Bandit and arrow sped across the lake to the area boasted to have a surplus of power crystals. Only the two of them, and it was freezing. Bandit was more used to the colder temperatures but he could see Axle shivering.
"I told you to wear heavier clothes," said Bandit.
"Hey, at least I know I'm the coolest guy here," Axle joked.
Bandit rolled groaned his eyes. Axle couldn't take a thing seriously it seemed.
"Just keep your eye out for ice monsters. If this place has as many crystals as reading shows it will practically be a breeding ground for them," Bandit cautioned.
"I got my eyes open," Axel replied.
Unfortunately it seemed neither one of them had their eyes open in the right direction. The two turned hearing a roar and a loud smashing sound. Bits of smashed boulder flew at the two of them. One larch piece left a gash on Axle's forehead. Another cut Bandit's shoulder to the muscle. The culprit, an ice monster larger than the two of them had seen yet.
Axle ran up pulling out his blaster to shoot it back, but the monster's great white fist slammed into him and Bandit heard the bones in Axle's body break. Axle landed in the water and sank, seemingly unable to save himself.
"AXLE!" Bandit cried out.
He dodged a second fist and dove deep into the stinging cold water. Bandit grabbed him around his stomach and kicked powerfully towards the surface.
He gasped as his head broke into the air and Got Axle's head above the water. Axel coughed weakly.
Bandit looked around. The ice monster had gone. It must have though it had finished the two of them off.
Jet, Doc, and Sparks were at the shore calling to them. They must have heard Bandit's shouts.
Bandit quickly swam towards them taking care to keep Axle's head above the water. Once he got there, the others dragged Axle to safety and Bandit climbed out of the water himself. He pulled his shirt to hide the cut on his shoulder then when to see how Axle was.
Axle looked groggily up at the others.
"Axle, are you okay?" Sparks asked.
Bandit thought that was rather a stupid question. Of course he wasn't.
"It hurts…" Axle groaned before his head fell limp and he slipped into unconsciousness.
The next few hours saw the crew back on the LMS. Both Bandit and Axle were in dry clothes. Bandit was wrapped in a blanket and had been given a hot drink earlier to fight off hypothermia. Axel was tucked into bed, his forehead bandaged, his chest in a strange invention of Sparks's, and surrounded by hot water bottles. The rest of the team, including chief, surrounded the bed.
Axel finally groaned and opened his eyes.
"Welcome back," Chief said kindly putting a firm hand on Axles shoulder so he wouldn't sit up.
Axle blinked wearily at the others.
"What going on?" he mumbled weakly.
"You and Bandit were attacked by an ice monster according to him." Doc replied, "You've got hypothermia, a gash on your head, and 3 broken ribs. But you'll heal."
"Yeah, I hooked you up to a machine that would heal your ribs in 2 weeks' time," said Sparks, "It's Bandit you should really thank though. He saved your life."
Axel turned his head and made eye contact with Bandit.
"Thanks," he mumbled weakly.
Bandit nodded in return.
"What about you bandit are you sure you're not hurt?" Jet asked.
Bandit looked at Axle lying there, confined to the bed. If he revealed his wound, he likely would end up the same. The team could not afford two be down two people.
"I'm not hurt," Bandit told Jet.