False shot at a Vex and hit it straight through its chest, and just as she had wished it stuck to the wall right behind it. And even though the small mob could phase through walls it was so disoriented to do so, which gave Impulse and Tango just enough time to cut of its wings.

It let out a shrill shriek as it puffed out of existence, only leaving the two cuts of wings to show it even existed in the first place.

"That was easier than I imagined," said Impulse with a smile, placing a 'well done' kiss on Tango's cheek, "Should we go help the others?"

False looked over to where the rest of the group where, some fighting the main raid, and Stress had a ravager frozen in place by ice whilst Xisuma and Wels worked on getting it's horn. How Stress was keeping it in place False didn't know, nor did she want to find out.

"I think they'll be fine," she said eventually with a little shrug, "They'll call if they need us"

So that's why the trio was now flying back to Hermit Land to get to a portal to then return to base, though it was more like the duo since Tango was hitching a ride with Impulse. And said Hermit really questions how he's able to still fly with the demon on his back, eh, must be a dragon thing (Dragon Impulse for the win!).

As they approach the towering build they could all tell something was different, the atmosphere was so much more somber then when they left. This put them all on edge, had something happened whilst they were gone?

That landed on the outside ring of the base and walked up to the edge to peer down at the inside. Everything seemed normal at first, Joe was writing and Cleo was sitting in a corner with a tiny armor stand in front of here with the book open. But looking closely they could see how stiff she was and how she kept turning to look at Joe, so something must have happened. But what? Joe looked fine, and it was obvious that whatever happened, it happened to him.

The trio shared a look with one another, time to see what the deal is with those two.

The three Hermits jumped down and landed gracefully for the most part (and no, falling directly on the top of your head is not grace Tango). False decided to tackle Cleo, whilst Impulse went to talk with Joe, and Tango went down to deliver the ingredients.

"Hey, what's up?" asked False, plopping down next to her redheaded friend.

Cleo put down her book as she turned to face the blond, "Joe's hurt"

"Uh," False wasn't expecting that, but she quickly recovered, "He's hurt? Then why isn't he getting medical attention?"

Cleo let out a deep sigh as she glanced over at Joe, concern dancing in her eyes, "The bleeding has stopped and the wound isn't hurting him anymore, plus he claims to be fine. But I think some part of him feels like he doesn't deserve to get it looked at"

"What?" hissed False in alarm, that didn't sound like Joe at all! "What are you talking about?"

"It's not my story to tell, you'll have to talk to him about it," Cleo picked up the book again and opened it up, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a mini order to finish"

False stood up and walked away to let her friend work, and more specifically she walked over to Impulse who was also heading up to here, and he looked quite worried.

"So I figured out what's up," said Impulse, folding his arms over his chest.

"Good, because Cleo didn't say much," breathed False, relieved to get some answers, "Care to share with the class?"

"Well, turns out tha-" started the dragon, but he was interrupted by a loud squeal and Tango running out of somewhere with a giggling red humanoid shaped bundle in his arms, a screaming Rodger hot on his heels, "Tango? What's going on?"

"Impy! We're dads now!" giggled Tango, not slowing down at all.

"What?!" exclaimed Impulse shocked, at the same time Rodger shouted out; "Just because your the first person he hugged doesn't make you his dad! Plus, I wouldn't trust you to raise a plastic plant, you short minded fool!"

Impulse couldn't find any words so False decided to take charge, and by that she grabbed ahold of Tango and held him in place. This allowed Rodger to catch up to him, much to the demons displeasure.

"Release him," growled Rodger, his red mechanical eyes narrowing, "Now"

"What if he doesn't want to? Hmm? What happens then?" sniffed Tango, turning his head away from the robot, which earned him giggles from the bundled in his arms.

"We both know that the only reason he's staying with you is because you promised to build and show him rustic houses," glowered Rodger, eyes narrowing even more.

Before Tango had a chance to speak False interrupted the twos argument, "What's going on here? Tango what are you holding in your arms?"

"He-" Rodger sharply pointed at Tango, said demon only grinning in response, "-decided that kidnapping felt like a nice thing to try today"

"Sounds like Tango," mumbled Impulse, remembering the heist that got the Civil War started.

False paid the comment no mind as she pressed on, "Ok, but who is he holding?"

"ME!" said the bundle in Tango's arms, it had jumped out the demons arms and was now standing in front of him with a large grin on its face, "HELLO! I AM NPC GRIAN!"

——————————————————————————

Back with the Hermits dealing with the raid things where warping up, after a long struggle with the horn thing, it was finally done.

"Next time someone else is doing that!" cried Wels, collapsing to the ground in a heap, "Because that was exhausting"

"I'll take your word for it," grinned Bdubs happily.

The group laughed as they took a short rest, celebrating their victory of getting the horn.

Xisuma was joking and laughing with them when he got a notification from his phone* (* means I'll explain in the notes at the end), he was surprised by who it was from. It was from his dad, talking about how he and EX should return to his childhood world to have a family get-together.

He must have been looking at the message for a long time because he soon found a hand waving in front of his face. He blinked as he swatted it away, looking up at the owner of said arm.

Keralis was looking at him with worry in his eyes, "You ok Shishwamy?"

"Yeah," croaked the admin, cursing himself for his voice cracking like that, "Yeah I am, I just need to get back to base quickly"

"Why?" asked Ren. By now everyone else had stopped what they were doing to focus on what was going on, "Has something happened?"

"No," said Xisuma with a shake of his head.

"Then what?" pressed the wolf.

"Dad wants to have a family get together, and Uncle Xenagoras will most likely be there"

"I don't get it," said Scar, "What's so wrong with your Uncle being there?"

"Uncle Xen is Grian's father," Xisuma's tone turned dark, "And he is also the reason why Grian didn't grow up with me and EX, the bastard kicked him from the family"

"So if you see him you're most likely going to beat him up?" guessed Bdubs, "I don't see the problem with that"

The admin shook his head, "I'm not gonna kick his ass, dad and the guild will most likely do it though. And I'm planning to tell them about Grian, they deserve to know the truth"

"So your going then?" asked Cub, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Yup, and your coming with me," smiled Xisuma.

The gathered Hermits looked at him in shock, "What?" asked Stress finally, "Why?"

"Well it's a family gathering," began Xisuma, "And you guys are my family"

After the words left his mouth he was dogpiled, happy Hermits crushing him under their combined weight. Not that he really cared, he was just happy to have finally told them all.

And as the group flew back after disassembling the pile they all knew one thing, Grian was coming home. No matter what.

<> Phones and communicators are different in that way that communicators work in the specific server there for, like one you get from HC only shows HC messages. Whilst phones are just like normal phones. :P

Anyways this chapter was fun to make! At least the start, the ending I like less.

Next chapter we'll see how Grian's first mission goes! So come back in like, another week (Sorry for the long wait btw) for that.

Have a wonderful time everyone!<>