Chapter Text
Scar had gone through every single chest in his hut before he finally arrived at the conclusion that he was very, very lonely.
Or, perhaps that wasn’t true. Perhaps he’d already arrived at this conclusion dozens of times, but it was always easier to brush it aside. He was being silly, overreacting. He couldn’t be lonely on a server with so many people!
And yet, the loneliness followed him everywhere, seeping into his pores. It sparked in him with every creak of opening chests, or clink from the crystals hanging from the ceiling, blown by the wind. It settled around him in drifts when he tried to sleep at night and it screamed in his ears when he awoke in the morning.
Alone . Always alone.
To add salt to the wound, part of it was his fault. He didn’t have to be sitting up here on the mountain, rearranging his chests for the umpteenth time, waiting for someone to stop by. If he really was so lonely, he could go outside and seek out some company.
Except… Scar paused, grimacing. People weren’t all that happy to see him. What was the point in showing up if all they were going to do was treat him with suspicion?
Or maybe suspicion was still better than loneliness?
Scar groaned, pushing himself away from his chests and into the center of the room, hands pressed against his eyes. The crystals hanging above his head tinkled with every slight gust of wind slipping through the cracked windows. The sound was familiar now, but maddening, and after a few seconds he couldn’t stand it any longer. With a whirl of his purple cloak he stalked outside.
It was midday. The sky was bright but cloudy, with the scent of snow on the near horizon. The air up on the mountaintop was cold, as it always was, and the wind was stronger. He walked himself up to the nearest ledge, breathing in great huffs of air, and stared down at the rest of the server.
Heights had always enthralled him. He wasn’t the greatest flier, but that didn’t mean he shied away from them. Rather, being up so high, seeing the rest of the world below him, it normally gave him a sense of safety. Problems were smaller. He had greater visibility. Whether it was a big tree, or a castle of sand, being high up in the air usually brought him joy.
Now, it just reminded him of his own isolation. He could see the other bases scattered around below him. His chest ached when he saw little figures down below; possibly the Southlanders, going by the colors. He thought he saw the bright flare of Grian’s wings and bit the inside of his cheek to quell the burn that rose in his throat and stung the backs of his eyes.
He could join them, he knew. Grab a couple crystals, slip down the edge of the mountain and trot over to their base. He could mosey into the forest of the Fairy Fort, or visit the BEST castle. There were plenty of options for him to seek out the contact of others that he desperately, desperately wanted.
But they didn’t want him. He could still hear it, the wary calls of Tango, Bdubs, and Etho whenever he approached. The annoyance, the exasperation when he tried to sell his wares. Even Joel, legitimately sad but leaving for good reason. The only friend he’d had to start in this game, since Grian had taken from him and ran.
They didn’t want him. Even if people did come to find him, it was only for the things he could provide, contracts and deals. And normally that sort of thing was enough… but not right now. Scar just wanted to find someone and give them a hug.
The risks were too great. Scar took a step back from the ledge (when had he moved closer?), trembling a little in the cold air. If he went down now, they’d back away, or they’d trick him, or- or…
Well, there were a number of things they could do, none of which would make Scar better. Best he wait, then.
Scar watched and listened a little while longer, fingers, nose, and ears growing numb from the frigid winds whipping around him. The air grew colder, the soft purr of thunder beginning to roll behind him. The storm was brewing. He made his way back inside.
The isolation wouldn’t last forever. He repeated that to himself over and over, building a little contained fire in the center of his hut and hunkering down beside it, wrapping his cloak tightly around himself. The empty space, the leaping shadows, surrounded him on every side. All Scar had to do was hold out until the end of the game, until someone took his life or he gained a victory. Then he’d be home, back on their home world, and he would have his friends back. There’d be no need to fear him or avoid him then.
“It won’t be like this forever.” He whispered to himself into the fire, the strengthening flames not quite chasing the chill from his bones. The crystals were still with the windows now being closed, and the fire cast colorful reflections across the room. The glass panes in his windows rattled with the wind and snow outside. “It’ll pass.” The storm would pass.
For now, Scar would hunker down, hold himself tightly, and wait.