Why Creepers Why!

Ok , So I was getting some wood as soon as it had hit morning in my survival server when suddenly i see a creeper charging at me from a distance. So i decide to back up not knowing , THAT IM ON A CLIFF ! so i fall off the cliff and live with half a heart left so i decide maybe i shoud just head back to my base , so i turn around after i fell and 2 creepers blow me up and i lose about half the stuff in my chest i come back and somebody had taken the stuff and left -__-