Kel looked out across the vast red orange sands of Issiq's desert. The different hues of reds and oranges made the land strangely beautiful. And the two suns shone brightly above him and his two companions as the trudged through the shifting sands

In the distance arches dotted the landscape. The desert looked mostly dead except for the occasional cactus plant that grew in the harsh warmer climate.

"I wouldn't touch that." Dogwood, a black and white Reef Belemiod said to his companion.

"I know what I am doing. These are valuable and if I do it just right-" Houdini replied while reaching to pluck off a bright pink flower from a nearby cactus. "Ouch!" he exclaimed as he jerked back his paw. Houdini glared at the cactus like it had reached out and grabbed him.

Kel just shook his head. Ever since he met up with these two, Houdini has proven time and time again that he probably doesn't know everything. He even broke one of his own pickaxes trying to demonstrate his knowledge. It's probably why Dogwood brought extras.

While Houdini complained to Dogwood about his wounded paw, Kel took out the map and studied it. The cave they were aiming for was not too far away. He recognized several of the arches on the map. They were still going in the right direction.

Dogwood finally got Houdini to settle down.

"We are not too far from the cave. My guess it's just over that rise. And pass that arch." Kel said while pointing at a great red sand blasted arch in the distance.

They walked on, mostly in silence. Houdini was limping slightly on his front left paw and complaining under his breath.

They passed the large red sandstone arch and immediately came to a multicolored cliff that grew up out of the ground. The cliff had layers of different shades of reds and oranges.

Kel could see the cave entrance that had been chiseled from the cliff side. And headed toward it. Houdini raced ahead while Dogwood walked next to Kel.

Kel watched as Houdini disappeared into the cave. "I see the limp is gone." he commented casually.

"Yes. He seems to have forgotten about it." Dogwood grinned.

Both Dogwood and Kel reached the cave entrance and entered. It looked like someone had chiseled a long tunnel that curved to the right. Kel could see that lanterns were hung every few feet. Most of them were not lit but one or two of them flickered casting long shadows along the colored walls. Dogwood took a pack of matches and a stick out of his pack. He lit it and suddenly the shadows dissipated. He made sure to light all the lanterns that they passed on their way deeper down the corridor.

They soon found themselves in a large cavern lit by multiple lanterns. Kel spotted one spring to light as Houdini lit it and then raced to the next one. His torch threatening to go out as he ran.

"I see Houdini has been busy." Kel motioned to the scurrying white figure.

"It is work that he excels at." Dogwood said before unstrapping one of his many pickaxes and going to a portion of the cavern wall. Soon He was busy chipping away at the hard sandstone.

Kel started at a spot of his own a little farther down the wall. The digging was a lot different then at a Rekes mining spot. There the rocks were hard and did not crumble like here. He found that he had to go slower and work an area completely so that he did not create an unstable tunnel. Out of the corner of Kel's eyesight he saw Houdini come back from lighting all the torches.

"Careful," Dogwood said as Houdini took a pickaxe from amongst the packs. "This is not like mining at home. The rock here is made from compact sand and will break off in sheets."

"Yeah, yeah. I got you. I know what I am doing." Houdini said dismissively. He then picked a spot close to his friend and started mining.

Kel went back to his mining. Gently clearing an area before moving on. He found some interesting little quartz-like stones already and was putting them in his pack when he heard the very familiar sound of when there was a small cave in.

"Opps. Um guys. A little help here." Houdini said from where he was half buried by the pile of sandy rocks.