The Watchers' Call

Chapter 15

note: i've been working on a book called hermitcraft hunger games, go check it out! i'm having a lot of fun writing it, but i think the trigger warnings are scaring people off lol. (i don't write ships or even bad gore, it's honestly not that intense. its actually less intense than this book imo) 

Also, it's only the bottoms of Grian's wings that are dragging, not the whole wing, that'd just be weird. It's more like when you say a robe or dress is "dragging;" it's not the whole thing, just parts of it.

----| Grian's POV |----

After a long many hours of laying in the dark, Grian finally was able to move. He was sore from being cramped in a dark space for so long, but at least he could function again. He was free from the nightmares, at least for a while. He crawled out of his hole just in time.

Right as he blocked up the space, Xisuma flew into view. Grian momentarily panicked, then calmed himself.

"Hey Grian," said Xisuma calmly.

"What are you doing here?" Grian asked, wincing at the harsh tone. 

"Just flying around the server..." Xisuma said. Grian was not convinced.

"You're watching me, aren't you? I said I was fine! Please leave me alone, I'm fine X!" Grian angrily tried to hop into the air, getting a few feet up only to feel a pain race up his wings. He fell onto the ground awkwardly.

"I'm... fine..." Grian choked out as Xisuma landed next to him worriedly. He crawled backwards, away from the admin.

"Buddy, I'm here," Xisuma said, trying to comfort the small hermit. 

"I-I know yo-ou're... here!" Grian said, a stutter creeping into his voice. "I... do-on't w-want... you h-here," he added.

Xisuma didn't come closer. Grian got up. Wings trailing limply behind him, he walked into the Nether portal. He felt tears in his eyes as the sensation of his wings dragging reminded him of the countless times they'd done so as he was dragged along the hallways of the Watchers' tower.

Grian stopped. Black spots danced in his vision and he swayed as he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. That was normal, right? It was normal. He was fine. He waited a few seconds before heading off towards the barge.

Visions of the Watchers danced in his mind as he felt his wings drag limply on the ground, leaving a trail of red, blue, and yellow feathers in his wake. He walked for a few minutes before remembering something. Pulling out a rope from his inventory, he tied his wings together and to his back so that they wouldn't drag.

It worked, but it also brought back different memories of times when he was chained to the wall or the table. The table that was stained with his blood...

He stopped and turned to face into the tunnel, his back to the wall. He unbound his wings, then slid down the wall until he was sitting. He moved his wings to the side with his hands, pulled his knees close to his chest and cried quietly.

Luckily, no one came down the tunnel. After a few minutes, Grian stood up. Stroking his wings, he realized he could move them again. He flapped them a bit, then stretched them out.

After a few attempts, he managed to raise himself into the air. He was free! He could fly again! Happily, he sped down the tunnel. By the time he reached the end, his wings were aching. With a sigh, Grian realized that they were still not back to normal, just a bit better. He'd still have to walk. 

He made it to the barge, getting back to his cycle of work before the memories could come back.

----| Xisuma's POV |----

Something was definitely wrong with Grian, and it didn't take much to see that.

Following Grian wasn't going to help. He clearly didn't want Xisuma to help him. Xisuma, of course, wasn't going to care what Grian wanted once the admin figured out a way to help the young builder. But until then, it was best not to confront him.

Xisuma walked over to where Grian had been standing when Xisuma had first arrived. He found a block of sandstone weirdly placed against a cliff of sand. He broke it to find a one-by-one hole. It had a block of sandstone above it to stop sand falling in it. But the strangest thing was the feathers. Red, blue, and yellow feathers littered the ground and Xisuma realized what this was. 

He trapped himself in there, didn't he, Xisuma realized. This was where Grian had been all day when he hadn't been moving. This was getting bad, worse than Xisuma thought.

He flew off to find what he needed.

First, he messaged all the hermits except Grian and Mumbo individually, explaining what was going on and what Xisuma wanted from them. Then, he flew off to find Grian.

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I suck at beginnings and endings. advice is welcomed.