So much for coming in the secret way but at least no one needed measurements for a pine box. Through the door was seemingly nothing but Chanty knew where to go.

"Where does this lead?" Ed asked.

"To the basement."

"How are we going to get to a spot where we can listen in on Caradon?"

"Don't know. Odds are he's redecorated the place so some of the good hiding places are probably going to be gone."

The entrance into the basement was quite an interesting one. It was dark and everyone snuck along but Al didn't see the boxes at his feet and ran into them…this caused a domino effect with other boxes and metal crates. Everyone's heart was beating like scared rabbits, partly because of the noise and partly because this was bound to attract attention. Thinking quickly Ed transmutated a spoon that was stuck under a box into a rat then zipped into a small crack in the wall.

"David get down here!"

"Ryan, did you see what happened?"

"I know as much as you do! Now get your butt down here faster!"

A door at the top of a staircase opened and to men came out. Frantically they rushed down the stairs and began searching for the source of the racket.

"You look over there."

"Oh dang, what a mess. The boss is not going to be too pleased with this."

"All you got to worry about is who's in here and if you're the one who's going to clean this up."

"If you mean the blood of who ever is in here then I really don't want to clean that up. When I find them I'll be likely to tear out some throats and then I'll…"

"Relax, David it was all caused by this rat. Thing must've been creeping too close to an unsteady object, made it topple and got crushed by it. Maybe if we can get out of here fast enough we can get out having to be called off for a false alarm."

The two men left and everyone else exhaled deeply and with that little upside down mushroom thing they breathe when relieved.

"That was a bit too close." Al said.

"Golly," Chanticleer said looking at Edward in the wall. "The last time I could fit in that crack was before I was eight."

"You…pokin'…fun…at…me?"

"Oh no, no just stating a fact. Until I got too big for it that was my favorite place to hide when playing hide-and-seek."

"You really need to be a bit more careful about what you say."

Central

"All right, tell me what you found."

The trio sat in Colonel Mustang's office still looking as though escaping a close call.

"We got to Caradon's hideout, heard a bit of his plan and/or threats and complaints, the guy who let us through the door with the riddle squealed that there were intruders and we made a break for it faster than a rabid squirrel on coffee." Edward said very quickly.

"…I meant what you found that is worth knowing."

"Oh that! I thought you wanted to hear…"

"Ed shut up." Chanticleer cut him off. "My guess is that now Caradon knows intruders made their way into his hideout without getting killed in his trap and got away he's probably going to move on to his next base. He kept mentioning something about a purple Nomiad but never explained what those were. He spoke with anxiety about whether or not any of our new friends saw it so it wouldn't be counted against him if he were ever caught. What he meant we had no idea."

"Next time you visit them ask if they've ever heard of a Nomiad. Any chance you heard him reveal his next destination?" Mustang asked hopeful but didn't express it in his voice.

"Yeah." Edward said getting a fuzz out of his hair. "The Three Sisters. I guess it's like a bed and breakfast or hotel and bar. Too bad he didn't make it easy and say what town that was in."

"I think he's worried about something." Al said. "Maybe that rival leader is threatening him somehow about giving away his whereabouts."

"That is entirely possible, Alphonse. It's typical for low-lifes like them to rat each other out then come back and ask for favors if enough money is involved." Mustang said thoughtful. "I'll make it a top priority to find the location of The Three Sisters. Once I do hopefully you three can get out as calmly as you go in."

"Har, har."

Next Morning

"Since when does he sleep in?"

"Don't know, usually it's him that wakes us up."

"Think he's all right?"

"Lets find out."

"(Knock) Chanty? You awake? You've been in there an awful long time you feelin' ok…"

In a flash the door swung open and the Dawn shouted "G'Morning!" very loudly in the brothers faces causing them to freak out and jump backward. Most unfortunately for Ed he forgot that their bedroom door had been left open so when he jumped back he expected to find a wall but just fell right through.

"DON'T DO THAT!" Ed yelled at him rubbing a lump on the back of his head.

"I love it when I can take advantage of people." Chanticleer said as though this was the best way to start the morning.

Edward obviously didn't like it so he made sure to express his thoughts.

"Most people don't need heart attacks so early in the morning and I'm one of those most people! Show some respect for the ones who don't wish to die early due to heart failure! Next time you'd like to scare somebody go take your feather butt and find someone else! I…"

"Speaking of feathers," Al interrupted. "Your tail looks thicker lately.

"Actually it is. Don't know why but more are starting to grow in but when they break skin it itches but I can't run the risk of offending someone by scratching it."

"It's nice to know you're considerate."

"WHAT ABOUT ME! I'M NOT DONE YELLING!"

"Well you'll have to be for now."

Hawkeye came running down the hall with a look and a tone of urgency.

"What's the matter?" Al asked feeling a twinge of worry.

Hawkeye panted for a minute before straightening up and continued.

"You three are wanted at the front gate. Something serious has happened and it involves you. I've been looking everywhere and the Fuhrer wants to see you immediately."

"The Fuhrer!" the three said together. Boy if he was getting involved then this situation must be exceedingly serious.

At the gate

"The Dawn and the Fullmetal Alchemist, this is not a pleasant issue but I'm sure you're the only ones with the most knowledge about what we've found this morning."

"(gulp) I'm afraid to ask…ok, what did you find?"

The Fuhrer looked at the gate behind him and Ed felt his appetite disappear.

From the top of the metal arch, strung up by it's own entrails hung a dead ferret. Around its neck was a broken string where someone had cut loose a note that came with the bloody creature.

The friends stared at it, appalled.

"Who did this?" Chanty breathed.

"Aw, the poor ferret."

"AL! This is more important than the life of the ferret!"

Ed kicked Al in the leg but it was with his non-automail leg so he had to hide the pain in his big toe.

"Caradon." Mustang said flatly. "This came with it."

He gave a small note to the Dawn.

Armor, Blonde and their Companion, we
know you are frIends with the freAks. BRing them to the bacKwater toWn of NaNntiNg At The Three Sisters hotel. If yoU fail to bring theM in thRee daYs from toDay you'll have the desTruction of this tOwn and its people oN your cOnscience. If sO muCh as one other military man is spotted with you in three days or in the town before you arriVe we'll destroy the town on the spot.

"Why do you think it's spelled so weird brother?"

"To keep the writers original handwriting style a secret."

Fuhrer King Bradley looked at them.

"Naunting is a town in the middle of an enormous desert. There is only one train that travels there and I want you and your friends on it tomorrow afternoon. Whatever Caradon is planning I have no doubt in my mind you will keep them safe. If possible try to gain leverage over him or subdue him in any way. In the sense of how to do it, everything goes, he's not likely to play fair so if he doesn't neither will you."

"We'll go and tell them right now." Chanticleer gave a small bow and left with Al following him and Ed limping behind his brother.

Chibi me – I thought you were against cruelty to animals…

Me- Trust me it didn't feel a thing. But now Caradon is getting serious. What will he do with our new friends or at least what does he want? Must say the guy has quite a way of getting the point across that he's not kidding.

Chibi me – what are you talking about! You're the one in control of the keyboard!

Me- Ok, ok, I was thinking about when my mom told a friend that my dad was outside barefoot one time and the cat left rodent guts on the ground and he stepped in it. I just had to get it off my chest all right!