I lept off the happy ghast, ready for Noor to welcome me with open arms and hopefully a snack. With all these melon patches around, they had no excuse but to offer me a few slices as an hors d’oeuvre. But when I checked my Player Locator bar, I couldn’t find Noor’s signal anymore. Hmmm. Most curious. Surely they hadn’t had the time to get out of range so quickly? And it’s not like Noor would be using a mob head to conceal their location. They knew it was me, and not a predator or annoying house guest!

Oh well, no matter. I had found friends long before the arrival of the Player Locator bar. Noor and my reunion would just have to happen the old fashioned way – by sneaking up on them. I started making my way through the greenery, clearing a path as I went, both to find my way back but also for drama. Phew! I was working up a sweat, and the humidity wasn’t exactly doing me any favors. I passed a few pandas, and they were absolutely no help either. Especially that one baby that had the audacity of sneezing at me! I nearly got hit in the eye with a slimeball.

I had been chopping away for a while when a smattering of purple caught my eye. A cluster of azalea trees! What a perfect spot for a little break. As I approached them, I saw the tell-tale signs of a camp next to them! Small hut, check. Crafting table, check. Sign that read “Noor’s Nook”, check. That little scamp! I checked my Player Locator bar eagerly, but it was still unresponsive. Maybe my elusive friend was too far below ground? There had to be a lush cave nearby all these azalea trees

Eureka! There was indeed the lushest of caves, with an expertly built mineshaft for easy access. I had to be getting close, nobody would abandon a build like this. Especially one that led to the most beautiful lush cave I had ever seen! Glow berries and glow squid lit up the vines and spore blossoms that hung above the still water. I grabbed a few berries and sat down by the water’s edge. Suddenly, the lake’s placid surface was broken by two axolotls chasing tropical fish. Dinner and a show! Noor would be so disappointed to miss this.

The atmosphere was getting cozier and cozier in turn I was getting sleepier and sleepier. If I caught a few Zs, I would be in much better shape to find Noor. I lay down and drifted off to a deep sleep. So deep that I dreamt some of the most vivid dreams of my career as a professional napper. A skeleton with an enormous head loomed over me, shaking its little fists in frustration. Then, it grabbed me by the foot and dragged me out of the cave. Before it ran off, the skeleton took out a brush and held it above its giant head for a minute before it ran off.

What could it mean?! It had to be a good omen, because when I woke up, I found myself on a podzol patch surrounded by parrots. They flew above me in colorful circles, and when one let out a skeleton sound I realized what had happened. It was so obvious!

The parrots and I had a psychic connection and they had lifted me out of the lush cave because they knew it was time for this trip to continue. It was the only reasonable explanation. I looked around for my cut path, but the thicket had grown back all. I knew this wood grew back quickly, but I had no idea that it was this speedy! Impressive. No wonder these pandas are so well fed. I started chopping away wildly, finally finding my way back to my happy ghast.

Pandas, parrots, podzols – it’s almost criminal this biome’s name breaks the alliteration, even if it is with a letter that rhymes with P. 

The parrots and I had a psychic connection and they had lifted me out of the lush cave because they knew it was time for this trip to continue. It was the only reasonable explanation. I looked around for my cut path, but the thicket had grown back all. I knew this wood grew back quickly, but I had no idea that it was this speedy! Impressive. No wonder these pandas are so well fed. I started chopping away wildly, finally finding my way back to my happy ghast.

Noor would have to wait for this reunion, because I was too inspired to sit still. I knew exactly where I was going next, but I had to finish this postcard before anything else.

Season’s greetings from the Bamboo Jungle!

As we soared towards our next adventures, I looked down at pandas, parrots, and… wait? Was that a skeleton head? My Player Locator bar started going off, but we had already set sail for our next destination. Where in the Overworld are we going next? Come back soon to find out!