Fight or Flight

Act 1, Chapter 1: Dizzy

Grian couldn't sleep.

It was late, the sun had already set and the screech of a phantom could be heard just outside Grian's alchemist tower. The man was sitting in an armchair, book in hand, lantern next to him. He couldn't sleep, but it wasn't surprising. Sometimes it's just like that. Your body is too full of ideas, of thoughts, and you're wide awake.

He wasn't sure what time it was. 11pm? 3am? As far as he knew, nobody else was awake, aside from Impulse and Pearl, both of whom didn't even need sleep. Impulse was probably using his collected energy to work on his base, while Pearl was likely flying with the phantoms.

He kinda missed that. Flying with the creatures of the night, over the ocean and through the waves, it had been a long time. He'd have to dig up his phantom costume from his unpacked shulkers of costumes so he could join her on one of those nights.

When was the last time he flew with phantoms? Back in season six, which was... Wow, that was a long time ago. Season six had been wonderful, a new door in his life. Season seven was almost as good, but both it and season 8 had gone by too quickly.

Rain started pattering on the window. Grian closed the book, turned off the lantern, and slipped on his yellow raincoat. As he stepped out into the cool night air, something itched. He walked farther into the central spawn, the rain falling onto his head like fingers to drums.

He pulled up his hood.

Distantly, he could hear wet footsteps followed by the sound of a door closing. Seconds later, the lights in Pearl's starter base flickered on. A thunderclap sounded in the direction of Impulse's base shortly after a flash of lightning. Grian kept walking, finding himself near Scar's tree. Climbing up, Grian settled down on the highest branch, staring out over spawn.

The rain was cold, Grian thought distantly. Yet, as he reached out his palm to feel the drops, it felt very nice. He wondered if it was raining anywhere else. He wondered if the private worlds, ones Hermits had made as a home before hermitcraft, were getting rain too. He thought back to his own private world. It hadn't really been a home, had it? After high school, he needed a place to go before he looked for work.

He'd stayed with Pearl for a bit, before applying for ownership of a random seed. Then, he'd explored his new world, setting up a small house before going out into the greater worlds. He'd worked on sets, some minor construction projects, and met many people, including Mumbo. His web of contacts grew, and one night, while talking with Pearl, the idea of his own SMP came up.

The rest was history.

He wondered if that house was still standing. He probably would never return, not after what happened.

Still, he didn't want it to be forgotten completely. Those closet doors, the basement lock, he didn't know if he wanted them to hold or not.

They wouldn't last forever.

The rain was nice, but he was getting tired. Grian carefully climbed back down Scar's tree, and headed back to his own house. While on the way, Grian spotted a small creature, hiding under the Entity from the rain.

A small bunny, shivering from the cold, looked up at him. Grian kneeled down, taking off his coat. The rabbit looked like a Czech Red, its coat a vibrant shade of dark ginger. Grian gently picked up the rabbit, covering it with his raincoat as he made his way back to the house.

By the time they'd stepped inside, Grian was soaked to the bone. He set the bunny down, hanging up his coat and rummaging through a shulker for some hay for a temporary nest.

The rabbit seemed grateful, making itself comfortable.

Grian yawned, grabbing a towel and running it through his hair as he made his way to his bed.