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It was nearing the end of the session when Pearl accidentally ran onto Scar while taming a dog.
"Hey, hey that wasn't me Pearl. I swear to- I was in the mines the whole time."
"Relax, I haven't even said anything. I know who did it. My villies who are not my villies anymore."
Pearl is not oblivious to the fact that her two team mates have been planning something without her knowledge. Shit hurts knowing that those two seeked her and secured her first before the other teams manage to recruit her, only to be left out again on her own. Even worse is that, she didn't doubt the two at first because it was always like that during the previous session. Leaving her out was the norm.
She knows how it could affect her state of being, being in a limbo of having group members who constantly doubts her but at the same time is ready to betray her at any given moment. Despite this, she knows she cannot escape them. Loyalty is in her blood and again and again she have proven herself to be one of the most loyal member. And yet, again and again she was forced to face circumstances which painted her as the great betrayer, especially to Gem.
Gem, Gem, her dearest Gem. Pearl knows how manipulative Gem was, yet she is still so down bad for her. One command from Gem and Pearl will obey it like the good puppy that she is. Maybe it was the guilt from Secret Life, yet she herself knows that her decision was reasonable. There's Scar who became Pearl's hypeman and eventually an ally to her team, and then there's Gem whom she admittedly spend a few good moments with, and yet caused two of her lives. The choice was obvious, and yet Gem bore that grudge for the rest of Wild Life.
Pearl knows Gem will not listen to any word she says, and yet Pearl will obey everything that Gem had said. She is working her ass off trying to please Gem just to get that relationship that they had in Secret Life, but one small mistake and Gem would not hesistate to bring up the time that Pearl chose Scar over her. It did not deter Pearl from losing hope, though. Maybe if she proved herself that she is loyal to Gem and to The Villies, maybe she'll be accepted once again. Maybe, just maybe, she could-
"Sunflower for your thoughts?" A calming voice broke her off-road train of thoughts.
"I- uh- what?" Scar then offered her a small sunflower. "Didn't know they had this back then."
"They don't, I just have one in my pocket, everytime I wake up. Just a little bit of magic here and there."
Pearl then received the sunflower and gave it a sniff.
"Now that you've recieved the sunflowe, care to tell me about your thoughts, Sunflower?"
Pearl was quite taken aback by her newfound nickname. Nevertheless, she manages to compose herself before answering.
"Oh, it's nothing really. I just felt that I van't connect well with my team anymore. The last time I've ever felt this lonely was in Double Life."
"I did feel that in Double Life, as well, living with my soulmate, and yet I'm being cheated on. And you know what's the common denominator?"
"Grian."
"Exactly. Anyway, let's forget about him. If you need a friend, Pearl, I'm just there at the cabin... if there will still be a cabin next session."
"Why? Are you gonna burn it down?"
"What? No! Why does everyone accuse me of arson."
"Because you have a reputatiom, Scar."
"Well, I guess I can't deny that. But, the truth is, I'm probably be gonna alone in the cabin next session."
"Wait, why?"
"Etho's keeping a secret from us and Bdubs hate it that way. They've been fighting nonstop, even when Scott attempted to get in between them. Scott is also recruited by Cleo and Bdubs might join the Gluten Guys."
"You could join us, Scar."
"I'm not welcome in there, Pearl. I'll never be. Secret Life's gonna happen all over again. I'm all alone, no one to back me up when I am accuse for arson."
"I'm still here, Scar."
"No Pearl, you have Gem and Grian. I don't want to cause another rift between you and Gem."
Pearl sighs, recounting what happens during Secret Life. "You know, we haven't had a proper teamup, Scar. Maybe it's time for that."
"Are you sure about this, Pearl?"
"When worse comes to worse, we'll have each other's back." Pearl then stood up and carried her new pet in her arms. "Stay safe, Scar."
"Just hit me up when you'll buold another tower again, Sunflower." He replied as Pearl started walking away from him.
"Yup." It was a lie that Pearl hopes Scar will forget eventually. Even if Gem and Grian leave her out, she knows she'll never be able to leave them. It is her innate nature to stay loyal to the end, even when everyone turns on her. Maybe it was the fear of repeating the insanity she experienced in Double Life before, or maybe it was out of goodness, she doesn't know. What she knows is that, she'll never honor her promise to Scar even if The Villies abandoned her. She can never abandon her team mates.