Grian gaped at him. "You're Poultry Man?!"

Xel chuckled. "Yes. I am."

Grian stared at the two. "Wait, I thought Sally died?"

Sally smiled sadly. "That was another chicken. We called her Sally so that Stress wouldn't know I was gone."

Grian glanced between them. "This is crazy!"

Xel chuckled. "And this somehow beats you being a cat?"

Grian tensed. "I- no- maybe? I mean-"

Xel and Sally laughed. "Calm down. I didn't mean anything by it."

Grian sat back, still in a bit of shock. "You were my base mate! I mean, I know you told me you were going to go into hiding when the war was announced but this is not what I was expecting!"

Xel nodded. "To be honest, neither was I. But I did give you my word. I'll help you get back to the others and stop EX."

Grian smiled, standing up. "Thank you."

"Of course. But we must prepare for that if we are leaving today." Xel stood up and headed to one of the other rooms. "Sally, be a dear and get Grian an apple to help get his strength back up, please."

Sally nodded. "Of course!" She quickly went over to a chest and peeked inside.

Grian watched Xel leave the room and turned to Sally. "An apple?"

Sally turned around with a golden apple, carried carefully by the stem in her beak. She brought it over as Grian gaped at it.

"A golden apple?!"

Sally placed it down. "Yes. It's not an enchanted one but this should be plenty to get you back to full strength."

Grian hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. You'll need it."

Grian thanked her and started eating on the apple. Once finished, he felt all the stiffness and aching muscles relax. He stretched and leapt down off the bed. "That's much better!"

"Good. You'll need to be ready for when we get there."

Grian turned around to see Xel, or rather Poultry Man he assumed standing there. He had a helmet on over his face that resembled a chicken head, his red sweater and black pants, very akin to what Grian usually wore and golden boots. "By the way, I never did thank you for letting me use your clothes when I was around the other hermits or letting me live and work out of your base."

Grian smiled. "Of course! I was a bit surprised when I first found you in my base but I understood that you needed someone to help hide your identity, even if I didn't know it at first. Besides! It was fun building you a little hideout!"

Xel smiled under his helmet as he put his elytra on. "I really did appreciate it. Anyway, you ready to go?"

Grian nodded and ran over. "You bet!"

Xel opened the door and glanced back at Sally. "You're in charge until we get back."

Sally nodded. "As always."

Xel smirked. "Good." He followed Grian out of the door and to an open area.

Grian stared out over the ocean before glancing up at Xel.

Xel bent down and carefully picked him up, placing him in between his sweater and shirt underneath. "Hang on, kid."

Grian was about to protest being called a kid once more when they launched into the air.

Grian gasped and clung to the sweater as they gained altitude before evening out.

Xel glanced at him. "You good?"

Grian poked his head back out. "Y-yeah."

Xel looked forward once more. "Alright. To the main island."