Joel was ecstatic. He'd been invited to Hermitcraft for their tenth season, and now here he was standing around a lava pool with all the other Hermits. However, they were all completely silent, which was a huge surprise to him.

He wasn't paying much attention to anyone as he fiddled with his new wrist-mounted communicator. The thing was so... fancy. When it was on sleep mode, it looked just like a thick wristlet, but when it was activated, it projected a holographic screen and keyboard with way too many applications on it. There was a global chat, along with many other private chats that would message each individual Hermit, and games. Who had games on their communicator?! Just goes to show how rich these guys are.

Joel jumped when he felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned to see Grian giving him a confused smile. His lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. Joel furrowed his eyebrows at him, making Grian frown. Is he fucking with me? Joel thought as Grian started acting like he was talking again.

Sighing, Joel tried to ask Grian was he was doing, but something was off.

Joel couldn't hear himself speak.

He could sort of feel the vibrations in his throat that would indicate his vocal cords were producing sound, but his ears weren't registering that sound at all.

Grian gave him an odd look, then started to mouth words again, though Joel had a feeling that Grian wasn't actually just mouthing the words. The brunette looked around and his stomach dropped when he saw all of the Hermits conversing and laughing with one another. Yet Joel couldn't hear a single thing.

They were never quiet... I'm deaf, Joel realised as he turned back to Grian, who was very obviously concerned. How do I tell him I can't hear? I don't know sign that well! Just as Joel had that thought, Grian started signing as if he could read Joel's mind. If Joel had to be honest, he wasn't the best at sign language. He knew the alphabet and some words here and there, but he wasn't nearly fluent at all like Grian was. Luckily enough for him, though, he could recognise some of the words that Grian was saying.

"You, something something, OK, something something, you deaf? Something something something"

Joel paused, then nodded and tried to replicate the way Grian had signed the word deaf. It was obvious that he'd done the sign wrong somehow, but he didn't really care because Grian seemed to understand anyway and started to sign some more.

"I, something, x posh, something something something, me, something, come."

Joel blinked, utterly confused by what Grian was trying to say, then realised that Grian wanted to go over to Xisuma when Grian pointed toward the admin. Did he just say Xisuma's name by calling him 'X posh'? Joel thought, wanting to laugh at the idea. He followed Grian around the lava pool (which he had just noticed that everyone moved away from it to get started) to where Xisuma was standing, messing with his communicator.

Joel felt a little awkward, just standing there as Xisuma and Grian talked. Xisuma didn't seem to say much, mostly just nodding along to what Grian was telling him. Not that Joel was really paying attention anyway. He was busy glancing around the fresh new world as the other Hermits laughed and talked and gathered their first resources. He was a little jealous, if he was honest. He didn't expect to suddenly go deaf, so he was a bit frustrated that he couldn't mingle and socialise with everyone like normal.

Suddenly, he felt a buzz on his communicator and he glanced down at it. It automatically opened the global chat for him, which is where the message was sent.

<Xisuma> All Hermits back to spawn please!!
<Xisuma> We have a situation that needs to be addressed

Just as he finished reading the messages, Joel felt another tap on his shoulder from Grian. He started signing again, though this time, Joel didn't recognise anything he was saying. After speaking, Grian started to walk away, but Joel still didn't know what was going on. Why was Xisuma calling everyone back to spawn? What needed to be discussed? Was it that Joel was deaf and now Xisuma was going to tell everyone? And what was Grian doing? Joel had so many questions, yet none of them were being answered.

His communicator buzzed again and this time it opened his private messages with Grian.

<Grian> are you coming
<SmallishBeans> yea i didn't know that's what you said
<Grian> is it better if i just message you like this instead of bsl
<SmallishBeans> yea

Joel lowered his communicator to catch up to Grian, pulling it back out when he reached him.

<SmallishBeans> why is x having a meeting

Grian took a moment to respond, doing something else on his device before he typed a response.

<Grian> he's just informing everyone about your situation
<Grian> and he wants the redstone guys to try and help you
<SmallishBeans> idek why i can't hear
<SmallishBeans> this is weird lowkey

Grian smiled.

<Grian> dude i bet

Grian put away his communicator and waved, motioning for Joel to follow him. Joel didn't question it (how could he?) and followed as Grian traversed the plains.

But what exactly was he supposed to do now?

☆°▪︎.•.▪︎°☆

New story!!!!!

I was going to write these chapters super long, but I decided I want to keep them shorter so each one can be a specific character's perspective

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!! Have a wonderful day or night, wherever you are!! Love you all <3