Grian stared at the spot Scar had been moments before. He felt his watch vibrating angrily, undoubtedly filled with sympathy from the others. He didn't bother checking.

Tango, Impulse, and Etho stared at Grian. They said nothing, but their astounded faces were enough for Grian. Without bothering to wait for their angry cries once the shock wore off, Grian sprinted away. He heard Tango call his name, but didn't turn around.

Where was Scar's respawn? He had to go apologize! It was never supposed to kill him! It was just a prank! How could he have been so stupid? 

He didn't need to go far before he found Scar. He was making his way across the plain towards the village. Grian raced towards him, then realized he was going too fast. He frantically tried to slow down, only to end up crashing into Scar and taking them both down.

"Whoa there! Hey, Grian," Scar greeted cheerfully. Why was he so cheerful? Grian had just killed him! And lives were precious here.

"Scar, I'm so, so, so, so sorry," Grian stood up and agitatedly fluttered his wings, watching Scar intensely.

"It's okay, Grian, you didn't know it would kill me," Scar said calmly. Why was he so calm? It was freaking Grian out!

"Scar I just killed you! Why are you so happy?" Grian demanded, glancing anxiously around.

"Well- I mean, it was an accident," Scar shrugged. "I'm not too upset."

Didn't Scar get it? Grian had just killed him! He only had two lives left! His eyes gleamed yellow now and he would be in danger soon!

"But I killed you!" Grian told him. Scar cocked his head in confusion.

"Yeah...?" he asked dismissively.

"So if you get killed two more times you're dead, Scar! Dead! For real!" Scar didn't seem to care. Why didn't he care? What was wrong with him?

"Fine! I- I can't let you kill yourself! I owe you my first life, Scar," Grian wondered if he would regret this later, but Scar was just so unsuspecting; he'd be picked off first, and Grian couldn't et that happen.

"Really, Grian, I'm not upset-" Scar protested, watching as Grian paced around.

"No, Scar, really, you don't get it- I owe you my first life, and I'll be your servant now. I'll protect you," Grian stood still, fixed on Scar, awaiting his answer.

"Okay," Scar replied.

And so the deal that would forever haunt them was sealed.

Martyn wandered through the woods worriedly. He hadn't found anyone and he hated being alone at night. Especially in the early stages of a new world, when he had nothing.

He sat isolated and lonely against a small birch tree, scanning warily around for the monsters that prowled the dark lands at night and haunted players' nightmares, the monsters that never gave up, never seemed to die, and always seemed to multiply.

Martyn lingered by the tree, waiting for the night to end. The tree was his only companion through the blackness. It was a good companion, a good listener.

"...and that's how the Purple Pandas got third place in MCC 14," Martyn finished his story with a sigh. "If only I had someone besides you here."

As if on cue, a voice rang out through the forest "Are you talking to a tree?"

Martyn jumped up, startled. "Who's there?"

"It is I, Ren." The man in question stepped into the torchlight, casting a long wolf-eared shadow behind him.

"Hi there," Martyn greeted him. "Sorry, you scared me."

"Ah, sorry," Ren replied, sheathing his drawn sword- iron, Martyn noted. "You were talking to a tree?"

"I mean- no- yeah," Martyn admitted. "I get lonely."

"Never fear, Rendog is here to be your loyal companion," Ren announced excitedly.

"Actually, I make a far better loyal companion than leader," Martyn told him, recalling all the times he'd helped a leader- his leader- to victory as their helper.

"Well then, you can be my loyal hand, and I your liege," Ren said, slipping into a deep, dramatic storytelling voice. Martyn blinked in surprise.

"Well then, my liege," Martyn smiled. "Let's go, shall we?"

"We shall," Ren agreed, and the two set off towards the rising sun.