Chapter Text
"Please. Please don't tell them."
"They already know."
—
Cub tossed himself onto the couch, sighing. He ran a hand carelessly through his beard, wincing as he yanked on countless knots. With one hand taming his beard, he clumsily turned on his phone, calling the name at the top of his list.
After 4 rings, Scar picked up. "This is GoodTimesWithScar, how may I help you?"
"Scar, it's Cub."
"Oh! Hey Cub! Wassup?" There was some quiet shuffling on the line. "Quiet Jellie, daddy's on the phone."
"Just wondering if you were still available for our meeting." Cub sighed as he flicked a berry out of his beard. The foxes from his new farm got carried away today...
"Meeting? When do we have a meeting?" Confusion crept through Scar's voice.
"Two hours ago. I've been waiting in the meeting room. Scar, are you still at your secret project?"
Silence. "...maybe?"
Cub rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, not today. When can we have a meeting for Concorp?"
Scar muttered to himself, counting days. "Uh, I've got an opening next Friday, does that work?"
"I suppose, but we really need to talk as soon as possible. Sahara is starting it's Sahara Now campaign, and we really need to do something to combat it," Cub pointed out.
"Sahara Now? How recent is this?"
"Weeks, Scar. What on earth has you so distant lately?"
Scar sucked in a breath. "Ah, it's nothin, don't worry! I'll see you next week!"
The line went dead.
Cub growled quietly as he threw himself up off the couch. He supported Scar in all his endeavors, but this 'secret project' took every hour of every day lately. Scar didn't even tell Cub what it was, and he usually told Cub all his secrets!
There was a strong frustration about the whole matter, but even stronger was his fear. Fear that the ConVex were over, and Scar was too afraid to tell Cub to his face. Fear that Cub has done something wrong. Fear that Scar was lying, and he was trying to put distance between the pair on purpose; that was the biggest fear.
He and Scar had been together since as long as he could remember. They both joined Hermitcraft the same year, and had bonded as the newbies. The bond was so instant, Cub always wondered if they had known each other before Hermitcraft. Of course, that was impossible to know, but it was fun to think about. No one remembered their past lives after joining a new server; aside from admin and the occasion oddball case. He couldn't remember a life without Scar, and now he feared it might become reality.
Of course, they would still be living on the same server, so they would see each other around, but it wouldn't be the same. The cold gaze of an old friend chilled Cub to the bone. Maybe it would be better if they weren't even on the same server at all, but there's no real way to induce world-hopping on purpose. The pain dug into Cub's chest as the reality hit him.
Cub and Scar would become mortal enemies. Maybe not on purpose, and maybe not at first, but it would happen. Someone who used to be a friend is more painful to see than an enemy. The memories are far too strong, and only make the divide that much deeper. Cub could just imagine running into Scar in the shopping district, and not being able to act the same around him. The image was so real, Cub burned inside at the thought of never talking to Scar again. He couldn't let this happen.
Next Friday. Next Friday, Cub would put his foot down. Cub would confront Scar about all his worst fears, and prevent the worst-case scenario before it could take root.
He had done all he could for now. Now, he needed to see about those pesky foxes.
—
"Hey Ren!" Grian waved brightly from across the cobbled road of Hermitville, parrots on both shoulders.
"Hey G!" Ren waved, albeit more subdued. "How's this heat wave treating you?"
Grian shook his head with a laugh. "Oh the usual. Frizzy hair and sticky clothes, am I right?"
"Yeah," Ren hesitated. "Yeah! Could you do me a solid?"
Grian tilted his head, a confused smile spread across his face. "Sure! Do you need to talk?"
Ren swallowed thickly, his tongue getting caught in his throat. "Uh, could you braid my hair? It's the only way to control it during this humidity."
Grian smiled, understanding in his eyes. "Of course. Let's go to my place and sit, hm?"
Ren sat on the floor in Grian's quirky wooden home, Grian sitting on a chair behind him. It was a cozy rustic house, although the way it seemed to be pieced together precariously made Ren slightly nervous. Villager Grian mumbled quietly in the corner, minding his own business for the moment. By this point, the hermits had grown used to the villagers lurking in every nook and cranny of Hermitville.
"Alright, tell me all about it." Grian quietly began brushing Ren's hair. It never failed to surprise Ren that the energetic hermit could go from 100 to 0 so fast.
"Well, it's Doc, ya see..."
"Right, how's his secret project coming along?"
Ren sighed. "I don't know, he won't tell me."
This seemed to surprise Grian, as he pulled extra hard on a strand of hair, forcing Ren to bite his lip. "But I thought you were best friends! He hasn't told you yet?"
Ren sighed, forcing back the tears burning in his eyes. "It's been a month, Grian. A month. He doesn't even return my calls any more!"
Grian sighed quietly, setting the brush down. "Have you talked to Xisuma about it? He always seems to know more than the rest of us."
Ren groaned. "I tried once, but he dodged around the question like Xisuma always does." He reluctantly pulled his phone from his pocket.
Ren: yo X! Any clue what Doc is up to? I havent seen him in a wihle
Xisuma: I haven't. Would you like me to check for you?
Ren: nah, i can call him myself. Thanks tho!
Ren's finger hovered over the call button. He was desperate to find out what was keeping Doc so busy lately, but the fear of the answer clawed at his insides; or rather, the lack of an answer. If Doc didn't pick up, or refused to tell Ren anything, what would happen next? Ren shook the wild thoughts from his head. Surely he was overthinking things. Ren pressed the button, putting it on speaker phone for Grian, who had begun to braid Ren's hair.
After 4 rings, Ren was certain it would go to voice mail when Doc finally picked up. "Hello?"
"Doc? What's wrong, you sound exhausted!" Grian cried.
"Hey Doc, you're on speaker. Wassup?"
"Oh, hello. Uh, I'm just... working. On my project. Is there any reason for the call?"
Ren frowned, noticing how subdued Doc sounded, and the way his voice cracked. "Are you taking care of yourself? When can I come over and see you?"
"No!! I mean, that's fine," Doc coughed, covering up his outburst. "I've just been working hard is all. No need to come over here."
"Well if you don't want me to see your project, at least come to my place! I miss you man!" Ren surprised himself as his voice crackled, tears pricking at his eyes. He hadn't planned on crying about this, especially not in front of Doc and Grian.
Doc was silent for a moment. "I'll try my best. I've got to go now, bye Ren, bye Grian!" The phone signaled that Doc ended the call, flashing back to the home screen.
Neither hermit said anything while Grian tied off Ren's braid. It was an uncomfortable silence, and Ren's brain was running circles around itself. He noted with dry humor that he felt like a dog chasing its own tail.
Doc had been avoiding Ren for over a month now. Ren knew it probably wasn't his fault- after all, Doc said he's working on a project- but he couldn't help but fret over the situation. What if Doc wore himself into the ground? Ren would never forgive himself. What on earth could Doc be doing that he didn't want Ren involved? If this was Doc's way of ending their friendship, what was Ren supposed to do? They still lived on the same server together! Surely if they had been best friends for years now, they could work this out and still be friends! But then again, why was Doc acting so strange? They were best friends, and best friends don't keep secrets. Unless it's a surprise party, Ren amended, because he loved surprise parties. But his birthday was months away!
And round and round his thoughts chased each other until Grian spoke up. "The sun's setting. Let's get some sleep shall we? Everything always looks brighter in the morning."
Ren silently followed Grian upstairs, where the chaos of his towering house took full effect. The whole floor was one room, a conglomeration of strange shapes combined awkwardly. Despite the odd shape, the space held multiple beds, which were promptly put to use.
Ren fell asleep quickly, but even in his sleep he twisted and twitched, his mind conjuring every terrible scenario it could until morning.