Dawn: Phew, I finally got this edited!

Ace: You mean I got this edited.

Dawn: Uh-huh!

Ed: Um, what are you doing?

Roy: And why does it involve me?

Dawn: Um, um-

Ace: I REGRET NOTHING! *runs away*

Dawn: I WANNA LIVE! *runs away too*

Roy: WHAT DID YOU TWO DO? *runs after them*

Ed: ImmortalDawn18 and Ace5980 do not own FullMetal Alchemist. Now, please excuse me to join in the chase. *runs away* GET YOUR BUTTS BACK HERE SO THAT I CAN SKIN YOU TWO ALIVE!

Prologue- Rosebush

Edward's breath rasped in his throat as he ran. He could hear how frantically Al and Roy called for him, but he couldn't stop, not now. If they saw him now, his life would end, and while he might not have minded that before all this had happened, the survival instinct inside of him would not allow him to so callously throw away his life like that. The prickling in his veins urged him faster when it sounded like Roy was gaining on him, the blond unaware that his sharpening hearing was responsible for that, not a decrease in distance.

Keep running, Sun, the voice in his head encouraged, echoed by the weaker echoes of the others.

Of course, Frostbite, he thought irritably. As if I would plan anything else when capture means death for the whole, not just me!

Others have fallen short before where you stand, Sun. You cannot blame me for being cautious.

Calm down, Sun! Panicking will only hasten your symptoms!

Thanks for the insight, Nightmare. As if I couldn't have figured that out on my own.

He's just trying to help, Sun.

Godiva, I've been involved in this just as long as he has. I can't help it when he points out something so obvious I've known it for months.

Godiva, Nightmare, stop talking. This only hurts the problem, not helps.

Sorry Sun, sorry Frostbite, they murmured, properly chastened.

Right now, just keep running, Sun. We'll come and pick you up.

Hurry. I can hear them gaining on me. Edward darted down the dark alleyway, hoping against hope his blind choice wouldn't backfire horribly and end up getting him caught. He could smell the others gaining, their hurry making them far less cautious than usual. His golden eyes lit up, scanning the alleyway anxiously, delighted in the lack of people.

However, trotting out of the dead-end came three large wolves, their tails wagging when they caught sight of him. The slender silver she-wolf, the leader, nuzzled him affectionately, while the chocolate one sat down patiently, trying in vain to ignore the prancing black male at his side. Edward smiled, knowing he'd reached home. He met the she-wolf's eyes gently, reading the message in them easily.

He closed his eyes, pulling himself together. He yelped at the pain as his bones cracked in protest, and the others whined sympathetically, helping him through the ordeal like they always would. When his eyes opened again, Edward wasn't there anymore; in his place was a beautiful golden wolf. Welcome back, Sun, the silver she-wolf yipped quietly, touching the underside of her jaw to the tip of his muzzle.

As if I could go anywhere else, Frostbite, he chuckled dryly, acknowledging the other two with a curt nod. Where are we running tonight?

I'm all for scaring the shit out of your boss, Nightmare offered lazily.

I second that, Godiva interjected.

It's your choice, Sun. Where do you want to run tonight?

The golden wolf considered it for a moment, sitting on his haunches as he considered the matter. Where did he want to run tonight? Why don't you three go on without me? I think I want to be alone tonight.

That's all he ever wants to do when he changes, Nightmare grumbled. I bet he's going to just sit outside Roy Mustang's window all night.

I don't do that! Edward protested sharply.

Godiva eyed him with contemptuous eyes. Sun, we've all seen how you get with him. Hell, we've even taken peeks at how you always sleep in the bush outside there, drive away the pack of normal wolves that took up residence in his backyard. If you don't end up there in the rosebush again, then I'm straight as an arrow.

YOU'RE STRAIGHT?

Figure of speech, love. I'm straight as a rainbow and head-over-heels for you.

Ugh, I so don't need that picture in my head right now. I'm just worried for him, that's all.

Godiva and Nightmare looked like they wanted to protest, but Frostbite interrupted them before they could get started. Do whatever you feel is necessary, Sun. We'll be fine if you stay behind again, so long as you're happy doing it.

Edward nodded, dipping his head in gratitude. He didn't know why he was always drawn to sleeping in the rather uncomfortable position of being inside Roy's rosebushes, but whenever he would try sleeping somewhere else, he wouldn't be able to settle down in his wolf form unless the thorns were pricking him in places he didn't even know it was possible to get pricked by a thorn before it had happened. He pushed himself to his feet, enjoying the feeling of running wherever he wanted to, but eventually he slowed down, intending to return to his usual nesting spot.

He braked haphazardly in the woods behind Roy's house, panting heavily while staring longingly at the window for a long moment. The truth was, he really did want to tell Roy the truth about what had happened to him, but if he did, he had no doubts in his mind that he would be killed, if not at Roy's hands, then someone else's. Heaving a great sigh from his chest, one of the few things he loved about being a werewolf was how his height hadn't translated and he was just as large as the others, if not more so, he padded into Roy's backyard.

A scent entered his nose, and instinctively, he recoiled, a growl building in his throat before he recalled what it belonged to. Curious as to why Roy's scent seemed to emancipate so strongly from his normal hidey-hole, Edward nosed aside a few branches, wincing a little when a thorn scraped against his snout. Inside the little nest he'd made for himself slumbered the man himself, having fallen asleep no doubt while waiting for Ed to return. Confused, the wolf stretched out, nudging the alchemist in the side gently with his muzzle, causing him to tense and swat sleepily at him.

Amused by the reaction, Ed took another step forward, giving Roy a more solid nudge in the ribs. "Stop it, Fullmetal," he groaned, grabbing a chunk of gold fur and yanking the attached wolf down around him. "Lemme sleep."

Yes, Ed thought absently, curling in around the human at the words, trying to conserve body heat since he knew from experience the temperatures would only drop as time went on, let's sleep. One last night with the creature I adore. He adjusted his thoughts so that the others, namely Frostbite, could hear him. We're moving on tomorrow. Staying here any longer would be foolish.

The response was long in coming and weighted with a strange kind of regret. Very well, Sun. We shall start off at daybreak.

Good, Edward mused, laying his head down heavily on his paws and letting his tail drape over Roy possessively. That'll give me enough time to catch some sleep then lug this old bag of bones up to bed before we high-tail it. I never wanted to do this, Roy, but I can't put my own welfare, even my own happiness, over the pack's well-being. Equivalent exchange should repay you for this, one day, but if there's one thing I know, it's that equivalent exchange won't reimburse me for my foolishness, not this time.

The only thing I can take for my idiocy, the only thing I'll ever take to my grave without even letting the others know, is this one last night, this night I spent with you in a rosebush.

Dawn: Awwww!

Ace: So cute!

Ed: I think I'm gonna barf.

Roy: Right behind you.

Ace: Can it, you two!

Dawn: Rewards for reviews include, among other things, a rose from the rosebush and the next chapter!

Ed: DON'T REVIEW!

Ace: *beats over head with random objects*

Roy: *watches with wide eyes and attempts to sidle away*

Dawn: *evil laugh*