"Hey in there." He called before looking up from the ground.
Calkie nearly jump out of her skin and back into the spring, and Asuna jumped and turned around to face Ed. It was a good thing they were finished dressing or she would have pounded Ed herself for being a peeping tom.
"Yes you can look Ed. At least you had the decency to call and not look before coming around." She told him.
Ed looked up and notice they were indeed fresher looking and so where their clothes. He then came to the first question in his mind. "Do you girls know alchemy?"
Asuna answered Ed's question while Calkie tried to get her heartbeat under control. "We know about alchemy and how to use it to our advantage. We also know how it killed our parents. Though we try to do a lot of things by hand or the old fashion way."
Ed nodded and then moved on to his next question. "I may need some more medicine and bandaging done. Do you think you can help me out again?"
Asuna smiled and nodded. She then turned back to her sister who had gotten her heart beat under control again and smiled. "You ok sis?"
Calkie looked over at her and nodded. Asuna and the others had noticed that the evening light had set in and evening would be there soon. The fight to out a day of traveling time and Calkie had voice her concern to Asuna while in the spring earlier. But for now Asuna put this in the back of her mind. She was sure the people after them had been lost a day or two ago. She made sure herself. Putting the thought on the backburner Asuna then walked Ed back out to the camp and sat him down on her blanket. He had kept his shirt off so she could apply the medication and bandage.
"This medication is really strong if left over night. It is a potent blend my sister Selphi made for me." She stated as she started applying it once more. "You will feel like your old self by morning.
The mention of another sister took Ed by surprise. "Where is your other sister and how many of you are there exactly?"
Asuna could have kicked herself for mentioning Selphi. But the damage was done and she explained further. "Selphi is my youngest sister. She should be traveling with Nisha. My second youngest sister. There are four of us."
Ed was shocked to say the least. But then it formed another question. "Where are they?"
Asuna looked to Calkie who had been listening the whole time. "well that is harder to explain. Mind if I tell you about this another time?"
Ed was getting tired and decided to let it drop. He nodded to Asuna and laid down on the blanket and fell asleep as Al started a fire for the evening.
Asuna then looked at Calkie. "I will take first watch."
Al then looked between the two girls. "First watch for what? We are pretty safe here for now."
Asuna and Calkie looked at each other and then back at Al. Asuna decided to lie a little about the situation since she would have to explain it to Ed in the morning.
She then proceeded to spout the made story he would hopefully believe. "We watch over each other because of wild animals. We had a bad experience with a bear once. Took about an hour and a half for it to leave so we could get out of a tree we were camping under."
Al seemed to look at them and let it go himself. He then got up and move over to the tree next to Calkie. She looked at him and handed him a towel. "You need to take a bath. I won't tell but your body odor might."
Asuna giggled a bit and told Al. "She already knows your plight. She told me you where giving a pretty good smell in that armor. You might want to take the advice. Use the shield and we will take care of Ed if he wakes."
Al then got up and took off the helmet to reveal a young man about 3 or 4 years younger than Ed within the suit. "Ok but make sure he doesn't find out." He then walked behind the shield.
Calkie giggled a little and spread out a blanket for her to lay on till her shift.
Asuna then left the camp to scout the area. She had let her eyes adjust to the night setting in and started to prowl silently about 100 ft away from the camp. She walked the perimeter and found a cliff. The road had a steep incline when she walked with Al earlier. She noticed the cliff and decide it would be a perfect spot to roast a watch. After about 15 minutes. She noticed a campfire in the far distance. She had also noticed a few torches watching their perimeter. She knew that wasn't all of them. There would be others in the dark without torches 50 yard away from them looking for something.
She cursed a little and realized the day wasted was a day they had a chance to catch up. They might even find their tracks and catch them if they were not smart about this in the early morning. They would have to pack quickly tomorrow and take off to lose them again.
She sat there and stood watch in the dark for 5 and a half hours before she headed back. She switched with her sister and realized Al was back at the base of the tree near Calkie's blanket. She informed her of the cliff and told her to keep quiet. Calkie understood immediately. She stood watch throughout the night till twilight was brightening on the horizon. She then came back to wake her sister. They started to pack the camp and rose the rest.
Both boys stared at the girls as they had woken them from sleep and it being still dark. Ed watched as Asuna seemed a little skittish and kept looking out into the darkness. He had to thank her later though his nights rest and the medication did it's work. He felt much better and good as new. He could not even feel the bruise on his hip.
Asuna has just finished putting the last blanket in the pack when she became very alert and shot up. Calkie was alerted by her sister's sudden movement and became very alert as well. Asuna then fired a look at Calkie.
"Calkie… Put the fire out. Hurry!" Calkie did as she was told and doused the fire. Asuna had gone off into the woods. After a few minutes a gunshot reported nearby and Asuna reappeared running back into the group.
"We've been found! RUN!" Everyone got up and ran in the opposite direction of the gunshot.
Calkie was running by Ed when a thought ran through her head. She stopped just long enough for Asuna to catch up with her.
"Hey Asuna! Do you think we should inform the boys on everything? Like now or do you want to wait till we lose them?"
Asuna's mind was now racing. She had forgotten that the boys might ask questions. Sooner or later she would have to spill everything. The question echoed through her mind. After a little bit of thought she turned to Calkie. "Not yet, I'll inform them of our situation when the time comes."
Calkie nodded her head. Calkie had another thought run through her head. "Who's going to lose them this time?"
Asuna knew exactly who it was to play the bait. Calkie had done it last time and almost got caught. If it wasn't for her she would have too. "I guess it's my turn to try and throw them off." With that said Asuna turned and disappeared of to the side and into the forest. The deafening quiet that followed was almost unbearable if it wasn't for the sound of running.