The Wizard of X (A Hermitcraft/Wizard of Oz Fan Fiction)

6. Fire and Rain

It began to rain as Iskall walked back towards the willow tree and leant his back against the trunk. Stroking a hand in his hair, he replayed the argument with his best friend over and over again in his mind.

He felt worse every time, 'Why did I call him brainless?! Mumbo is one of the smartest people I know! Maybe he was right... Maybe I really am as heartless as he said... What if Grian does need help? If either of them are hurt, it's all my fault...'

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling behind him, "Hey, Iskall!" He turned to see his friend, Scar, running through the rain towards him, ducking under the tree for shelter.

"We've finished preparing everything inside! TFC just finished making some hot mushroom soup if you... and... Mumbo..." Scar's words trailed off as he looked around, failing to find the moustached Hermit.

"Where is Mumbo anyway?" he asked.

Iskall looked down at the ground, struggling to make eye contact with Scar. A guilty expression plastered clearly on his face. Scar knew that look all too well. Placing both hands on Iskall's shoulders, his own expression turned serious. "Iskall...? Where is Mumbo?"

"He... went to look for Grian..." The Swede mumbled.

"What? Now?! But the tornado is nearly on the mainland!"

"You think I don't know that...?"

"Well, why didn't you stop him?!"

"I tried! Believe me, I tried!" Iskall cried. "But... he... wouldn't take 'no' for an answer..." A tear began to form in his organic eye. Whether it was from the cold wind or his own guilt he did not know. He forced it back either way.

Scar noticed, immediately feeling guilty himself. He let go of Iskall's shoulders and wrapped a comforting arm around him instead. "I'm sorry for yelling Iskall. We all know how stubborn Mumbo can be. I'm sure you tried your best-"

"I called him a brainless idiot."

"Ah... well... that probably wouldn't have helped..."

"Nope."

Suddenly a flash of lightning filled the sky for a split second. Followed a moment later by a loud...

* CRASH! *

When the thunder subsided, Iskall opened his eyes and looked around. To his surprise, Scar had disappeared!

"Scar...? Scar, where are you?!" He called.

A quiet stutter that could barely be heard over the rain came from behind the other side of the tree, "I-I'm o-over h-h-here...". Iskall walked around the trunk to find Scar sitting on the ground against it. His head was leaning on his knees while his brown cowboy hat covered his ears.

'Oh... right... Scar's afraid of thunder...' Iskall remembered.

He sat down next to the frightened man and spoke softly as not to scare him, "You okay Scar?"

Scar looked up at him, his eyes were wide with fear and he was visibly shaking from head to toe, "Y-yeah... I-I'm okay... I-it's just... really loud...". He tried to smile bravely, but he gasped and hid under the hat again when another flash of lightning lit up the sky. He knew what came next.

* CRASH! *

Iskall wrapped his arm protectively around Scar's shoulders, reassuring him. "It's okay dude, the thunder won't hurt you. But we need to go inside. Hiding under a tree isn't exactly a smart place to be in a storm with lightning like this."

"...ah wif jewy wash ere..." Scar's reply muffled.

"Sorry?"

He peaked out from under the hat, "I wish Jellie was here..."

Earlier that day, Scar's cat Jellie had wandered off on her own again. This is a normal thing for most cats to do, however, Jellie had left just before Xisuma sent out the messages about the tornado and she did not return when Scar called her. He had searched for her in every place he could think of before he had to leave for the ice biome, but he never found his feline companion. When he arrived at Stress's base, he asked Cub the other Hermits if they had seen Jellie anywhere, but no one had.

(Oh boy... Uh, I mean! I wouldn't know anything about that... R-really, I swear! ':D)

"Jellie always cuddles up with me whenever a thunderstorm happens... She knows that petting her helps me feel a bit better... and a little braver..." Scar sighed.

"I get what you mean..." Iskall recalled. "I feel a lot braver when I'm hanging out with... Grian and Mumbo..." He looked away at the thought of his best friends. Both of which were still out in the storm. He hoped they were okay.

Another lightning flash appeared, causing Scar to flinch and cover his ears again. Iskall hugged him tight as they prepared for the thunder.

* CRASH! *

* Crack! *

"Scar move!"

A pair of hands grabbed Scar's arm, pulling him up and away from the tree.

Moments later he opened his eyes and found himself kneeling on the wet stone brick ground next to Iskall, who had pulled him away when he heard the branch above them snap. The lightning had struck the willow tree, causing branches to catch fire and fall down landing right where they had previously sat, just missing them by a second. The whole tree was up in flames when they looked behind them.

Scar breathe out a sigh of relief, "W-woah... Thanks Iskall. That was close..."

"Too close! We better get inside before something else happens." Iskall stood up and helped his friend to his feet. The soaked pair ran towards the front door and pushed it open, stepping inside to join the other Hermits, just in time for another lightning flash.

Before closing the door behind him, Iskall looked back towards the mainland, hoping to just maybe see Grian and Mumbo coming towards the castle. They were not.

'Be careful, for goodness sake you two... Please...'