Downpour
By. Fanficer21
Chapter 7- Bushwhacked
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Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, and never will. *Cries in the corner*
Rated T
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Without further adieu!
Previously: Jumping to his feet, adrenline coursed through his veins as he charged the beast with a fury he had never known, a heartwrenching scream escaped this throat at his advance. Tears cascading down his cheeks before flying into the wind.
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Alphonse dragged himself over to the Colonel laying on the wet grass, motionless. He was on his right side, arms sprawled out in front of him. His head lay limp in the grass, eyes closed, and blood trailing from his lips. The chest and side of his uniform now covered in blood that ran down the wet fabric like water.
"C-Colonel..." the boy spoke quietly. If he had eyes, they would have been soaked with tears by now. The man showed no signs of movement, frightening the boy even more. Moving closer to the man, he could see the slow, shallow breaths escaping the Colonel. A distinct wheeze heard with each breath. Alphonse situated his body so he could protect the Colonel from further harm by the beast. Turning the man onto his back, he firmly pressed his cold, metal hands to Roy's chest and side to staunch the bleeding as best he could, before looking towards his brother still fighting the creature.
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Riza and Maes stopped their running the instant they heard a scream coming from somewhere off to their left. They both knew the scream had come from the Fullmetal Alchemist. "Black Hayate, where are they?!" Riza shouted, gripping her gun in anticipation as she started running again. Maes grit his teeth, his eyes narrowing at what they would face.
In the distance they could see debris from a destroyed house scattering the ground within. The paint was chipped and the wooden boards beneath looked old, as if it was an abandoned house. They stopped abruptly when Hayate paused in his running. His hair seemed to stand on end as he growled, facing a patch of trees not far off where more debris was located. Riza thought she heard the growls of something big coming from the area. She noticed black and blonde jumping, dogding, and running at something. She quickly put her gun back in its holster.
Sweat running down her forehead, she jumped over the ditch as best she could, climbing the rest of the way before running to help Edward. She took her gun back from the holster once again. Maes followed soon after her. Hayate cowered a little, whimpering at the smell and feeling he got from the creature that was nearby. But pushing away his fear, the dog jumped the ditch and ran after his owner. He would protect her no matter what.
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Edward dodged the long arms and claws, also keeping note of where the tail was. He tried to get near enough the beast to grab the metal pipe still in its side, but the beast was too animated. He jumped out of the way of the large tail just as it swung towards his legs, trying to knock him down. He kicked the monster's right hand away from him with his automail foot and jumped to the side the moment he saw an opening in its defense. Gripping the jagged pipe, Edward pushed as hard as he could, trying to get the metal to pierce the creature's heart. But with a quick turn the boy was thrown to the ground.
Falling to the side, Edward was about to be pounced on by the creature, until he heard several gunshots off to the side. A moment later, a black and white dog jumped at the beast, growling and baring his teeth. "Hayate." Edward said, surprised, more to himself. More gunshots rang out. Looking to the side he saw Riza protecting him from the creature's further attacks.
"Edward, it's ok now. Where are the others?" Maes knelt in front of the boy, hands on both shoulders, gently shaking Edward back to reality after zoning out. Coming back to reality, Edward grit his teeth, as if trying to hold back an anguished cry. Maes followed Edward's glance to the side, shocked at what he saw. Roy was laying on his back with Alphonse protectively leaning over him. The man did not move, which scared Maes even more.
Looking back to Edward, he could see how shaken the boy was. Cupping the boy's left cheek, his gloved thumb brushing away a fallen tear. He did the same thing that he did for his daughter after she'd had a nightmare. "Everything's going to be ok. You're safe now." The man said softly as he gently hugged the boy, careful not to disturb his wounds.
"Maes! I need you!" Riza called, her guns almost out of bullets. "This chimera just won't quit! I need you to keep it busy while I reload." Riza said once the man was by her side. Maes, glancing quickly at Roy before looking at the creature again, threw his knives at the beast. It hurt his best friend, maybe even killed him. And for that, this beast would pay dearly.
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Edward turned his attention back to Alphonse and the Colonel when Maes left to help Riza. He got up as fast as he could, resulting in him toppling to the ground and rolling a few times, before getting up again. He ignored the intense pain in his chest. Once he steadied himself on his feet, he ran towards his brother and the Colonel, crashing onto his knees when he reached them. Alphonse leaned back, revealing the man's still form, the grass stained red beside him. His face had a peaceful look to it, despite the blood running from his mouth. With frightened eyes, Edward set about trying to find a pulse. Unfortunately his fingers were too shaky, he couldn't get a reading. A look of dispair touching his features.
"He's alive brother." Alphonse said softly, his hands still pressing against the Colonel's wounds. Edward visibly relaxed, releasing a sigh before he suddenly tried shaking his black coat off. Reaching forward, Alphonse gently removed the fabric from his brother's left arm, leaving blood smears on the boy's skin. Balling up the fabric, he pressed it to Roy's chest.
Edward pressed his hand firmly against the Colonel's chest on top of Alphonse's, trying to staunch the bleeding. Bitting his lip, he growled slightly as his anger rose. "Why! Why did you do it, you big idiot!? I had everything under control!..." He screamed down at the man laying quietly on the grass. The wind picked up a little, rustling their clothes and hair as the boy desperately tried not to cry even more, shaking his head furiously while gritting his teeth. "Don't you DARE leave us...you stupid-" Edward cut himself off, leaning down and resting his forehead against his hand as he let the tears fall. Alphonse's attention went back to Riza and Maes, who looked as though they were overpowering the beast.
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Maes dodged the large claws, throwing his knives at the beast's head and throat. But the creature was relentless. After reloading her guns, Riza shot more bullets into the beast's head, neck, arms, and sides. Black Hayate jumped over the lumbering tail, biting it and the creature's back legs. He even made his way onto the large back before jumping back down at the tail. Getting an idea, Maes called to Riza. "Cover me! I'm going in. Give me an opening on its back!" He called, watching Riza nod in understanding before he ran to the side and around the beast. Riza kept it busy upfront, shooting at its head.
Thanking Hayate for keeping the tail at bay, Maes ran up to the creature's tail and flipped onto its back. He dug his throwing knives into its back to keep him from falling off. Using the knives to pull him toward the beast's head, Maes inched his way up the large disfigured back. Nearing the head, a large clawed hand reached upto scratch him off, but it was quickly shot down by several bullets, causing the creature to lean to one side. Maes almost slid off the back, but he pulled himself forward.
"Thanks Riza! You're a big help!" Maes grinned cheekily as he made it to the head. Wrapping his arms around the large neck, he had to hold his breath because of the digusting stench coming from the grotesque head. It smelt like burned flesh.
Feeling something around it's neck, the beast raised its head dramatically, trying to get the man off, which resulted in Maes losing his glasses as they were knocked off his face. Maes groaned when he felt his glasses slip off his face. Gracie was not going to be happy about that. Digging the blades into the creature's throat, Maes yanked his arms upwards, slicing the thick skin and cutting into the jugulars. The beast howled in pain as blood gushed from its neck. It suddenly began jumping up and down, trying to buck the man off its back, but Maes held on as tight as he could. His uniform sleeves getting soaked with blood. A sharp pain on his back caused him to yelp as the tip of the tail hit him like a whip, cutting into his skin.
Slowly, the beast's movement began to grow weaker, until it fell head first into the ground, causing Maes to fly off and roll into the wet grass and mud several times before stopping. Once he got up he cracked his back with a big grin. "Man! What a ride!"
The beast whined softly, a gurgling whistle as it inhaled and exhaled. The black eyes slowly began to close as the creature's breathing slowed. "We make quite a team!" Maes cheered, raising his hands to give a high five to Riza. But Riza didn't do the same. "You did well sir." She said calmly, putting her guns back in their holsters, before giving Maes his glasses.
The sound of a nearing ambulance sounded. I'll bring them this way." Maes said as he put his glasses back on and ran towards the road, sparing a glance towards Roy and the boys. It wasn't until now that Riza got a good look at the others' conditions. She saw Alphonse sitting up, looking her way. Then Edward kneeling in front of another, motionless figure. It looked as though the boy was crying. The figure beneath the boy could only be Roy. Her Roy.
Taking a step, followed by another, Riza found herself running to the trio, desperately pleading for the Colonel to be alive. Dropping to her knees beside Roy's head, she reached for him with shaking hands. "Colonel!" She said frantically, trying desperately to keep her emotions under control. Gently pushing Edward upwards, she checked him over, tears forming in her eyes at the sight of his haunted eyes. Next, removing Alphonse's bloody hands and fabric from the Colonel, she inspected his wounds, bile rising in her throat as she did so. The Colonel's chances of survival weren't looking too good, she thought as tears fell down her cheeks as she began to sob. Repeating the words, "No, no, no, no!" to herself. Placing the ebony's head in her lap, cupping his face in her hands as she ran her thumbs over his cheeks over and over again as they waited for the ambulance to arrive."Please Colonel! Don't leave us! Don't leave me!" She cried, staring at the man's relaxed features, her heart aching at the sounds of his wheezing. Her tears falling on his face as sliding down to rest against her hands. Alphonse resumed his pressure on the man's wounds, but Edward remained silent as he stared at the dieing man before him.
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About ten minutes passed before Maes came running towards them, EMTs* close behind him. They jumped at the sight of the creature and all the blood on the grass, but pushed forward. Upon reaching them, the EMTs immediately took over, checking the vitals of Edward and Roy. The young alchemist paid no attention to the questions they asked him, instead remaining silent. The EMTs removed his tank top, before bandaging the wounds to stop the bleeding. He was then hauled onto a stretcher. The boy struggling, not wanting to leave the man's side. They ignored his pleas to stay near the Colonel, taking him to an ambulance. Maes and some others helped carry Alphonse to the vehicle as well.
Riza was pulled out of the way in order for them to take care of Roy. Tearing the man's uniform open, before bandaging the wounds. Meanwhile, another EMT checked his eyes, shining a flashlight to check his pupils. Speaking into her device, she said something about 'critical' and 'punctured lung' from listening to his deep wheezes. Riza remained not far off, hugging Hayate to her for comfort. When Maes returned after the ambulance with Edward and Alphonse drove away, he comforted the woman. Looking at his best friend's still form haunted him. It was too unnatural. He feared the worst at the sight of the blood seeping through the bandages.
After the bandaging, Roy was immediately heaved onto a stretcher, the EMTs taking him towards one the ambulances at a quick pace, Riza close behind, so she could be with the Colonel on the way to the hospital. Maes and Hayate followed the ambulance down the road until they were back at the car. Starting the car, Maes drove straight to the hospital, praying that the boys were going to be okay.
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For those of you who don't know what bushwhacking means, it is when someone is stopped or defeated by an ambush or by surprise.
*EMTs = Emergency Medical Technicians.