They came in great numbers through the snow and the silt. Wearing white from head to toe. Golden crosses shining in false light hang from around their covered necks. Torches in their hands. Shouting cries of blasphemy and nonsense. How they had know that they were even there she did not know, and she didn't care. What mattered was getting the hell away form them and being indie a cave was the last place they had wanted to be. But thankfully the two of them had managed to exit the cave before they had reached the opening.

"They've been here by the looks of things. Keep searching they must not get away!"

"Yes pastor Nick!" they chanted in unison. They turned to the entrance of the cave leaving the pastor alone.

Out in the frozen tundra they pushed on. Through the glass like snow she moved on carrying her partner. Why was it taking so long for him to heal. In the distance she saw torches flashing cruelly against the night. Desperately she looked around for a place to hide. All she saw was a forest and a little ways ahead a mansion set right under a mountain.

Had she gone in a circle?

"Annie, you could..."

"No Carlos," Annie said sharply her voice hushed and barely above a whisper above the war cries coming from just outside the cave thankfully growing less and less as she watched.

"We're not going to get away this time. Even you know it. I already used it up. Besides... they need to..."

"I said no," Annie hissed.

"Why are you defending them?!"

"They are still our people..."

"No Annie... they're all dead. They died long after the war. Were the only ones left now." Carlos hissed. His eyes daring her to disagree. A small part of her knew that he was right. But she just pushed it aside as she ran into a grove of trees covered in snow offering shelter. Suddenly Carlos pulled himself out of her grasp and grabbed her. "What is that matter with you?! Isn't this not what they deserve? They worship the very one who is destroying our world and they're finishing it. Is it not our job to preserve it! This would be a great example! We used to protect this world and our dreams of the future. Now, now we are not even allowed to live our lives without them sticking a finger in it. Once we had hopes and dreams as well, Annie! Now they're taking it all away from us! Look at us! Annie we can barely stand!"

Inwardly she knew he was right. That this was the only way But she wasn't the person she would be in a hundred years time, yet. Annie was so preoccupied with Carlos that she didn't notice an arrow shot from behind her on a hill until she she saw the white snow stained red with her blood.

"I got one, hurry!" Annie heard sounding not too far off her face half buried in the ever falling snow. Even if the snow covered them they would still see where they were because of all the blood seeping in through her wound.

No...! it wouldn't end like this... Ignoring the pain coursing through her body she managed to pull herself up. Her body numb and frozen as she pulled the arrow out of her body eyes piercing blue like they would a hundred years later. Not even her healing could help her keep concise she had to act quickly. Have to... have to... trans- A sudden sound made her stop what she was doing the man in the shadow of trees behind them she turned sharply her teeth scraping the skin of her thumb. She faced a man with long dark black hair and matching eyes. His visable skin was nearly as pale as the snow. He moved towards them carefully through the snow a concerned look in his eyes. Nothing about him spelled death to her but after all these years she trusted no one except her partner now.

Annie began to bit down on her thumb. Her vision faded and before she passed out she felt warm hands wrap around her. Rhae? she wondered blearily.

Kichirou caught the young woman as she fell in his arms and quickly scooped the boy up in his free one. They both felt so very thin in his arms. He swore he could feel their bones. Sighs of frost-bight were evident all over them. Cursing in anger and disgust he straightened up seeing the light in the distance Thanking the remains of the goddess for the thick snow he made his way back to the mansion. He felt the boy move weakly against his grip.

"Don't worry, you're safe," he whispered. He wasn't sure if the boy even heard him or not.

"Annie..." came the raspy response behind it held a hiss or warning.

"For the glory of the goddess," he whispered back in response. He felt the boy go limp in his arms as he walked into the warm front hall the doors slamming shut behind him making the chandelier shake a little.

"Grisha! Berwick!" the man called when they were safely in the hall. Vaguely Carlos heard the thunder of feet rushing across marble stop abruptly at the top of the stairs and then a collective gasp. He looked up seeing a young man with long straight brown hair and grey eyes set beneath round spectacles. He wore an entirely brown eastern European suite. Beside him was a young man in simple clothing. His hair was short boyish and his grey eyes looked over the scene in shock. The thunder of them rushing down the heavily carpeted stairs was all he knew before the darkness took him.

"Kichirou, What happened to them?" The man called Grisha asked taking Annie into his arms.

"The false god worshipperes. I was out locking up the laboratory when I saw them chasing these two of them down the ravine." Kichirou said looking out the window seeing lights in the distant.

"People's hearts are getting more and more black these days... Attacking mere children..." Grisha said disgustedly shacking his head in dismay after they put the two to bed in the second story bedroom of the house.

"They are more then just mere children, Grisha..."

"And what exactly do you mean by that... Kichirou?" the doctor asked eyeing his companion watching his eyes twinkle against the flash of lightening just outside the glass painted window.

"Grisha... I am surprised. Do you not feel it my old friend? Those two "children" as you call them were once the personal guard of the old goddess Rhea!"

Berwick, who was sitting next to the bed tending to the boy, eyes widened in surprise as he heard the slight gasp of his master.

"I am... That is..." Grisha was at a loss for words and he looked back at the two on the bed and as he did he saw what appeared to be smoke rise from the boys wound. There was no denying it now.

"Do you not believe me know, Grisha? Berwick, I do not believe that is necessary anymore. And do not gaze at them like that, they are not pieces of art! They have been through a lot." he scolded the young man softly.

"Sorry," Berwick said nervously.

"Kichiro this is truly a miracle that's happened tonight. Saving those two is at the very least a winning strike against them. But, Tell me old friend, would you have saved those two even if they weren't what they are?" Gresha asked as they left the room leaving Berwick to watch over their guests.

"Of course I would, Gresha... Tell me, how is my wife? Is she any better?"


Berhtoldt and Reiner may or may not be appearing in the next chapter by the way