Ren, Martyn, and Skizz crept through the forest towards the desert silently, stalking through the darkness like wolves on the hunt.

Dogwarts was strong. They had trained well for this fight and they were not going to lose.

The newly-erected castle atop the mountain was a surprise, but it didn't scare them as they crept across the sand, the grains scattering behind them like their enemies would before them once they proved their greatness.

Dogwarts was prepared. They had enchanted armor and weapons, good supplies, and many strong resources.

Scar and Grian didn't appear; they didn't notice the threat that swept across their lands like a wind, swift and terrifying. They didn't come out even as Martyn and Skizz fanned out behind Ren, ready to surround the sand people.

Dogwarts was devoted. They had dedicated themselves to one another and they were loyal, would be loyal to the end.

Martyn and Skizz glanced to Ren, as if looking for permission. Ren waited, listening, then nodded, and they jumped through the windows, ready to charge.

Dogwarts was mighty. They were ready to destroy all challengers who stood in their way!

...if there had been any.

The castle was silent and empty, the only traces of life a large assortment of items left in the storage room and blood splattered across the entire house.

What had the sand hippies been doing?

Ren's question was answered by a loud cry of pain.

Rushing outside, Martyn, Skizz, and Ren saw Grian sprawled on the sand where there had been nothing before. He was drenched in blood, his wing the darkest and most covered, and even from atop the hill it was evident that his leg was awkwardly bent.

Scar appeared seemingly out of nowhere and stood over Grian. "Are you okay?"

It was the most obviously fake thing Ren had ever heard, and Martyn and Skizz could tell too, judging by the shocked horror written across their features.

"F-fine," Grian whimpered. "Fine."

"Alright," Scar replied. "Then let's go."

Grian staggered up. He stumbled in the wrong direction, his less-bloody wing catching on a cactus, but said nothing and followed Scar.

"He- he can't even walk straight," Martyn stammered in shock.

And he couldn't; Grian was weaving confusedly, but still saying nothing.

"Time for some murder," Skizz hissed.

"Turning into Cleo a bit, mate?" Martyn asked, but didn't follow up. Instead, both of them gave war cries and charged at Scar.

Scar and Grian turned. Grian pulled out a sword that was far too big for him and swayed, thrown off-balance. "Come on, Grian, can't even hold a sword?" Scar asked.

"YOU GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Martyn yelled.

"What, why?" Scar asked in mock innocence.

Martyn yowled louder and lunged past Grian. Grian cried out in surprise and stabbed the sword towards Martyn. Martyn smacked it away harshly, and Grian, not really in any shape to battle anyway, toppled weakly onto the ground, the sword skittering away.

Ren rushed over to Grian and glanced him over. He was breathing shakily, his leg was clearly badly broken, and his wing was punctured by a poorly-healed arrow wound.

"God, Scar, what'd you do?" Ren gasped.

"He did all that himself!" Scar insisted mock-indignantly.

"And Cleo wouldn't murder you if she was here," Ren retorted. "Tell the truth, sand hippie."

"I shot him," Scar growled suddenly. "Happy? I shot him, I didn't treat any of his wounds, I pushed him down the stairs, I made him do everything."

"Scar- what- no- you didn't make me- I promised-" Grian stammered weakly.

"I made you," Scar growled. "I made you and I'm not proud of it, but it's too late now."

"No- I did it- myself- you didn't- Scar don't-" Grian continued stubbornly.

Scar grabbed Martyn's sword from his hands and stared straight into Grian's confused, broken eyes.

"I shot you off the tower. I pushed you down the mountain. I forced you to work when you were hurt, and didn't heal you at all. I'm a monster and a bastard," Scar said.

Then he stabbed Martyn's sword straight through his heart.

"Scar!" Grian screamed. "No- you made him- he wasn't- why did you make him- he lied- I promised-"

Ren stared sadly at the confused and shattered hermit who had stumbled weakly up only to collapse back at Scar's side in heart-wrenching, horrible sobs.

"We've conquered the desert, Dogwarts," Ren said unenthusiastically. 

"I hope you're happy!" Grian screamed. "Now you can go, go plot to rule the world! Go leave now that you've killed him!"

"We-" Martyn began, but there was no use arguing.

Grian staggered upwards, eyes like embers; once-great but broken, still smoldering on stubbornly. Tears, stained red with blood, both his own and Scar's, rolled down his haunted face.

"Go," he sobbed. "GO!"

Martyn, Skizz, and Ren scurried off to Dogwarts, leaving Grian alone to his agonized, grieving cries.