"Scar! Hurry up!"

Bdubs voice echoed around him, giggling.

Scar blinked, turned away from the flower stand he'd been admiring, and ran to catch up with the others.

"At this rate we won't be back for another year ya slowpoke!" Cub nudged him with an elbow.

"Alright then! Let's finish picking up the supplies we need and head out," Scar sighed. The three of them were passing through a small town on their way back to Hermit Village.

Bdubs had been meeting up with a friend of his, and Cub and Scar had had a vex meet up in the same area. The events were over, but they did have a redstone shopping list from Doc and Tango that they'd agreed to help with.

As soon as they found all the stuff, they would be on their way. But the town was quite large, with a lot of different stores. Scar wasn't quite sure which ones they needed to check in.

"Hey, why don't we split up, and search in different stores?" Bdubs offered.

Cub nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a great idea Bdubs."

No, no this was not a good idea! Because if the three of them split up then they were all in danger. Then those horrible people were going to try and hurt Bdubs. They were going to find out he was a hybrid and they were all IN DANGER—

Scar nodded, and the three parted ways.

The first store that Scar went into was large and crowded. There were huge warehouse shelves, with different items piled on each one. Several signs and posters covered the walls, advertising items the shop sold, town events, and—

And anti-hybrid sentiments.

Scar shivered, turning his back to the signs that said 'Find a hybrid? Report to authorities and keep our town clean.'

His vex instincts told him to tear down the posters and rip them to shreds. But Scar was just shopping today, he had no ill intent or anything.

The clock high on the wall spun to a different time, the world distorted and placed Scar inside a different shop. This one was smaller, but had big windows looking out to the street, and a nice looking older woman at the counter.

Scar peered across the shelves, eyes lighting up when he finally found something that was on the list. He'd been in far too many shops already, and still found nothing. He hoped Cub and Bdubs were having better luck than him.

After scouring the rest of the store and finding nothing more, Scar bought what he did manage to get. He was striking up a casual conversation with the store clerk when he heard the commotion on the street outside.

"Quite the hubbub going on out there, hmm? I wonder what's going on."

Scar ignored the clerk's comment, turning to peer out the windows.

The townsfolk were darting around like ants out of a stomped in dirt mound. The only ones with any sense of direction were the town guards, all running down the cobbled street and shouting instructions and commands to one another.

The townsfolk were scared of something, shouting and screaming their concerns.

Scar rushed out of the shop and onto the street. As soon as he stepped out of the door, one of the villagers ran straight into him in their panic.

"Why are you just standing there?!" They exclaimed, jittering. "There's a hybrid loose! Run for your LIFE!!!"

Scar's breath caught in his throat, his heart sped up in his chest.

"It's a terrible, horrible dragon hybrid!" screamed another villager as they ran past. "Get your kids inside, hurry!"

Scar flicked his head between the people running past, catching snippets of shouts and conversation.

"I heard it's a phantom!"

"—aren't those are super dangerous?!"

"The guards will stop it, right—"

"I SAW IT! I saw it with my own eyes! It's got huge, hideous wings! All leathery and purple!"

Bdubs.

They found Bdubs.

Scar's head swam and his stomach lurched.

He could still see some of the guards, armor glinting in the sun as they booked it down the street. Scar bolted after them, pushing past villagers running in the opposite direction.

His feet drummed against the cobbles below him, faster, faster. He had to catch up to those guards, he had to save Bdubs.

They were going to kill him.

Scar ran faster, strides lengthening. He was running out of breath but he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop because he had to save Bdubs before—

"SCAR!"

Cub ran towards him, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a halt.

"Scar, whats going on, why are you running?!" Cub's voice was filled with panic.

"Bdubs, they found Bdubs!" Scar panted out between breaths. "The people, they're yelling about a phantom hybrid!"

"Well do you know where he is?!" Cub put a trembling hand on Scar's shoulder.

"I was TRYING to follow the guards!" Scar exclaimed, breathing getting harder and harder. "But now they're all going in different directions and I don't know where he is and they're gonna catch him and—"

Scar was cut off as another villager ran into him, tumbling onto the street. They hoisted themselves to their feet and scowled at Scar and Cub.

"Don't just stand there in the middle of the street you arseholes!" They growled. "Don't you know there's a hybrid in the town?! RUN!"

And with that they whipped around and sprinted off.

"Cub, Cub how are we supposed to find him the town is so big," Scar wailed. His friend was gone. What if they didn't find him? What if the guards killed him and Scar never saw him again?!

"We'll find him Scar, we'll find him okay?!" Cub tried to comfort but his voice sounded just as scared as Scar's. "I know Bdubs can hold his own until we get to him—"

"But what if he can't?!" Scar interjected. "What if they kill him and I never see him again? What if, what if— Cub I cant breathe they're gonna hurt him."

Scar shook and sobbed and looked everywhere but nowhere.

"Cub I can't BREATHE!"

~

Scar shot up in bed, nearly screaming out. His hands trembled as he pulled his bedsheets closer to him.

He sucked in shallow breaths, and his head hurt as if he'd been hit upside it with a pan.

The nightmare had happened again. Of course it had to happen again. Scar pulled his knees to his chest, silent tears falling down his face.

It was like that day just hadn't been painful enough, and his brain had to make him relive it over and over.

"I know I messed up!" Scar cried out to no one in particular. "It wasn't Bdubs' idea, it was mine! We never should've split up we never should've split up..."

Scar pulled his knees closer still, as sobs wracked his lanky frame. He wasn't sure how long he sat like that, spiraling further as he remembered each thing he had done wrong that day.

He should've made them leave the town as soon as he realized they were anti-hybrid. He should've told Bdubs to make sure he kept his coat on the whole time. He should've warned him.

He should've done it all differently.

Scar was an idiot. A bawling mess of an idiot.

But for a moment, he glanced up at his clock and tried to be at least a little bit rational.

It was just past 4 in the morning.

Usually, when Scar had the nightmare, he'd go and see Bdubs, so that he could see that he was safe and sound. But Bdubs was likely still mad about yesterday, and Scar knew he should probably avoid him.

Scar held his head in his hands. No one would be up at this time. They'd all be asleep and he was stuck panicking and panicking—

Mumbo. Mumbo might be awake. He always gets up super early for weird vampire reasons. He always said he liked when it was morning but still felt like it was night.

Scar practically threw himself out of bed. His cries slowed down as he stumbled around getting properly dressed.

He didn't really remember leaving his house, or walking to Mumbo's. It was like he blinked and he was there, hand hovering at the door, wanting to knock but not sure.

Why should he bother Mumbo at this hour? Mumbo certainly wouldn't like it, and he certainly wouldn't like Scar very much for it.

Scar's hands shook. Maybe they were already shaking to begin with. All he ever did was mess up, all it seemed he was ever good at was making mistakes.

But Scar quickly realized that he was practically at rock bottom already. He knocked. What's the worst that could happen?

A shuffling and a clatter sounded from inside, and Scar started to second guess.

He should just leave. He didn't need to get Mumbo involved. This had never been a good idea. None of his ideas were good ideas. All he was was a failure. He needed to stop bothering others with his so called problems—

The door swung in, revealing a morning Mumbo. He still had on pajamas and slippers, his hair was frazzled, and he held a cup of tea in his hand. He yawned, fangs glinting in his soft porch light.

"Scar? What's wrong?" Mumbo was soft with his words, though it may have been because he'd only just woken up.

"Yeah nevermind this was a stupid idea." Scar's head was practically screaming for him to leave, and he started to turn away.

"No, Scar," Mumbo reached out quickly and grabbed Scar's wrist with his free hand. "I can tell you've been crying. Somethings wrong Scar, you can tell me what's going on."

When Scar didn't answer, Mumbo tugged him inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Come 'ere. Sit." Mumbo led Scar over to his table, plunking him down in a chair. Mumbo sat in the chair next to Scar's spinning it around so they could be face to face. "Talk to me, Scar. What happened."

Scar thought about what to say for a second. He knew Mumbo would probably laugh when he said it was nightmares, but what else was he supposed to say? There wasn't really another reasonable explanation for why he was at Mumbo's door at four in the morning.

Scar sighed, looking down at his feet. "It was the nightmare again," he mumbled meekly.

"Oh Scar," Mumbo breathed out. He reached a hand out towards Scar, which Scar flinched away from.

"The one about Bdubs, right?" Mumbo asked softly. Scar was surprised by his lack of laughter, and nodded slowly. "Okay. I don't know what words you need to hear right now, but because you're probably spiraling, I'll tell you this. None of what happened that day was your fault Scar. You did nothing wrong. Bdubs is safe, he didn't get hurt and he won't get hurt—"

"But it is my fault Mumbo." Scar flicked his head up to finally meet Mumbo's gaze. "I was the one who said we should split up. I was the one who knew that the town was anti-hybrid but I didn't tell them. It's my fault."

Mumbo scrunched his face up in concern, rather than the disappointment Scar thought he would have.

"No. Scar, no." Mumbo shook his head, denying what Scar was saying. "It isn't your fault. If you hadn't split up, Bdubs coat still would've caught on something and fallen off. They still would've found him. If the town wasn't anti-hybrid, there are still prejudiced people who would've gone for Bdubs anyways. So stop telling yourself this is your fault, because there wasn't anything you could've done to change that day, and there wasn't anything you did wrong." 

Mumbo put his hand on Scar's shoulder, and for once he didn't flinch away. Was what Mumbo said true? It certainly sounded like it was true. It made Scar feel silly for blaming himself, however he still knew that at least some of what happened that day was his fault.

Mumbo pulled back, tilting his head as he asked another question. "Where did the dream end tonight?"

Scar gave him a confused look, but told him that it had ended with him meeting up with Cub on the street this time.

"Okay, I know it's hard to relive, but walk me through what happened next." Mumbo took Scar's hands in his own, and gave him a gentle look.

Scar hesitated before answering. "Cub and I followed one set of guards next. We- we snuck up on them and listened to them talking." He paused, and looked at Mumbo. Mumbo nodded his head as if to say 'keep going'. "The- the guards said that Bdubs had gotten away. That he was outside the town walls, and so they shouldn't have to worry. Cub and I left the town, and searched around the exit."

"And you found him." Mumbo added in.

"Yeah, we found him. Completely unharmed, except for a few scrapes." Scar finished, and pulled his hands away from Mumbo, folding them in his lap.

"See? I know that day was terrifying Scar, but you all made it out okay. You're okay, Cub's okay. And Bdubs is okay." Mumbo smiled reassuringly at him. "Can I give you a hug now?"

Scar gave a small nod, and not a second later Mumbo's arms were around him. Scar leaned into the warmth his friend provided, closing his eyes for a moment. Mumbo rubbed slow circles into his back and whispered comforts.

"You're alright."

"You did nothing wrong."

"It's not your fault."

"It will get better."

"And everything will be okay."

~ end chapter 5 ~

A/N: bunny slippers hehe. Please don't mind my incredibly inconsistent art style, just focus yourself on the dramatic irony of those last lines.