Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sound of a car crashing is heard then .

Scott feels pain he's pretty sure he's head is injured. 

Was Jimmy, skizz and impulse okay. 

The car is turn over Scott looks at the door and then the others. 

Everyone but him is unconscious, he attempted to find his phone only for his pocket to be empty. 

He decides to try the door he feels sore but thankfully nothing feels broken. 

Scott managed to get the door opened he climbs out. 

Falling towards the ground shortly afterwards Scott attempted to get up .

He manages to and quickly head towards the car.

He faces the door he opened it and manages to pull Jimmy out. 

Scott looks in horror at Jimmy's arm it's broken .

Making sure not to make Jimmy's arm worse Scott moves Jimmy to safety before trying to get impulse and skizz out. 

Minus a few cuts skizz looked fine but impulse somehow was lucky. 

He didn't have a single injury from what Scott could see.

" I need to get help" Scott thinks he hopes one of them has a phone on them.

But something happens Scott started to feel sleepy he tries to fight it.

He also hears footsteps, " is someone there?" He asked before he falls unconscious. 

The next thing he knew he find himself in a bed .

Scott sits up and looks around it looks kinda like a cabin.

A single candle is on the tablestand next to him.

Scott checks his head it's been bandage. 

Did someone saved them? He needs to find Jimmy, impulse and skizz. 

Scott gets out of the bed and noticed his shoes near the door. 

He puts them on and opens the door. 

To be met face to face with a women.

She has red hair and was wearing a black dress,  she was carrying a tray with food on it.

Bread ,soup and some water were on it.

She looked surprised to see Scott then she smiled. 

" am glad to see your awake " she said " but you shouldn't be up , back to bed for you. your injured" .

She guided Scott back to the bed and sat the tray down. 

" eat up" she told him , Scott looks at the woman. 

" did you saved me?" He asked her ," I wasn't the one who found you , our leader did with Mumbo,Martyn and ren" she replied " they carried you four back and asked some of us to take of you four. "

Leader and four do they mean impulse, skizz and Jimmy. 

" you mean my friends" Scott asked, " where are they?".

But the woman ignored his question kinda of .

" one of your friends pearl is taking care of him, now eat your breakfast it's getting cold." The women said to Scott. 

They grabbed a chair that was in the room and sat down in it and stared at him hoping he would eat.

Scott look at his breakfast it looked safe.

Scott grabbed the spoon and took a spoonful of soup. 

He took a bite of it,  it tasted delicious. 

He grabbed the bread and took a bite of it , it was good too.

Before he knew it Scott ate it all.

The women was smiling at Scott she looked happy he ate .

" that was delicious" Scott said, " am glad you liked it , it's rabbit stew it's hard to make do to rabbit meat begin hard to get but pearl and I wanted you two to have a nice meal" she replied. 

" well thank you for the meal" Scott said , " I'm Scott what's your name?" He asked. 

The women look at him then smiled as usual " I'm cleo " she replied, Scott held put his hand " nice to meet you cleo" he said. 

Cleo took his hand. She keep smiling it was kinda creepy no offense to her.

Cleo went to take the tray before she could Scott stopped them.

" you said one my friends is begin care for by your friend" Scott asked  cleo look at Scott " yes he is" she replied. 

" can I see him?" Scott asked he wanted to know who it was and how they were doing he was worried about his friend. 

" you need to rest you can see your friend later" cleo said they grabbed the tray but before they could walk away Scott grabbed her wrist. 

" please cleo I want see if their okay , I won't leave " Scott said, cleo look hesitate but then spoke. 

" alright as long you don't leave the house" she said " otherwise it's back to bed with you".

" thank you cleo" Scott said he git up and followed cleo out the door. 

The house look rustic the only light came from outside and there was candles ,lanterns and torches that hang from the walls .

Cleo led him out the room as just as a door to a different room open. 

A brown hair women emerged from the room carrying a tray she wore a black shirt and skirt. 

" hello cleo" she said, " hello pearl" cleo said, " I see our other newcomer is awake" pearl said.

She looked at Scott, " hi I'm Scott" he said, " I'm pearl" pearl replied, " is my friend in there?" Scott asked. 

" Yes he is but shouldn't you be in bed" pearl asked she looked at cleo. 

" he didn't stop asking" cleo replied " he promised that he wouldn't leave the house".

Pearl look at Scott " well as long as you don't leave the house you can check on your friend, he can also leave his room then ." Pearl replied with she left the door opened for Scott. 

Both women walk away to go probably to the kitchen since they were carrying trays and dishes. 

Scott walk into the room who was it .

" Scott is that you?" Scott look it was impulse. 

Relieved to see that one of his friends was okay Scott hurried towards him.

" impulse am glad to see your okay" Scott said. 

" am glad to see you too" impulse said, " he noticed the bandages on Scott's head.

" do you know what happened?" Impulse asked , " what do you remember" Scott asked. 

" a figure appearing in the road. Trying to avoid hitting them and crashing" impulse replied, " what about you?".

" after the crash. I got out car , you,  Jimmy and skizz were unconscious." Scott said " I pulled you all out and then I fell unconscious.  Before I did I heard footsteps." 

Impulse look at Scott, " so you pulled us out of the car" impulse said, " I wasn't going to leave you all in there" Scott replied. 

" I know I would done the same thing" impulse replied " do you know where Jimmy and skizz are?" He asked. 

" no but we could ask cleo or pearl" Scott replied, " but pearl wouldn't let me leave the room" impulse said, " she said I needed to rest".

" I promise cleo that i wouldn't leave the house so I think it's okay" Scott replied .

" if you say so" impulse said he got out bed and the two them went to go find pearl and cleo.

They found the kitchen cleo was busy cleaning the dishes but pearl was no where in sight. 

Cleo seem to notice them ," is there something you need" she asked. 

" we just want to know what happened to are friends" Scott asked,  " your friends are okay" cleo said " their in good care".

" but with who?" Scott asked, cleo stared at them that smiled not leaving their face.

" the blonde hair man got place into the care of scar and lizzie" cleo replied, " as for you other friend he's begin cared by Mumbo and our leader".

" your leader" impulse asked, " our leader grian " she said " they both will be well cared for" cleo then went back washing the dishes. 

" pearl went to go get wood, so she not here " cleo said " don't go in outside you can explore the house ".

Then they focus on washing the dishes. 

" so skizz is with leader" Scott said to impulse, " and Jimmy also somewhere else".

Hopefully they were okay. 

Jimmy woke to the sound of birds ,he opened his eyes. 

" what happened" he thought he sat up and noticed his arm in a sling.

" what the" he said he then remembered the car crashing the everything went dark.

He quickly sat up and looked around " Scott, impulse,skizz" Jimmy shouts no response. 

He needed to find them were they alright. 

He jump out of the bed and ran towards the door as he ran out he scared someone. 

Jimmy looked, it was a man with scars on his face ,he was dressed in a black robes and was carrying a cane in one hand and a bowl in another. 

" you scared me!" the man shouts ,before Jimmy could say something another person spoke. 

" scar is anything alright" Jimmy looked and saw a pink hair women wearing a black dress she had pink flowers on it they look like she added them on to the dress herself. 

" lizzie am fine" the man name scar said " our newcomer scared me" .

Lizzie looked and noticed Jimmy " your awake " she said. 

" Yes I am" Jimmy said " where I'm i" he asked. 

" your currently in your new home" scar said, " now then let's get you to the table, I got some rabbit stew with you name on it".

" new home" Jimmy said,  scar didn't seem to notice Jimmy looking shocked and just walk away. 

Lizzie looked at him and then followed. 

Jimmy followed,  the dining room was small it didn't have much minus a table with flowers in the vase and a couple candles on the table. 

" sit sit" scar said ,Jimmy sat down and then the man placed the bowl in front of Jimmy. 

It looked like soup a spoon was in it.

" I'll go get you some water" scar said, " need help scar?" Lizzie asked, " I got this lizzie " scar replied " you should focus on you wedding it be here in three days".

He headed into the kitchen leaving Jimmy alone with lizzie. 

Jimmy tok the spoon and then looked at the soup. 

He was hungry and it looked safe he ate it.

It tasted good as scar came back with some water Jimmy was almost done with his meal.

" you must of been hungry" scar said as he place the water down. 

After Jimmy was finished scar and lizzie sat at the table with Jimmy. 

Both were smiling at him.

" thanks for the food" Jimmy said " but we who are you two ,where am I and where's my friends" he asked. 

" while to answer you first question" scar said, " am scar and this is my friend " he looked at lizzie. 

" lizzie " she said, " what's your name" scar asked, " Jimmy" Jimmy replied, " well Jimmy" scar said, " it's nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy your new home here and as for your friends their currently in their new homes begin cared for by the others" scar replied with. 

" new homes" Jimmy shouted " we did't agree to stay". 

Well he didn't,  scar and lizzie looked at him.

" am pretty sure grian said that you would" scar said .

" grian?" Jimmy asked, " our leader" scar said, " he along with Mumbo, Martyn and ren found you guys and brought the back to are little community".

" he told us that you were staying" scar said, " we'll he's wrong" Jimmy replied " I want to talk to him".

" am afraid you can't" lizzie said " he's busy with Mumbo taking care of one your friends otherwise he's doing his duty as our leader".

" and your injured" scar said " so you can't leave the house till your better".

" well I want to talk to this leader of yours" Jimmy said. 

He was about to get up when he was stopped by both scar and lizzie. 

" am afraid we can't let you" lizzie said " your injured ".

Jimmy wants to run towards the door and find this grian but he's out number. 

Maybe he'll try tonight  when their both asleep. 

" alright I'll stay" he said, " great" scar said " I'll show you around".

Meanwhile 

Skizz woke to find himself in a bed .

He sat up and looked around where was his friends. 

He remembers the car crash were they okay he's got to find them. 

As he got out of bed Skizz notice he hand some bandages on his arms the injuries from the car crash.

He ran out the door, the house seem big he was in.

He didn't know where to go so he just pick a direction and ran that way .

Hoping to find his friends or someone. 

He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and ran into someone. 

" sorry" skizz said he looked at who he bump into. 

A man wearing black he had a mustache. 

" let me help you" skizz said he held out his hand for the man to take. 

He stared at skizz before taking it.

"  your awake" the man said " how are you feeling".

" fine" skizz replied " can you tell me where I am and where my friends are" he asked. 

" your new home" someone else said, skizz saw another man behind the mustache man.

He wore black robes and stared at skizz. 

" new home?" Skizz said " um I think you're mistaken, where are my friends?".

" their safe" the robe man replied " we can talk more over breakfast you must be hungry,  since you're up you can join us".

He was hungry " sure" skizz said, " I'm skizz. What's you two names?" He asked. 

" grian" the robe man replied he looked at the mustache man " this is Mumbo . Come now skizz let's eat breakfast before it's cold".

Skizz follow grian to where they be eating Mumbo by his side.

Chapter Text

Scott and impulse explore the house but it didn't take long they avoid going into any of the rooms that the doors were closed. 

The house was made out of wood, there seem to be no electricity or running water judgeing by how there was no faucet. 

The living room had only chairs to sit on and a bookshelf with lots of books and a carpet underneath the wooden table. 

Scott walk towards the bookshelf the books didn't even look brought but made by hand.

Some look like they been read more then others. 

Scott grabbed a book from the shelf ,impulse decided to do the same thing. 

Since they were stuck in this place they might as well read.

Sitting in one of the chairs Scott look at the book.

It's title was interesting the histories, rules and duties of our .. the rest was faded .

Scott open the book the writing was handwritten and neat.

It show the rules and duties first. 

Rule one everyone must have a teammate and help them. 

Rule two do your chores and help out the community 

Rule three only eat the foods that this community provides. 

It them showed the list of foods that they were allowed to eat.

Frist was the list of soups that they could eat.

Beetroot soup,rabbit stew, mushroom stew,suspicious stew? What kind of stew is that it sounded bad Scott didn't want to eat that.

Then it listed the types of meat that they ate.

Mutton, steak,porkchops,chicken and rabbit meat . It also added that they were allowed to eat fish. 

The only vegetable he saw on there that they ate was carrots and potatoes while for fruit was apple and watermelon, it also showed the type of berries that they ate.

Sweet berries and glow berries that was a strange name for a berry. 

The bake goods that they were allowed to eat was bread,cake and cookies. 

There was also honey and kelp that they ate.

At the end of the page it said that everyone that does not follow the diet they be force to eat nothing but suspicious stew for a week. 

Scott look disgusted at the thought of eating the suspicious stew even for a week. 

He turn the page the next rule was about how you shouldn't go outside when it was dark.

Scott assumed that it was probably for everyone safety. 

He read through the rules finding some weird .

He eventually was done and found himself at the page of their history. 

Long ago there lived 18 people all who were holding captured by begins called the watchers. 

They were forced into cycle where they die and come back after each game the watchers called it.

It was assumed hope was all lost until five people managed to fight back. 

They were crown champions by the watchers for winning their games.

The champions fought back against the watchers in a long and tiring war.

With help from the others they emerge victorious breaking the cycle but at a cost.

Their lives before his death the fourth champion receive a vision. 

That they all return and the watchers would too.

They would destroyed the world in attempted for revenge. 

The champions and their friends would be reborn when that time would come. 

They protect their friends from the watchers once more. 

And when that happened the world would be reborn and the champions and their friends would rebuild it together and a new era would start. 

Scott stared at the page he didn't think this was all true.

Suddenly someone spoke ," i see your learning about are little community, that's good hopefully it will help you adjust faster" Scott faced who said that.

It was pearl she was holding a axe.

He remembered cleo mentioning that pearl went to go get wood. 

" how long was I reading for?" Scott asked pearl, " I don't know I came back ten minutes ago I needed to put the wood away and then I was going to start lunch it's my turn to cook" pearl replied,  " so it'll be a bit before lunch" .

" where's cleo?" Scott asked, " they went to go get some potatoes we're running low on them and she plan to cook baked potatoes for dinner" pearl said she smiled at Scott before heading towards the kitchen to prepare lunch. 

Impulse had stop reading too and was watching his and pearl's conversation. 

" so everything interesting about that book you're reading?" Impulse asked,  " it's strange" Scott said he handed the book for impulse to read.

Pov Jimmy 

Jimmy was bored ,scar and lizzie forbidden to leave as he needed to rest .

Lizzie had left to go get a sheep for mutton, Jimmy assumed she went to go get meat from a butcher. 

Did they have a butcher here?. Scar was telling Jimmy everything about the community and rules.

Why did he have to learn this stuff once he was better he was going to find Scott,  impulse and skizz and they would leave. 

He didn't need to learn any of this but he kept his mouth shut and just listen to scar.

The door opened to the house and scar stop talking. 

" oh lizzie back" scar said, Jimmy noticed as lizzie walk in she was wearing a apron stained with blood and something warp in cloth. 

Blood was leaking from it , did she kill a sheep herself. 

" I see it went well with getting the mutton for dinner" scar said to lizzie. 

" yes it was" lizzie replied " it will last us for a couple of days".

Jimmy was stareing at the blood on lizzie, " um lizzie did you kill a sheep?" Jimmy asked, " yes" she replied, " me or scar always slaughter a cow,pig or sheep for meat, is something wrong jimmy".

" you do the killing yourself, you don't have a butcher to do it?" He asked, " no we all take turns with chores" scar said, " you look pale ,your probably hungry".

Yeah no Jimmy wasn't they killed animals themselves,  Jimmy doesn't think he could .  But he understands that their doing for food but still. 

Suddenly a knock on the door interrupted Jimmy thoughts.

Lizzie went to go put away the mutton while scar opened the door. 

Jimmy could see it was a man with a green streak in his hair he wore black like lizzie and scar.

" lizzie your future husband is here!" Scar yelled, lizzie emerge from the kitchen to greet the man.

" hello scar" the man said before he greeted his fiance. 

Jimmy remembered scar mentioning a upcoming wedding lizzie had.

Joel kissed lizzie on the cheek before holding out a flower for her.

She looked happy and took the flower carefully. 

Joel then looked around he stop when he saw Jimmy. 

" this is one the newcomers right" he asked, " Yes this is Jimmy" lizzie said. 

Joel approach Jimmy, " nice to meet you Jimmy ,I'm Joel" he said, " likewise" Jimmy said Joel held out his hand and Jimmy took it.

" so you and lizzie are getting married" he asked, Joel look at Jimmy and smiled. 

" yes we are in three days we will married at the end of the month,  then we well live together" Joel said. 

" I'll still be here in the day to help scar while Joel will still help gem" lizzie said, " gem?" Jimmy said. 

" she's my teammate " Joel replied " she's like family to me".

" it's always good to have teammates" scar said " it's unsafe to stay alone at night".

" what happens at night?" Jimmy asked, they look at Jimmy fear in their eyes.

" none of us have seen it but it's said if you alone or outside at night a monster while come and get you" Joel said ," it why most of us have teammates and don't go outside except bigb".

" bigb?" Jimmy asked, " he's a member that keeps to himself most of his time he rarely talk to others" scar said, " but anyways Joel will you be staying for lunch" scar asked " lizzie's making chicken".

" no thank you" Joel replied, " I need to get home it's my turn to make lunch for me and gem" he said goodbye and kiss lizzie goodbye. 

Once Joel left lizzie headed to clean up and prepared lunch, leaving Jimmy alone with scar again. 

Chapter Text

Today went surprisely fast to Scott surprise maybe him reading help.

Pearl and cleo focus on doing their chores and work.

Lunch was salmon and carrots, while dinner was a baked potatoe and a slice of watermelon. 

The food the cleo and pearl made tasted good.

When it was night Scott noticed pearl was lightning some of the lanterns and candles while cleo was checking the windows and door.

He and impulse end up asking them why they both were doing these things. 

The answer they got made Scott wonder if it wasn't a lie.

" to make sure the monster doesn't get us" pearl said, " monster?" Impulse asked, " Yes there's a monster that comes out at night and if your outside and alone it will get you" cleo said, " it's why we don't go outside after sunset  we stay in teams and we keep at least a candle or lantern lit.".

" are you sure that monster is true?" Impulse asked, " we haven't seen it but are ancestors did" pearl said " and we rather not break that rule unless we want that monster to come and get us".

" it's time to sleep " cleo said they escort Impulse to the room he's staying in while pearl escorts Scott back to his.

Pearl left a lantern lit and a candle telling Scott to at least keep one of the lights on.

" even if it's less of a chance of the monster getting you inside, don't risk it" she told him.

Scott just figured he listened to pearl and not mess with either. 

Pearl check his head injury wanting to make sure it was alright and if the bandages needed to be changed. 

She then left Scott a container containing water and a cup in case he needed a drink at night. 

And a bucket Scott didn't even need pearl to tell him what that was for.

He hope he didn't need it.

Pearl then left after saying goodnight to Scott leaving alone. 

For awhile Scott didn't fall asleep he stay awake. 

He was worried about Jimmy and skizz . Even when he was told that they were safe . The feeling didn't go away. 

He wanted to sneak out and find where his friends where staying. 

But he probably get caught by pearl or cleo before he left the house. 

And even he did leave the house which way would he go.

He wants to leave once their all better they will leave this place. 

Hopefully the next town isn't too far from here.

After what felt like forever Scott fell asleep before he realized it.

The next day

Scott woke to find on the desk in his room some clothes and a note.

He got up and read the note. 

" I've left you and impulse some clothes to change out of since you're new here . Don't worry about your old clothes we'll wash them. After you change meet us for breakfast we're having bread and sweet berries for breakfast " from pearl. 

Scott look at the clothes he realized it was a black robe.

He didn't really have anything else to change into and it was better than wearing the same thing everyday. 

He change into the robes, he didn't know where to leave his clothes maybe he asked cleo and pearl. 

He left them on the desk and headed towards the kitchen. 

He ran into Impulse who was also wearing different clothes like Scott did.

" they gave us clothes that they wear here" Scott said, " it's nice of them to do this for us but don't they know we're going to leave after we're better" impulse said. 

" they probably want us to stay" Scott said, " we're turn them down but we won't be rude" impulse said " they been nice so far".

Scott nodded his head agreeing despite the strange rules and pearl and cleo smiling alot so far they didn't seem bad.

They headed towards the dining room table pearl was placing bread and berries on plates while cleo sat at a table. 

They both greeted them before they had breakfast. 

The sweetberries taste good Scott was glad it wasn't the glow berries he didn't think those were safe to eat.

After they finish breakfast cleo look at Scott and impulse. 

"Early this morning our leader grian show up" they told Scott and impulse. 

" he asked how you two were doing and we told them that you were doing fine despite your injuries " as they said injuries she looked at Scott." He decided if you well enough you can start to help around here and for me and pearl to teach you" cleo said. 

Teach them they weren't stay but if helping around here it might let Scott or impulse go outside and maybe find Jimmy or skizz or both.

Also it gave them something to do.

" we're not staying forever but will help around, consider it paying you back for helping us" impulse told the too.

" great impulse you can help me with getting water from the well and help me with the laundry" pearl said, " Scott you can help me get some pork we're put of it" cleo told Scott. 

" okay" both impulse and Scott said.

Pearl went to grab a bucket for water and had impulse carried a basket containing clothes and a few sheets.

Cleo grab a knife and place a white apron one over her clothes and grab some cloths.

Cleo then approach the door and open it , the sun felt a bit bright to Scott probably from being inside all day long. 

He stepped outside and looked around he saw a few rivers and trees and some houses far away. 

He looked around pearl and cleo's house he noticed what look like a doghouse was outside. 

Did they have a dog?. Scott then look at pearl and cleo. 

He then realized some about pearl. 

She wasn't wearing any shoes she was barefooted. But cleo wasn't she wore boots. 

Did some of the people that lived here go barefooted. 

Ignoring that Scott decided to follow cleo to where they were leading him,impulse followed pearl to the we'll.

As they walk Scott look around he saw far away a mountain and it looked like a house was on it ,he saw a few more things and that it seemed like this place was surrounded by trees but he wasn't sure about that.

" we're almost to the center" cleo told him, Scott decided to focus on following cleo he didn't want to get lost. 

The center of the community had lots of different things right in the middle was the well, there was right look like fences and various animals,  sheeps, cows and pigs a roof was over each pen to shelter them from the weather.

There was also a few other things that they had here.

" the pigs are this way Scott" cleo said, as they headed towards the pigpen Scott could see a blonde hair man wrapping something in a cloth, he had no shoes like pearl and was wearing a apron like cleo  that was stain with red.

" here's the pigs" cleo said Scott look at the pigs the pen was big enough for space for the pigs to roam around one of the pigs even had babies. 

Cleo examine the pigs before grabbing one she handed Scott the knife what did he need this for.

Then Scott realized it the knife the pig , the apron and the man wrapping something in a cloth his apron stained in red.

Cleo wanted him to kill the pig ,he understood that people did it for food but why did she want him to do this. 

Cleo held the pig out " come on Scott " she said " you can do this".

Scott look at the pig it seemed oblivious to what was going to happen to it.

Then he looked at the knife he didn't feel comfortable doing this.

" cleo I can't" he said, cleo look at Scott but just smiled " I understand Scott" they said," I'll do it".

They took the knife and shove the pig into Scott's arms.

He held it tightly cleo begin to bring the knife to its throat. 

Rather then watch Scott look away " sorry" he silently said to the pig. 

He heard it make a noise and something warm on his fingers. 

He looked down blood leak from the poor pig's throat and some of it was getting on his fingers. 

Cleo take the now dead pig back from Scott, " don't worry Scott " cleo said " am not mad it's happens to some people,  hopefully the longer you stay you'll learn to do this".

" no I won't " he thought he looked away as cleo skin the pig and took the meat from it.

After she was done she began to wrap the meat into a cloth. 

" Scott can you get rid the remains its the place is by the river closet to the altar" cleo asked. 

Scott look the remains of the pig was on a cloth .

Maybe he could look around more he wanted to be away from this now.

" sure" he replied he pick them remains of the pig up though the cloth he didn't want it on him.

He headed towards where cleo pointed hopefully thus was the right way.

He saw a river and what he assumed to be what cleo called the altar it looked red was that no it can't be.

While he looked where to dispose of the remains a man was near the river cutting a plant near it.

Scott decided to approach the man cleo should have been more specific and he didn't want to keep her waiting. 

" excuse me" he said to the man , he stop cutting the plant and turn to face Scott. 

He wore black like everyone else did and wore no shoes but the one different thing about him was that he wore what look like sunglasses. 

" um hi" the man said " your one of newcomers from the car crash" he said. 

" yes" Scott replied that news went fast around here.

" I'm one the people that brought you here along with are leader, Mumbo and Martyn" he said " am ren".

" nice you meet you Ren.  I'm Scott thanks for saving me and my friends " Scott said he should probably thank the others that saved them too.

" so Scott looking for where we dispose of remains from the animals we kill for food?" Ren asked he looked at the cloth containing the guts and other things of the pig.

" yes cleo told it was around here . No offense but I wish they were a bit more specific" Scott replied. 

" don't worry I'll show you almost done getting sugar cane" ren said he cut a bit more of the plant before picking what he cut up.

Then he led Scott to where he needed to go.

What look like remains of a campfire onto of it was other remains of other animals. 

" what left from what we don't use . It gets burn here usually our leader does this burns it up" ren said " but once in awhile someone else does it".

Scott place everything including the cloth into the campfire hopefully cleo won't mind it gets destroyed. 

" thanks for showing me where it is ren" Scott said,  " no problem " ren said " I got to get going, I got to get wood next . I can't slack off while Martyn doing his work." Ren said. 

" Martyn?" Scott asked that was one of the names of the people that saved them.

" he's one of the people that saved you and my teammate" ren replied " bye Scott" ren walk away carrying the suger cane leaving Scott alone.

He hurried back to cleo thankfully he did get lost.

" did you find it" cleo asked they hand finish wrapping the meat in the cloth.

" I didn't know where it was but ren show me" Scott replied, " you met ren?" Cleo said, " Yes he help me out and apparently was one of the people that help me and my friends" Scott asked. 

" yes he is" cleo said " him and Martyn portol to make sure everyone home or for trespassers or people who need help. They even risk staying out at night just make sure everyone is safe" .

" that sounds like a tough job" Scott said, " it is" cleo said, " now then let's get this back and then I need your help getting some apples" she said. 

Scott follow cleo at least this job was just picking apples that sounded nice.

Pov Jimmy 

Jimmy was glad that scar and lizzie let him outside. 

He met to wait till night yesterday and try to sneak out while they were asleep but he accidentally fell asleep.  But at least he could outside today. 

They gave him clothes that they wore so he be one of them .

They were a black shirt and black pants , because his arm was broken he needed scar's help with putting on the shirt.

Lizzie took his clothes and told him she wash them. 

Jimmy thought she made a face when she looked at his clothes. 

Scar decided to while he did his chores he show Jimmy around. 

" this is the mountain me and lizzie live on" scar said as he show Jimmy around. 

Cherry blossoms and bamboo were growing on the mountain. 

"Our leader grian along with Mumbo and one of your friends live inside the mountain" scar said .

" inside the mountain?" Jimmy said like a cave was that safe. 

" yes it's were grian and Mumbo chose to live. " scar replied " we all chose where to live once we're either old enough or joined this community".

" can we go there?" Jimmy asked maybe skizz was there and if the leader was there maybe he could ask where impulse and Scott was.

" am afraid we can't " scar replied " they got chores to do and are taking care of skizz we shouldn't bother them and I got chores to do while I show you around".

" that's disappointing" Jimmy thought he almost said it but managed to keep his month shut.

" now then off we go to the first chore getting some potatoes and carrots. Then it's fishing next" scar said, " it's lizzie turn to do laundry and chop wood".

Scar walk do some stairs leading down the mountain Jimmy following scar.

" we have a farm up there but it's just grows wheat" scar said " it may be a long walk to the community farm but you'll get used to it".

Once again he wasn't going to stay forever so Jimmy probably won't get used to this.

The center of the community had various different things animals, plants and crops. 

Scar made his way to where the potatoes and carrots were.

Jimmy could see that there was more than one field that grew potatoes and carrots. 

" this must take forever to care for" Jimmy said to scar as scar place a basket down.

" we all take care of the fields since we all get crops from it" scar said. 

Jimmy stared at scar as he went to grabbed a potato from the dirt.

Maybe he could help even though his arm was broken he could still use one arm. 

He also felt awkward watching scar.

" need help?" He asked scar. scar look at Jimmy as he place a potato into the basket. 

" some help would be nice" scar replied " and it go faster but your injured".

" I'll be careful so please scar" Jimmy asked " I want to help".

Scar look hesitate still but hearing Jimmy say he wants to help him.

" oh alright but be careful I don't want you to make your injury worse and I get in trouble for it" scar replied. 

" thank you scar" Jimmy said " you can get the carrots " scar said he pointed towards the felid behind him.

Jimmy approach it before he did scar handed him the other basket he brought with him for carrots. 

Jimmy got down careful not make his arm worse he reach forward with his non broken arm and grab a carrot.

It was a little hard getting it out of the dirt but Jimmy got it.

He drop it into the basket. 

He didn't know how many scar wanted to get so he just half fill it just to make it less hard to carry and not wanting to take too much. 

As he stood up and went to burst the dirt off his pants someone place a hand on his shoulder. 

Jimmy looked to see who it was . It was a man with a beard he wore black shirt and pants like Jimmy and wore boots he was just stareing at Jimmy. 

" um hello" Jimmy said he was just stareing at him it was creepy. 

" you need to leave" he said " get you and your friends out here quickly!" Before it's too late!".

" are you okay?" Jimmy asked no offense but he sounded kinda crazy. 

" bigb what are you doing!" Scar had saw what was happening and approach the two. 

Bigb look at scar then at Jimmy he let go of Jimmy's shoulder and ran before scar could approach him.

" that was weird and creepy" Jimmy said," that's bigb he been like this since he joined" scar said " Martyn and ren found him like how you guys were found a car crash".

" like us" Jimmy said " yes but bigb thinks we're holding him hostage and he seems paranoid all the time , and he lives near the pale garden" scar replied " I heard it's quite dangerous there especially since lives by himself".

" the pale garden?" Jimmy asked, " it's a place few of us go , it's said that the monster first appeared there. While it seems safe at day I hope bigb doesn't go out at night and by himself it's so dangerous." scar replied. 

So bigb was like him,Scott, impulse and skizz a victim of a car crash and brought here but he chose to live here.

But Jimmy didn't think bigb like being here.

Pov grian 

Grian he watch their new member as he help with the chores. 

Skizz had asked this morning after breakfast to help the chores as thanks for helping him and friends. 

When asked about them grian just told him they were safe.

Skizz was currently doing the dishes as Mumbo approach him a basket in hand.

" he's seem to be already adjusting to his name home and right place" he told Mumbo. 

" do know about the others his friend?" Mumbo asked, " from what I talk about with cleo and pearl, Scott and impulse seem fine but don't look like they want to stay, same with Jimmy. But they'll learned" grian replied. 

" I hope your right" Mumbo said he looked worried " don't worry Mumbo " grian said " well make sure they stay it's destiny" grian said. 

Just like how it was that grian was the reincarnation of the first champion.

" just focus on your chore Mumbo I'll keep a eye on skizz" grian said he also had chores to do.

Just because he was leader didn't mean he stop doing them and just did his duties as leader.

Meanwhile 

A man that looked like reporter sits in what looks like a jail.

His clothes are ruined and his hair a mess he hardly can sleep. 

He sound of door opening.  He looks to see who it is.

Three men the blonde hair man,a man with white hair wearing a black mask and the short guy he kinda felt bad calling him short.

He knows there names most of them he heard then say it.

" dinner time" the blonde hair man said he was holding a bowl. 

Nick knew what it was that same disgusting soup.

They fed it to him everyday since he's been here.

"Atleast Charlie didn't have to eat it" he thought. 

He refused to eat it but they didn't give him a choice. 

Quickly the other two hold him down the short guy holding his mouth opened forcedly. 

The blonde hair man takes a spoonful of the soup.

" eat up" he said before shoving it in his month. 

They make sure he sallows it whether he wants to or not everyone that lived in this cult that brought him food did.

Mouthful after Mouthful they shove that disgusting soup down his throat. 

Until the bowl was empty he want's to throw up but stops himself the last time he let himself he throw up on someone. 

That red-haired young women that wore  pants and a shirt it was accident but her friend didn't believe him.

He got punch for it.

" you got a couple of day left buddy" the blonde hair man said " then you join your friend".

Then they left the door slammed shut. 

Leaving nick alone again with his thoughts. 

" it's all my fault" he thought if he didn't convince Charlie to come here she still be alive. 

The beginning of the month 

" are you sure there's people living here" Charlie asked again while she played reverse :1999 on her phone while nick drove.

" yes am sure," nick said. "And stop playing reverse 1999 were almost here get the camera ready".

Charlie stopped and put her phone away and dug in the bag for the camera. 

This was it a possible boost in his and Charlie jobs. 

They were reporters for a newspaper but most of the jobs were not popular. 

Charlie didn't seem to mind but nick did.

He didn't take this job for the money he wanted to be like his aunt.

One day at a Cafe during his lunch break he had just finished interviewing the biggest scoop his boss thought that nick should take. 

A dog skateboarding while holding a rubber duck in her mouth . 

He like dogs but nick thought it wasn't much different from what he usually interview. 

A old man juggling ,a girl who could sing the ABC song backwards and various animals doing tricks that's what he got recently. 

Until he met that old man he heard him ranting in the Cafe.

Talking about how his brother join a cult a long time ago. 

Apparently he always talk about it to people who listen. 

Most ignored him but not nick.

He asked the old man what he knew. 

Apparently far in the country or woods away from any town. 

There was a cult and apparently his brother join it long ago. 

Nick thought that be a boast in his career and Charlie's even if she didn't care.

He got what information he could that the old man remember .

Send his report in early so he won't miss the deadline and told Charlie that they were going on a trip.

Charlie of course complain buy nick promise he watch the trailers for reverse 1999 characters and buy her pizza , a soda and cherries when they got back. 

" add in you watching big city greens and it's a deal" she said. 

She should be glad that he likes that show too.

So he said deal and they pack their bags and headed after to find that cult.

And now there here.

Nick parks that car far away enough so that no one could see it.

In case no one wants a interview they'll just sneak around and film and shoot some photos. 

No one will notice right?.

He grabbed a flashlight each for him and Charlie Charlie grabbed the camera while nick gran his notebook and paper.

" we're going to be famous hopefully" nick thought and off to better things to interview.

Trees are mostly everywhere did to it begin in a forest or something like that.

He quickly walks Charlie following him.

After a few minutes he thought maybe he shouldn't had believed in the old man. 

Until Charlie spoke " I think I see something" she said to nick she points forwards. 

Nick looks too and he sees it.

It looks like a person they walking around. 

Nick runs towards them hoping to interview them.

Charlie following him . As they get closer the person sees them but runs.

" follow them!" Nick yells to Charlie even if they can't get a interview they attempted least then get poof.

They eventually find themselves in what they assume is the middle of the woods but not a lot of trees. 

But there's buildings several of them.

" Charlie get your camera!" Nick shouts " take pictures!".

Charlie pulls out her camera she snaps a couple of photos she doesn't want to use it all now.

" now let's find someone" nick said they walked around. 

They walk around while they due Charlie takes some photos. 

Then he hears a voice " who are you and what are you doing" nick turn around and sees it's a man he's got a mustache and is wearing black.

" hello we're with the sunshine news" nick said " me and my friend here would like a interview".

Charlie gos to snap a photo scaring the man.

" you shouldn't be here" the man shouts " no reporters allowed!" He shouted.

" where not harming anyone" nick said " how about a interview or your leader every cult has a leader right?" He asked. 

" we're not a cult" the man shouts " and no I'm telling grian!" He attempted to walk away but nick stops him.

" come on just one interview " nick said" might make you guys more popular and more recruits?".

" let go of me" the man shouts he attempted to yank his arm out Nick's grip as he does he falls towards the ground. 

" am so sorry!" He shouted " I didn't mean too" he attempted to help him.

Only for him to be tackle " get away from him!" The person shouts.

He heard Charlie scream the sound of something dropping. 

Nick's pen toward the ground hid notebook and pen on the ground. 

A robe man approach the mustache man and helps him up" you alright Mumbo?" He asked, " am fine" he replied.

Nick can't move whoever holding him down is stronger someone grabs his notebook and pen.

It's a pink hair women, nick then suddenly feels his face shove toward the ground. 

" don't look at her like that you!" It's the guy holding him down. 

Was he and the pink hair lady together. 

" Joel stopped let him look up" nick hears footsteps. 

It's the robe man " what makes you think that you two can come in and record what you see and bother my friends" he said.

" I just wanted a interview please " nick shouts " or least let us go".

" not possible you know too much " the robe man said " bring them to the altar" he shouts.

Nick hears Charlie's yelling as he grabbed by his shirt by the one holding him down he now can see him.

He has brown hair and a green streak in his hair.

He looks for Charlie and sees a brown hair women and red hair women dragging Charlie. 

" don't you dare look at any the women here" he shouts he sounds disgusted. 

" Joel i don't think he's like that one guy" the pink hair women said.

" you can't blame me after that guy flirted with you and gem!" Joel said.

" we're finally here" someone else said nick looks up it looks like some kind of offering thing.

It looked red wait is that.

" bring the woman and place her on the altar" the leader said nick assumed that who he was.

He watches as the two women drag Charlie toward it .

She screams and shouts the whole way.

She's hold down and the brown hair women approaches. 

" it's a lucky day for us" a blonde hair man wearing bandana said " two humans we don't have to sacrifice a animal this month or later in the month. 

Sacrifice they were going to kill them.

" not Charlie take me instead it's my fault-" nick yells but his month is cover by the brown hair man with a green streak in his hair. 

" she will die first as your punishment" the leader said,  " pearl do the honor".

Pearl nods and is handed a knife she raises it.

And stabs Charlie in the stomach first blood pools from it .

Pearl pulls the knife out and stabs again and again. 

Charlie screams at first while nick watches in horror. 

A couple of minutes later she stops and pearl stops stabbing. 

" get rid of the body and send him to jail" the leader shouts.

Charlie they killed and it all his fault.

And now in a couple days he's next.

Chapter Text

By the time he and cleo made it back to her and pearl's house after they finish the chores that cleo and him did it was lunch time almost. 

They only did getting meat and picking apples so far.

" got one more chore to do today " cleo said " but frist we'll eat lunch, you can put the apples away while I go make lunch".

" okay" Scott said entering the cabin he saw pearl and impulse dusting and cleaning the floors. 

Pearl look up from scrubbing the floor " looks like everything went well " she said, cleo nodded their head " are you and impulse doing well with the chores" she asked. 

" he's done very well" pearl replied " we're almost done cleaning the house, then it's off to do get rid of the weeds around here" .

Impulse look like he was doing well Atleast he didn't see a animal get killed in front of him.

" I'll start making lunch now it should be done after you finish" cleo said " we're having beetroot soup and pumpkin pie".

" we need more pumpkins , I'll go get some tomorrow" pearl told cleo " there should be enough left to make two pies ".

Cleo nodded their head and led Scott to kitchen to show where he could put the apples. 

The beetroot soup was tasty and the pumpkin pie tasted good compared to any other pie Scott had eaten. 

Maybe because it was fresh and homemade. 

Cleo told Scott to wait until she was done washing the dishes before they did the last chore they needed to do.

He was going to try and talk to impulse in private about what happened but he ask cleo if he could help with the dishes. 

They accept so while they did that Scott just sat around and waited. 

But not for long he saw pearl carrying what look like some meat and leaving the house. 

He decided to follow her . He saw a doghouse earlier did she have a dog?.

He opened the door and walk outside closing it he looked for pearl.

She was near the doghouse.  Scott approached her.

" you got a dog?" He asked, pearl jumped a little almost dropping the meat she turn around. 

" Scott you scared me" she said, " sorry I saw you bring some meat out here. And I remember seeing a doghouse out here so I figured you got a dog. Am I right?" He asked. 

Pearl look at at him ." Yes I haven't introduced you and impulse to them" she said, she grabbed a bowl that was sitting in front of the doghouse. 

" tilly!" She shouts " it's time for your lunch " a head poke itself from the house. 

It looked like a wolf she walks outside and looks at pearl wagging her tail.

" hi tilly it's your lunch are your babies sleeping" she asked as she shoved the bowl close to the wolf. 

Tilly begin to eat as she did Scott could hear barking inside the dog house. 

Then suddenly two little bundles of Grey fur run out and towards pearl. 

They begin to lick her arm. One of them then attempted to bite her fingers but pearl just let it.

She turn towards Scott, " this is tilly" pearl said as she introduced the wold that was eating and these are her children " billy and milly" she looked at the wolf pups as they play fight.

" I found tilly when she was a puppy while I was heading home . She was injured so I took her with me and patch her up. I was going to let her go but..." pearl look at tilly " we got attached to each other."

Scott look at the wolfs tilly seem happy here and her wolf pups were cute.

" I did have a another one the father of tilly's children . But he went missing." Pearl said .

" sorry to hear that" Scott said, " it's fine" pearl replied " he just wasn't cut out to begin a tame wolf."

One of the wolf pups started to walk over to Scott but was stop by pearl " don't wander off billy" she said to the wolf pup.

Scott just watch the wolfs for little bit they were cute and pearl seem like she did a good job taking care of them.

Did people here usually keep wolf for pets?

 but it wasn't a question he would get a answer for now.

Cleo had finished with the dishes . She approach Scott " let's do the next  chore now" she told him.

" sure what is it?" He asked, " we need to make some more paper" they said " we're getting a bit low. I'll show how we make it."

Making paper that sounded hard to make. 

Pov Jimmy 

Jimmy walk around scar was busy fishing since it would take awhile scar suggested Jimmy could walk around as long as he doesn't get lost or to far.

He followed the river that scar was fishing at downstream. 

He looked around he wasn't sure if he see his friends. 

What were they doing were they stuck inside or were the people here having them work.

He was distracted with his thoughts he almost ran into a tree.

Someone had grabbed his non injured arm.

" that was a close one." The person said," don't want you to get more injured".

Jimmy turn to see who saved him from running into the tree.

It was blonde hair man he wore black like scar did but he had pants and a shirt like the outfit Jimmy was given. 

The most noticeable thing Jimmy noticed was that the guy was barefooted. 

If he remembered correctly didn't lizzie walk around barefooted too? 

" you okay?" The guy asked , Jimmy looked at him " sorry lost in thoughts" he replied, " I noticed " he replied. 

" thanks for saving me . I'm Jimmy" Jimmy said he held his hand out for the guy to take. 

" Tango" the guy said he took Jimmy's hand " and don't mention it . I don't want one of the new guys getting more hurt".

Does everyone think their joining Jimmy hopes he can see that grian guy soon and talk to him.

But for now maybe he'll talk to tango.

" so you heard about what happened?" Jimmy asked, " yeah pretty much news spends quickly around here" Tango replied. 

" how many live here?" Jimmy asked, " before you four about fourteen of us live here . But now since you guys are here eighteen." Tango replied. 

A small population for this community " has it always been like this" Jimmy asked, " not really when I joined there was probably about 40 or 50 that lived here but that was years ago. I was in my twenties when I joined." Tango replied. 

That many Jimmy thought what happened to them.

" most of the died of either illnesses , old age or the monster got them because they went outside at night and a few because they broke the rules." Tango said. 

" broke the rules like you kick them out?" Jimmy asked, tango looked at Jimmy " something like that . We don't usually have to . The leader punished most rulebreakers by temporary exile or they eat only suspicious stew for 3 days or more" Tango replied. 

" suspicious stew?" Jimmy said " it's a soup most of us don't eat . It's usually use for punishment or emergency food" tango replied. 

Jimmy hope he doesn't eat that soup.

" well it was nice talking to you Jimmy but I got to get back to apple picking . I can't slack off while bdubs and etho do theirs" tango said. 

" are those your teammates?" Jimmy asked, " yep we lived together " tango said " etho joined not to long after I did and bdubs lived here a year longer than I have" .

" hope to see you again soon" tango said, " wait before you go. do you know the way back to the river?" Jimmy asked he was a bit lost.

" sure" Tango replied with his help Jimmy found the river and followed it back to scar.

He found that he was almost done fishing. 

Tango seem like a good guy . But Jimmy couldn't help but wonder what he meant by punishing the rulebreakers that broke a serious rule.

Maybe he was overthinking it 

 It was probably just them kicking them out of their community. 

Chapter Text

Both Scott and cleo went to bed late after a long job of making paper.

They did take a couple of breaks one begin dinner which was mutton and baked potato with some leftover pumpkin pie. 

He didn't get a chance to tell impulse about the pig yet.

Scott woke to sound of rain hitting the window in the early morning. 

It was dark and the candle by the table was out. 

Scott sat up , he didn't know where the candles or lanterns were .

He didn't know if pearl or cleo left any in this room. He could still see some but he didn't want accidentally bump into anything or anything. 

He managed to make his way to the desk in the room. 

The lantern on it was out . Maybe he try and light again but he didn't have any fuel and didn't know what pearl or cleo used. 

If he had a candle he could use it but where was some matchs.

He wasn't sure if either pearl or cleo was up.

He decided to check he just hope he doesn't run into them in the dark.

Feeling the wall he makes his way to the door, opening it he continued to feel the wall .

He then hears a voice " Scott?" He looks it's pearl she has a candle in one hand that is lit.

" morning pearl" he said " it's dark this morning isn't it" .

Pearl look at Scott the realized something. " we forget to leave you or impulse some candles in case either of you needed one" pearl said.

" it would come in handy" Scott replied he wish this place had electricity at least he could try and find a lightswitch expect if the power go out.

" sorry Scott, I'll go get you a candle and some flint and steel" pearl said " follow me I don't want you to bump into anything".

Scott stayed close to pearl do to the only light begin the candle.

They make thier way to pearl's room " we keep some in our rooms and the kitchen" pearl said " just to be safe".

Opening the door Scott could see a couple of candles that were lit in pearl's room.

Just like Scott's room pearl's bed had whit sheets, her desk however had some paper,a quill and ink on it.

" I keep them in my closet" pearl said "it'll be just a second hopefully".

Pearl makes her way to her closet she sits the candle down careful to not let it catch anything on fire.

She rummages though her closet for a few seconds before finding what she is looking for. 

" there they are!" She yells she grabs a few candles and something else. 

She walks towards her desk " come here" she tells Scott " I'll show how to light it" Scott heads towards were pearl is.

" we use flint and steel to light fires and candles" she said she then demonstrates to Scott. 

She hits the flint and steel together Scott sees a spark and then the candle is lit.

" that's how you do it . Don't forget" pearl said, " I won't " Scott replied. 

She hands him the candle and the unlit candles so Scott could have spares.

Pearl picks up the candle she was using light.

" we should  see of impulse and cleo are awake" pearl said " we'll start breakfast after we checked".

Pearl and Scott leaved pearl's room both find that impulse and cleo are awake. 

Apparently impulse almost ran into cleo when he walk out into the hallway in the dark.

" we're sorry that we didn't leave any candles or lanterns for you to use" cleo said " we'll be more prepared next time and tell us if you ran out".

" it's alright pearl and cleo" impulse replied, " impulse is right ,you didn't expect to have two more people staying with you two" Scott said. 

" we're usually prepared" cleo said, " it's just a mistake everyone makes a mistake" impulse said. 

" he's right" pearl said, " now let's get breakfast started I believe it's your turn right cleo?" She asked. 

Before cleo could answer Scott decided to ask if he could cook instead. 

He wanted to pay cleo and pearl back sure he and impulse have been helping with the chores but it seem more like they were learning than helping. 

" can I cook breakfast?" He asked, " you want to cook?" Pearl asked " not to be rude or anything but are you sure?" She asked. 

" I can do it" cleo said, " I'll be fine" Scott replied he just had to make something that they eat in this community right.

" if you need any help just ask " cleo said they led Scott towards the kitchen while pearl talk to impulse. 

The kitchen had wooden cupboards and cabinets, a water pump instead of a faucet so water could be used for dishes, the oven was made of stone and looked like it used wood.

" I'll show you where we keep the food and where the bowels,plates and utensils are" cleo said before they left Scott to cook. 

Scott thought about what to make he saw some mushrooms maybe he try and make the mushroom stew?.

He checked to see if there was enough bread so he could  served it with the stew just enough for breakfast. 

He needs to tell pearl or cleo that they needed more bread.

He's never made mushroom stew before but hopefully it'll turn out okay.

There was two different kinds of mushrooms does he put both in?.

Scott does his best in making the mushroom stew he cuts the mushrooms and puts some into the pot. 

He grabbed some wood and opened the stove and place them into the stove and lights it with some flint in steel. 

After the water boils he adds the mushroom does he put anything else in there.

He looks around for any herbs or spices only to find some that saids it's for tea.

He leaves it alone and decided to slice the bread up while waiting for the stew to cook. 

After sometime the stew is done, Scott's unsure how mushroom stew is supposed to look .

" this is fine right?" He said to himself. 

Hopefully they'll all like it.

The rain had stopped as he was done placing the stew into bowels and bread onto a cloth onto the table in front of the others. 

The mushroom stew is unique. It's not bad but something he wouldn't eat often .

The meal is silent.  He's unable to tell if pearl or cleo like it . Impulse seems like he's just unsure about it.

After they finish pearl speaks " thank you for making breakfast Scott.  It was good." Pearl said, " I agree it was good." Cleo replied. 

" it was unique" impulse said, " it was my first time making mushroom stew" Scott said, " I say it was a good job" cleo replied pearl nodded her head agreeing before taken the dishes.  Before she left she mentioned needing to make some bread do to it running out.

" while pearl makes bread ,we should get more wheat,pumpkins and extra sugar cane." Cleo said " and maybe some more wood . Even sticks we'll do.".

They look at Scott and impulse " impulse you can get the wood." Cleo tells impulse ,she then looks at Scott " Scott you can get sugar cane. I'll go get the axe and a knife."

Cleo decided to show impulse and Scott where the axe was kept in a little shed.

She hands the axe to impulse and the knife to Scott. 

" be careful with them" cleo said, then begin to head towards the center impulse and Scott following. 

" sometimes we cut the trees where we lived. But we most of the time we chopped the trees in the forest but we don't go to far most of the time.  Don't want to get lost." Cleo said .

During the walk Scott decided to whisper to impulse. 

" there something I need to tell you" Scott whispers to impulse before he talk back he checked to see if cleo was listening or anything. 

They were just focus on heading towards their destination. 

" what is it?" He asked, " yesterday cleo tried to get to kill a pig." Scott said, " kill a pig?" Impulse asked, " it was for food.  But cleo asked me too . I didn't but it was horrible." Scott said" she just killed it".

Impulse stared at Scott " they probably do that around here themselves. " he replied " I don't like that idea.  But apparently they don't have a butcher here from you saying that".

" we need to leave as soon possible" Scott said " once we find Jimmy and skizz".

Impulse nodded he held the axe tightly. 

The walk towards the center was silent for the rest of the time. 

Scott and impulse look around hoping to spot Jimmy or skizz. 

As he looked around Scott was both surprised and glad to see who was there.

Dressed In black and broken arm in a sling was Jimmy he was with two other people. 

A pink hair women wearing a black dress like cleo's except she had pink flowers on it and she was barefooted.  Next to her was a man wearing black robes like Scott, he had scars on his face and was holding a cane.

" impulse! look " Scott yelled " Jimmy's here!" Impulse look around hoping to see Jimmy and saw him.

Both men rushed towards their friend glad he was okay. 

" Jimmy!" Scott yelled, Jimmy turn around hearing Scott, surprised but happy.

" Scott!,impulse!" He shouted " your both okay!" The two people he was with were watching them.

" we're so glad to see you" impulse said," same" Jimmy said he noticed the bandages on Scott's head.

" is that from the car crash?" He asked, " yes" Scott replied, " but cleo and pearl said it's getting better.  Their who me and impulse are staying with .cleo's over there" he pointed to cleo, Jimmy looked at them before looking back at Scott. 

" what about you?" He asked, " I don't know how my arm is doing" Jimmy replied " but am staying with scar and lizzie." The man and women approach Scott, impulse and Jimmy, cleo approach too.

" these are two of your friends jimmy?" The pink hair women asked Scott assumed she was lizzie while the man with the scars was scar.

" this is Scott and impulse" Jimmy replied, the man with the scars held his hand out " nice to meet you.  Scott and impulse I'm scar" scar said he smiled .

Both Scott and impulse shook his hand ," I'm lizzie" lizzie said " it's nice to meet some of Jimmy's friends" she also shook hands with them. 

They seem okay people so far . While scar and lizzie introduced themselves to Scott and impulse, cleo introduced herself to Jimmy. 

" seems like you three are adjusting okay in your new homes" scar said, " we're not staying forever " Scott replied " we're leaving after we all get better and find skizz".

Scar,lizzie and cleo frowned at Scott for saying that. Scar then changed the subject. 

" Scott, you and impulse should know that tomorrow there's a wedding" scar said " lizzie's getting married, It's been forever since a wedding".

A wedding Scott wonder what they did for weddings around here .

" congratulations" he told lizzie " you don't have to congratulate me now wait until after the wedding" lizzie replied. 

" she and Joel have been together for awhile even before they joined are little community" scar said " but I shouldn't be talking about this or anything else we all got chores to do." He looked at the axe impulse was holding. 

" your going to chopped wood" he asked " i can show you where to go. So you won't get lost in the woods."

" that be nice" impulse replied " thanks". " Don't thank me" scar replied " I'm just doing what any of us should do and offer help ,even if we're not teammates we should help everyone".

" Scott want me to show you where some sugar cane is?" Cleo asked, " I saw some when I met ren" Scott replied hopefully there was still some left.

" I'll join you if that's alright" Jimmy asked to lizzie and scar,and Scott. 

" that be fine" both scar and lizzie replied, Scott nodded his head he get a chance to talk to Jimmy alone hopefully. 

Scar and impulse went to go chopped some wood,while lizzie went to go get some watermelon, cleo went to go get pumpkins and wheat.

The knife was sharp as Scott used to cut into the sugar cane.

" do know where skizz is?" Jimmy asked, " I don't know " Scott replied " I was hoping you knew".

The only thing they knew was that skizz was with the leader and another person called Mumbo. 

" if we can't find him today . Then maybe at the wedding?" Jimmy said everyone would probably be there .

" it's are best choice " Scott replied " then tomorrow night or the early morning we leave".

" they seem adamant about wanting us to stay" Jimmy said, " they smiled a lot it's almost creepy" Scott replied. 

" this community seems a bit strange" Jimmy replied. 

" yesterday cleo tried to get me to kill a pig" Scott said," she did what!" Jimmy yelled, " I didn't do it but they killed it in front of me while I was holding it. It was for food but she seem so casual doing it" Scott said. 

" the one day lizzie came back with mutton she said she killed the sheep herself" Jimmy said " it's probably normal around here".

" we haven't met everyone" Scott replied, " other then lizzie and scar ,I met two people" Jimmy said. 

" who are they?" Scott asked, " there names were bigb and tango" Jimmy replied " bigb seem paranoid . While tango seem nice . What about you have you met anyone else".

" I met a guy named ren" Scott replied, " it was yesterday.  He seem nice and he's he's of the people that brought us here".

" you met one of the people that brought us here" Jimmy said, " he and Martyn one of the other people that found us and brought us here,they apparently portol around the community near sunset and night " Scott replied. 

" that could be a problem" Jimmy said they didn't know much about them who knows what we'll happen. 

But they can't stay here forever. 

Meanwhile 

" this the last one" Mumbo told Skizz as he finish hanging up the bedsheets. 

Skizz decided to help Mumbo with his chores, he even offer to help grian but the leader rejected his offer. 

" I got some other jobs to do that only a leader can do" he told Skizz " I'll try and be back before lunch " he then put on a apron and grab a knife then left.

From the little he knew grian seemed like a busy guy but it's probably because he is in charge of this community. 

The only people skizz had seen so far is Mumbo and grian.

Maybe he take a walk later and look around meet the other people that lived here and find his friends. 

Skizz went to grabbed the empty basket when he heard a sound. 

A twig or tree branch snapping and someone yelling in pain.

Dropping the basket skizz ran to see what happened and if he could help this person. 

Not to far from here near a river a blonde hair man wearing the same outfit as skizz and Mumbo was on the ground. 

" Are you alright?" he asked the guy as he went to help him.

As he got closer he could see that the guy foot was bleeding blood was on the twig he stepped on.

" I step on a tree branch!" The guy shouted " I always check before I take a step.  But I got distracted" he told Skizz. 

Skizz heard footsteps it was Mumbo he looked at tango.

" we need to clean the wound and patch up . Before it gets worse are the scent of blood attract the monster when it gets dark" Mumbo said. 

" skizz go get a cloth so we can soak in water and use to clean tango's wound . I'll get the rest" he asked. 

" sure" skizz replied so the guy name was tango. 

Mumbo and skizz quickly ran inside, Mumbo showed skizz were the cloth they used for injuries or sick was before grabbing some cloth bandages and a jar which skizz assumed contain medicine. 

they were back quickly as they could  and skizz place the cloth into the clean river.

He pulled it out and handed to tango.

" thanks" Tango replied he cleaned the wound himself and then Mumbo open the jar and tango dip his fingers in it and smeared it onto his wound, Mumbo than wrapped tango's foot in a bandage.

" thanks Mumbo" Tango said he then look at skizz " thank you too . I don't know your name" he said. 

" skizz it's skizz " skizz replied  " nice to met you skizz.  I'm tango" Tango said " thanks for the help" ," don't mention it" skizz replied. 

" Tango what were you doing around here?" Mumbo asked, " me I was collecting tree branch, twigs and everything that could be used for kindling" Tango replied he pointed towards a pile of leaves and twigs mostly .

Mumbo looked at the pile and back to tango," is bdubs or etho around or not too far" Mumbo asked tango.

" I'm afraid not bdubs went to go get potatoes. While etho is at home doing chores there" Tango replied he attempted to stand up only to fell back down in pain.

" you can't do you chores for now" Mumbo said ," we can help you back home" skizz asked. 

" are you sure?" Tango asked " you got chores to do and I still have to get beef ".

" it'll be fine" Mumbo said " I'll tell grian he'll understands.".

Skizz help tango up making sure he won't put any pressure on his injured foot while Mumbo pick up what tango had collected.

" let's go hopefully we'll back before lunch" Mumbo told Skizz. 

Pov grian

He checked to making everything was done for the wedding. 

It would be tomorrow it's been years since they had a wedding. 

He offered choices to Joel and lizzie for what they wanted and could used. 

Everything would go well and it be the first time for the newcomers. 

Scott, Jimmy, impulse and skizz this is where they should be not anywhere else. 

They won't let them go.

And tomorrow they would see their first sacrifice. 

Grian then holds out his knife looking at a chicken minding it's business. 

He now should do his chores even though he was now leader he still had to do this.

Chapter Text

It was a sunny day today ,breakfast was quick do to there begin a wedding today. 

Scott and impulse both hope to find skizz at the wedding, along with Jimmy begin there they could hopefully spot skizz. 

They'll leave after the wedding and say goodbye. 

Pearl and cleo were nice and did so much for him and impulse. 

But they have to leave sooner or later this wasn't their home.

Pearl led the way ,there was some chairs and and a table with drinks and goodies like a wedding would have .

It looked like a outdoor wedding but Scott noticed something the altar was right were the bride and groom would be.

But why was it stain red? Deciding to ignore it Scott look around for Jimmy and skizz. 

He then heard a familiar voice " guys is that you?" Impulse was the first to look than Scott. 

It was skizz he was standing next to a guy with a mustache .

" skizz!" Impulse shorted as they approach skizz. 

Scott could also that Jimmy was coming over having to have spotted them.

" it's great to see you guys!" Skizz said, " it's great to see you too skizz" impulse said, " sorry I haven't been looking for you guys" skizz said " I been helping Mumbo and grian as thanks".

" we been looking around whenever we can" impulse said " otherwise we just been helping around too".

Scott noticed the mustache guy looking at them " this is Mumbo" skizz said " Mumbo these are my friends, impulse, smajor and Jimmy".

Mumbo looked at them " it's nice to see you all are doing well" he said," wasn't one the names of the people that saved us and brought here name Mumbo?" Jimmy asked, " Yes I'm one of the people that found you guys and brought you back here" Mumbo replied. 

" thanks for saving us" Jimmy said both Scott and impulse thank Mumbo too.

" it's nothing we try and help people that are lost or injured or in a car crash" Mumbo replied. 

Mumbo than suggested for them to look around before the wedding starts and to met the people that they didn't know. 

Jimmy noticed someone who he recognized it was tango he was sitting in one the chairs one his foot was bandage and standing next to him was two other men.

Jimmy assumed they were his teammates both men wore shoes unlike tango .

Jimmy decided that he wanted to talk to tango and met his teammates ,Scott, impulse and skizz decided to follow him saying bye to Mumbo. 

Tango had noticed them and wave " Jimmy!,skizz!" He shouted " it's great to see you two again " .

" you met tango?" Skizz asked ," ya I got lost and help me get back to the river" Jimmy replied, " what about you how do you and tango know each other?" He asked, " yesterday I injured my foot " tango said " I was near our leader and Mumbo's place and skizz and Mumbo help me out,skizz help me home".

That explains why his foot was injured, " tango these are are other friends" skizz said " smajor and impulse " both Scott and impulse wave at tango " nice to met you guys" tango replied, " only skizz has met them ,theses are my teammates" tango pointed to the white hair guy wearing a black mask " this is etho" he said he then pointed to the other guy " and this is bdubs".

" nice to met you" etho said, " what etho said" bdubs said " it's nice to meet you all".

They talk to bdubs,etho and tango for little bit before they decided to try and meet the people they haven't met.

" hey Scott " someone shouted it sounded familiar to Scott he looked it was the guy that helped the other day.

" ren right?" Scott asked as he approached " yes that's my name " ren replied Scott could see another man with ren he wore black robes like Scott did but he was barefooted just like ren ,tango ,lizzie and pearl did.

" this my friend Martyn" ren said " we portol together ".

" hello Scott" Martyn said, " nice to meet you Martyn" Scott replied " your one the people that saved us right?".

" yes" Martyn replied, " well thank you and ren for saving us" Scott said, " it's nothing doing our jobs" Martyn replied, Scott then looked at his friends " these are my friends, Jimmy, impulse and skizz " he said, " nice to meet you " Jimmy said, " thanks for saving us" impulse said skizz said the same thing as impulse did.

" it's great to see that all of you are doing better " Martyn replied ," have you met everyone " ren asked, " no" Scott said, " we'll bigb over there" ren said he looked over to the table where a man with a beard was standing and placing things on it.

" I met him well if you count that as a meeting" Jimmy said " no offense but bigb sounded paranoid".

" bigb always been like that" ren said," he stays by himself and lives close to the pale woods," Martyn said " that place is dangerous ".

" maybe we should leave him alone" impulse said, skizz wanted to speak to bigb but Scott and Jimmy agreed. 

So they left bigb alone, there was still some people they haven't met but there wasn't anytime left.

" the weddings starting" a red hair women wearing black pants and a shirt shouted " take your seats!".

Scott, impulse, Jimmy and skizz decided to sit together, Mumbo was behind skizz while cleo and pearl sat behind Scott and impulse, scar and lizzie were no where innsight Jimmy understood that since this was lizzie's wedding she wouldn't be in the audience but where was scar?.

Suddenly a robe man appeared and walk in front of the altar .

Scott assumed this man was the leader  maybe after the wedding one of them could talk to him.

A brown hair man with a green streak in his hair appeared he was wearing all whit but he had no shoes. 

" that must be joel" Scott thought, as Joel took his place where he was standing the red hair women wearing black pants and shirt stood next to him like a best man would at the wedding Scott assumed she was the best man.

Suddenly Joel looked ahead, everyone look behind themselves. 

Walking down the aisle was lizzie dress in a white dress ,a flower crown in her hair next to her was scar.

The two walk down and toward Joel once they where there lizzie said something to scar probably thank you to him and then scar stood near the side.

The leader then spoke " we are here today to see the marriage between Elizabeth shadow and Joel smallishbeans" he spoke " now then let's start with the bracelet and the necklace exchange ,scar and gem you have them right?" .

" yes we do leader" both scar and gem said gem pulled out a gold necklace with diamonds on it while scar pulled a gold bracelet with what look like red sparkles on it.

Gem handed the necklace to Joel, " now Joel you place the necklace on lizzie . This necklace that you made symbols you love for her ,while lizzie you'll put the bracelet on Joel it symbols you love for him". The leader said, Joel place the necklace on lizzie and than afterwards lizzie place the bracelet on Joel's right arm.

" now than you two may kiss and on to the final task you two must do so you are married" the leader said, Joel and lizzie than kiss and the leader went behind the altar and pulled something or actually someone un top of it.

Scott, Jimmy impulse and skizz looked that was a person a man he looked horrible .

Gem and scar held the man down the second he try to to struggle his wrist and legs where tied.

" now Joel and lizzie " the leader said as he handed something to Joel a dagger. 

" you must sacrifice this man to be together and for luck" he said .

Joel nodded and grabbed the dagger then lizzie place her hand on it.

The two lifted the dagger together and then stabbed it into the man's chest killing him.

Scott could hear people cheering he looked skizz and Jimmy looked horrified and impulse look sick.

They just killed someone and as cheering. 

Scott was the frist to stand up then Jimmy, impulse and skizz. 

Without any hesitation they ran ," we'll just ran in the woods!" Scott yelled hopefully if they follow them then lose them then find a road and follow it to a town and get help. 

It was just a few minutes when started running when someone tackle Scott. 

He fell towards the ground the person holding him down Scott look up he couldn't see who it was but could see the others where begin restrained too.

Impulse was begin held down by the red hair women wearing black pants and shirt ,along with the leader,skizz was begin held down by Mumbo and etho while Jimmy was trapped in what look like a bearhug by Martyn. 

" let us go you monsters!" Jimmy shouted trying to get escape from Martyn. 

" am afraid we can't " the leader replied " you all belong here" .

" no we don't " Scott shouted, " we'll make you stay be the tea" the leader said. 

" sorry about this Scott" ren said Scott finally knew who was holding him down it was ren. 

Cleo approach impulse holding a cup ,scar approach Jimmy, bdubs towards skizz and finally pearl toward Scott. 

" why are you all doing _mmf" before Jimmy could finished speaking scar took the opportunity to dump the liquid from the cup into Jimmy's mouth. 

Skizz had opened his mouth in shock and bdubs took the opportunity to force it into skizz's mouth.

Both impulse and Scott attempted to keep there month shut but the young red hair women trickle impulse making him open his mouth cleo grabbed his chin and force the cup towards his lips.

" open your mouth Scott " pearl said, he won't he doesn't want to drink whatever that is .

" I guess you want to see you die from the poisoning" ren said, " poison!" Scott yelled , pearl then forced the liquid into Scott's mouth. 

" sorry for saying it poison" ren said, the 'tea' had a surprisely nice taste but Scott didn't want to drink it but pearl wasn't going to let him not drink it.

After the cup was empty pearl finally pulled it away. 

Scott attempted to throw up to get it out but before he could he was falling asleep. 

" night Scott" pearl said it was the last thing he heard before he fell asleep. 

Grian was the first to stand after making sure they were asleep. 

He looked around all four was asleep now it's been awhile since they had to use it.

" take them back to thier homes" grian said ,Martyn place Jimmy over his shoulder and followed scar back to the his house, ren placed Scott on his back while gem and bdubs carried impulse following pearl and cleo,Mumbo with etho's help carried skizz back.

Joel and lizzie approach him " sorry that you're wedding was kinda ruined" he told them " it's alright none of us expect it" Joel replied, " where bigb" grian asked, " he try to run too but me and lizzie caught him,we gave him the tea" Joel replied " well take him home and then me and lizzie we'll go to ours".

" what about tango" lizzie asked, " I'll help him home" grian replied " just go get bigb home ".

Joel and lizzie walk away, griam place his head on his forehead today wasn't supposed to be like this.

But they had no choice but to used the tea they have to stay.

Chapter Text

Scott woke to a headache and feeling thirsty. 

" what happened" he thought he remembered a little bit from yesterday meeting almost everyone in the community and the wedding. 

But what happened afterwards Scott couldn't remembered. 

It was the early morning the sun was coming up.

Scott got out of bed still feeling tried. Did he stay up late or something. 

He opened the door to hid room and could see cleo leaving their room. 

" morning cleo" Scott said, she jumped then looked. 

" Scott you scared me" she said, " sorry " Scott replied, " do you remember what happened yesterday all I last remembered was the wedding".

Cleo look at Scott before they answered, " you,impulse, Jimmy and skizz accidentally consumed something that wasn't to eat" cleo said, " don't worry all it did was make you all pass out we brought you back here so you can recover".

" we eat something we shouldn't had" Scott said it didn't sound like something he would do.

" it wasn't any you guys fault it should have be labeled more properly and it's easy to mistake for food" cleo replied, " what was it?" Scott asked. 

Only for cleo to make a face " I don't want to talk about it " they said. 

It must be something bad but Scott couldn't help but think something was wrong. 

Maybe because he was tried and thirsty. 

" are you okay Scott?" Cleo asked, " I'm just tried ,thirsty and my head hurts" Scott replied. 

" I'll get you some water" cleo replied " than I'll start breakfast".

Scott thank cleo before following her to the kitchen she kept a eye on him.

Pov pearl

Pearl woke to milly and Billy licking her face while tilly lick her hand.

She smiled at them and gave them all pets before getting up to get ready and then check on Scott or impulse. 

Yesterday lizzie and Joel's wedding didn't go to well do to the newcomers panicking and trying to run. 

Pearl didn't understand why they try to ,they weren't going to hurt them .

She knew it was their first time seeing a sacrifice but they didn't have to react like that.

They had to give them the tea to calm them down.

Which met they had to lie about what happened to them yesterday. 

It's been awhile since they done that .

She and cleo will have to make up a lie to avoid telling them the truth. 

But it will keep them here right?.

After getting dress in clean clothes pearl headed out her room her wolfs following her.

She bumped into Impulse on the way to his room. 

Luckily he didn't remember anything but the wedding minus the sacrifice and the tea.

Pearl told impulse that he ,Scott, skizz and Jimmy accidentally ate something they shouldn't and fell unconscious. That they had to bring them back home. 

Impulse brought it and apologized for ruining the wedding and plan to apologized to Joel and lizzie. 

" don't worry their not angry it's just a mistake some newcomers have done that before" pearl replied it wasn't a lie people have accidentally ate that plant before. 

She help impulse to the kitchen to get him some water finding cleo and Scott there.

After breakfast which was just some apples, Scott and impulse was feeling better. 

But pearl thought they should take it easy " you two rest we'll do the chores" she told the two. 

" are you sure" impulse asked, " we'll be fine" cleo replied, them and pearl have done the chores themselves before Scott and impulse show up.

Cleo stay with Scott and impulse to keep a eye on them while they did their chores.

Today pearl was going to get mushrooms and chicken grabbing a basket , cloth and knife she was ready to her chores. 

She let tilly and her puppies outside as she left the house. 

As pearl walk to where to get mushrooms, she looks at herself. 

Some considered her a innocent woman but pearl doesn't think she is.

She kills so many but they deserve it,she may not wear shoes but she doesn't think that ment she was a innocent women. 

Martyn and ren went barefooted but were not considered innocent, it used to be here that if you went barefooted you were seen as a innocent person. 

But pearl knew she ,Martyn and ren were not that.

If she was asked who she saw as innocent pearl would say scar was the most innocent of them all.

He had the least kills he only sacrifice one person, bigb also only killed one person too pearl thought he was  innocent, she also thought of gem and tango as innocent too.

With the exception of the newcomers everyone here has killed a person Atleast once.

Pearl had a lot of kills ,but not as much as grian and Martyn. 

She ,Martyn, grian and scar were the reincarnation of the champions. 

As a result she ,Martyn and grian did lots of sacrifices .

But for some reason grian never let scar do any sacrifices that often even though he's the reincarnation of the 5th champion.

He always makes sure everyone gets a turn to do the sacrifice. 

Pearl remembers the first time she killed a person she was eighteen .

A member of their cult but he did nothing wrong, he had a illness that nothing could cure.

Rather then let the illness claim his life he asked the leader if he could be the next sacrifice. 

It was rare to request to be the sacrifice but it was accepted. 

Pearl attempted to make his death quick and painless hopefully. 

She remember the dagger holding it bringing it to his throat. 

Before she slash his throat he said thank you to her.

Pearl felt regret killing that man and some others. 

She wasn't supposed to have regret killing the people but she sometimes did.

She was supposed to be reincarnation of the third champion and along with the other champions protect their friends and the others. 

But she didn't behave like the others, pearl never wore the robes .

She wonders what her parents would think of her.

When it was discovered that pearl was the reincarnation of the third champion her parents were given blessing and congratulations .

Several members in this community had hopes that one of their children would be the reincarnation of one the champions or even one the champions friends. 

Two other families succeed with their child being the reincarnation of the champions. 

The other failed, some however end up having the reincarnation of the champions friends. 

She,grian and Martyn were born here, gem,cleo,ren and mumbo were also born here.

Tango,etho,bdubs,bigb, joel,lizzie and scar were not born here.

But it was destiny for them begin here.

Just like how Scott, impulse, Jimmy and skizz belong here too.

But pearl couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about using the tea on Scott, impulse, skizz, Jimmy and bigb.

But why did she feel this way.

Chapter Text

Grian walk towards the woods to get wood . This morning skizz had woke up. He didn't remember what happened yesterday. 

When he ask what happened grian and Mumbo just told him he ate a plant that wasn't safe to eat and that it wasn't a problem. 

Some people even in this community eaten that plant by accident so it was what they went with.

He believe it and the others well too. They belong here.

He left Mumbo to watch over skizz while he went to get wood.

Grian didn't understand why they try to run away .

They weren't going to hurt them they save them from that car crash and brought them here to where they belong. 

Bigb also still keep trying to escape occasionally not as often as he did before. 

Why didn't they understand?.

" Atleast scar wasn't like this" grian thought he remembered that day.

Years ago

" want to go for a walk Mumbo?" ,Mumbo looked at him .

He was younger than grian by few years but the two of them were close like brothers. 

" sorry I can't" Mumbo replied, " I got to help my mum with laundry " .

Grian understood it was just Mumbo and his mum his mother never had any teammates so Mumbo had to help her often. 

Grian on the other hand his parents were dead they due when he was five so he place with some other kids of the community and they were cared for by some of the others. 

As a result grian got his chores done pretty quickly. 

" okay " grian said " hopefully next time he said before leaving Mumbo. 

The sun was still out so he could walk around before it got dark.

He saw some people patrolling around.  He could see Martyn following ren as always. 

Since he was little Martyn would always follow ren ,ren didn't mind and let him he even took care of Martyn. 

Grian not sure if Martyn saw ren as a father figure or a older brother. 

Just like grian,  Martyn parents died when he was young in Martyn case he was a toddler. 

Grian walk and looked around some people were finishing up there chores and he could see some birds flying around. 

He walk into the woods he wasn't sure where he was going and stop .

But he had to be careful not to get lost he didn't want to worry anyone.

He and Mumbo did it before and as a result they were force to stay with a adult for the next three days as punishment. 

Grian look at the ground there was sticks ,grass and flowers on the ground. 

He looked at the sticks he didn't feel like taking one with him so he just continued to walk .

Even though their was few other kids in the community grian just mostly hang out with Mumbo. 

He did sometimes play with gem and pearl who was Mumbo age.

It not like they didn't get along it was just well he didn't know. 

Pearl when she didn't have chores would spend most of her free time around cleo .

Grian like cleo in fact all the children like cleo out of who would take care of them.

She was strict when she needed to but she would give them treats if they were good and taught them what they needed to know. 

For some reason cleo didn't team up with anyone yet when ask about it they replied with.

" no one interested in being my teammate and neither am i" they replied with .

When you turn eighteen in the community you could either form your own team or join one.

Grian had a feeling that once she was eighteen pearl would make a team with cleo and Martyn would team up with ren.

Even though he had 4 years to go grian knew he would make a team with Mumbo. 

The two of them dicuss this whenever they could. 

They would live in a cave in or near a mountain. 

That was what they plan to do.

He and Mumbo would be the best team even though there was no best team.

" we still need to figure out a name" he thought suddenly he stops.

Grian freezes he's out of the woods how far did he walk.

He can see a road and he looks at the sky the sun almost gone.

" oh no!" He yelled he needed to get back quickly. 

Before he could run he hears a noise. Then a loud sound. 

" what was that!" He thought he ran towards where he heard the sound. 

Grian sees what it is now he never seen one before but learn about what their called by begin taught about it and mention by people who join but rarely. 

A car it was damaged grian knows it's a car crash they sometimes find people that crash thier cars and saved and help them.

As thanks they join the community of course now not the time to think about this.

These people could be in danger and hurt.

Grian makes his way to the car and looks at the doors .

Were they unlocked he decided to say something first. 

" is anyone awake?" He asked, he then heard a voice. 

" help!" Someone shouted, " we're injured and the door on my side is stuck".

" what about the others?" Grian asked, " the door on my brother's side is unlocked hopefully it'll open. If it is grabbed him" the person said. 

Grian trys the side door of the car and it opens. 

He grabs the brother of whoever this stranger is.

Grian drags him away from the car after he safe he heads back to the car only for.

The car suddenly catches fire grian remember seeing smoke he quickly gets away before it's too late.

But not for the people still stuck in the car grian thought he could he hear screaming. 

He needs to get help that fire could be dangerous and he needs to help the one person he could save.

He lifts the boy up grian could see he looked a couple of years older than him .

The poor guy looked like he wasn't doing well.

Grian carry him on his back. It's a bit difficult but grian managed to carry the guy.

He quickly hurries as quick as he could he then he's someone not to far from where he is.

It's ren and Martyn both see him and run towards him.

" grian where have you been isn't almost dark and-" Martyn stops and sees the person grian carrying. 

" I know I'm probably in trouble but not now. there was a car crash and a fire and this person needs help!" Grian yells," fire!" Ren said " I'll go get help to put it out.  Martyn you help grian" ren runs to find people to help put out the fire.

" we need a doctor" grian tells Martyn, " I think I saw mr Albert near a river" Martyn said hopefully he's still there.

There was three people that used to be doctors and one that was a nurse.

Hopefully they could find one them quickly. 

Grian follows Martyn he hope that the guy wasn't bleeding or else he could die of blood loss.

Thankfully the doctor was still there he sees grian and Martyn and who grian's carrying. 

They head to the a house that used to house the kids who don't have parents. 

Grian is told to set the boy down on the bed and let's the doctor look and treat the boy's injuries. 

Grian helps the best he can.  Martyn goes to check to see if everyone that went to put out the fire is going OK.

" his's legs both are broken" Albert said " he has scratches on his face and his arms . I don't know how he'll do" 

Grian look at the boy bandages and other medical things used to help him.

A few other people show up two of them begin cleo and ren.

Ren tells them that fire managed to get put out that was lucky. 

Cleo came to take grian home.

" can I stay here and look after him" grian asked the doctor looks at grian and the others do too.

" if anything happens get me or if you can't someone else if it gets worse" the doctor said, the others just agreed with it.

Grian wonders if he'll get punish for staying a bit later out than usual. 

Cleo just says goodbye to him ,they grabbed pearl and gem's hand taking gem home to her parents and pearl back to her home.

After everyone gone it's just grian and the stranger.

Grian hopes that the boy does okay. He doesn't remember falling asleep but he ends up.

Next thing he hears is a unfamiliar voice as he wakes up.

" mom?,dad?,anyone?" Grian wakes up to he fell asleep on the desk he looks to sees.

The boy is awake he looks confused and looks around before looking at grian.

" um hello" the boy said " what happened?".

" the car you were in crash . I managed to get you out and get you help" grian replied. 

" oh thank you" the boy said " where my family?" He asked. 

Grian just look at the boy . " I'm sorry I couldn't help them . The car... it caught fire after I got you out" he said to the boy.

The poor kid look in horror and then yelled " no! No!" He shouted " why!" He started to cry.

Grian look he felt bad but the boy had to know. 

He let's him cry and then hears a knock on the door he goes to check. 

Someone had shown up and brought food for him and the boy.

The man ask grian how the boy is doing " I just told him . That his family didn't make it" he replied the man gives him a sad smile and tells grian he did the right thing telling the boy the truth.

Grian takes the food and goes back to the boy.

Beetroot soup for both of them.

Grisn heads back to the boy he stops crying and sees grian.

" I'm sorry I had to tell you that" grian told him ," thank you for tell me the truth" the boy said " they were all I had left I have no one".

Grian just look just like him " I don't have a family either" grian said, " sorry to hear that" the boy said he then looks at grian . " thank you for saving me I haven't gotten your name yet" he said. 

Grian sets the soup down before answering " I'm grian . What's your name" he said, " I'm scar" the boy said. 

" nice to meet you scar" grian said he held out his hand and scar took it.

Soon a friendship started between the two of them Mumbo also joining. 

Scar eventually recover from his injuries but he had to use a cane to walk grian remembers him and Mumbo making him one.

Scar loved it and still keeps it. Since he had no where to go scar end up deciding to stay. 

Which was good because the leader at the time before grian found something out about scar.

"He is the reincarnation of the 5th champion" she said .

So scar was ment to be here.

Grian however didn't care about that he saw scar as a brother like he did with Mumbo. 

But sadly scar wasn't interested In teaming up with him and Mumbo. 

Grian was sad but understood just because you and someone were friends, family or lovers didn't mean you team up together. 

For Atleast several years scar didn't have a team and while grian and Mumbo were a team they both couldn't help but feel like something was missing. 

Until they met skizz. 

Chapter Text

The next day Scott was doing better, so was impulse so they were able to help around the community.

Today Breakfast was just some bread ,plain bread with nothing. 

Scott understood they had a rule to follow but did they ever got sick of eating just what the community provided or wanted to add jam or butter or something to a slice of bread.

He wasn't sick of what they been feeding him and impulse, they had different things to eat and it wasn't the same thing everyday. 

Scott look at pearl and cleo who were just eating their bread smiling. They always seem to most of the time smiled. 

Which was always creepy Scott couldn't wait to leave this place with Jimmy, impulse and skizz. 

They probably should have left yesterday but it would been rude not to see the wedding. 

Plus eating that plant end up causing problems so they probably have to stay longer now.

Atleast he and impulse could help with chores to pass the time. 

After breakfast pearl told everyone what chores to do today. 

" Scott can you handle doing some fishing by yourself.  While I get beef and potatoes." Pearl asked, " fishing sure" Scott said hopefully that won't be too difficult. 

" great I'll show you where to fish" pearl replied she then look at impulse " think you can take care of the wheat fields we have here?" She asked. 

" you guys have wheat growing here near your house?" Impulse asked confused Scott was confused too he didn't see any wheat fields. 

" sorry we forgot to mention this" cleo said " most of us grow our own wheat ,while everything Else we share and take care in the center. Of course we will share are wheat or bread if the others need it" they smiled and pearl smiled too.

" I'll need help to know what to do" impulse said, " of course I'll help you" cleo said, " then we have to take care of the leather." She look at pearl, " pearl can bring some leather back" they asked " I think we have enough but I just want to make sure we have enough for books and boots. Mine are getting wore out".

Pearl nodded her head " of course cleo " pearl said. 

Pearl went to grab a apron , a knife ,a basket and some cloth before heading outside .

Cleo led Scott and impulse toward the shed pearl following. 

Cleo handed Scott a fishing pole from the shed and then gave both him and impulse a empty bucket and farming tools for impulse to carry .

After getting everything they needed pearl and Scott left while cleo show impulse where the wheat fields were. 

Scott look around as he followed pearl he saw mostly plants and saw Martyn who he met yesterday heading to get wood judging by the axe he had.

Scott then looked at pearl she was just walking looking ahead not looking down at all.

Scott wonder how she avoided stepping on anything that might hurt her feet pearl was not wearing any shoes.

How did these people that chose to go barefooted avoid accidents or why did they wear just black. 

Wouldn't it be warm when summer comes it was still spring so they had awhile till then.

" we'll be gone before then" Scott thought why was he thinking about that.

" here's the fishing spot" pearl said suddenly Scott look to where pearl was looking. 

It look like a dock and a lake ,someone was there fishing it was that red hair women that wore black pants and a shirt that was the best man or actually the best women at the wedding. 

" some of us fish here" pearl said " and some of us don't we can fish at the rivers but one of our pervious leaders built this dock seventy years ago so we try to keep it maintain it and use it. It be rude not to" she told Scott. 

"Seventy years ago" Scott thought how old is this community before he could ask pearl she look at Scott. 

" well I got to get started on my chores" she said, " hope you do well with fishing" she then walk away. 

Leaving Scott alone . Scott then look at the dock the women was still there.

Hopefully he won't bother her . He headed towards the dock.

The dock was made of wood that look like cherry blossoms it look like it was in good condition. 

Onnce he thought he found a good place Scott place the bucket down and then look at the fishing rod.

" hopefully this will go well" he thought without any hesitation Scott attempted to cast the line.

Only for him to hear a "hey!" Scott look then was horrified by what he did. 

The hook landed in the women hair.

" I'm so sorry" he shouted, the women look at Scott she place her fishing pole down and then begin to remove the fishing hook from her hair.

" it's okay" she replied, " it was a accident. Last month even though I fish for years I accidentally got it caught on Joel's shirt. Lizzie said I caught her fiance.".

" really?" Scott asked or was she just trying to make him feel better. 

" it's true" she replied, " okay I believe you" Scott said then decided to introduce himself. 

" we haven't meet yet" he said " only seen each other at the wedding yesterday. I'm Scott" he held out his hand. 

" yes that's true" the women said " I'm gem . Joel's teammate" she took Scott's hand.

" nice to meet you gem" Scott said, " likewise" gem replied " I was going to try and talk to you and your friends after the wedding but ..".

" sorry about that . I plan to apologized to Joel and lizzie when I get the chance" Scott replied, " they understand" gem said " but if you want to apologized I won't stop you".

Gem decided to help Scott with fishing once it was in a place to get fish he had to wait.

Well Atleast he could talk to gem until she was done with fishing or until he got a fish.

" so you and Joel are teammates" Scott asked, " Yes " gem replied " he and I are like family.  It's been that way for eight years . For two years I didn't have a teammate ".

" when you turn eighteen here or join the community and your a adult.  Your supposed to find a team" gem said " you can join one that's already made or make your own or very rarely be unaligned of course some times you can't find the right person to team up with all the time".

" I was twenty when I met Joel and lizzie.  For some reason even though I didn't know anything about Joel when he join I wanted to make a team with him . I also ask his wife to join but she refused team up with scar instead" gem said. 

" how long have you been living here for?" He asked gem.

" I was born here" gem replied, " my father died in a accident before I was nine and my mother well let's just say she deserves her death by getting sacrifice and killed by scar" .

"Sacrifice!?" Scott thought and did she just say scar killed her mom.

" what do you mean by that?" Scott asked, " she was a traitor.  She try to destroy our community and she got in the end what she deserved" gem said. 

She still remember that day.

Pov gem years ago.

" come on gem let's go home" her mother told her .

Gem looked at her mother something weird was going on she could tell her mother been acting weird. 

She approach gem while she was getting them some apples gem noticed that they were getting low.

" why" gem asked, " because I think it going to rain" her mother replied. 

That is probably the worse lie her mother could say gem knew that it was sunny and it didn'tlook like it was going to rain. 

" I'm not going unless you tell me" gem replied. 

Her just looked at her " just do what I tell you!" Her mother shouted looking nervous she grabbed gem by her wrist and started to drag her home .

The apples gem had grab were now on the ground probably ruined.

Her mother took her home and then headed towards gem's room. 

" pack your things and put on some shoes" her mother shouted " we're leaving this cult".

" what?" Gem said her mother look at her " I said we're leaving " her mother said. 

Suddenly gem hears a loud crashing sound.

She decides to go check her mother attempting to stop her.

" ignored that and hid!" Her mother shouted. 

Gem ignored her mother instead. 

When gem looked she saw it was their leader grian,Martyn and ren,Mumbo ,tango and pearl.

Grian look angry at gem's mother. 

" get the traitor!" Grian yelled .

Gem watch as mother attempted to grab her and run but gem jump out of the way and accidentally bump into ren.

Her mother screamed as tango and Mumbo grabbed her .

Gem just watch not helping her mother even when she yelled at gem to help her.

Grian approach her mother after Mumbo and tango managed to restrain her.

" how dare you try and get the police involved" grian shouted " are you trying to get us killed!".

" this place it's a cult, you have killed people, I should have left when gem was a baby and nothing listened to my husband" her mother shounted " honey this place is perfect we should join,dear it's a great place to start a family!".

Before her mother could continue Martyn suddenly walk up to her mother and slap her before she could continue. 

Everyone just watch and did nothing. 

Her mother just stared at Martyn angry. " you'll too late the police will be here any moment" she said " and me and my daughter will get out of here along with all the innocent people you trick and that women trick".

Grian didn't look worried he just smiled at her " is that really what you think" he said, " Don't be smiling you think you can get out of this." Her mother replied " everyone minus me,gem ,cleo ,scar and everyone else that hasn't killed a person, Will be dead".

" I'm afraid not" grian replied he then look at the door " come on in" he said. 

The man walk in he was someone gem has never seen before but he was wearing black pants and a shirt just like people wore in the community. 

Gem look at her mother she look shocked, " this is a joke right" she said .

The stranger nodded his head no " I never told anyone " he said " not even my boss or coworkers.  At first I wanted to gather to see what this so called cult was about sure you gave me a little bit of evidence but how did I know if this was enough or real. So I decided to look at this place myself.  I ran into this young man here when I did" he look at grian.

" when we talk and he just said we're just a community we just want to live a peaceful life here . Not bother anyone and other things. He show me around and everything here seem fine just a peaceful little community.  For awhile we talk and then I decided to not only tell the truth but I wanted to join" the man said " and I also choose to destroy all of the evidence too".

Gem's mother just look at the man and screaming no .

" bring her to the altar" grian said he look at cleo and pearl go get everyone " he told the two.

Gem's mother however wasn't going down without a fight so Martyn join in dragging her there.

Before leaving the house gem felt someone pat her on the head . She look it was ren " don't worry gem. We won't punish you." He said " your safe".

Gem just look at ren before heading towards where they were taking her mother. 

Once they were there everyone was there .

Her mother was on the altar held down and screaming. 

Grian look at the women before approaching scar.

" scar it's you turn" grian says this was the first time scar would be sacrificing a human. 

Scar has done this a few times but has only killed animals. 

A dagger is handed to scar .

Scar approach the altar and then looks at gem's mother and then the dagger. 

The he raises the dagger and the stabs it into the women's left arm and then starts slice into it.

Blood starts pour out of the arm gem hears hear mother screaming now in pain.

Scar slowly slices the arm once he was done he moves to her other arm and then her legs.

Slowly he slices her limbs making sure she suffers. 

Blood leaks onto the altar and a bit gets on tango,Mumbo, etho and gem doesn't remember this women name.

After scar's done cutting into her arms and legs he slits her mother throat. 

Before he does gem thought she saw her mother look at her.

" you deserve this" gem thought. 

Then her mother is dead for being a traitor. 

Gem doesn't have any care she had about her was gone and now when gem thinks about her you deserve that, that is what she thinks.

Chapter Text

Jimmy was feeling much better compared to yesterday. 

He had a headache which was apparently from a plant he shouldn't have eaten the day of the wedding. 

Which was what scar told him,  Jimmy thought it sounded a bit suspicious especially since Scott ate that plant too.

It didn't sound like something Scott would do.

Jimmy sat ate the table just stabbing his baked potato mostly until scar told him to eat it before it gets cold. 

It felt weird not seeing lizzie in the morning but she got married and now lived with Joel.

She would still help scar with chores and joined them for lunch and possibly dinner to.

Otherwise she be with Joel.

Jimmy finished his breakfast and scar took the dishes to the kitchen. 

Shortly after he left Jimmy heard a knock on the door.

He headed to it and opened it to see lizzie had arrived.

" morning Jimmy " she said ," morning lizzie" Jimmy said. 

" where's scar?" She asked as Jimmy let her in," he went to do dishes " Jimmy replied, he look at lizzie she arrived kinda early. 

" did you eat breakfast?" He asked, lizzie look at Jimmy. 

" Joel made for me and him some mutton. Don't worry I make sure to eat before I leave." She replied, Jimmy wonder how lizzie could go back and forth from her new house and to here and Joel doing that too.

" I heard knocking.  Is it lizzie, jimmy?" Scar had finished the dishes the second he enter the room he saw lizzie. 

" good morning lizzie" scar said, " morning" lizzie said back " let's get started on our chores." She turn to Jimmy " Jimmy you're coming with me to help with chores" lizzie said ," okay" Jimmy replied. 

" we need to get sugar cane for paper and chicken and feathers and also some honey" lizzie said. 

Lizzie went to go get a knife ,a apron, cloth,and some bottles .

While Jimmy waited scar told Jimmy that minus going to the well to get water for laundry he was staying here to do chores.

" I got laundry, taking care of the wheat fields and making bread" scar told Jimmy before he went to go grab a bucket to get water.

Lizzie was done getting what they needed for chores Jimmy offer to carry the bottles. 

She look a bit hesitate because Jimmy still had a broken arm but Jimmy told her that it be fine.

She gave him the bottles thankfully it wasn't a lot just 4 bottles. 

They headed to the center scar joining them until he reach the well.

Jimmy followed lizzie to where some sugar cane was.

As he followed Jimmy looked around, he could see at the well when scar went to go there bdubs was there.

Joel was busy grabbing a pig which Jimmy knew that Joel was killing for food. 

He looks away and just looks ahead not wanting to see it die.

They finally stop near the river Jimmy could see the sugar cane it's tall.

Lizzie holds the knife she brought and then looks at Jimmy. 

" Jimmy could you hold the sugar cane while I cut it?" She asked, " sure" Jimmy replied. 

They approach the sugar cane they had to bend down do the sugar cane currently being a bit shorter than both of them. 

Lizzie carefully cut the sugar while Jimmy held it makeing sure his hand wasn't were lizzie plan to cut the sugar cane. 

After awhile lizzie had cut 4 pieces of sugar cane. 

" now to get some honey " she told Jimmy, Jimmy carry both the sugar cane and the bottles.

It was a bit difficult do to him using one arm.

They headed to where they get honey Jimmy could see several behives and campfires underneath them smoke going to the behives. 

Lizzie looked at Jimmy " I'm going to get the honey . You stay here" she told him.

Jimmy nodded his head and handed lizzie the bottles lizzie than went to get the honey.

Jimmy watch from afar as lizzie got honey from one the behives. 

Surprisely the bees did nothing and didn't attack her .

Was because of the campfire?. Jimmy just watch.

Soon lizzie was done bottles full of honey she approach Jimmy. 

" now to get chicken and feathers" she told Jimmy, " then it's lunch after" .

Jimmy wasn't sure he'll be hungry after this he was going to see lizzie kill a chicken up close. 

They were back to where the animals were kept and Jimmy saw a familiar face. 

It was skizz and he was with who was he Jimmy was trying to remember. 

" that's the leader isn't it" Jimmy thought grian was his name. 

They were near the sheep pen skizz was getting a sheep from it.

Jimmy couldn't help but watch even though he was supposed to help lizzie. 

He watch as skizz bought the sheep to grian.

Grian approach the sheep a knife in hand ,skizz had hold the sheep. 

Grian then held out a knife he had brought with him.

Jimmy looked at skizz for some reason skizz didn't look worry or anything. 

Instead he was smiling!? Didn't skizz know that grian was going to kill the sheep. 

Jimmy then watch as grian slit the sheep's throat he thought he could hear it.

Blood drip from the throat and onto the ground and grian's apron.

Jimmy looked at skizz he was still smiling and said something to grian.

Grian handed skizz the knife and skizz look at the dead sheep. 

Jimmy just stared this wasn't skizz unless skizz is pretending. 

He looked at lizzie she was busy she had killed a chicken and was plucking it's feathers currently. 

He decided to go talk to skizz and that leader ,he'll apologize to lizzie later.

He needed to before it's too late .

Jimmy ran towards where skizz and grian were.

" skizz!" Jimmy shouted once he was close enough. 

Skizz had stop skining the sheep and look up ,the leader did too.

" hey Jimmy!" Skizz said, " hello there" grian said. 

Jimmy didn't say hi back he wanted to ask skizz. 

" skizz you just watch a sheep die and now you skining it!" Jimmy yelled, skizz looked at Jimmy. 

" yeah" skizz replied, " it's not as bad as I thought, grian decided to show me how to do it and is teaching me how to skin it now. Isn't that great!" Skizz said he was smiling. 

" great! That wasn't great" Jimmy yelled, he just saw a sheep die.

" Jimmy there no need to get upset" skizz said " this place isn't bad . It's pretty great and soon you,impulse and smajor will love it here too!".

 love it here didn't just not too long ago skizz wanted to leave here with them.

" skizz did you forget were leaving not staying" Jimmy said to skizz. 

Skizz look at Jimmy and frowned, " well I changed my mind" skizz said " you guys will too".

" what do you mean you change your mind!" Jimmy yelled, " grian and Mumbo show me and told me how great this place is yesterday" skizz replied. 

Jimmy look at grian " you!" He yelled at grian he close to the leader.

" you did something to him didn't you" Jimmy said, " I just show him . The right choice Jimmy" grian replied " and soon you and the others well make that choice too".

The right choice yeah that right choice is to leave and skizz is joining them. 

Jimmy wanted to punch grian but suddenly a voice made him turn around. 

" Jimmy?" It was lizzie she had a cloth with blood dripping from it probably the chicken she killed. 

" is everything OK?" She asked she looked a bit concerned. 

" everything fine" grian said, " I think you take your teammate back ,I think he's hungry" .

" it's almost lunch time come on Jimmy let's get back" she said Jimmy glared at grian before leaving. 

" I need to tell the others" he thought. 

Chapter Text

The day before 

Skizz walk carrying a basket of apples, he was following Mumbo who was carrying some mushrooms he gathered. 

He was given chores to do that Mumbo show him how to do . Grian however had chores and tasks to do that a leader had to do. 

Skizz didn't know what a leader does in this little community that they had here . But it must be a lot of work for grian to do the leader tasks and chores he did.

Hopefully with him begin here help lightened the load of chores that grian had to do. While for now skizz had to leave eventually with his friends. 

He had a family and a job to get back too. He can't stay forever. 

They arrived to the house that grian and Mumbo lived in Mumbo open the door and let skizz in. After he enter Mumbo close the door and then the two of them headed to the kitchen. 

As they enter the dining room skizz saw that grian was here sitting at the table, reading. He looked up and saw them he smiled. 

" Mumbo, skizz. " he said " have you both finished your all your chores?". Mumbo looked at grian " we did." Mumbo replied, " what about you?".

" I got them done ,along with toady tasks I had to do" grian replied," just doing some reading while waiting for you two and when it's time for dinner." It be awhile before dinner. 

Mumbo headed to the kitchen to put away the mushrooms.  Skizz following him. After putting away what they gathered Mumbo and skizz decided to chat with grian.

Grian look at skizz, " you seem to be doing well skizz and your friends seem to begin doing well too" he said from the reports he gotten from, cleo and pearl about Scott and impulse, and scar and lizzie about Jimmy, their new members were doing well. 

" well it's thanks to you guys saving and helping us" skizz said " I'll miss this place when we leave".

" leave" both Mumbo and grian said, " yeah leaving.  We can't stay forever" skizz replied " we have to leave eventually.  We can't stay here forever."

" yeah..." Mumbo said, unknown to skizz both were frowning.

Grian look at Mumbo and than skizz, " since we got time. How about we go for a walk you guys" grian said, " you up for it skizz?".

Skizz looked at grian ," sure!" He replied, " great we got a couple of hours before dinner. So let go before it's too late" grian replied, skizz got up first and started to walk ,before getting up grian look at Mumbo and whisper something to him.

Pov grian

Before leaving he had grab a lantern I'm case it got dark.

They probably won't need it but they should always be prepared here.

Grian told Skizz they had no destination to walk too and they would just take a nice walk. That was a lie.

Grian knew where they were going Mumbo too.

A walk in the woods . That's what skizz thinks their doing when they walk in the wood. 

Most people don't go to this place. Only the leaders do once a week.  Few people are even told the location .

The leader only tells their most trusted teammate and friends. But grian only told one other person about this place. 

Mumbo while not his only trusted friend was the only one he told this about. 

Scar even though grian trusted him he couldn't bring himself to tell him about this place. He trusted scar and saw him and Mumbo as brothers.

But some things he felt it was best to keep scar. 

They walk for awhile skizz looks around, while grian and Mumbo looked ahead they smiled . Eventually grian sees the building. 

It's not in a good condition unlike the other building ,like the houses in the community that once held people who were gone now . It was old and only grian and Mumbo managed to take care of it barely. But it had what they needed. 

" what's this?" Skizz asked he had noticed the building, " don't know" grian replied it was a lie but they needed skizz to stay," it's probably from long ago" grian said, " let's explore it . We still have time" .

Skizz was curious so he followed grian and Mumbo to the building.  The metal door made a sound as Mumbo opened it, grian and skizz enter first . The inside was dark and the only light came from the outside. Grian walk over towards the wall and found what he was looking for. 

Suddenly light came on inside the building surprising skizz. " this place has electricity!" He shouted, grian almost laugh that's what was assumed that this building had but no it wasn't apparently they use something called Redstone a long time ago and that's what was used to power the building. 

Grian look around there was some wooden stools most which were rotten or could fall apart if you sat on the stool and fall to the ground, a table and some chests that was what he was looking for. 

Grian approach the chests and open them . He quickly found what he needed. While he did that Mumbo slammed the door shut . Scareing skizz. 

" Mumbo did you close the door" skizz said, Mumbo didn't answer, " are we trap in here" skizz asked no answer Mumbo just stared at him.

Skizz looked at grian , grian was holding something it look like a candle . Grian started to approach.  Skizz started to panic he was getting creep out . What was wrong with them.

Skizz ran towards the door and attempted to open it only to find it locked.  He started to pound on the door . Suddenly Mumbo jumped on him.

Skizz fought back as Mumbo attack him ,the two of them fought but Mumbo managed to win . Skizz was held down but he could see grian approaching him.   " please don't kill me" he shouted to grian and Mumbo. " kill you?" Mumbo said, " skizz we wouldn't kill you ,you're are teammate and one of us" grian said, " one of us?" Skizz said, " don't worry this will help you" grian said he lit the candle and brought towards skizz's face.

The candle had a surprisely sweet scent to skizz, and the flame was a different color compared to what a candle usually had. The scent was nice and looking at the flame somehow calm him down. 

" skizz are you sure you want to leave still?" Grian asked, skizz was still looking at the candle, " no" he replied, " don't you think this place is great are community" grian said, " Yes I would live here forever" skizz replied, " do you for the rest of your life devoted yourself to here until the day comes" grian asked, " yes" skizz replied. 

Grian smiled and look at Mumbo he was smiling too. It work. Grian put out the candle and Mumbo help skizz up.

Skizz was now one of them ,hopefully the other three won't need this either. 

Chapter Text

Scott didn't get much sleep last night, do to the fact he been thinking about what gem told him. The people that lived here had her mother killed and she didn't care just said she deserve it. Scott just stared at her before she told him that he caught a bite and then went back to fishing. 

Despite being distracted he managed to catch a good amount of fish. He didn't talk to pearl he had a feeling she wouldn't give him agood answer he definitely wasn't going to ask cleo either. These people not only did they kill animals but people here. Him and impulse were staying with murderers , Jimmy was also staying with killers and skizz too.

How many people have died here, would him or his friends be next. Scott couldn't help but want to leave, this place it's a-. " Scott? Are you up breakfast is ready" it was cleo ,Scott got up he didn't realized he was still staying in his room. Hopefully they won't think he's been suspicious. 

Heading to the door he opened once he was there and looked at cleo ," sorry got lost in thought" he said, cleo look at him " you don't look like ,you got enough sleep last night" they said, " yeah I didn't" he replied, " there a special tea in this community we make for people that have trouble sleeping, I can make you some after dinner" cleo said.  Should he accept the offer would cleo think he was suspicious if he didn't accept her offer. 

" sure I'll try it" he said, cleo then smiled at him ," great" they replied " now let's head to breakfast, I made salmon it's what you caught yesterday and we're having with it some sweet berries" she told him. Scott said nothing and follow cleo.

He forced himself to eat breakfast, since yesterday from talking to gem ,Scott didn't feel like eating, even when he made lunch yesterday and impulse made dinner he had to make himself eat. Just like now.

After breakfast pearl stood up ," today me,Martyn, scar and our leader will be doing something important today so I won't be back until sunset" pearl said, " important thing?" Scott accidentally said out loud he meant not to ,pearl look at him " one day you'll join us ,Scott" she said quietly but enough for him to here creeping him out. 

Cleo then went to speak, " today Scott you'll be by yourself, here you'll be doing, laundry, making bread and sugar and  cleaning" cleo told him ,they then looked at impulse " impulse your also be by yourself mostly today, we need beetroot and carrots, sugar cane and a few other things I'll tell you on the way" cleo said to impulse, impulse just nodded his head.

So today he'll be alone today ,maybe he could sneak around and talk to Jimmy and skizz. Scott went to grab a bucket to get water from the well, while cleo grab a axe to cut wood ,impulse went to get a couple of baskets and a knife to cut sugar cane.  Pearl was busy making preparations for what she was doing today. 

After getting water from the well, Scott saw pearl leave before she left she told him something. " don't wander off Scott, you should focus on your chores" she said, Scott stood still until pearl was far away.  " how did she know" he thought. 

Meanwhile pov Jimmy 

Jimmy was angry since yesterday, he knew that grian that leader did something to skizz. He needed to tell Scott and impulse, but lizzie prevent that from happening and just had him do chores. It seem like he wouldn't get a chance. 

He woke up this morning, trying to think of a idea while heading to the dining room, scar had made for breakfast mushroom stew with a slice of bread. The mushroom stew was unique to Jimmy he didn't hate it but didn't like it.

He didn't know how he felt about it. Scar went to wash dishes and Jimmy heard a knock on the door.  Which was lizzie when he answer.

After scar finish putting the dishes in the sink , the three sat at the table with scar and lizzie talking what chores who had to do. Scar look at Jimmy, " Jimmy, you and lizzie are going to have a lot of chores today" scar said " I got a important meeting to go to with Martyn, grian and pearl".

"A important meeting?" Jimmy thought so that means it was just him and lizzie doing the chores which would probably take forever do to his broken arm.

" Jimmy we need to get apples, milk and wood" lizzie told him ,Jimmy just nodded his head he hope to see Scott and impulse and talk to them.

Scar went to go prepare for the meeting he had ,while Jimmy and lizzie went to go grab a basket for apples , a bucket for milk and a axe for wood. While carrying the bucket Jimmy thought of something. 

He could try and convince lizzie to get apples by himself it probably be a bit difficult, but he could do it himself and try and see if he could spot impulse or Scott. " this is worth a try" he thought as he and lizzie headed towards the center, " hey lizzie" he said, lizzie look at Jimmy as they walk ," what is it Jimmy?" She asked, " since we got more chores to do ,do to scar going to a meeting.  How about I get the apples by myself" Jimmy asked, lizzie look at him.

" are you sure that's a good idea" she asked, " your arm still broken" ," I know my arm is broken . But I want to help more and i figure since there only two of us today to do chores we could split up and do them separately, I can do this this. Lizzie, please" he replied.  Lizzie thought about it and then answer," okay you can pick apples" she said " but be careful ,Atleast let me take the basket to where the apples are and once you're done come get me if you finish before me" she said. 

" I won't let you down" Jimmy replied they headed to the orchard and lizzie sat the basket down near a tree ,then headed to get a bucket of milk first.

Once he knew lizzie was gone ,Jimmy looked around first to see if Scott or impulse were here. Sadly they weren't the only person he saw was because who had stop and stared at Jimmy before Jimmy went back to where lizzie place the basket. 

Jimmy grabbed a apple and pick it ,then place it the bucket. He could just not do this chore and go find his friends but he probably get in trouble if he did. He didn't know what they did to people who didn't do their chores. He thought about talking to bigb but Jimmy wasn't sure about the guy.

The way he acted to Jimmy when he first saw him. He seem so paranoid and ran off after scar noticed him . But maybe there was a good reason bigb was paranoid.  Jimmy looked at a apple he had just picked before placing into the basket. 

Before he reach to grab another apple he felt a hand on his shoulder, Jimmy looked. 

It was bigb he was staring at him. Was he going to tell Jimmy what he said last time. 

Jimmy watch as bigb reach into his pocket and pull out something, it was a piece of paper.  He then held it out for Jimmy to take. Jimmy just looked at the paper. 

Bigb look at Jimmy " please take this and read it" he said to Jimmy, Jimmy took the paper ," read it when you know you are alone" he told Jimmy he watch bigb look around before he ran off .leaving Jimmy alone. 

Jimmy looked around and unfolded the paper, written on it was.

There's something you must know, you and your friends meet me if you can at my place, it's near the pale garden, at sunset make sure no one follows you. From bigb.

Jimmy looked at the note before he quickly looked around from what he could see he saw no one . Then he quickly stuff the note in his pocket. 

He'll try and go he wants answers hopefully bigb has them.

Chapter Text

After dinner Jimmy waited for lizzie to leave scar was still at the meeting,  so lizzie made dinner for Jimmy so he wouldn't go hungry. 

" well thanks for dinner lizzie" Jimmy said, " you should probably get going now before it gets dark". Lizzie looked at Jimmy, " I was thinking of staying tonight, even though it's less of a risk indoors, I don't think it's a good idea to leave you alone" .

Jimmy looked at lizzie, she couldn't be here he needed to sneak out and meet bigb," what about Joel, he's probably heading home or already there waiting for you" Jimmy said, " he'll be fine it ,I suggest if I stay the night here . Then he could stay the night with gem . I worry about her since she now her teammate doesn't live with her." Lizzie replied. 

"Great" Jimmy thought she won't leave how can he leave now he can't use the door.  Then suddenly Jimmy remember the window in his room. He could sneak out threw the window without lizzie noticing. 

" I think I'll go to my room now" Jimmy said to lizzie, " okay" lizzie replied " but you probably need help lighting the lantern so let me do that "," that's fine" Jimmy replied as long as she doesn't stay too long. 

A few minutes pass after lizzie leaves the room after she lights the lantern Jimmy telling her goodnight. He waits a bit before trying to escape wanting to make sure she doesn't come back. After he's sure she's not ,Jimmy heads to the window.  He tries to open it with his non broken arm, it's difficult but he manages to get it open and he opens it all the way. " yes" he yells he quickly covers his mouth and looks at the door. 

Lizzie didn't hear it hopefully, before leaving Jimmy grabs the lantern it'll get dark soon and he needs a light source, once he and the lantern are out the window Jimmy gets up and looks back. " I'll be back before lizzie realizes I'm gone and hopefully before scar's back" Jimmy thinks he quickly hurries towards the stairs leading down the mountain hopefully he won't be spotted. 

A couple of minutes after Jimmy left lizzie realize she accidentally drop something and thinks she drop it in Jimmy's room, she goes back to his room. She knocks on the door first," Jimmy?" She said " I think I drop my flint and steel in your room can I come in,Jimmy?" No answer did he fall asleep?. " I coming in" she shouts to Jimmy she opens the door only to be met with a empty room. " Jimmy?" Lizzie said where was he? ,she looks around and then sees the window to Jimmy's room open. 

" oh no" she said this was bad she runs out the room and to outside and looks around Jimmy not here ,she quickly runs towards the stairs of the mountains and sees someone walking down them almost to the bottom.  " that's definitely Jimmy" she thinks what's he doing she should probably stop him ,but she needed to know what he was doing first, so she decides to follow him.

The walk to where bigb lives is long to Jimmy, he makes sure not to be seen I'm case there was people still put especially ren ,scar mentioned him and Martyn patrol around and risk staying out at night to look for people or anyone still out. Jimmy definitely doesn't want to encounter ren .

He close to the woods now and it's getting darker the sun still out some, thank goodness he grab the lantern, he nears some mushrooms but so far he doesn't see a house or anything, scar mentioned that bigb leaves near the pale garden, but none of the trees so far look pale , Jimmy walks a bit more and then sees something. 

A cabin company to everyone else cabin ,it look like someone try to bulid a head out of wood, the wood use in the bulid look pale , was this from the so called pale garden.  " this has to be were bigb lives" Jimmy thinks he heads towards it and looks at the door, he knocks.

The door opens a bit enough for Jimmy to see bigb peaking out for him to see who it was ,once he sees it's Jimmy, he looks glad ," I'm glad you came ,hurry inside before anyone shows up" he tells Jimmy.  Jimmy follows bigb inside. 

Jimmy looks around bigb's home ,it's small Inside there's a bed in the corner of the room, a small dining room table with two chairs ,the kitchen has a oven and a couple containers and cabinets and a sink , a single bookshelf was near the bed and the place look barely decorated. 

It was small but not cramp , Jimmy assumed it was this size to do bigb living alone unlike the others. He looks at bigb ," let's sit down and talk" bigb said to Jimmy, they headed to the table. Jimmy sits down ,before he does bigb looks at the kitchen, " want some cookies and milk?" He asked Jimmy, he was full but cookies sounded good," sure" Jimmy replied. Bigb heads to the kitchen and grabs from the cabinet and couple of cups and then grabs from another what looks like a container. 

It was holding milk in it but not much left ,bigb pours the milk into the cups ,then grabs from two different cabinets a plate and some chocolate chip cookies.  He places the cookies onto the plate and places the cups first onto the table and then the plate of cookies. 

Jimmy looks at the cookies, they look delicious. " try one" bigb told him Jimmy picks up a cookie and takes a bite. It was delicious, Jimmy took another bite " this is a really good cookie" Jimmy told bigb, bigb smiled at Jimmy but unlike the smiles scar gave which were happy smiles or the smiles lizzie gave which wree kinda creepy with the exception of when she was with or talk about Joel, bigb's smiled seem sad.

" I'm glad you like the cookies" bigb said, " there the only thing that I have left baking .before I was forced to join here". " forced to join here?" Jimmy said before he took another cookie. Bigb look at Jimmy and before he spoke he grabbed a cookie and took a bite of it.

" I didn't join this place willingly " bigb said, " they forced me to stay and are keeping me hostage, it was three years ago" ," three years ago. Jimmy thought he took a sip of milk it was slightly warm but it didn't taste bad.

" I was on a business trip" bigb said, " it was dark and raining, I was driving my car when suddenly a tree branch landed on my car ,I crash it into a ditch and fell unconscious.  When I woke up ,I found myself I'm someone house my injuries were bandage . I looked around and and then check to if I had my phone I didn't figure I lost it in the crash." Bigb then grab another cookie to it before he continued. 

" a women enter the room I was in ,cleo I ask her where I'm I and how I got here. She told me that I was found in a car crash by Martyn and ren they brought me back here and heal my injuries.  I was grateful to them for help me a stranger that they didn't know.  Once I was well enough I was allowed to explore I met everyone that live here including the leader grian and I thought this was a nice place" bigb said, " they gave me clothes and had me help with the chores when I was better. It was a bit hard but I learned. I was there for a couple of weeks before I decided I wanted to leave and I was better.  So I plan to tell everyone that I was leaving and say goodbye" 

Bigb took a deep breath before continuing, "when I told grian and everyone that I was leaving . They didn't seem happy.  They told me that this was my home ,I belong here . But I just thought they got attached ,so I told them I had friends and family I needed to get back too and I had job to go back too. But they refused and kept telling me I was staying. So I plan to sneak out at night" bigb then looked scared, " I waited till night , I knew when Martyn and ren were out, so I sneak out through the window, I ran into the woods thinking I was safe . But I was wrong.,Martyn and ren were still outside and they found me ,they drag me back and I unconscious " bigb said " but I don't know why or remember,  I tried to escape several other times but I fell unconscious and found myself still in this community, eventually I stop trying to escape for awhile, they allow me to chose who to team if I wanted to too ,I didn't I went unaligned and bulid a house here".

Jimmy looked at bigb he been here for three years after his car crash and they refused to let him leave. 

" I didn't think I could ever leave until I heard about you and your friends arriving here, I thought that maybe we could work together or I could Atleast help them escape.  I don't want everyone else to be hold hostage here" bigb look at Jimmy he look determined as he that.

" you think we can escape if we work together" Jimmy asked, " I think so we need to tell your friends and figure out a way to meet without anyone seeing us" bigb replied. 

" I'll try to tell Scott and impulse, skizz I'm not sure about he..." Jimmy said, " what's wrong with him?" Bigb asked, " the last time I talk to him. He was acting strange.  He wanted to stay and for us to stay too. I think grian did something to him." Jimmy said, " you think they brainwashed him" bigb asked, " that's probably what he did . Skizz wouldn't immediately to decide to join this place suddenly. He wanted to live here. " Jimmy replied " we're not going to leave him behind if we escape. " bigb nodded his head .

This place this community it's a cult . Jimmy pretty sure that's what that this place is.

" I should probably get going now" Jimmy said he didn't know how long he was gone for but he should get back before morning. " I'll go with you" bigb said " I know how to go unnoticed by most people here . When sneaking around with the exception of grian ,ren and Martyn as long as we don't see those three we'll be fine" .

Jimmy accepted he thank bigb for the cookies and milk and the two started to leave only for bigb to stop . " Jimmy there's someone over there" bigb said he pointed towards a direction and Jimmy look.

He could see a bit of light, that was bad.

" let's go this way" Jimmy shouted he ran holding a lantern bigb chase after him. " Jimmy be careful" bigb yelled. 

Jimmy ran for awhile unsure where he was going to to it begin dark the only light from the lantern and the moon. Suddenly he crash into something. 

" ow" Jimmy said, he them heard someone else say ow and Jimmy realized he ran into a person. Both thier lantern were on the ground thankfully not damage.  Bigb had caught up to Jimmy and held his lantern to provide light. He froze and Jimmy did too once he saw who it was.

It was ren . Ren look at the two ." There you are Jimmy " he said he then look forward and behind bigb " lizzie I found him!" He shouted, Jimmy was scared lizzie notice he was missing. 

" Jimmy there you are!" Lizzie yelled, Jimmy looked at her hesitately , she was holding a lantern and look worried. " I left something I'm your room and went to get it ,and found you gone! And the window open!. I ran outside and saw you going the down the stairs, I started to follow you and ran into ren on the way ,I ask him to help" she said. 

Ren look at bigb and Jimmy " what were you too doing and Jimmy you shouldn't have gone out it's dangerous at night" ren said, Jimmy and bigb look at each other how to explain this," um you see" Jimmy said, " I wanted to talk to Jimmy and get to know him better" bigb said " I told him to sneak out,  since our chores keep us busy I knew this was the only way ,I wanted to be his friend".

Ren and lizzie looked at bigb ,Jimmy was worried was bigb in touble and did they believe him.

Ren then spoke " nice to see you finally try and make friends bigb" he said, " but you shouldn't have Jimmy break the rules it's dangerous, I'll have to tell grian in the morning".

" I understand" bigb replied Jimmy wonder what would happen to bigb. " we should probably get going" lizzie said " we need to get back to our homes before the monster show up".

The monster Jimmy remember scar and lizzie talking about it was it really real. Ren stood up and help Jimmy up and pick up both their lanterns and handed one to Jimmy . He then look around " I can't really tell where we are" ren said as he looked around he started to walk everyone following him.

After a few minutes Jimmy saw a tree that look pale like the wood bigb use " hey bigb isn't this the wood you use for your house" he asked, bigb look " yeah" he replied, " pale tree?" Lizzie and ren said then both said oh no.

Jimmy looked at the two they looked scared, " what's wrong" Jimmy asked the two look at him.

" we're in the pale garden" lizzie replied, the pale garden Jimmy looked around more there was more pale trees around and they were in this place. " we should stick together" ren said, " we can't leave until morning,so be careful".

" we can't leave until morning, why?" Jimmy asked, ren look at Jimmy " it's said that the monster has the ability to trap people that wander into the pale garden at night or stay until night. They can't leave and you have to stay until night" ren replied.

So their stuck here until morning Jimmy looked around he doesn't see anything no monster. 

" I'll start a fire " ren said " stay together " they pick up tree branch and twigs and things that could be use as kindling.  Ren starts a fire and they sat on some logs.

The fire provides light and Jimmy noticed that ren has something on his back. " ren what's that on you back" he asked, ren looks at what he has on his back " this" he said " it's my guitar " he grabs it.

Jimmy looks it's actually a guitar, he didn't know they had guitars here ," I know what you're thinking " ren said " they have guitars here and that I didn't know you play guitar. It's surprising but it's something I do in my free time at home or I'm with Martyn" .

" can you play something for us" lizzie asked, " sure" ren replied he started to play the guitar and sing. It's nice and ren's good at this . They all enjoyed the music. 

When ren's done everyone claps ," thank you " he said he places the guitar next to him ," how did learn this" Jimmy asked, " when I was a teenager there was a guy and his wife that joined ,he knew how to play guitar and taught me " ren replied, " this guitar belong to him and he gave to me before he died" ," him and his wife both dead of a illness ".

" sorry to hear that" bigb said, " it's okay" ren replied " no one could cure that illness. 

" teenager " Jimmy thought has long has ren been here and lizzie too ," say ren ,lizzie how long have both of you been living here" he asked ren and lizzie looked at him.

" I was born here" ren replied, " live here my whole life " ," i join here eight years ago with joel" lizzie replied. 

So ren was born here and lizzie and Joel have lived here for eight years. What made lizzie and Joel want to live here and for ren to stay here all his life.  Before he could ask Jimmy thought he saw something near some trees. 

" what's that" he asked he pointed, lizzie and ren looked and bigb did too all them froze in fear.

" the monster!" Ren shouted , the monster Jimmy looked more closely and regret it.

He couldn't see much minus its eyes but it was scary and he regret it. It looked at him directly and everyone noticed. Quickly as the could everyone jump up and started to huddle together in a group.  Jimmy hold onto lizzie's arm in fear,lizzie holding onto to Jimmy arm,bigb grabbed Jimmy's shoulder and held onto tightly ren hug lizzie. 

They all stared at the monster waiting. Were they going to die. The monster looks at Jimmy and they stare at each other for a few seconds before it disappears.

Everyone was surprised the monster did do anything to them maybe because none of them were alone, but they still were scared. Sticking close together they waited for it to be morning. 

Chapter Text

Jimmy was glad when finally the sun had started to rise in fact everyone was. After getting stuck in the pale garden and seeing the monster everyone was scared to move or sleep in fear of the monster coming back and taking someone. 

He felt tried but knew he couldn't go to sleep now ,he look at lizzie and ren ,he and bigb broke the rules what would happen to them. Ren grabbed his guitar and lantern no longer lit ,lizzie grabbed her lantern and the one Jimmy had ,bigb was just standing doing nothing, Jimmy thought he run off.

" bigb your coming with us" ren said before bigb could do everything, " wanted to tell grian about what happened " , bigb just stared at him before just nodding. Both ren and lizzie made Jimmy and bigb walk in front of them as they left the pale garden to make sure neither of them ran off.

They managed to find their way out of the pale garden and shortly after ,Jimmy could see someone not to far from here. The person saw them and started to approach as they got closer Jimmy realized who it was .

Scar ,he then saw behind scar that everyone was here ,were they looking for them . " there you guys are!" Scar yelled he hugged Jimmy once he was close enough, " when I came home from the meeting I couldn't find you or lizzie, I got worried and went to go tell grian, then Martyn show up and said that ren was missing too! , grian got everyone to search for you guys, I'm just glad you're okay!" Scar shouted, Jimmy saw as Joel immediately hug lizzie glad his wife was okay, Martyn approach ren glad his teammate was fine , he saw cleo approach bigb .

Grian approach next ," while I'm glad you four are alright,  I want to know who decided that all four of you should go out at night?" He asked, Jimmy couldn't tell what expression the leader had but he had a feeling it wasn't a good one.

Bigb look at grian ," I convinced Jimmy to sneak out " bigb replied " I wanted to talk to him alone and ask to be his friend , lizzie notice Jimmy was missing and saw him leaving and followed him and she got ren's help to look, they found us when we were leaving my house and we accidentally end up in the pale garden,  so it's my fault" ,Jimmy could hear some people whisper among themselves they sounded worried. 

Grian look at bigb ," bigb you know the rules you shouldn't go out at night and you convinced a new member to break the rules , leading to one of his  teammates to look for him and a another member, and getting them trapped in the pale garden!" He shouted,  bigb just look at grian ready to except his fate , " you could have gotten someone killed " grian said, he then look at Jimmy, " and you ,you may be a new member but you shouldn't have listened to bigb you could have gotten hurt " grian said did he looked worried about him .

He then look at lizzie and ren ," lizzie, ren I'm glad you two are okay and went looking for lizzie's teammate and try to find them before it was too late , I won't punish you two other just give you two a warning , as for Jimmy " grian look at Jimmy as he spoke,  " I'm letting you off with a warning since you're new here ,next time I won't be so nice  okay " he said, Jimmy just nodded his head , he then look at bigb again " now bigb for your punishment ".

Jimmy wonder how grian would punish bigb.

" for the next two weeks you are not allowed to be by yourself, you must stay with someone at all time and you must live with them and their teammates,  if try to be by yourself your punishment will extend another week" grian said, " got it" ,Jimmy looked at bigb who looked surprised at his punishment that ment he couldn't sneak around and stay away from anyone. 

" now to decide which group will take you in" grian said before he could ask, someone else did. " he can stay with me ,pearl, Scott and impulse" cleo said, they look at bigb smiling at him , grian look at cleo " that is a great choice, bigb you'll be stay with cleo ,pearl, Scott and impulse, your also be living with them for the next too weeks " grian said. Bigb just look grian not speaking. 

" now them everyone go home have breakfast and start on your chores , then at sunset meet at the altar sorry for delaying this for so long" he told everyone then he led skizz and Mumbo following him , " delay , meet at the altar?" Jimmy thought what did he mean, before he could think more his thoughts were interrupted by scar " come on Jimmy let's get you home ,your not leaving my sight" scar shouted grabbing Jimmy non broken arm in one hand his cane in the other ,heading back home to do chores.

Pov Scott 

Scott yawned as they headed back to pearl and cleo's cabin ,cleo went with bigb who was staying with them . Scott noticed that the guy didn't look like he wanted to stay here.

Pearl headed to figure out what to make for a quick breakfast before chores were to start.  While impulse and Scott waited for cleo and bigb to come back. 

Scott wonder why bigb look so paranoid. 

He talk to impulse while waiting , bigb and cleo were back bigb was carrying some things as cleo showed him where he was staying before breakfast. 

A quick meal of a apple and bread was what they ate before they got started with chores.

" today is candle makeing" pearl said smiling cleo smile too and Scott saw bigb forced a smile he didn't seem happy here unlike the others. 

" Scott you and impulse will be joining in with the others in candle making" pearl told the two. Pearl's chores today was to get wood and sweetberries,  while cleo would get mutton and wool and coco beans with bigb since he couldn't go anywhere by himself or stay by himself do to it begin his punishment,  then she mentioned they go back home to do the dishes and offer to bake cookies with him to make feel at home.

" your welcome to be a member of our team bigb" cleo told bigb , " that's kind of you to offer again .." bigb replied. Cleo wants bigb to join her and pearl's team but bigb didn't seem he wanted to join.

After gathering what she needed for today chores , pearl led Scott and impulse to where the candle making was happening. It was a building unlike the others it looked like it was made out of stone . Scott could see skizz was there , but he wasn't the only one , Joel, lizzie, etho, and ren were there too .

Ren greeted pearl before she left , " now someone from each team are here" ren said " we can start the candle making " skizz said he looked excited which surprised both Scott and impulse. 

Etho open the door and led everyone inside. 

Chapter Text

The candle making was quite no one spoke,  impulse attempted to speak to skizz but was stopped by Joel telling him to focus on making the candles. 

Candle making took all day long , Scott , impulse and skizz were shown how to make them by Joel and lizzie. 

Scott was unsure about Joel he hasn't gotten a chance to speak to him other then him and impulse apologizing for ruining his and lizzie wedding they also apologize to lizzie too. But forgive them surprisely for ruining it.

The candle making was something they had to do all day , only taking a break for lunch and for the bathroom. Lunch was a quick meal of carrots. 

They made candles in different colors, Scott was surprised by the candles lizzie made were apparently scented and she even ask Scott if he wanted her to show him how to make scented ones the next time the candle making happened. 

He probably wasn't going to be here when it happens he politely told her that only to get a frowned from her when he said leaving. 

Candles were place into boxes enough for everyone to take back and shared with their teammates. Scott pick several different candles in different colors and lizzie gave him some different scented candles, cinnamon, flowers, mint and roses were the scents he was given.  Scott was surprised by there begin cinnamon and mint from what he's seen no one seem to use either cinnamon or mint.

He and impulse carried the candles home. By the time they were done the sun was starting to set. Cleo , pearl and bigb were already home waiting for them done with their chores.

" we'll sorted the candles later" cleo told him and impulse, " it's time to head to the altar.  Let's get going". 

The five of walk to the altar bigb was walking in front of them pearl keeping a eye on him. While Scott and impulse followed cleo.

The altar Stian with red , Scott wondering why it was red it look like blood he hope it wasn't blood. 

Grian the leader stood near the altar, everyone stood watching him in groups. Scott could see Jimmy ,scar was near him close to them was lizzie next to her was Joel and gem, skizz was standing next to Mumbo. Scott noticed ren was holding something. 

Grian look at everyone then spoke,  " ren bring the rabbit here, bdubs come forward" he said. Ren walk forward and Scott saw he was holding a brown rabbit in his arms. What were they going to do with. Bdubs walk towards the leader.

Grian look at bdubs , then spoke " it's your turn bdubs" he told the man , bdubs nodded his head a knife was handed to him. Ren was at the altar and place the rabbit onto it.

Bdubs step forward knife in hand , everyone kept silent and watch . As he watch Scott realized what bdubs was told to do.

He was to kill the rabbit and Scott realized another thing . The altar was stain red because of blood. 

Bdubs look at the rabbit and then the knife in his hands, he got down a bit and then moved the knife to the bunny's throat. The rabbit moved a little as the knife touch it's throat but it couldn't moved to to Ren holding it. Without any hesitation bdubs slit the rabbit's throat. The rabbit made a sound as bdubs slit it's throat. Blood leak from the wound and onto the altar, ren held the rabbit there waiting for blood to get onto the altar. 

Scott the heard cheering from the crowd in fact one the voices sounded familiar. He looked to see and to his horror it was skizz. Scott stared at skizz he was cheering they just killed a rabbit in front of everyone. 

This wasn't skizz he needed to talk to him, he look at impulse who was still staring at the dead rabbit. Scott yelled at him ," impulse!" He yelled. 

Impulse look at Scott, " something wrong with skizz,  we need to talk to him" he said, impulse looks at Scott and nodded his head. The two started to make their way towards skizz. People were starting to leave Scott and impulse ignored them hurrying toward skizz before he left with Mumbo. 

" skizz " impulse shouted , skizz turn towards them and walk towards them. " what is it?" Skizz asked, Scott noticed Mumbo was close by watching them.

" why are you cheering?" Impulse asked, " because the sacrifice was successful" skizz replied, " sacrifice!" Scott yelled, " yeah Mumbo told me we have two a month toward the end and the beginning buy the beginning is usually done later in the week,  cause grian delays it" skizz replied. 

They did sacrifices here , they killed animals for sacrifice and why was skizz acting so casual about it.

" skizz why are acting okay" impulse asked, skizz looked at impulse, " I'm fine guys" he replied, " soon you , smajor and Jimmy well love this place and want to stay forever too". Love this place and stay forever,  this wasn't skizz he wanted to leave too.

Impulse look at skizz, impulse and skizz have been best friends for years and impulse knew this wasn't his friend. Before impulse could speak, Mumbo did first " skizz we need to head home before it's dark" he said, skizz looked at Mumbo, before he left he waved Scott and impulse goodbye. 

Scott wanted to talk to the leader but when he went to find him , grianwas already leaving carrying the dead rabbit with him,  Martyn and ren following him  like bodyguards. Scott saw Jimmy begin escorted by scar back home, everyone was leaving. 

Very hesitate Scott and impulse headed back with cleo , pearl and bigb.

Dinner was porkchops and baked potatoes , Scott had to forced himself to eat he felt a bit sick after seeing the rabbit be killed, he couldn't even taste the food this time. He had no appetite. 

The candles he and impulse brought back were sorted to make sure everyone got the same amount, then it was off to bed. Scott lit one of the scent candles, he could smell the mint from it he sat it near his bed . He stuff a few blues ones and a couple of scented under his bed planing to take them when they leave. 

That night he didn't get much sleep. 

Meanwhile 

The walk was long as grian carried the dead rabbit far away, ren and Martyn following him. After every sacrifice he did this , carry the body away. 

Ren and Martyn usually went with him to keep him safe , occasionally Mumbo would go with him or even etho , tango ,bdubs and rarely pearl. To make sure he wouldn't be alone.

They made their way to the pale garden, where the bodies were dump. It was believed that giving the corpses of dead animals and people from the sacrifices to the monster that it would leave them alone.

He didn't believe that ,even though the pervious leaders did it the monster still took people. Yet he still did it.

After walking what he was far enough and a place to place the dead rabbit, grian place it down he wonders if the monster actually takes the bodies and not some other animals. 

Grian look at the corpse of the dead rabbit before, looking at Martyn and ren. " let's get back " he told them.

Chapter Text

Scott woke to begin tried he didn't get much sleep last night , he saw a rabbit get sacrifice and skizz act different which wasn't like he acted. 

Scott knew something wrong was skizz they did something to him, skizz wanted to leave with them, no way he want to stay or leave his best friend behind. He and impulse were like brothers. 

They needed to leave but after what happened yesterday, Jimmy probably delayed it longer. Scott got up "another day here" he thinks he gets dressed in clean clothes, he noticed that pearl or cleo never returned his or impulse's clothes. Putting on his shoes Scott headed towards the kitchen, he saw pearl on the way her wolfs following her ,with her also was bigb. Scott gave them a wave and to his surprise bigb return it.

He wonder way was it to not be rude. Cleo was at the table, " morning everyone" they said they were smiling as always, " impulse is making breakfast " . Impulse is cooking breakfast, he and Scott have been cooking a couple of times here.

As soon as everyone took a seat impulse was done with breakfast, he made cook chicken with a slice of watermelon. Despite the memory of the rabbit begin killed still in his head ,Scott was able to eat breakfast. 

After breakfast was done as usual it time to dicuss what chores everyone would do. " I'll be here using the wool we got today" cleo said, " we need some new blankets ,so I'll be staying here minus to get some water from the well", " bigb your coming with me" pearl told bigb ," we're getting some apples, beef ,milk and some honey" bigb just nodded his head and said okay, everyone turn towards Scott and impulse. 

" Scott your chores today are to get carrots, potatoes and mushrooms" pearl said, she then turn towards impulse, " impulse you'll be going with some of the others today, they'll inform you what you have to do today " impulse nodded his head. Scott wonder what impulse was going to do today. 

Scott grabbed three baskets for his chores today he wonder how he was going to carry them all back by himself, cleo decided to while getting water from the well for laundry she shown impulse where he needed to go.

Before going their separate ways , pearl told Scott where he could find mushrooms. Scott walk towards the location where mushrooms were usually found. 

The place had lots of mushrooms growing to his surprise but only to different kinds of mushrooms,  Scott didn't know everything about mushrooms. He place the smallest basket down next to him and he grabbed started to grabbed some mushrooms he placed them into the basket. 

A few minutes after he started to pick mushrooms,  he heard a voice " hello Scott " ,he turned towards stopping to pick mushrooms one in his hand,  it was Joel he was carrying a basket. 

" hello " Scott said they didn't talk yet except candle making yesterday, maybe he could talk to him. Joel walk towards a place away from Scott and place his basket down he started to grab mushrooms. 

Scott look at Joel, the green streak in his hair didn't seem like it faded or anything how did Joel keep from fading it here. " is that green streak natural or is it dyed?" He asked Joel,  Joel look at Scott, " it's dyed" Joel replied, " I smash up some cactus and make some green dye I put into my hair". ," cactus?" Scott thought how did they get it here.

" I don't know how we get cactus , grian gives some to me" Joel said, " grian has cactus did he get from someone or somewhere a stash of cactus growing somewhere?" Scott thought. 

Scott look at Joel, " what made you and your wife decided to live here?" He asked, Joel look at Scott as he place a mushroom into the basket, " eight years ago, lizzie went on a trip she got lost I couldn't get into contact with her for awhile . I was so worried then I got a call it was lizzie, she told me that she staying in this community and told me where to go to find her" Joel grabbed another mushroom. " I hurried as fast as I could,  I was confused about the location, ran into some people that leave here I ask about lizzie and they took me to where she was staying she was staying with scar , I was so glad she was alright , she told how she got here and how nice this place was" he grab another mushroom as he spoke. 

" met grian ,he told me that he was glad I found lizzie and we chatted a bit ,afterwards he told us that a storm was coming and it wouldn't be safe for us to go . So we stayed the night met gem while staying that night. In the morning we left."

"While we were leaving lizzie told me she like the place how the people were friendly and how nice it was there, even though I been there for a day I couldn't help but feel the same way. They gave us some souvenirs, candles and some food and a pamphlet. , a week later we joined " Joel said, Scott look at joel.

" you two join that quickly?" Scott replied, Joel look at Scott," lizzie really wanted to join and I did too so we quickly pack up and got rid of what we had" Joel replied, " of course our families didn't approve and lizzie's family blame me , while my family blame lizzie's, usually we were on good terms but ..." Joel look at Scott, " I still think we made the right choice " he tells Scott. 

Scott look at Joel,  he and lizzie just drop everything and moved here . Leaving behind family just because of this place. 

Scott then realized he was holding a mushroom about to drop into the basket. Joel on the other hand was focused on picking mushrooms. 

Pov grian 

Today was to check the traps for rabbits. Rabbits were hard to catch so they rarely had rabbit stew as a result. Grian job was to make sure no one mess any of the traps.

He made breakfast today for him , Mumbo and skizz, he felt bad letting just them do the chores when he had duties as a leader as a result he try to Atleast to make breakfast or dinner those days to contribute to his team.

He had made mushroom stew and bread today after that he left and waited for those who would help him.

Joining him today was ren , Martyn, tango and impulse. Grian look at impulse he needed to keep a eye on him.

" today we're checking the traps to see if we got any rabbits" he tells everyone. He looks at impulse, " impulse since you're new to this , tango can show you how we set traps and get the rabbits" he tells impulse and tango.

Tango nodded his head before heading towards impulse, the two started to talk . While grian led them into the woods.

Everyone stuck close to together as they walk into the woods , you could get lost in the woods if you didn't know which way to go.

They eventually made their way to where the traps were. Ren and Martyn look at the traps a smile on both men's faces as they saw what was in most of the traps , rabbits. 

Several rabbits lay dead in the traps, having been caught in the traps. None of them were alive but that was rare , the last time they found a rabbit caught in the trap alive , it was yesterday sacrifice. 

Tango approach one of the traps impulse following him. 

Grian approach a trap and started to get to work.

Chapter Text

When impulse got back from the task he was to do , he came back with a few dead rabbits. Cleo and pearl look happy to see the rabbits .

Impulse apparently had to along with the leader , tango , ren and Martyn, collect the dead rabbits caught in the traps and reset and replace them for today job. Tango had help impulse. 

Scott definitely doesn't think he could do that task . But apparently everyone took turns helping the leader with that job. It was apparently difficult to get enough Rabbits for everyone as a result it was rare to have rabbit stew. Rabbit stew was reserved usually for someone birthday or for a nice meal for newcomers. They rarely ate it for just a normal meal.

Scott remember the first day they were here, cleo and pearl gave him and impulse rabbit stew. He assumed they also gave it to people they help out .

Pearl made dinner which was just some steak and then it was off to sleep. 

Scott headed out his room this morning, to find to his surprise bigb cooking breakfast. Scott could smell what seemed to be fish cooking so bigb was making fish? For breakfast. " morning bigb" Scott said, bigb almost jump but thankfully it did mess up his cooking. " sorry" Scott said, bigb look at Scott, " it's alright I was focus on making breakfast " bigb replied he went to focusing on the fish he was cooking. 

Scott decided to go wait or maybe he'll see if the others are awake before he could,  bigb stop him. " Scott " bigb said, Scott turn around and look at bigb ," yes" he said. 

" don't blame Jimmy,  it's my fault, for him getting in trouble and preventing you guys from leaving " bigb tells Scott,  Scott looked at bigb , " I'm not mad at Jimmy or you" Scott replied, " what ever you talk about. I just want to know what it was." .

Bigb look at Scott surprise to see Scott didn't blame him for delaying him,impulse, Jimmy and skizz leaving this place. Scott felt like he could trust bigb and he didn't know why.

" if we get the chance again I like to chat with you alone ." Scott tells bigb they could continue the chat but Scott sees cleo entering the kitchen. Bigb just nods his head and goes back to cooking after he and Scott greet cleo. Cleo turns to Scott, " let's not bother bigb anymore let him cook" they tells Scott and then they led Scott to the dinning room to wait.

A few minutes later bigb was done with cooking and served everyone cook fish for breakfast. After breakfast as usual it was time to dicuss what chores everyone would be doing. 

Today chores they gave him would be chopping wood, getting sugarcane and some eggs, pearl would be getting porkchops and fishing today, impulse would be getting carrots and watermelon from the fields , including helping with taking care of the fields,  finally bigb and cleo would be doing the chores around here along with the wheat fields. 

Gathering what he needed headed out , he decided to head to the woods to get some wood,  he also thought maybe he could explore and find a way for them to possibly sneak away when they weren't looking but he kinda felt bad if they didn't say goodbye or they would get caught. 

Scott heads towards the woods as he does he hears a voice,  " hello Scott " Scott looks and sees it's lizzie they haven't talked much the only time they did was the candle Making. " hello lizzie " Scott says , lizzie notices the axe Scott is holding.  " your going to get wood" she asks, " yes it's my first time chopping wood" Scott replied, " I'm actually going to get some wood too. I can show you where we usually get wood" lizzie tells him.

There goes his chance to be on his own . But Scott felt like he should accept he didn't really know how to chopped a tree. " sure I appreciate the help" he tells lizzie.  Lizzie smiles at him and shows him the way.

Scott looks at lizzie , Scott's not sure about her or her husband. Maybe he could talk to her doing this time. " so lizzie how's Jimmy doing?" He asked he decided to ask that first he was worried about his friend. " he seems to be doing fine" lizzie replied " but scar is around him more but Jimmy does seem alright " . Scott was glad to know Jimmy was doing ok.

He decided to ask lizzie another question, " I talk to your husband yesterday while I was picking mushrooms " Scott told her , lizzie look at him " Joel told me about that when we were eating dinner,  you ask him why we joined " she replied. 

" I was curious about why you both joined " Scott said, " I'm surprised you both just moved here so quickly ".

" who wouldn't this place is perfect " lizzie smiled a big smiled that look creepy. Scott decided to stay silent afterwards. 

The walk into the woods was quite,  Scott could see some trees that were chopped and stumps. Lizzie led Scott a little bit into the woods and then stopped, " this is a good place " she tells Scott, " I'll show you how to chopped a tree" . She starts to walk towards a tree only to stop and started to screaming she falls towards the ground and grabs her foot.

Scott quickly runs towards her did she step on something,  he look at where lizzie had step. Broken pieces of glass where on the ground blood was on them. Lizzie stepped on Broken glass. Scott look in horror he needed to help lizzie. 

Suddenly he hears a voice, " I hear screaming is everything okay " it was ren ,he immediately stop and saw lizzie on the ground in pain. Ren look at Scott, " what happened " he asked, " she step I'm broken glass" Scott replied ren look at and saw the broken glass on the ground, " she needs medical attention " ren tells Scott. 

" be careful " Scott tells ren , since ren isn't wearing any shoes like lizzie , he could accidentally step in the broken glass too. Ren carefully makes his way avoiding stepping on the broken glass and grabs  lizzie , he looks at Scott, " I'll need your help" ren tells him " "follow me" ren carrying lizzie begin to led the way before he leaves Scott quickly grabs the axe lizzie drop not wanting it to be left behind. 

Ren is quickly hurries and Scott follows unsure where ren is going. Until he sees where they are going,  the building looks like a tower in the sky and made of wood Scott is impressed by the building is this where Martyn and ren lived.

Scott sees Martyn he looks like he about to started laundry, " Martyn!" Ren shouts " it's a emergency lizzie's injured " , Martyn stops and drops a shirt into the basket,  he sees ren carrying lizzie and quickly runs into a a building made of stone he lives the door opened and ren goes inside Scott following. 

Scott sees not much in the building, but a bed and chest. Ren sits lizzie on the bed and Martyn opens the chest he quickly hurries to lizzie carrying several things.

Scott looks at lizzie she's in pain , as Martyn places the things down he and ren look at Scott "could you get some water" ren asks , " there's a water pump outside " Scott nods his hand Martyn hands him a bowl and Scott quickly heads outside,  he finds the water pump and after several minutes he manages to get water and hurries back inside. 

Ren takes the water and sets it down and places a cloth inside it , he then looks at lizzie's injury " luckily it not to deep or any broken glass in it" ren tells lizzie, he then grabs the cloth and cleans lizzie's wound . While ren does that Martyn digs into a little box and pulls out a thread and needle. 

After ren Is done cleaning it , Martyn begins to stitch up the wound once he done ren wraps lizzie's foot in some bandages. 

" all done" Martyn says , Scott look at lizzie she looked like she was still in pain. " she'll need help back home" ren looked at Scott, " help me take her back to home" he tells him ," I'll go information are leader of what happened. She won't be able to her chores for awhile " Martyn tells them.

Scott goes to help ren both make sure that lizzie is not putting pressure on her wound. As they head to take her home they run into Joel who upon seeing his wife injury almost drop the beetroot he was carrying. Joel demanded to know what happened to lizzie,  Scott told him about the broken glass and ren and Martyn helping. 

Joel thank both ren and Scott,  telling ren to tell Martyn thanks for helping his wife. Scott felt like he didn't help much. 

Joel decided to carry his wife home , ren decided to go with Joel and carry the beetroot to where it needed to go. Scott was told he could go back to chores. He went back to chopping wood hoping lizzie would be alright. 

The day goes by quickly Scott spent the rest of the morning chopping wood which was difficult and tiring but he attempts to chop enough to also give some to scar and Joel he's unsure if Joel and lizzie needs any wood for firewood but decides to chop some . It takes him three trips first to scar's ,unpon seeing Scott scar greeted him thanking him for helping lizzie having to head the news. Scott gave him the wood , telling scar he decided to chop wood for lizzie do to her injury. Scar thank Scott and took the chopped wood, heading to put it away.  While he was there Scott attempted to see if he could speak to or see Jimmy. 

Bit he didn't see Jimmy anywhere,  so he left and headed to get more chop wood and bring to Joel's and lizzie's cabin. He found the location to his surprise be himself. He found Joel busy focusing on his wife until he saw Scott with some chopped wood. Scott give it to Joel telling him that he did lizzie's chore of chopping wood and by doing it he just chop extra wood. " we we're getting low on firewood I was going to get some tomorrow but now you save me from doing that" Joel tells Scott he thanks Scott before he leaves.

He then heads back to get the last of the chopped wood and bring it back to pearl's and cleo's.  The two had already learned about what happened,  news apparently goes around here quickly. Afterwards they all eat lunch prepare by pearl,  baked potato's and apples.

Later that day

Scott looked at what they had today he was making dinner. " maybe beetroot soup , bread and cake?" He thinks , suddenly Scott hears footsteps and sees bigb. He stares at Scott, " can we talk?" He asked " I'll help with dinner in exchange for talking " . Scott look at bigb nodded his head.

Chapter Text

Scott look at his breakfast that cleo made for everyone today Chicken . He then started to eat and looked at bigb and impulse who had started to eat. He ,impulse, Jimmy and skizz have been here for 22 days today makes 23.

" remember the plan" he thinks back to the day bigb and him talk in the kitchen while he was dinner. Bigb told him the real reason behind his meeting with Jimmy. Scott learned that bigb was a victim of a car crash and found by the cult and taken in. Instead of letting him leave once he was better they forced him to stay . Which is probably what would happen to him and his friends if they tried to leave.

During the chat Scott got a idea , he wasn't sure how much this place or cult trusted them on their own especially bigb so he got a idea. " will win thier trust and then they hopefully won't watch us as much or think we're trying to leave" he tells bigb .

Bigb stared at him when Scott suggested telling cleo and pearlto joined their team instead of being on his own anymore. But Scott thought that it help bulid trust and hopefully make it easier for them to leave.

So bigb agree,  yesterday when his punishment was over bigb announced that he decided he wanted to join cleo,  pearl, impulse and Scott as a team. Everyone was surprised while cleo look happy to see bigb finally accepted her offer. So bigb move what he didn't take from his house and moved in. 

Another thing that happened yesterday was grian the leader announcing after bigb joined a team was the indoctrination of skizz was happening tomorrow. Scott was shocked to hear that how long did they have until he, impulse and Jimmy were indoctrinated in too of course he felt like their was no need for that. But it probably help win trust.

After eating breakfast they were given what chores to do today. Scott was task to do chores around here which met he only would make a trip to the well and a trip to a nearby river. He got a bucket and headed towards the well he watch as he got water bigb , cleo , pearl and impulse heading to do their chores , bigb getting apples, honey and wood , impulse was to help pearl with getting eggs and chicken before getting potatoes and watermelon, while cleo would get glowberries, kelp and sugarcane. Scott wonder if they have to eat the kelp and glowberries for food, he definitely didn't want to eat the glowberries.

He did the laundry and hang it after washing it before decidening to start on making bread after leaving to rise he still had a bit of time before skizz's indoctrination and headed to one the chores he hated after killing the animals for food. Cleaning the buckets they used for he hated to think about that. 

He took them one by one towards the nearest outhouse before heading towards the nearest river and Cleaning then throughly. This was his third time doing this , he always lost his appetite and remember the first time impulse had to the chores around the cabin , he barely touch his meal and look green. He did not blame him.

He finished cleaning the buckets and quickly headed home after drying them and washed his hands throughly. Shortly after the others arrive and place what they gotten from what chores they did before heading off to the altar. 

Everyone was hear , everyone stay near their teammates with the exception of Mumbo who's teammates the leader and skizz were standing near the altar. 

" skizz to be one of us you must cut one of your fingers and wipe the blood onto this page of this book" grian holds out a kinder and skizz takes it as he slices a bit of his finger ,grian opens the book to a empty page. Scott watchs uncomfortable and didn't hurt skizz?,  skizz then smear his blood onto the empty page and wrapped it into a cloth to stop the bleeding. 

" next is to pledge your loyalty and say this" grian tells skizz, Scott watchs as skizz pledges his loyalty and then repeats what grian is saying. " you are now a official member of the wild life " grian tells skizz, wild life is that what this cult was called and why call it it didn't really seem that wild.

Grian gave a smile at and Mumbo joined them patting skizz on the shoulder,  Scott saw impulse looking upset they were treating skizz like he was a longtime friend when he wasn't. Scott place a hand on impulse shoulder .

Pov Jimmy 

After skizz's indoctrination to the cult everyone went back to their chores , Jimmy followed lizzie ,while scar went to get wood.

Ever since her injury lizzie was working hard to make up for getting injured even though the leader understood, do to her injury during the time ,scar had to do both his and lizzie's chores , Jimmy help the best he could with his arm begin broken he did his best.

Today he harvest apples so far, it was difficult but he managed to while lizzie got some eggs and beef.  Now he had to get some mushrooms while lizzie got flowers and sugarcane, flowers weren't part of her chores but she wanted to get some for decorations and dye.

As he pick mushrooms, Jimmy thought about what Scott told him the plan to gain trust so they could escape. Which met not talking about leaving, taking part of those sacrifices, killing the animals for food and the indoctrination. Jimmy didn't know who they would chose to do it next .

Maybe because he was injured they wait until they he was better, but he didn't know. Hopefully he won't have to do it and they be gone before then. 

For now Jimmy had to focus on doing chores and gaining scar and lizzie's trust.

Several hours later

Jimmy followed lizzie back to scar's house, carrying what he could, lizzie was carrying most of the things they brought back from chores.

Opening the door, lizzie let Jimmy enter first and the followed him inside as he looked around scar was not here yet was he still finishing his chores.

Jimmy went to put away the mushrooms, while lizzie put away the sugarcane, and sweetberries. She grabbed the vase sitting on the table and went to change out the dead flowers and with new ones.

Suddenly the door slammed open, Jimmy could hear it from the kitchen and he ran towards it. He saw it was scar holding a box he look upset. Lizzie ran out having to put down the vase ," scar what happened " she asked, " is that a box?" Jimmy asked, " some jerks left these poor kittens in the woods!" Scar yells he's angry. 

Jimmy saw two heads poking out of the box two kittens ,they're adorable. " I found them while I was having a little chat with Martyn"," we heard meowing and then I see this box and find these kittens in it!" Scar is so angry, Jimmy also angry too what monster abandons kittens in the woods.

Scar sits the box down and grabs one the kittens gently checking it over before he gently sits it down and then does the same to the other kitten, they both look around before wandering around. " they seem okay " scar tells lizzie and Jimmy, " we got a bit of fish left these poor kittens can have that" lizzie heads towards the kitchen it's her turn to cook dinner. " tomorrow I'm telling grian , if we ever find the culprit we'll punish them" scar holds his cane tightly angry. 

Jimmy looks at scar ,he hopes the culprit gets karma too . 

Chapter Text

Grian wakes he still smells a bit of the scent of the candle he lit last night. He sits up and looks at it the red candle is nothing bit a small bit left the rest melted. He gets up and replaces the candle so it's ready for tonight and changes into a clean robe.

He heads to make breakfast for him, Mumbo and skizz , luckily Today he doesn't have Much tasks to do as a leader ,  just burned the remains from what was left animals . He grabbed some paper he drew on one planning to show skizz and Mumbo it. Placing it in his pocket he heads towards the kitchen. 

Grian looks around the cave they made into their house he and Mumbo, he couldn't help be now since skizz joined it wad a bit cramp. So they could try and expand it but it would dangerous. 

It was originally grian's dream to lived in a cave with his teammates but now it's changed hopefully Mumbo and skizz will like this idea. 

He grabs some fish and carrots and started to cook the fish . While he did that he thought about what happened recently.  Bigb decided to joined a team even though it was a good thing and cleo and pearl we're overjoyed to have a new teammate and everyone was happy for them. Grian couldn't help but be a bit suspicious. 

Bigb was always paranoid even though they saved him and let him joined, indoctrinate him. He would try and leave and they have to stop him despite bigb pleas to be let go which none of them understood they have never harm him. They've have to give him the tea but eventually he stop trying to escape so much he still tried to once in awhile. 

Maybe he was begin too worry about this but he couldn't help but think that bigb and the new members were planning something. From bigb having Jimmy break the rules he thinks there's more to bigb wanting to be Jimmy's friend.

He needed to keep a closer eye on bigb, Scott, impulse and Jimmy, skizz he had nothing to worry about .he should asked their teammates to keep a closer eye on them.

They can't leaved they belong here or ruin this community. 

Grian hears footsteps as he sits the table and sees his teammates are both awake.  He greets them before they eat breakfast. 

After they finish breakfast, grian looks at Mumbo and skizz. " before we start on our tasks , there's something I want to talk about " , Mumbo and skizz looked at him. " I've been thinking this cave is now kinda cramp with three people living here and sure we can try and expand it but it could be dangerous. So I was thinking we could build something bigb enough for three people " ,he pulls out the paper and shows it to Mumbo and skizz. 

" we don't have to bulid this but I was thinking of a tower" 

Mumbo spoke first " a tower didn't you always want to lived in a cave?" He asked, grian looked at Mumbo. " it was my dream Mumbo bit it's now changed" grian replies , Mumbo looks at grian " I'm fine with it , it's your choice " Mumbo says , they both look at skizz. " I'm all for it" skizz tells the two. 

" great we'll need some supplies, like wood" he begin to list what they'll need and that if they had time they could do it. Afterwards they all went to do their chores.

Skizz left to get some wood , while Mumbo went to go get pumpkins, beetroots and honey. Grian grabbed a bucket and went to go get to the well . When he heard a knock , he heads towards the door wondering who it could be.

Opening it he sees it scar.

" hello scar" he says to scar," morning grian" scar says he doesn't look happy, " is something wrong " grian asks. 

Scar looks at grian , " yesterday when I was haven't a chat with Martyn we both heard a noise and when we looked we found a box and in it was some kittens, some jerk abandoned them!" Scar did not look happy neither was grian. 

" someone abandoned kittens are they alright" he asked he hated when people abandoned their pets out here in the woods ,they find them and bring the here and take care of them in this community making sure they get plenty of love and care.

" their fine" scar said " I'll be taken care of them" , scar taking of the kittens they'll be in good hands, grian remembers the last time scar had found a kitten she was lost and separated from it's mother . Scar gave her lots of loved and care.

" if we find whoever abandoned them we'll make them payed" grian tells scar.

People who hurt animals or abandoned them if they find them they'll have them for killed for the next sacrifice make them suffer. 

Several minutes later pov scar

Scar heads up the mountain back to his and Jimmy's home he finish telling grian about the kittens. 

Scar was angry at whoever abandoned them in the woods , if he ever meets the person he wants to be the one  to sacrifice them . That person deserves it he hopes they get some kind of karma. 

Lizzie had made a bit of chicken for the kittens she arrived early to help and made breakfast. Scar needed to get while he did his chores some things for the kittens,  luckily one of the things was food and he was going fishing today. 

Lizzie stayed and was going to do chores while watching the kittens,  Jimmy was going to help her.

Scar loved his teammates,  they we're his friends,  in fact he like to think he was friends with everyone in this community even the paranoid bigb . He loved everyone here.

And why wouldn't he they saved his life , we'll grian saved him from the car crash . Too bad he saved the rest of his family. 

After their death scar had nothing, but this place help him out. They cared for him ,grian and Mumbo hang out with them most and made him a cane scar loved that cane and still uses the most.

He never wants to leave this place.