The Island of Narid
Chapter Three: Fish, Loincloths, and One Scary Sight
A note to all: I do NOT own FMA. It would be cool…though………
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anywho, um nishte (the word for everything) I can already tell this is going to be a super long chapter… just to warn you all. Um… well just to let you guys know, I have a very odd sense of humor. If you've read my Spirited Away story you know what I mean. Do not be alarmed if the things in here aren't funny to you; they're probably not funny to a lot of people. ;P
Also, a very humorous thing can lead into a dreadful thing and so forth. It will be weird. Like it's happy in one second and then suddenly gasp it's dreadful and such.
Let's stop with the warnings and get on with it. One last thing sigh ok, well pretend that they CAN'T make food with alchemy. Ok? Ok.
"I can starve first, if it'd help…."
"You can't starve, Al!"
"It's the thought that counts."
"Thanks, I'll chew on that."
It had been three days since Roy's food supply suddenly vanished. It was a hot morning and he went to get himself a beverage when he found the pilot and all their food missing. They had barely been able to sustain themselves on what little edible plants the island had to offer. The Wall had already five different types of mushrooms and two types of berries—all tested on poor Bloch, whom Maria watched over. Still there were no animals to be found; they had all moved too far inland and none were brave enough to venture so far from camp.
For the last few hours, Bloch had regained consciousness enough to babble and mumble ludicrously and longingly of all sorts of food. And Black Hayate was whimpering and barking constantly at something he couldn't seem to locate, much to the annoyance of everyone. They all were lying on the sand of the beach, staring up at the sky in boredom and hopelessness. It was midday and everyone was miserable. They all just lay there, unmoving. They had been that way for hours now, despite Alphonse's motivations and attempted conversation starters.
"Ed, why don't you get some food? You know some plants that are good, maybe there's more."
Ed scowled. "Oh, you just can't wait for me to leave, can you?"
"Calm down, brother. I'm only going to go fishing. If we all just work together everything will be fine."
Ed snorted, but reluctantly climbed up to his feet. He swayed for a moment before stumbling away grumpily. He was too hungry and tired to argue. He heard faintly another get up. Turning, he found Winry was getting up as well.
"I'll help."
Al went over to Rose, who was attempting to rise as well, unwilling to lie around while everyone else was working. "Hey, Rose…?" Al asked softly.
"Hmm?" She ventured, stretching.
"Will you hold onto Kitty for me?" He whispered. Rose nodded. "Here, Rose," he led her away from Roy, Riza and the others. He opened his armor as quietly as he could manage and let Rose take the small cream kitten into her arms. Kitty purred, batting the stray locks of brown hair that fell over Rose's shoulders. She giggled and scratched the kitten's light belly until Kitty wrapped her spotted paws around Rose's hand and began kicking and biting it. Again, Rose laughed, encouraging the kitten's play.
"Thanks, Rose."
"No problem. She really is one to lift the spirit." She paused. "Is there any way that I can help? Now that I can't follow Ed and Winry."
"Well…" Al broke a stick and drew a transmutation circle on the bark of a tree. A thin rope strand came into his hands after he put his palms on the trunk. "If you find something to fish with, like a worm or something, you could fish also."
Kitty jumped from her arms suddenly, playing with a butterfly. She skipped and pounced, finally catching the dusty wings under her paws. Rose laughed, "Thanks, Kit." She reached down and grabbed the butterfly, making sure it did not slip away from her hold. She broke off a curved thorn from one of the bushes next to her and tied it to the end of the rope.
Alphonse stepped into the water and sat on the smooth, sandy bottom. He would wait for maybe a half an hour before exiting and checking his luck. Rose sat on a large rock, dangling her feet over the edge. The others could not see her for the curve in the island, and so Kit was allowed to scamper around, playing with little insects, all given to Rose when caught. Eventually, the kitten curled up in Rose's dress and fell asleep, purring.
Ed and Winry were walking inland, oblivious to how far. Winry would always stop to pick flowers or to gaze at the scenery. Ed, however, seemed anxious to return and wouldn't stop rushing her when she began to dawdle.
"What's got you so uptight?" Winry asked in her cheerful voice when he grabbed her arm and hauled her forward so she couldn't stand gazing at a small, tender pink blossom. "Doesn't the scenery relax you even a little? It's a chance for us to forget our troubles for a while, don't you think?"
"Ha—depends on your troubles."
Winry paused, and then turned towards him, suspicious. "What do you mean?"
Ed halted also, noticing his slipped words. He just put a hand behind his head and laughed nervously, looking for a cover up. "Ah, nothing. I'm just speaking without thought, that's all."
Winry put her hands on her hips and bent down to look at him, piercing his gold eyes with her own clear blue ones. He faltered beneath her gaze, turning away as a light rose tint lit up in his cheeks.
"I have known you for long enough—I know when something's bothering you, whether you're willing to let it show or not."
Ed said nothing. Defeated and saddened, Winry sighed.
"I'll always be here if you want to talk, you know." She said. Ed mumbled something. Winry brightened and said more cheerfully, "Well, we better hurry and get back for whatever reason you have."
"…" He followed her.
"Anything yet?" Al called to Rose. The girl started from her doze and guiltily realized she had been paying no attention at all to Al, Kit, or fishing.
"What was that?"
"Did you have any luck?"
"Oh, no. Nothing yet." She pulled her line back in and re-cast the string into the ocean. Kit stirred but didn't wake, only stretched her legs out and shifted in the warm sun. Her ear twitched. Rose gazed sweetly down at the kitten, smiling. It was amazing how such a small a thing could do so much for her mood. She stroked her cream spotted fur.
Then, nearly making her jump, Rose felt a pull on her line when she attempted to pull it back in. She straightened. Kit flinched, waking and sitting straight up in alertness. Rose excitedly pulled in the line.
She heard Alphonse call, "I felt a bump! There are fish near!"
"Alphonse, I have one!" Rose yelled, ecstatic. Kit leapt off her lap when Rose stood. Kit crept behind some rocks, playing with a dark beetle. The others hopped up when they heard her shout and rushed over, cheering her on. Armstrong had attempted to bring in the line with his manly muscles but Rose shied away, determined to get credit, and eagerly kept up her pulling. With a great jerk, she wrenched her arms up and her catch went flying through the air. Everyone watched her catch sailing above their heads and each of them felt their expressions slowly change from eager ecstasy to a dusky horror.
For sailing above them was not a scaled treasure, but a thick, lavender cloth, dripping wet. Their eyes grew wide and everybody but Rose slid away on the rocks.
"My loincloth!" Al cried in dismay.
Rose shrieked childishly and swung her pole back and forth, grazing the water surface. Al was frantically grabbing for his cloth when she swung it at him, but unable to for everyone was now groping for Roses pole in a frenzy, attempting to throw it back to Alphonse. No one dared to touch it, out of courtesy. The poor boy was shouting in embarrassment. It didn't matter if he was metal or not, it was politeness and taking Al as a normal person that made them all flustered.
Rose swung the stick back, and then paused when she felt it stop abruptly. She felt her mood sink when she heard a curse in a familiar voice. Whirling around, Rose saw Al's purple loincloth plastered over Ed's face. Winry yelped in surprise and leapt away. Ed tore the thing from him, finally realizing what it was.
"I'm so, so sorry!" Rose said over Alphonse's screaming.
Armstrong roughly grabbed the pole from Rose's hands and threw it out to Alphonse, stick and all. Rose stood with her head down, mortified.
Kit, spooked by the yelling and movement, and after nearly getting crushed underneath feet, was in a panic. She leapt onto Winry who was on the ground and dug her claws into the soft flesh of her face, scrambling on her shoulder and head. Hawkeye's dog immediately ran to Winry, jumping on top of her and clawed in a frenzy to get to Kit.
Alarmed, Ed wrapped his hands around the kitten and tore her off Winry, unpurpously cutting Winry's face in the process. Winry sprung to her feet, covering her eyes and forehead, now badly bleeding. Hawkeye caught struggling Black Hayate and firmly held his mouth shut.
"I am so sorry!" Rose cried, nearly in tears.
Kitty, still in a fit, began clawing at Ed's shirt savagely, tearing his shoulder. Rose scrambled forward and plucked Kit from Ed, who was still cursing. Rose held Kit's head into her chest and pressed the kitten close to her, so tight the cat couldn't move.
"Is that yours!" He had a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm really, really sorry!" Rose went toward Winry, but the girl shied away. Rose was crying now.
Roy lost his normal reserveness and broke out, shouting, "You've scared all the fish away! Not to mention Ed and Winry will get an infection! And you're also the one who made Black Hayate fuss all morning!"
"I'm sorry!" Rose cried, even though Al had Kit in the morning. She should have taken it on herself to take Kitty away and let things go on peacefully.
Rose whirled around, fleeing into the woods. She didn't care where she went, just as long as it was away from everybody else.
"Rose, wait!" Ed shouted, trying to be louder than the loud chaos of everyone else. Rose did not turn, did not even show the slightest hint that she heard. Ed cursed, following her, shaking off Maria's hands that attempted to hold him back.
Maria started forward until she realized she had neglected her post. Glancing over to the shack, she realized in dismay that Bloch no longer was over there. "Where's Bloch?"
Riza looked up in alarm. She had one arm about Winry in comfort and the other holding Black Hayate, who was slowly calming. Winry was still bleeding, but it was not as harsh as everyone thought.
"Bloch isn't here?"
Maria ran to the shack, checking everywhere. With her eyebrows drawn up in stress she shook her head. "He's gone!"
Riza sighed. "I'll stay here with Winry if you plan on following him."
Maria, Roy, and Armstrong ran into the woods.
"Are you all right, Winry?" Riza asked, concerned. The girl shuddered, trying to dry up her eyes. She was mad at herself for crying.
"Rose shouldn't have brought a cat over." Riza said, almost in a scolding tone. She ripped part of her sleeve off that was already tattering and dabbed Winry's bleeding eye.
Winry suddenly grabbed Hawkeye's hand firmly. "Rose didn't bring the kitten on. Al did. Rose was probably just watching her. Don't punish her, she didn't do anything!"
"She was Rose's responsibility at the time."
"But none of you had to yell at her like that!" She tried to get up and follow Rose when Hawkeye firmly grasped her hand and made her sit again.
"What's done is done. I'm sure everything will turn out fine."
"Rose, just stop for a minute!"
Rose pushed her legs faster. She didn't want to talk to anyone. The tall trees grew considerably denser, but she kept on, determined not to return until everyone's mood had calmed. She knew they were testy from lack of food and from the heat, but she had not expected to make matters worse.
Ed's voice drifted away; undoubtedly her trail had gotten to hard to follow. Slowing, Rose walked now, huffing and holding Kit close to her chest, despite how spooked the poor cat was. The island forest was much darker here, and the grand trees' leafy coverage was thick, letting only tiny rays of sunlight through. Walking through the dappled wood, she kept her eyes open. Maybe there would be an animal or two present. She could redeem herself. After a while, she still saw nothing. Kit had mellowed and lay in Rose's arms, dozing.
Rose sat wearily on a moss-covered rock. Kit collapsed and curled up. Half-mindedly stroking the spotted feline, she gazed at the 'scape about her. It was very different from the shallow forest near the coastline. Here the trees grew bigger, and few flowers covered the ground. Those that did were little and sparse, present only in the little spots of sunlight.
A light crunch of a bush sounded suddenly. Rose whipped her head toward the sound, hoping to see a small deer or fox. Instead, she saw nothing. Then another small noise could be heard, almost like a light whisper. A breeze passed by her head and a fleeting shadow by her eye.
Rose got to her feet, looking under large bushes and past the thick trees for the small fox. Then Kit leapt from her arms and zoomed away. Bewildered, Rose turned and felt herself grabbed harshly by the shoulders and flung back into the trunk of a tree.
"Hey, I hear water!" Maria said, pointing in the direction that the small sound could be heard. Roy and Armstrong nodded, hoping Bloch still had a little sanity left to know he needed water. They could use the freshwater themselves—their throats were parched. It didn't rain often, and when it did, it did not last long.
"Colonel, look!" Armstrong exclaimed, gesturing to the sky. Roy and Maria looked up and saw dark smoke rise from the treetops, covered with a glaze of crimson.
Roy cursed under his breath and ran forward. He hoped Bloch wouldn't get himself caught in the fire. In the state he was in, he would probably walk straight into the blaze and not even realize it. Maria was ahead of them all, calling Bloch's name desperately into the thick air. It was getting harder to breathe. Fire could be seen devouring plants and grass, but the flames were dying, as if the fire had been started a while ago.
They walked around the fire's smoldering edges, looking for anything. They then saw the source of water now: a great waterfall cutting through the black smoke and rushing into a now contaminated water pool.
"Our water…."
The trees around it were bent over, dusty with ashes, but showed that it had once been filled with cocoanuts. It must have been a paradise here before it was destroyed. It was just their luck, of course…..
Maria ran forward suddenly to the edge of the pool. "I see something!" Pulling their shirts over their noses and mouths, Roy and Armstrong followed her to the brink. She was kneeling beside scrapes of clothing.
"Bloch's clothes!" Roy asked with a sinking feeling. Then he saw a familiar white glove with a pattern on it set in triangles and circles. "…and my glove. Perfect." Bloch must have somehow gotten one and had a field day.
"It's okay…" Maria said uncertainly, "Bloch's alive…just…naked…."
"Hey girly." A young man said, pinning a terrified pink-banged brown-haired girl with violet eyes to the rough bark of a tree. He had short blonde hair that curled round his ears. He had piercing, dark eyes.
Rose was too frightened to reply. She quivered underneath her grip. He was almost the only thing keeping her up on her feet; her knees felt near betraying her. His grip tightened and he smiled devilishly.
"What should we do with this little lady?" The man said.
So he wasn't alone. Rose dared not turn to look. She barely was able to breathe.
"Just kill her." A female voice said. The curly-haired boy's grin grew wider and a spark lit in his eye. Rose crumbled, but he tightened his grip and forced her up.
"Wait." Another female voice broke in, much lower and more thick that the first. "I recognize this pretty whelp."
'Recognize me?' Rose's fear reached a new peak. Her eyes clouded over.
"From where?" The boy said, not taking his dark eyes from Rose.
"Leave her hear. We may need her later."
"As a hostage?" Another asked; sounding no more than a boy of twelve. But his tone gave away to hostility and not innocence of youth.
"Then we'll take her now." The man in front of her impatiently said.
"No. Not yet." The lady urged. The curly-haired man scowled and turned his head toward the woman beyond Rose's vision.
Rose felt herself go rigid. Something was slowly encircling her neck. It was thin and hard, yet moved with as much lithe and grace as a serpent.
"What are you getting at?" The man said angrily.
"We need to wait. I have my reasons and I'll tell you later when the girl's not listening."
Rose tensed and her breath was struggled. Her chest burned with fear as she felt another snake-like rope double the tie beneath her chin. Then she gasped. Pain racked her and she coughed; the serpents and the boy held her tighter, constricting her. Her throat and chest convulsed, attempting to cough and breathe. A needle was carving into the side of her neck, ripping open flesh. The point drove into a circle, ever so slowly. Rose felt warm blood bead down her neck and stain her dress. When the needle finally released, so did the snakes' grip. Rose coughed and gagged, straining for air.
"Come on!" Someone ordered.
The man in front of her winked and clicked his tongue before letting her go. She fell to the ground, holding her neck in pain. Panic-stricken she tore the hem of the bottom of her cream dress and bound it around her neck, still slick and warm with blood.
She lay against the tree there for more than a half an hour, crying, before she felt small furry paws step on her legs. Rose looked down and saw Kit's spotted face. She mewed softly before Rose clutched her close.
A sudden cheerful singing startled them both, but Rose did not let go of Kit, no matter how strongly she struggled. Then they saw someone approaching fast and drunkenly.
"Hello…?" Rose called uncertainly. She stood. "Are you okay?"
The singing didn't cease. He hadn't even heard her. When he ran near her, Rose screamed and closed her eyes.
"Bloch! What are you doing! Get some clothes on! What happened to Maria?" She blurted out, her eyes still tightly shut.
Bloch said nothing and kept up his song loudly. Then his singing faded away as the sick and unwell man continued his frolic.
"I found him!" The grand voice of Armstrong bellowed loudly. He came forth with Bloch, who was wrapped in Armstrong's military shirt (so Armstrong was able to show off his bulky muscles as he came).
"That's a relief." Maria said with a sigh. "I was beginning to worry. "She was hit with another thought—another worry. "Do you think Ed and Rose have come back?"
"They wouldn't be gone long. I wouldn't fret." Roy reassured.
"Rose!"
The violet-eyed girl awoke from a doze at Edward's voice. He was running towards her, worried. Rose stood up, but found it hard to breathe or swallow. Her cut ached. She saw the scratch on his shoulder nothing more than that, it was very slight.
"Rose! What happened?" Ed exclaimed, seeing the blood stained dark on her dress and bandage. He walked the last paces to her. "You didn't try anything—rash—did you?" He stuttered.
Rose shook her head intensely. She opened her mouth to speak, but found no sound came. She tried again, in vain.
"Rose?"
Upset and near-panicked again, Rose tried over and over to utter even a word; all that came out was a painful and racking cough.
"R-Rose…" He seemed at a loss for words. She kept coughing and gasping for air. Kitty fell from her grasp. Ed lunged forward and steadied Rose from collapsing. "Rose, stop! You're hurting yourself!"
When she gained control of her breath again she shook off Ed's hands.
Edward tore some of his coat that was already tattering. The bandage from Rose's dress was bled through. Gently, he reached up to her bandage but she stumbled away. Ed looked at her, confused, and a little hurt that she wouldn't trust him.
"What happened? Was it that cat, or a thorn bush—" She shook her head vehemently. Ed broke off when he saw a glisten of tears in her eyes.
Rose clasped her hands on her head, remembering the dark-eyed man and his company. He was going to kill her. 'We may need her later.' What for? She had never even seen them before! She didn't want anyone to see what they had carved on her neck, afraid of what it was.
Dimly she realized that Ed was saying her name. She looked at him then realized she was crying again. Frustrated, she rubbed her cheek with her hand harshly. She wanted to tell him everything, but her voice had been robbed. She wanted to tell him that it wasn't safe for anyone to be around her, for the dark-eyed man would be back to take her…. She was shaking. Edward reached out to her awkwardly and shyly. She wrapped her arms around him, crying without a sound. He was startled at first, but then returned her embrace.
"What happened?" He asked. Rose was utterly terrified and was holding to him like a lost child awakened from a nightmare.
Rose still shook. Why did those people want her?
But Edward would protect her—as well would the others. She was sure of it then. Even if she did make a stupid mistake. They would forgive her; they were her friends.
Maria, Roy, Armstrong, and Bloch (who was half carried by the bulky man), were making their way back to the coastline.
"So he loses himself, strips, and burns down the only paradise on this wretched island!" Roy was whining.
Maria was lagging some ways behind. She had heard soft whispers, soft voices and kept an eye out for anything that might be following them. Then she heard the voices more clearly.
Softly, she said, "Colonel, I'll be right back."
Roy shrugged, barely looking back at her.
Mari crept closer to the voices she heard. Cupping her hand to her ear, she began to eavesdrop. She couldn't see anyone, but she dared not get too close. It was the voice of a man; however, it was unfamiliar. She had never heard him before. Were there people living on this island? Too curious, she leaned over and saw them. The homunculi. All of them and one she hadn't seen before. It took all of her willpower to keep from whimpering. Envy, the shape changer crowned with a head of wild green hair, was speaking.
"…city…the girl…eyes…" She only caught drifts. She leaned closer. "…to find…Philosopher's stone, we need Bloch…."
Maria covered her mouth to restrain from gasping. As quietly as she could she crept away then began running.
They wanted Bloch? Why?
Well nishte to that.
I might go mute too if I saw Bloch naked….eesh….