Chapter Text
Philza paused as the rather large hoglin before him lowered submissively.
He could see in its shoulders it wasn’t relaxed but it's face was open and expectant.
Philza’s eyes searched the creature's form and picked up on the large scars that lay faintly among it’s fur.
He had first assumed it was an aggressive hoglin but now, watching it lay before him, he realised the chance that it was an outcast was a possibility too.
Carefully checking the area for other hoglins, Philza noted the one before him didn’t move.
A rumble came from it's direction but it’s throat hadn’t moved like when they typically made noises.
The realisation that it was hungry came to him as he very slowly inched back towards his tunnel.
His portal was just among the netherack.
He could race through and build another one, in a safer location, before the hoglin got to him.
The creature's stomach rumbled again and this time its expression fell. It’s tension disappeared almost in defeat as it watched Philza reach his exit.
Did- did it want him to stay?
Philza watched it closely, waiting for another move.
It simply stared back and something inside of him began eating him.
Guilt?
He frowned and withdrew some of the golden carrots he had taken with him.
Could he really leave this hungry animal when he had resources to spare?…
He’d never fed a hoglin before. They usually stayed in forests to prevent starvation.
The hoglin finally made a small encouraging noise as it watched the war within Phil.
Philza felt his heart flutter with fear, having already made up his mind, but scared for his safety.
Philza cautiously stepped past the rocks and inched over the netherack towards the hoglin.
It raised it's head slowly.
Throwing a few carrots towards it, Philza waited for it to snatch them up.
The hoglin huffed and gave him a look as it extended its neck and failed to reach them.
It whined moving back and waiting for Philza to do better.
Philza blushed in embarrassment.
At this point he was taunting the poor thing.
Shuffling even closer, he got the carrots within range… the hoglin just looked at them.
“I-it’s ok.” Philza cleared his throat.
It looked up at him almost in a frown.
“Go ahead.”