Scar started getting up from his spot at the table. Now that all of the hermits had introduced themselves to their guest, they were up and about, chattering with each other and with Impulse.

Scar was undoubtably excited. Impulse seemed like a nice guy, well, Scar often assumed everyone was a nice guy. But he had a big smile and a tiny laugh, and Scar wanted to get himself properly acquainted.

He thought about that word for a second, acquainted, aqUAIntED. What a cool word—

Scar felt a tug at his sleeve, and he spun around. Bdubs was pulling the hem of his sleeve rapidly, gaze trained towards Impulse across the room.

"Scar, pssst, Scar," He whispered, huge eyes practically sparkling. "Scar it's him."

"I'm sorry, what?" Scar scrunched up his face in confusion.

"I don't know how I didn't notice earlier, but it's him Scar, it's really him." Bdubs didn't provide a proper answer, but waggled a finger at Impulse. Scar gave him a puzzled look, trying to figure out exactly where Bdubs thought he knew Impulse from.

"From the town, Scar, he's that guy, from the anti-hybrid town. The guy that—"

Scar cut Bdubs off with an annoyed sigh. Of course that's who Bdubs was talking about, he'd been going on and on about him for the past month.

"Okay, how do I put this nicely, Bdubs," Scar started. You're crazy my friend is what he most definitely should not be saying here. "I know you have this d̶e̶l̶u̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ memory that some magical guy saved you, but—"

"But Scar, there really was a big winged guy, and he saved my life!" Bdubs protested, firmly believing in whatever he had seen that day.

"Okay, okay, lets say that you did get saved by a magic angel guy. First of all, it obviously can't be Impulse, because Impulse is a human. And second, the chances of him just ending up in the same town as you would be so small, Bdubs." Scar didn't really want to argue with Bdubs right now, but it seemed like they were doing that anyways.

"It really is him, okay Scar? I swear it's him, maybe he's just, I dunno, hiding his magic or something." Bdubs got a little bit louder and a little more heated.

"Bdubs..." Scar groaned. He didn't understand why Bdubs couldn't just accept that he didn't really see anything that day, that he was scared and tired so he wasn't even in his right mind when it had happened. Scar didn't understand why Bdubs couldn't listen to him. "It's been over a month since it happened, Bdubs. You didn't see anything that day, and I don't want to keep having this argument with you."

Bdubs froze for a second, and Scar had the minuscule hope that maybe his words had finally gotten through to him. But Bdubs mimicked Scar's own exasperation when he finally spoke.

"Why don't you believe me? I know what I saw, Scar!!!" Bdubs pressed his wings tightly to his back, and he shook slightly in anger. "It wasn't nothing and it wasn't my mind playing tricks on me! Why can't you believe me?"

"You're confused, Bdubs, you're confused." Scar lowered his volume, speaking barely above a whisper.

The two stared at each other for a second, each desperately wanting the other to agree with them.

"Scar? Bdubs?"

Xisuma materialized from nowhere, stepping between them. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing, Xisuma." Bdubs growled, not taking his gaze off of Scar. "Nothing's  going on at all."

Bdubs huffed and shouldered his way past Scar, shooting him a scowl before storming off. Xisuma watched him walk off for a moment, and then looked back to Scar.

"Scar, what happened? Because you two don't just get into an argument over nothing." Xisuma's tone was careful and calm, countering Scar's jittery nerves and anger.

"He was- Bdubs was going on again about the magical thing he claims saved him back in that town. And he won't listen to me, and he kept saying how it was Impulse or something, even though Impulse is obviously a human, and he told us that himself. I don't know Xisuma, I don't know what to do." Scar spoke quickly, upset by the interaction he'd just had, and still worried for Bdubs.

"Scar, I know you're trying to do the right thing," Xisuma started, "But this isn't it. You're probably right that, yes, Bdubs didn't encounter some strange magical creature, but we can't ignore his feelings or experience. What happened that day was borderline traumatic for Bdubs. We're really lucky that he made it out of that alive and uninjured. It's only been a month, emotions are still running high."

Scar wrapped his arms around himself, guilt filling his head and his stomach. He was upset with himself but still angry at Bdubs and it didn't feel right.

Scar spoke quietly, trying to voice his feelings, "X, one of my best friends almost died, and now all he's doing is arguing with me over something he thinks he saw, but that wasn't real."

Xisuma thought for a moment, and when he answered it was like he was taking the knots in Scar's head and unravelling them for him. "Whatever Bdubs saw doesn't matter. What does matter is that he's alive. That he's okay and still with us. I know you, Scar. I know you hate arguing, and I know you always try your hardest to stay on everyone's good side. So talk to Bdubs about that, tell him that the arguments make you upset and apologize for the things that you said. He will come around, Scar."

Scar nodded, taking careful consideration of what Xisuma told him to do. Bdubs was probably pretty mad right now, so Scar would talk to him later. Thinking back, Scar realized just how mean he'd probably been being, even though it all came from a place of love for his friend. He really did need to apologize.

"Yes, X, thank you. I'll do that."

"That's good to hear," Xisuma looked visibly more relived. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go talk with False real quick."

"Not a problem Xisuma," Scar said, waving to X as he turned and walked off, weaving his way around other hermits.

Scar sighed, clenching his fists tightly in worry.

Because what if Bdubs really had seen something that day? What if he was right? Right about the thing he'd described with giant furling wings and sharp teeth. That looked like an angel but wasn't quite an angel, because something was off about it.

What if it was real?

Maybe Scar was the one who was confused. That day had been terrifying for him too.

Either way, whether Bdubs magic man was real or not, Scar hoped he wouldn't get Impulse involved. Because he knew that their guest was not the thing that Bdubs had seen.

He looked over to the newcomer in question. Impulse certainly didn't look inhuman. The man flicked his gaze casually across the room, and next to him it seemed like Zedaph was chatting up a storm.

At first glance nothing really seemed wrong about him. Impulse would probably fit in just fine, as long as Bdubs didn't torment him with stories of the thing that saved him a month ago.

But even if the thing was real, it wasn't like it was dangerous or anything.

Scar should've stopped worrying. It would be fine.

But Scar still felt horrible. He was being a horrible friend and a terrible hermit.

And he couldn't help but feel like he'd royally screwed up this time.

~ end chapter 3 ~

A/N: Shorter chapter, but I had a blast writing from Scar's pov, I should do it more often. Also I actually did proper shadows and highlights on the drawing above, finally