Heat just radiated off of everything. The water vapor shimmered in the air around each of the sweltering hermits. Most had ditched their normal outfits for looser, cooler clothes. All except Scar. He was still in his normal tee-shirt and matching wizard robe. Sweat dripped off his fingers as he walked through the cowmercial district, just looking for something to get the day to pass by faster. His hat, drooping in conjunction with his mood. Even the monster plant in his greenhouse shop sagged.

"Hey Scar!" a shorter hermit in a pair of red swim shorts had just appeared in Scar's vision, "Ren invited us all to Loser Island for a beach party!" Grian was bouncing on his heels in anticipation.

"You should come!" this time it was Iskall, dressed in a loose-fitting muscle shirt and green swim trunks.

Scar just shrugged and followed the two men to the water and hopped in a boat behind Grian.

The distance between the mooshroom island and Loser Island wasn't that far but with the sunlight reflecting on the surface of the ocean and the effort it took to row the boat, Scar could hardly breathe by the time they hit Ren's beach. Sweat had soaked through his sleeves, turning the green a darker shade. His hat was hanging of his neck to allow heat to escape from his head. He could feel the sun burning his cheeks as he clambered out of the boat and helped Grian out. Iskall wasn't too far behind, also sweating from the exertion and heat.

Ren sauntered up to the three hermits, "Welcome to the party bros!" He wore a sleeveless Hawaiian style button up and short jean shorts. A lay of purple orchids hung around his neck. He threw a similar flower lay around Grian's head, the red petals matching his shorts. Around Scar and Iskall, Ren threw a necklace of beads and shells and then led the three of them to a group of other hermits. Each had either a lay or bead necklace.

"Hey Grian, Iskall, Scar!" Stress was the first to skip over to acknowledge the new arrivals. Her blue flower lay bringing out the blue of her grey eyes.

Everyone said their hellos and it wasn't long before Grian had drug Mumbo and Iskall into the ocean. Cleo and Stress quickly joined followed by Ren and Bdubs both dragging Doc and Keralis respectively. False sat on a beach chair, sun tanning with her hair tied up into a bun. Xisuma had found some shade to relax and chat to Etho and Hypno. Zedaph and Tango were playing volleyball against Impulse and Cub. xB was helping TFC lather on some sun lotion while Jevin and Vintage wandered around, handing out drinks and snacks they had found in Ren's house, occasionally standing in front of False to annoy her.

Scar just stood of to the side, still boiling in his clothes. He ached to join the hermits in their swim attire and random game of chicken happening in the ocean.

"Howdy Scar, why don't yah doff that tarp you call robes?" Joe stood beside Scar, sipping from a glass of pina colada, completed with one of those little umbrellas.

Scar jumped then panicked. He wanted to cool down in the ocean so badly, but couldn't remove his covering. He wouldn't let it happen.

Joe continued to look at Scar, his eyebrows raises questioningly until Scar finally responds, "oh yah... haha... these old things? I'd rather... uh... keep them on?" His voice fluctuation made the last line sound more like a question but Joe didn't press him.

"Hmm... well, robe or no robe, I need a partner to play chicken with."

Scar glanced at where hermits in the ocean were playing. Grian was sitting on Mumbo's shoulders as he tried to push Keralis off of Bdubs. Stress, sitting on Iskall was doing the same to Ren and Doc. Cleo floated just beyond them, laughing.

"Oh... Um sure I guess? Why not go with Cleo?"

"Did you not know about the challenge of '07? Cleo's banned herself from the game since."

Scar simply nods as Joe sets down his drink and pushes him into the ocean. It felt cool and refreshing, the waves lapping gently around his calves. Joe had walked around him, nodding his head towards the laughing hermits, and Scar followed, feeling his clothes become damp and heavier the deeper they headed into the water.

"Alright Scar, you're the smaller one so hop on my shoulders." Joe slipped under the water and Scar quickly climbed onto his shoulders. Joe stood up, raising Scar up about a foot out of the water. He yelped and wind milled his arms to stay balanced, his soaked robe clinging to his body.

Joe half jogged, half swam to the laughing and screaming hermits just as Grian crashed from Mumbo's shoulders.

"That's right! Look into my eyes and nothing but my eyes. They were the ones to take you down!"

"Your eyes did nothing to knock me off, I slipped!"

"No you didn't G. I felt them shove you off of me."

They were all laughing as Grian clambered back onto Mumbo but had hardly made it before Ren pulled him off from behind. Stress was treading water slightly behind than as Iskall was red with laughter.

"No fair!" Grian's blonde hair was plastered to his face as he dramatically spit water out of his mouth.

Scar was giggling even before Joe arrived at the fight and they quickly teamed up with the Keralis/Bdubs team to take out Ren. Keralis locked arms with the dog hybrid as Doc held Bdubs away with a hand to his forehead. Scar and Joe came at the side and Scar gave Ren a hard shove sideways, sending him toppling over Doc's head. Keralis quickly followed as Ren didn't let his arms go. They both came up sputtering and when Ren snorted in disbelief, all six of them laughed.

Scar and Joe didn't have much time to enjoy the hilarious sight of Ren trying to prevent Keralis from climbing back on Bdubs before Stress and Grian were circling the pair. Joe tried to back up but Cleo had swum around unnoticed, preventing their retreat.

"Haha! Yes Cleo!" Iskall was grinning triumphantly as Stress began to grapple with Scar.

"I'd say it's unfair but she's working with us so who cares!" Grian had joined in the grapple as Scar tried to hold both off and stay on Joe. Grian was tugging at Scar's robe sleeve to keep Scar close and Stress had begun to do a similar thing.

Scar was panicking. If he fell he'd probably lose his robe. "Guys stop! Stop!"

Grian and Stress looked at him confused, still holding his sleeves, when Joe dropped from beneath him. Iskall had swept out his legs and Joe collapsed into the waves. Scar followed, slipping from his robe. He resurfaced a couple feet away just as Cleo tackled Iskall yelling, "that's so cheap and so totally my move!" As Iskall crashed into the ocean, Stress squealed from surprised as her body hit the water. Grian and Mumbo stayed still, Grian still holding into Scar's robe. The hermits were all laughing at Iskall's move that it took them a couple agonizing moments before they noticed Scar. He had a wild look in his eyes as salty tears mix with the ocean water dripping off his face.

"Dude, you okay?" Iskall was the first to begin moving towards Scar but he stopped as Scar began backing away. He was careful as he moved backwards through the ocean waves, ensuring only his head was visible above the water.

Grian hopped off Mumbo's shoulders and began to walk slowly towards Scar, holding his robe out, "I'm sorry your robe came off. I'm just coming to give it back." He paused, concern flashing in his eyes, "whatever is going on, we aren't going to force you to talk, but we are here. Always."

Scar nodded gratefully and reach for the robe, keeping his arm under the water but before, he could put it on, Joe had swum beneath him. As Joe stood, Scar yelp in surprised and was so shocked to be above the water, he forgot why he shouldn't. He quickly covered his arms as best he could but looking at everyone's face, he knew they saw.

Joe noticed the other hermit's reactions as well and slowly let Scar off his back where Stress came and gently grabbed his hand. Scar felt her trace along his arm but he didn't look. He knew what the scars looked like, a crisscross of twisting lines with the occasional leaf or flower shaped marking.

"Scar..." Stress breathed lightly as the other hermits who had being playing the ocean crowded around the duo. As everyone stared at his arms, Scar waited for the questions, mentally preparing to answer. It surprised him, though, when Stress hugged him and everyone joined in. Grian began helping him slip his robe back over his arms but Scar stopped him.

"I know you have questions..."

"Yes, we do Scar," Ren had elbowed his way to stand right beside Scar, "but we will let you tell us when you're ready."

Scar looked around at his friends, each of them smiling softly at him, "I'm ready."

Stress lead Scar to the beach, away from the still dry hermits but Scar walked straight towards them. If he was going to tell some of them, he wanted to tell them all.

Xisuma was the first to notice the group coming, and immediately ran from his volleyball game to wrap Scar in a giant hug. Scar hugged him back until Xisuma stepped back, smiling at him reassuringly, "I see you've decided to tell everyone?"

"It wasn't really planned, but it's happening." Cub nodded and stood beside Scar as all the hermits slowly began walking towards Scar and the group of wet hermits. Even in the hot sun, Scar shivered in fear and Xisuma took his hand gently.

"Hi guys..." Scar began, gently waving, causing all the hermits to notice the scarring, "I guess it's time to let you guys in on my biggest secret."

The hermits stood in silence, waiting patiently until Scar continued. He took a deep breath and sighed, "About 6 months ago, I suffered from the Hanahaki disease." He stopped again, tears streaming down his face. Xisuma moved even closer to him as Stress began lightly crying in concern and Mumbo mumbled something to Iskall.

"Yes, I had the Hanahaki disease. These scars were from the vines and other growth at as it neared the last stages. I have these scars covering my torso as well. I got lucky though, I'm only stuck with the scars, not dead..."

A silence hung over the hermits, everyone having forgotten about the heat of the sun. Xisuma wrapped an arm about Scar lightly as Cub looked between the two. Understanding dawned on his face, "congratulations you guys. You make a wonderful couple."

Every began realizing what was being implied and excitement bloomed throughout the group. Scar heard very little as he sobbed from relief. Everyone accepted him. He wasn't worried about his relationship but he was sure everyone would think he's ugly. Xisuma stood beside him, smiling, as the hermits moved off to build a bonfire to enjoy the soon coming night.

And for the first time in a long time, Scar didn't care about how his body looked.