Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

11: Grian

'That didn't go well.' 

It's all I can say as I limp across spawn, Pix next to me. I'm still shaken. We both are. 

'Are you ok?'

'Mostly...' I hide a wince. 'What's the plan now?''

'We can't do this alone... you said the other hermits weren't helping?'

'I could convince Mumbo to help, but I don't want to put him in danger. The others were varying levels of unconvinced and scared... hopefully now we have solid proof, we can convince more of them to assist us.'

'Yeah. But first we need to get you back to the base. You're still hurt.'

'I'm fine,' I lie. My neck still stings, I can still hear Cub's voice. So similar and yet so cold. 

No wonder Scar's upset. 

'I have a plan... step one is your recovery and step 2 is get more people ready for step 3.'

'And what's step 3? I'm not agreeing to it if it's just attacking the skulk again...'

'It's not. I'll explain after we've finished steps 1 and 2. Come on.'

Scar's waiting for us as we reach the base again, barely standing, just inside the door. I break into a run I pretend is less painful than it is.

'I told you to stay in bed!'

He doesn't reply, taking one look at the blood, my limp, the mark along my neck. I see tears shine in his eyes for a second before he ambushes me with a hug.

'Woah... Scar?' And then I'm left comforting him as he starts crying. 'What happened?'

'Grian! Pix!' Impulse's voice reaches me mid-hug. 'You're back! Scar's been...' He pauses, assumedly taking in the sight of Scar hugging me. 'Yeah, Scar's been like that.'

'He could've got you too, Grian.' He mumbles. 'He could've got you and I'd be alone... why would you do something like that?!'

'Like what? I wasn't letting Pix go alone. We were...' I stop. I can't say we were in trouble. 'We were almost fine.'

'Grian don't lie.' Scar shoves me out the hug, hands still tightly gripping my shoulders, looking me directly in the eyes. 'I know you got in trouble because he...'

'We got out ok.' I force my away out his grasp, into the house. Scar follows.

'You don't get to go to the place Cub went and get possessed and come back with those kinds of injuries and just say 'you got out ok' Tell me what happened.'

'Pix saved both our lives. That's it. You don't need to get het up about it all.'

'If I hadn't brought a bow with me we'd both be trapped. I'd be possessed and Grian would be trapped.' Pix breaks the silence and the story by saying. I glare over at where he's leant against the doorway, staring at the ground. 'If I hadn't spotted it in my inventory we'd both be trapped.'

Silence. Impulse puts a hand on Pix's shoulder. I back further into the room, not looking at Scar as he just stands there, lost in shocked silence.

'Promise me you're never going to go back there again,' He murmurs at last. 

'Scar I...'

'PROMISE me.' He repeats, staring right at me with the same burning expression as before. 'Tell me you're not going to go off acting like a hero again and get caught by the skulk.'

'I promise!' I snap. 'Seriously, Scar, it's nothing!'

'CUB has just-'

'SHUT UP ABOUT CUB ALREADY!' 

Silence. 

Even without everyone's accusing expressions turned towards me, I know I've gone too far. Scar doesn't speak, fighting a sob. I can't speak, as much as the only thing in my brain is the need to apologise. It's too many seconds of agonising guilt until Scar turns and runs away, up the stairs and out of sight. 

'Scar?'

I stand outside the room he still hasn't left, half an hour later. Impulse and Pix went off to tell the rest of the hermits to help. I was forced to stay behind, apologise to Scar and get some sleep. And to help with step 2, I needed to get backup.

'I brought you Jellie. To... apologise.' Still no reply. Jellie meows in my arms, trying to escape. 'Can I come in?'

An unidentifiable mumble back. I take it as a yes, opening the door with my elbow and entering. Scar's lying on his bed, facing away. I let Jellie free, and she runs over to Scar, bounding onto the bed and trying to comfort him. 

'I'm sorry. I was stupid. I shouldn't have shouted... or got mad at you talking about Cub. I know if Mumbo or you were taken by the skulk I'd be screaming and breaking everything and I'm sorry for going with Pix and not telling you how it went. I didn't realise... I should've realised how horrible it would've been for you watching another one of your close friends put themselves in irreparable danger. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pretended it was nothing. It wasn't. It isn't. You don't need to forgive me. Just... understand that I'm sorry.'

By this point, Jellie's forced her way into a hug with Scar. He's still not talking, but doesn't tell me to leave. He's happy with me here. 

I sit down on the ground next to him, leaning on the bed, silent. It's a while later that I speak again.

'Pix and Impulse have gone to see if any other hermits want to help. Pix has a plan that doesn't involve trying to get possessed,' I explain. Scar still doesn't speak. 'I don't know what it is. ButPix saved Cub before. He can do the same again. I believe in him. He saved our lives.'

'I know.' 

A reply. I turn to face Scar. He's still facing away.

'I believe you.'

'Grian! Scar!'

I look up at the sound of Impulse's voice.

'We're up here,' I yell back. 'How did the meeting go?'

'We have enough people according to Pix.'

'Enough people?' Footsteps, and the door opens. Impulse appears, followed by Tango, Pearl, False, Gem, Ren, Bdubs, Joe and Jevin. Scar shuffles around to face us, still cuddling Jellie.

'Hello, I'm badly hurt and upset,' He calls, regaining some of his Scar-ish energy. 

'Well, we're here to kick some skulkificator butt.' Tango replies with full Tango energy. 'Pix, what's the plan?'

'External help.'

'External help? Like... Shubble? Other Emperors? Sloy?' Impulse frowns. 'Why do you need so many for that?'

'Not exactly. Grian, Scar, how do you feel about forcing the Watchers and Vexlings to help us?'

Finally... 2 chapters later we are on track for what was going to be chapter 10...