Flight or Fail

Chapter 7: What Am I?

X sighed, knowing his friend would have to go home soon. Was Grian ready? Was he ready? Clearly, he wasn't exactly in the most perfect state of mind, and his wings seemed to be causing him a lot of discomfort.

A few more days. He could keep lying to the other hermits on where he was for a few more days, right? After all, they thought that Grian had just gone exploring in the nether and would be back soon. Five days wasn't too long in the nether...

Was it?

A muffled groan distracted X from his dark train of thought, and a small mop of hair appeared from a mountain of pillows and blankets that was currently in the middle of the room.

Something was different about Grian's face though. Small multicoloured freckles dotted his pale face and his eyes, formally a beautiful mahogany, were now a shimmering pale blue, like ice reflecting an empty sky. This transformation was more than just wings.

"What time is it?" asked the short hermit, struggling out of the towering nest and sitting next to his friend.

"4am. You woke up early."

"Oh," yawned the young builder, stretching out his marginally longer arms.

Upon his back, the dark wing-growths had gotten even larger and were now forming the shape of true bat-like wings. In a few days, they would be mostly grown, only having to grow bigger.

In a few days. That was when Grian had to go back. What would the other hermits think? He couldn't hide them, as they would eventually get bigger than his sweater. Everyone would have to know.

Xisuma froze. He had been scanning the boy for about two minutes, lost in thought, but now he was very much conscious of the world. Blood was trickling down Grian's back, from a spot right on his ribs. Exactly where the wings were.

Suddenly, the hermit screamed in pain and doubled over, blood welling from a place on his cheek.

"Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

As a response, Grian straightened his back, breathing heavily. Miniscule dots like shining fireflies dotted his cheeks, resembling scales. Paired with his rainbow freckles and bright blue eyes, the builder carried a rather mythical look.

"What's happening?" panicked Void, glancing at the still-bleeding marks on his buddy's back.

"I-I don't kn-" began the other hermit before collapsing in pain again, the wings growing larger such an intense amount in a couple of seconds that X could watch them become larger.

They were very clearly bat wings.

Or rather, dragon wings.

A/N: Sorry that this story is kind of dead, I've lost inspiration for writing, but now that season nine is out I might write more Hermitcraft, depends if anyone cares. Don't expect any new updates or parts for ages, same for Take a Chance. Sorry I guess.