A cold wind rattled the shutters outside the young Elrics' window. Alphonse whimpered in his bed at each loud bang, while Edward scowled and gripped his sheets with white knuckles.

"It's just the wind, Al." While he knew it to be true, Edward couldn't help being unnerved by the hollow whistles of the whipping, winter air.

"Are you sure?"

In the dim light of the moon, Edward could just make out the features of his brother's face. He could see that Al was trembling with his knees tucked up to his chest as he sat against the headboard. He was a big baby, Ed decided, just as another fierce gust of wind slammed the rickety boards against the house once more.

"Do you think it's a ghost, Ed?"

Sighing, the older boy climbed out from his own bed and crossed the room to his brother's. He knelt down and began to draw on the worn floorboards with the chalk that he always carried. "Do you remember what mom said? About evil spirits?" He moved around the bed, working on the outline of a new array. When Al shook his head, Ed continued speaking. "She said that they can't hurt you if you're inside a circle." He continued drawing, adding symbols and shapes to his design. "So there's no reason to be afraid. Look."

Ed stood back to show off his work. Al followed the chalk lines, his eyes lighting up as he recognized the formation.

"Thanks, big brother."