Steel Blood - A Hermitcraft fanfiction

6: Emergency meeting

Cubfan135: GRAIN

Cubfan135: RUSTY'S HOME

Cubfan135: NOW

Grian frowned as he saw the messages appear on his communicator. Something had happened. Had NPG escaped and attacked someone? Was anyone dead?! The worst thoughts flashed through his mind as he clambered out of bed, stretching his wings and rushing over. 

Mumbo was crouched on the ground, Cub pacing next to him. Scar was trying to hide, but still there. Impulse was further back, with Pearl. Grian circled above, noticing immediately what Cub had summoned him for. 

No...

It can't be...

He landed harder than he expected, falling face-first in the dirt, looking over at the wreckage that used to be NPG's home. 

It was in ruins, the front fallen in, planks and splinters everywhere, littered on the ground. But that wasn't what he was focused on. 

Blood covered what remained of the grass. Discarded weapons and axes. 

The two dead body of Etho.

'NO!' He screamed. In the air he could still deny it. Pretend it was a figment of his imagination. 'NO! PLEASE! NO!' Grian collapsed back to the ground, tears beginning to run down his face. His knees curled up to his chest, wings folded tight in. He refused to look at the bodies. This couldn't be real. It was a nightmare. It was a prank. It was all an overly-complicated way for the Convex to return to full pranking glory. But no. It wasn't. He knew it wasn't. It was his fault. It was NPG's fault. It was both of their faults. Why had he made a robot of himself?! Why did he choose to do that?! He was an idiot. A stupid idiot. And now it had killed a hermit. His friend.

And now?

Oh, notch, what would happen to him now?

Xisuma would ban him. Without hestitation if he knew Rusty was his. And Cub. And Scar.

He'd killed Etho

His fellow Life Series member. Friend. A member of the Mycelium resistance. A decent fighter. He realised with a jolt. And NPG had stilled murdered him. 

Why?

Why had he done this? 

All of this. 

He was the monster. 

He didn't deserve to be on Hermitcraft. 

After all they'd done for him, he'd gone and caused the deaths of one of them.

Murderer. 

He was a murderer. 

Again. 

Taurtis's dead body flashed into his mind. Another death caused by him. Another death caused by stupidity that he was trying to run away from. He never could. He never would. He'd done it again. He'd killed another friend by being a coward. 

'Grian, are you alright?' 

A concerned voice reached him through his thoughts. He opened his eyes. Still on the ground, outside his base. Etho was still dead. Curled up, hands digging into his hair. Face tear-stained. 

'Grian, if you want to get away then no one will blame you.'

He looked over to see Cub, crouching beside him, a look of pure worry and sympathy on his face. Grian looked away. He didn't deserve sympathy. 

'Go away.' He mumbled back. 'I did this to you.' 

'Grian, this isn't your fault. NP- I mean Rusty - did this.'

'What?!' Impulse burst out, 'Why would he kill someone?!'

Grian began to sob again, knowing exactly why. Cub looked between him and Impulse. Scar had begun to back away, face pale. His fellow Vexling noticed.

'Scar?'

'Uhh... what?' Instantly, the Tycoon hid his uneasiness. Cub frowned.

'You're acting suspicious.'

'Am I? No... I'm not suspicious.' 

'Scar, if you're hiding something...' Cub stood up, seeing instantly that something was up with his best friend. Scar's eyes flicked to the ground then back up to Cub.

'Why would I kill someone?' He sounded genuinely hurt. 'I didn't mean for this to happen...' he muttered, mortified, under his breath. 'I... I need to go.'

Scar ran off, attempting a couple of times to fly and eventually managing to. He disappeared, Cub yelling his name behind. 

Pearl still stood behind everyone, watching silently. She looked at the ground for a moment, then back up to the group.

'I should go. This is for you three to sort out.' She glanced over at Impulse, who nodded in agreement, face tear-stained. 

'I'll tell the rest of the hermits about Etho.' He added, before flying off. 

Only Grian, Cub and Mumbo remained. 

Mumbo was slouched against the wall in tears, eyes red. Grian was still curled up on the ground. Cub stood between the two, staring at Scar's base, longing for him to come back at explain what he knew. 

'Are... either of you happy to talk?' Cub finally asked. Mumbo looked up at him, eyes lost in sadness.

'Talk. Make jokes. Do whatever you want.' His voice was dull. 'Doesn't mean I'll listen...'

'Grian?' 

'We need to find NPG. If he's escaped, then we need to trap him again. 

'Alright. I'll look for him.' Cub drew a sword. Grian looked up at him.

'Cub, be careful, ok? I don't want him to hurt you.'

'Don't worry.' He smiled weakly, but flexed the hand of his attacked arm nervously. 'I won't let him attack me.' 

A silent 'again' was left unsaid at the end of the sentence. Cub nodded, and walked off, leaving Mumbo and Grian alone in their sadness. The latter knelt up, still half slumped, eyes fixed on Etho's body. Murderer. He told himself again. You did this. You're a murderer. 

Before either of them did anything further, Xisuma landed, with EX close behind. After a moment of just looking at the body, unbelieving, the former crouched down, checking to see if it hadn't just been a mistake or a horrible prank. Mumbo looked over, as though hopeful. Xisuma shook his head.

'He's dead. Permadead.' He confirmed. Grian looked away, threatening to cry again. Mumbo stared off, beginning to sob quietly again. EX watched from behind. 

'Should I do anything?' He asked. 

'We'll need to bury his body. Somewhere in his base. Impulse should be finding Doc and Bdubs, but you might have to go with him for emotional support. They were very close friends. 

EX nodded and flew off. Grian slowly stood up, walking away, back to his base. Xisuma called his name. He stopped and looked over. 

'Are you alright?'

'No.' He replied simply, before continuing, trying to get far enough away that he wouldn't have to witness anyone else's reaction to the person he'd murdered.