Xephos was buried a lot deeper into the sand then the two had anticipated. After at least an hour of doffing, they had only managed to uncover his face and chest. Honeydew stopped digging, and grabbed Xephos' shoulders and hauled him out of the sand. Xephos trembled at Honeydew's touch, his breathing amplified.

'Set him down over here.' Peculier commanded, pulling out what little medical supplies they had, out of his bag. Honeydew grunted, dragging his lightweight friend over to Peculier, leaving a thin trail of Crimson behind him.

'What do you think is wrong with him?' Honeydew questioned, glancing down at his friend. Peculier had focuses his eyes on Xephos' shoulder.

'Help me take off his armour.' Peculier groaned, heaving at the heavy iron armour. Honeydew lightly patted his arm away, before pulling the armour swiftly off of Xephos, leaving his red jacket on him. Peculier nodded. 'As I suspected, he's taken a sword to both the shoulder and the chest. He must've passed out from blood loss.' Peculier murmured. Honeydew inhaled sharply. Xephos squirmed under Peculier's like touch as he poked at his wound. A small cry escaping his lips. 'Help me with him Honeydew, he's waking up!' Honeydew dropped down beside Peculier. He gently moved Xephos's head into his lap and stroked his hair.

'It's going to be okay Xephos.' He murmured. He didn't want to lose his best friend. Xephos' eyes fluttered open.

'H-honey. D-dew.' He stuttered. Honeydew had to strain his ears to hear his quiet voice.

'Yes, I'm here. You're going to be alright.' Honeydew breathed back. Xephos suddenly jerked sideways, crying out with pain. Peculier looked up from the wound he had been tending to.

'Sorry hero. This will hurt, but we have to bandage your wounds.' Peculier muttered, half to himself, half to Xephos. Xephos shook his head.

'I-I've l-lost t-too m-much b-blood. I-it w-won't w-work. I-I'm g-going t-to d-die.' Xephos spoke slowly, coughing. A trickle of blood escaped his lips. Peculier shook his head.

'No hero! There is still hope! You must stay alive! I've already let Daisy be taken from me, it's not going to be the same with you!' Peculier's voice trembled. Xephos coughed again, more blood staining his mouth and chin.

'I-I w-won't l-last. I-I c-can a-already f-feel h-his p-presence.' Xephos murmured deliriously. Honeydew was silent, his best friend was slowly dying in his arms. A lump had formed in his throat, making him unable to breathe. Xephos was barely breathing now when a chuckle was heard from behind the three.

'Now that, Xephossss isssss where you are wrong.' A new voice came from behind the trio. Peculier and Honeydew froze. Xephos just whimpered. 'Did you really think you could esssscape me? Foolissssssh hero. Now, I'll make you a deal. You come with me, or your petty friendsssss die. Deal?' Israphel hissed. Honeydew was shaking in anger. He gently lowered Xephos' head to the ground and stood up to face the evil pharaoh.

'You aren't taking Xephos anywhere.' Honeydew spat bitterly. 'He isn't yours to take.' Honeydew raised his voice bravely. He heard Xephos say something, but Peculier gasped at whatever it was he had said. 'What did he say?' Honeydew demanded, glaring at Israphel.

'H-he said he would go with Israphel.' Peculier stammered, still getting over the shock of Xephos' words. Honeydew turned his back on Israphel, ignoring his sly smirk. He looked down at Xephos and shook his head.

'You aren't going with him.' Honeydew insisted. Xephos chuckled very weakly.

'I-I'm g-going t-to d-die e-either w-way...' Xephos sighed, trembling with both fear and from the pain. 'I-I m-may a-as w-well t-try t-to g-get I-information o-off o-of h-him.' Xephos lowered his voice to a barely audible quiet. Honeydew had to lower his ear right to Xephos' mouth to hear him. With a small sigh, and a look of deep concern. Honeydew stepped away from Xephos, his head lowered.

'Good bye Xeph...' Honeydew sniffed, trying not to cry. Peculier gasped in both shock and confusion.

'We aren't going to let him go with him, are we? He'll kill Xephos!' Peculier cried. Honeydew simply turned away from the scene in reply. Tears escaping his eyes as he collected his equipment from the ground. Peculier rushed after him, attempting to knock some sense back into the dwarf. He wasn't just going to abandon Xephos, was he?

Whilst Peculier rushed after Honeydew, Israphel and Xephos were left alone. Neither of them said anything. Israphel simply walked up to Xephos and picked him up. They were then whisked away, leaving only the crimson-stained sand behind.