because of their interfering? Is it because-

No. Something’s off with the world. Maybe things will be fixed after a bit.

They stand, swaying. Their hood has fallen, but the fluff around their neck has dimmed slightly. Still enough to blind if not careful.

They look up- and see a piglin. One that looks… only vaguely familiar.

They give a wave.

it walks, and walks, and falls face first on the ground, tripping over something small, insignificant. it shutters in a deep breath, flinching instinctually, before carefully opening its eyes. before it are two hooves.

the sphere-like thing it is holding is not just gold- it is not heavy enough, not as shiny as the gold it is holding in its other hand, and something about it feels - off. it touches this to its lips too, and finds it to be a gold coating over something else. something that smells sweet, delicious, and makes its mouth water as it holds it.

(tradetradetradeGIVETHEMSOMETHINGyoumustTRADEFORGOLDtradeforgoodsGoldgoldgoldgold)

Callahan stumbles on their way back from the void. They land on all fours, struggling to catch a breath.

Something feels wrong. They are not in charge here like they were. Not quite. Something faintly cries out to them in their mind, but it’s not easy to make out.

Is it because of their interfering? Is it because-

No. Something’s off with the world. Maybe things will be fixed after a bit.

They stand, swaying. Their hood has fallen, but the fluff around their neck has dimmed slightly. Still enough to blind if not careful.

They look up- and see a piglin. One that looks… only vaguely familiar.

They give a wave.

it walks, and walks, and falls face first on the ground, tripping over something small, insignificant. it shutters in a deep breath, flinching instinctually, before carefully opening its eyes. before it are two hooves.