She was not going to make it.

Tails looked down in muted grief at his companion…the fox who had saved both he and Tikal's life. She had already lost too much blood…

He wished he had been nicer to her.

He glanced toward Tikal, who remained emotionless. She was busily cleaning her wounds, not realizing that her efforts were most assuredly in vain. His look went unnoticed, but her tears were apparent to him.

She was barely breathing now…

He gazed back down at her, and ran one of his gloved hands gently over her cheek. He let his hand slide down over her nose, lips, and finally down to her chin. That nose would never smell the nature she loved so much…those lips would never form the giddy, sophomoric things she would say…

The idea of death was a terrible one.

More tears fell out his eyes, dappling her light blue fur with small, darker spots. How could this happen so early in the game? How could one so young have had her life ripped from her so soon?

Her chest rose and fell once more, but didn't rise again. Tikal started to gently wrap her mangled leg, not noticing what had just occurred. A strangled sob rose in Tails' throat, and he slowly got to his feet, glancing over at Tikal again. She glared back, slightly agitated.

"Tails? What are you doing? I could really use your help over here—"

"It's no bother." He gazed down at the blue fox, his voice overwhelmed with emotion. Tikal looked at her now as well, refusing to accept the cold truth.

"N-no…I…I mean…she could just be resting…! Y-yes, that's it! Resting—"

"Stop lying to yourself," Tails whispered, an anguished sob racking his body. "She's dead."

::-::-::-::-::-::-::

The light in the hallway left something to be desired. Every once in a while a dim, dusty lightbulb illuminated the area, but that was all. Knuckles felt his way along the wall, trying desperately to find anything that could open his friend's cells.

They'd been awfully surprised to see him, and he knew it was only a matter of time before Shadow found out he and Robotnik had escaped.

If he already didn't know.

He felt a cold chill run up from the base of his spine and he shuddered, his gaunt body shaking like dead leaves in the wind. Robotnik glanced over at him, an eyebrow raised.

"What was that all about?" Knuckles sighed, wringing his hands.

"I'm…I'm not sure," he replied after some hesitation. "I have a bad feeling about this." Robotnik snorted.

"How can you have a bad feeling about getting out of this dump?" He smirked. "Even if Shadow were to find us, it would be two-on-one. And with your bullheadedness and my intellect, we should have no problem against him."

Knuckles stopped and stared at him incredulously.

"I believe you seem to have forgotten the weakened state we both are in," he stated icily. "I haven't had a decent meal in seven months, and neither have you. Shadow is in tip-top shape. I can assure you that if he were to discover us down here, we'd be obliterated."

"That doesn't mean we'd automatically lose," Robotnik snapped back. "What if we caught him by surprise? Surely we have that advantage."

"If we ever had an idea as to where he might be hiding inside this pit."

"We're not going to get anywhere if you're going to be so negative about things—"

"Just shut up!" Knuckles fur bristled, and he bared his teeth. "This is not the time for this. Let's get everyone out first and find out what to do with Shadow later, okay?"

"Well…all right," Robotnik muttered, sullenly shoving his hands in his pockets. "I always did think it was better to go in with a plan, though…"

::-::-::-::-::-::-::

Shadow smirked as he gazed through the trees at the creatures before him. So…the robot had managed to take one of them out after all.

So, that worthless metal moron wasn't a complete waste, he thought, chuckling at their grief. What was so important about that fox anyway? She had served them their purpose by handing over her Emerald. There was no use for her in their party after that.

Of course, he knew the answer to his own question.

Friendship. The mere thought of it made him burn with anger. It was all he had desired most when he first had met Sonic and his friends.

And then they had left him to die. Out in open space!

He grabbed a small sapling by the branches and uprooted it fiercely, his rage taking control of him. What right did they have to have friends when he had none?

He casually tossed the tree aside, returning his stare to the fox and the echidna in front of him. They were in each other's arms now, both crying. He gave a small, evil smile as he turned to leave, and plan forming in his head.

He would give them something to cry about.