A few days passed. The whole server had heard about Bdubs's death and, between Tango's argument with Impulse about whether Cub meant it or not and insistences to ban Cub and Scar without any further thought, Cub's imprisonment. Everyone was shaken. Several hermits were planning to leave the server. Cub hadn't woken up yet.

And, in the middle of all this, Grian wanted to fix his relationship with Scar.

'Scar? Buddy? Are you in here?'

No reply. Grian stepped further into Scar's storage, spotting his friend crouched sewing next to a collection of fabric, sewing equipment and design references that could only be for Cub's new labcoat. Next to him, Cub himself lay unconscious on a bed, covered in bandages. Grian knocked on the wall.

'Scar? It's just me.'

Again, Scar didn't reply, continuing sewing. Grian scuffed the ground with his foot.

'I was worried about you. No one's seen you since... actually, I haven't seen you since Hypno died. Are you doing alright?' Scar continued not replying. Grian scanned the room for any evidence that Scar was struggling. Was there more mess than usual? Had Scar been brushing his hair? Were those bottles of vex-magic drinks next to Cub's bed for Cub or Scar? 'Scar? I'm sorry about what I said. I was just worried about your safety, I didn't want you getting hurt.'

Scar finished his line of stitches, tying off the end and cutting free his needle. With a sigh, his attention turned to Cub, changing his friend's bandages. Grian remained in the doorway, unsure what to do.

'Scar, please. I just want to talk to you. Can I just do that? I'm so sorry about before. I wasn't thinking. I was scared, and I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. Or yours. Or get anyone hurt. I don't think it's either of you anymore... if you want me to leave, just say.'

'Come on, Cub, I know meanie Doc hurt you but me and Elex have done everything we can to help you and you're so strong and brave, I need you here with me, Cub. I can't lose you. Everyone thinks we killed Bdubs, and I don't want to be banned, I don't want to be on my own again... ' Scar pleaded, ignoring Grian. 'Please.'

'Fine. I'll go.'

Grian left the room, about to fly away when he heard someone call his name. Wels, False and Pearl were stood not too far away, talking. Grian glided over to join them.

'What's going on?'

'We were wondering the same about Scar.'

'I know nothing except the fact he's not talking to me. Still. I said one thing and now...'

'What did you even say?'

'I said, honestly, what me and Mumbo were both thinking at the time, that Cub was probably the murderer and that we didn't want him and Scar hanging out on their own in case Scar ended up getting hurt or killed.'

'Yeah that would do it...' False said, before Grian could even finish.

'And then Cub flew away and Scar tried to follow and I didn't let Scar follow and then the next thing we know Cub and Hypno have a big old fight and Hypno dies.'

'Ah,' Wels replied. 'That's really not good.'

'Exactly. And I'm trying to talk to Scar, and apologise to him and just.. at what point does Scar get at least some of the blame for not forgiving me?'

'Mmm... that's a tough one. Sometimes people just don't forgive other people and that's that.'

'So... you were right with Cub before he killed Hypno?' was Pearl's focus. 'Did he seem murderous?'

'He seemed very unhappy. He'd mentioned having a rough day, but we did find him spying on our conversation.'

'Spying?'

'Well... maybe spying. I don't know. The more I think about this, the less I think Cub and Scar are really in the wrong.'

'We have solid evidence it was them, Grian,' Pearl countered 'That audio of them hurting Bdubs...'

'That could've been faked. Or taken from season 5.'

'Why would someone record that?'

'Vexlings like spectacle. And we still don't know if Scar could've been possessed. Or if Cub was. We just have Joe and Elex's story of him being out of sight, and the safe room closing before they could check. None of them have given their side of the story.' Grian explained.

'Which is also suspicious.'

'Cub's been recovering from what Doc did to him, and Scar's been looking after him,' False said. Wels nodded.

'We can't push Scar into saying or doing anything he's not ready for. We can wait for Cub to get better first,' said Wels to a frown from Pearl.

'You mean... wait for Cub to be well enough for him and Scar to kill other hermits?'

'We still aren't sure if they're the murderers or not!'

'Yes we are!' Pearl snapped back. 'Who else would do this? We have recorded proof of Cub and Scar hurting Bdubs. They're already dangerous, and violent, and chaotic.'

'Hang on, Pearl. They're not dangerous.'

'Vexlings are dangerous.'

'Possessed Vexlings can get violent, yes,' Wels corrected with enough passive-aggression for Pearl to glare at him.

'Do I get a say in if I'm dangerous and chaotic?' False asked, raising a hand. 'Because I would appreciate that.'

'We've seen Scar get crazy in the life series... none of you saw him at the end of Secret Life. His eyes were glowing, he refused to see sense.'

'Pearl, may I remind you of Double Life when you went insane yourself?'

'I never tortured other players!'

'So... you didn't sit in powdered snow, laughing at the idea of Scott taking damage as well?'

'That's different. And it's not just Bdubs's death, it's Hypno's. Cub was upset at Hypno, then the next thing we know, he's been possessed and Hypno's dead!'

'Pearl, I've allied with Scar in the Life Series enough to understand how Vexling possession and Vex influence works. Firstly, the Vex wouldn't just get mad at one of Cub's problems. According to Scar, they hate him enough to enjoy watching him struggle. Secondly, if he was already exhausted, then he could've easily passed out from the magic used in the fight. Thirdly, if the Vex were being obvious, they're being obvious. And if not, they'd be hiding it better than that. They wouldn't do anything that would make other hermits want to ban them, because that's game over for them.'

'You've thought a lot about this,' Wels noted. Pearl was silent. 'For someone who thought Cub was to blame.'

'I've changed my mind. Cub and Scar are being set up.'

False's communicator buzzed. Attention turned to False as she explained.

'Cub's awake.'