They stood in a circle in their new base, dusty stone and clay making a simple temple. Sculpted wings wrapped around the top of each pillar, and the roof of the building had small stone feathers as shingles.

Large glass windows let light stream across the cobbled floor, illuminating moss that hid between the stones.

False's voice echoed around the small chamber, bouncing off the smooth walls.

"I've made contact with one of them."

The people before her immediately began whispering, shock spreading through the room.

"And it turns out that one of them is actually one of us! So, if one hermit can join them, why can't we? I say that our next move should be to find one of the true Watchers, and ask if we may accompany or even join their ranks!"

"I... I think this is real, False. At first I thought this was just a prank, but Xisuma seems really concerned. I think... I think I'm out..."

Beef reached up, and tugged the small feather out from under one of his apron straps.

Without another word, he took off, flying into the sky.

"Yeah... it was fun for a while, but I heard that Zed's research is progressing and... I think I'm gonna help him...Plus, I think we should go check on Iskall... you saw what happened in the chat, he got killed..."

And Cub's feather fell to the ground.

"No! Guys, I finally found him out! Don't you want to know? Aren't you curious who the Watcher is?"

Cub paused in what he was saying.

"What?"

False smiled.

"Weren't you listening? One of us Hermits isn't really a Hermit!"

"But... Xisuma didn't let anyone new in this season. It was just people rejoining..."

"Aha, but he's been here. He's got nice new sparkly wings..."

Realisation dawned upon her one remaining disciple.

"But didn't Grian get attacked by the Watchers?"

"Ah, yes, there are other Watchers, but I think that Grian could be our link to them!"

Cub shook his head.

"No. I don't think so. He would've told us..."

False heard the uncertainty in his voice.

"How well do you really know him? He only joined last season..."

Cub sighed.

"Look, I'm gonna go. I'm sorry, I just don't think this approach is best. I'm.. gonna go ask Xisuma about stuff. I'll see you around, False."

Cub equipped his elytra and followed the others out of the temple.

Now, False stood alone in the small temple.

Dangit. I... I guess they're right, but...

"Hello False."

False jumped, startled, and spun around, putting a hand on the hilt of her sword.

She relaxed as she saw that it was just Zed.

"Hey there! What're you doing here?"

"I... You lead this whole... uh... where's that cult of yours?"

"It's not a cult, it's an organisation... and... they're gone."

Zed paled slightly.

"Where... did they go?"

"They didn't want to stay, so they just went back to their bases. I think Iskall went to see Xisuma."

Zed let out a breath.

"So what do you know about the Watchers?"

"Well, they're bird creatures, and I even met one!"

Zed's eyes widened, his interest piqued.

"Oh? How?"

False felt guilty, but Grian would surely be fine with Zed knowing. Besides, it was bound to get out anyway. She'd already told Cub, what's one more person?

"Grian's one of em'"

"What?"

"Yeah, I came across him in the forest, he looks pretty cool when he goes all dark and lightningy. He's also tall and that's a bit scarier than the whole Watcher thing if I'm being honest."

She laughed.

Zed chuckled along and nodded.

"So what do you plan to do?"

"I... don't know..."

Zed took her hand, and began to pull her out of the temple.

"How would you like to help me with a little experiment?"

~ ⬩ ʖ╎∷↸ ⬩ ~

Iskall sat up, breathing heavily. After rubbing his face and inspecting his barren inventory, he glanced at his communicator warily.

Home bed missing or obstructed.
ᐸZombiecleoᐳ What the heck was that?
ᐸXisumavoidᐳ I'm on my way to your base Iskall
ᐸRenTheDogᐳ was that a watcher? iskall are you good?

Iskall began to type into the communicator lightly.

ᐸiskall85ᐳ I'm alright. X, I'm at spawn, my bed was obstructed.
ᐸXisumavoidᐳ ok, fill me in when i get there.

Iskall took a deep breath and slid the communicator into his pocket. He hoped the other two would be ok with that thing.

Before long, the sound of rockets emanated from the sky, and Xisuma swooped down, followed by a brigade of other hermits, all armed to the teeth.

"What happened? Where is it?"

Iskall got up, and shook his head slightly.

"Mumbo and Scar are fighting it right now. They haven't died, which is a good sign, but I don't know. There was this big black bird thing, and it had these eyes that follow you, and it-"

"Where are they?"

"The mesa. By Ren's base, I think?"

Xisuma nodded, and beckoned forwards one of the hermits.

"Stress! I thought you guys left to forge a new area."

"We did but, when we saw the message, we came back. I think we all knew it was only temporary, and you dyin' was the final straw."

She handed him some armour, an elytra, and a few fireworks.

"Sorry, I forgot to bring extra rockets."

Iskall equipped the elytra gratefully.

"That's fine, thanks."

Xisuma took off, and the other hermits followed, weaving between each other as they soared through the air.

~ ⬩ ∴╎ꖎꖎ ⬩ ~

"Evo? What's that?"

"I dunno, I just saw that spelled out in bedrock..."

Grian rubbed his face.

Suddenly, rockets sounded, and the cave thundered with many sets of boots.

"Hey G, I know you've been keeping it a secret... but I think it's time to let everyone know. I... you're one of them, right?"

Mumbo looked at the mask in his hands, then back at Grian.

Giran shook his head frantically, "No! No I'm not... or... I don't think..."

Scar put a hand on Grian's squeezing softly.

"Whatever's going on, I'm sure they'll understand. You're one of us, Grian. We'll help you out. We just need to know what's going on."

Grian took a deep breath, and nodded slightly, just as Cleo stormed in, eyes filled with anger and an axe held at the ready. Seeing the three hermits, her anger melted away.

"Guys, I found them!"

A whole group of hermits flooded in, weapons drawn.

Xisuma put away his sword and strode forwards.

"Where did it go?"

"Well, about that..."

Grian gave Scar a look, and he went silent.

"Guys, I've been keeping a secret... I... I took the mask, and it gave me power. It gave me so many opportunities to prank, so... I did. I... may have gone a bit far too. But, when I tried to use the power for good... the... the mask began to act up. A voice, in my head, asking to take control. It's getting harder and harder to ignore, and now I hear it even when the mask is off... I... I'm so sorry guys..."

Scar gave Grian a hug, and Mumbo rubbed his back comfortingly. Xisuma's eyes were wide under his visor. He sighed, and removed his helmet.

"'Suma, you know that you need that to breathe! Without it you'll suffocate!" False fretted.

Xisuma shook his head, "I can survive for a bit, I'll be fine."

He turned to Grian, and crouched down.

"Hey. Hey, this isn't your fault. It's... it's kind of mine..."

"Hmm?"

"When... when you first came here, you were tattered. Your wing was broken, and you had burns all over."

A few hermits gave Xisuma odd looks, glancing at Grian's wings.

"Yeah, he had wings in the beginning. But you were crying, and you begged me, pleaded with me, told me to use my power as admin to... to make you forget. You looked like a Watcher, but when you took off the mask, you just looked scared. Your wings went away. You were just lost and confused, and needed a home. So, I agreed. I gave you a new start. I edited your code so you couldn't remember."

Grian was looking at Xisuma with shock, and his eyebrows knitted in confusion. Xisuma took a deep breath, and continued.

"However, it seems my changes may have deteriorated when we moved to the new season, and now certain triggers are causing you to slowly regain your memories. I fear that the Watchers have come to get you again, to try to get you to join them. I don't think they'll stop until you're with them again, even if they have to destroy the server to do it."

Grian blinked a few times, his expression blank.

He shook his head slightly, blinking, then smiled.

"Well, then we'll have to stop them. I'll never be one of-"

He paused again, his eyebrows contorting with effort.

Suddenly, black veins began to slither up his neck, and his body began to morph. Eyes opened up on the wings, staring them down.

"N-no! Not agaaAAAARGH!"

His protest turned to a snarl of anger, and he transformed completely, black feathers filling the small cave.

Mumbo called out to the others.

"Hold him down! Don't hurt him! He's not in control anymore!"

The hermits grouped together, pinning down the beast's many wings. It screeched, and snapped at a few of them, but the hermits were nimble. Eventually, realising it's defeat, the darkness retreated, the eyes closed, and Grian opened his own eyes again, panting and beaded with sweat.

"We need to end this, and soon... I don't know how much longer I can hold it back..." Grian panted, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Mumbo stared at Xisuma, then looked back at Grian, then back at Xisuma.

"Guys... it's gonna be risky, but... I think I have an idea."

...

CULT! CULT! CULT! VOTES! CULT! CULT!
Don't forget to let me know what you think in the comments, and follow me so you don't miss the next one!