Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

18: Cub

Movement. 

I wake up, but don't stand, listening close to the sounds through the skulk, all the way to the surface. Voices. Talking. 

'We can't get caught... especially since you're a vexling.' A new voice, one I don't recognise. And they're joined by a vexling? I sit up, crossing over to the board of names, taking it all in. it's False, Tango or Scar, if Grian's information yesterday is of any help. Scar, my old friend, Tango with the skidoodlers, and False, who I don't know much about at all. My only pause is to wonder whether I should tell Xisuma. But he's asleep. I wouldn't want to wake him and risk his anger. Besides, the longer I wait the further they get to reaching us. So I sprint away alone, up the tunnels, towards the surface. 

Silent; the skulk won't betray me, glancing around every corner I run. It's always safe. As I get higher and higher, suspicion grows. Why haven't they gone down further into the tunnel? Are they waiting for me? I gather the skulk around me into armour and a sword, keeping enough for a pair of wings in case they try to escape... 

And then I realise.

They're breaking the skulk.

I should've felt it sooner, the disruption was far more than just voices and movement... how dare they try to ruin our land before we even start The Spread... they'll pay for this. And the Skulk will get itself a new ally or two... Light blinds me as I approach the exit and I curse, realising it must be daytime. I hide around the corner, thinking.

2 players wandering so close to the skulk's territory will be easy to fight, even in the sunshine and one is a vexling. I try to sense them. There, still decimating our land and progress. Too fast to wait until night to stop. I creep closer, silent, reaching outside and...

I'm pinning them to the wall with skulk before I'm even in view. I look them over, trying to recall names. One has brown hair and glasses, the other has long blonde hair. Whichever one had magic, both struggle against the skulk. Too easy. Far, far too easy.

Pain. 

I hit the ground from the force of an arrow behind, turning to see Xisuma. But it's not Xisuma. They just shot me. Besides, this figure isn't protected by skulk. They're not a friend, as similar as their silhouette appears. I pull the arrow free, the cut covering with skulk without me needing to tell it too. 

'Hey there, skulky. Bet you don't recognise me.'

I fly for him. The other pair will be gone by now. And this imposter will pay for it. But he's almost as fast as me, flying past before I get him. I land, change direction, and follow.

Across the world I can barely see, I fly... I should've hidden out until night. I could still hide... no. No, I can't lose my kill. All I can see of the imposter is a blur of black and red, but it's enough. I turn as he does, dive as he does, trying to catch up until he shoots down, hitting the ground. I barrel into him, pinning him with skulk and sheer force. But he's strong as well as fast, pushing me away. However, despite his noble effort, my skulk still tangles around his neck, pinning him as he struggles.

'Got you.' I spit, pointing a skulk sword at him. But, I realise too late, he's not alone.

I stagger away at a solid whack to the back of my head, turning. I don't let the imposter go, but still target the new attacker...

Scar.

'Let him go, Cub.'

'Why should I do that when you can't kill me?'

'I can kill you.'

'You'd kill your poor poor best friend?'

Scar pauses, and I take my chance, slashing. He blocks. I sense the skulk behind broken as someone frees the imposter. I don't care. I can get Scar now. Threaten Grian even more, if what I've already taken from him isn't enough.

Skulk spreads from where I stand, snaking across the ground towards Scar. He backs away quickly, vex magic flaring, crystals growing in my way... the sun still hinders me but I can't back down now. I can't back down and let him get away. Fail again.

Another arrow behind. I turn, but can't see who it is. It doesn't matter. My skulk armour stopped any damage... I just return to my target, continue after Scar, towering with skulk and gliding over as he backs away... finally, I hit him. He hits the ground, scrambling away, standing quickly.

'Come on, Skulky.' He goads me on, backing away. I continue after, trying to get a solid hit, skulk following, trying to pin him. No one else attacks me. 

As though wanting me to possess him, Scar backs into a box. I lunge for him, vision returning as I hit the darkness. Before he can try anything to get out, I pin him against the back wall, skulk surrounding him to...

Wait. 

That's not Scar. 

'What the...' I frown, backing away. The skulk falls back with me. Not-Scar grins.

'I'm Badtimes.' He holds out a hand to shake. 'You're Cub, right?'

'I thought you'd recognise me.' 

I turn.

Scar.

His eyes shine with tears as he stands, blocking the way out. He doesn't look at me. 

'Why are- what magic is this?!' I step over, ready to possess him. 

'Stand back.' Scar steps away, away from my skulk 'Just... just stand back.'

'Why? What... who's that?!'

A glance back at not Scar.

Nothing.

He's gone. 

Teleportation. 

Magic. 

With a furious scream I run for Scar. A flash of light back. Pain, from the vex magic and then crashing into the back of the box.

'Sorry Cub.'

The trap.

It's a trap.

I realise too late, struggling to stand, still hurt.

'No... no no no... don't you dare. Don't you DARE!'

Crystalline vex magic grows fast up, covering the exit as I stagger to my feet.

I'm too slow.

The exit closes.

Darkness surrounds me.

I'm trapped.