Chapter 10: Out of the Cold, into the Fire
Okay- fair warning, probably not one of my better chapters, and I know it's been months. Unfortunately, life got a little out of hand between the end of the semester (spring and summer) and then being on the job market (I did manage to land a full-time! Yay, my first!).
xxx
The scene at the end of this chapter was the first thing I wrote. Everything centered around that scene and the scenes at the beginning of the next chapter. Unfortunately, beyond that, these two chapters have been the hardest to write. And with everything else, it took a while. I didn't want to do a half job.
I have a few major scenes already written from here on out in the future, but nothing near full chapters—anyway, angst to come.
I've included a refresher from chapter 8 of each group first. It may take some time from here on out for each chapter since the storyline will become more complicated.
Chapter 8 [with Mustang and Edward]
Mustang and Edward paused. They could hear shouts in the distance behind them.
"I think they found our camp," Edward stated, the question going through Mustang's head with almost certainty. Mustang surveyed their covered tracks, which involved rearranging the snow back in place with alchemy. Some traces remained, but they had created a few false paths by back-tracking just in case.
Both Mustang and Edward shared a look. They had hoped they would have more time before the rebels found their camp or happened to cross their trail.
They had to move. The rebels were pursuing them, and they could not be caught.
Chapter 8 [Casper's Group]
Within three hours, Casper's group came within sight of the slowly moving alchemists. Edward was moving slowly on his damaged and still sparking knee. Every so often, he would bend over, clap, and the snow would move to cover the fresh boot prints trailing behind them.
Mustang was leading, keeping an eye out ahead of them to try and lead them through the deep snow by the easiest path. Casper watched in amazement. The two alchemists had made it much farther than he imagined, and another thought struck him as well. While Casper and the others had snowshoes, which allowed them to walk on top of the snow without sinking, the two alchemists were trudging through the snow and sinking in places where the snow was exceptionally deep due to the deep drifts the wind had created. The land was not flat, and some areas were deceptively deep. Still, the snow made the land look flat. The fact that despite all this, the two alchemists had made it so far was impressive, and Casper realized that, without the snow, the two would have made it much farther. Casper had almost cost them their hostages.
With a flick of Casper's finger, Logan and Jimmy each went in opposite directions to inform the others that they had found the two alchemists before making their plan to engage.
Chapter 8 [Damien]
Back in the abandoned mental institute, Damien sat waiting. He was expecting visitors. They all were, but now that the place was abandoned in the pursuit of the two escaped alchemists. While Casper had gone south-west with a group, other groups had gone south-east, north-west, and north-east. Damien wanted them to cover all their bases, even if the two teams going south were most likely headed in the same direction their two prisoners had taken.
Damien scanned the woods once more. Within a few minutes, seven figures appeared out of the snow-laden trees. They wore dark coats and dark fur-lined caps. Damien smiled.
The rebel's Drachman allies had finally arrived.
After hearing shouts in the distance behind them, Mustang and Edward stopped making side trails and focused on moving ahead while still covering their tracks.
"How long do you think before they catch up?"
Mustang gave Edward a sidelong glance, 'Well, they don't have to cover their trail, and even if your alchemy makes it harder to find our footprints, I'm sure an experienced tracker will notice the difference in the disturbed snow."
Edward grunted. This was not his ideal method for dealing with the issue, but every time he leaned down to clap and use alchemy to shift the snow to cover their tracks, he was reminded of exactly how tired, hungry, and thirsty he was. They had stopped a few times to eat a little bit and quench their thirst. But, now that they had pursuers, they would not stop anymore until they were safely away.
Fatigue wore at both alchemists, and while Edward limped on, his head feeling heavy and stuffy, Mustang was only moving forward on momentum, one hand absently clutching his side where Casper had punched him.
After a while, the forest grew silent and still once more. Yet, knowing that the rebels were now most likely on their trail, they continued forward, and hours passed. The sun was high when Edward caught the first flicker of a shadow disappearing behind a tree.
Edward freezing for a moment caught Mustang's attention. Mustang had been scanning the woods, with occasional glances behind for some time now. He wished he had been able to find his gloves. Unfortunately, out in the snow, the chalk he stole would not do them much good in a fight. Of course, the chalk would not have done him much good anyway since he would not have the time to draw the circle, but it did make him feel just a little bit better.
If, no, when they catch up, Fullmetal is the most likely to get away. He has his clap alchemy, which will give him a distinct advantage. But will the kid listen and leave me behind? I know he doesn't like me, but it's also not in his nature to leave someone behind.
Edward finally moved again, but his eyes met Mustang's, and Edward could see the strange mixture of hindered thought and concern on Mustang's face. It made Edward uneasy.
They had not stopped walking since they left camp, but now, despite their bone-weary state, they listened to the woods around them carefully. Another quick glance between them indicated that both felt the hair prickling sensation of more than one pair of eyes watching them. Surreptitious glances from both alchemists to the woods behind them confirmed the pursuers who were, despite attempts at being stealthy, clumsily fanning out to surround them.
They needed to elude their pursuers. Mustang counted five, Edward six. Mustang merely nodded when Edward discreetly held up six fingers.
May as well be prepared. Mustang shrugged.
Only fifteen minutes earlier, Jimmy and Logan had returned with their six other comrades, and immediately Casper had sent six to make a wide circuit to cut off the two escaping Alchemists, three from each side. However, it soon became apparent that the three still following the two alchemists from behind had caught their attention, given Edward's pause the last time he covered their tracks with a transmutation.
Casper watched as the Flame and Fullmetal alchemists exchanged looks and then looked over their shoulders. Although the rebels were trying to be quiet, the snow only seemed to make every sound louder. Casper realized that they had noticed not only those following but those trying to cut them off as well.
Internally Casper cursed their luck.
I would think after no food and so little water, they would be more sluggish. Casper's mind turned to their discovery that the alchemists had taken food and supplies from the kitchen before leaving.
But even if they did, they've hardly had time to recover. We may have caught up, but it doesn't look like this will be easy non-the-less.
Casper's eyes narrowed.
We'll just have to pull this off. I certainly don't want to tell Damien that nine people couldn't take on two starved Alchemists, even if they are State Alchemists.
Casper glanced to his side, and Issac, who had led the team going to the North of Casper's group, gave him a quizzical look.
Casper sighed and whispered, "I hate to admit it, but despite their," Casper paused, "condition, I don't want to take any chances that they will escape, now or when heading back. It took about three hours to get to this point, and the going will be faster going back, but I'd like to have a more," Casper's eyes narrowed, and Isaac looked on with dawning realization, "reliable way to get them back to the compound."
Isaac nodded in understanding, "I'll be back as soon as possible."
Casper merely nodded as Isaac fell back and stealthfully made his way back the way they came. Casper nodded in approval. The alchemists would notice that someone was gone, but they did not need to know where, why, or what direction.
Best to leave them guessing.
"Damn, I think they're trying to surround us." Edward looked both left and right trying to track the movement of the rebels in the woods.
"Apparently so." Mustang grimaced as he slowly and carefully looked around the tree they were now leaning against. Their pursuers were closing in, and they could see them coming in from three different angles.
While stopping felt like it gave their pursuers an advantage by allowing them to catch up and continue to cut off their escape, it also gave them time to orient themselves to face their pursuers. It was then that they realized there were not five or six but nine pursuers.
Mustang gave Edward a long hard look. Edward was still trying to see if more people were following than those they had already seen. Once they had determined they were being followed, they had chosen a more-or-less strategic location by a large tree. When they stopped, they had been able to see that their pursuers had split into three groups of three, one group from behind and one from each side.
Mustang placed a hand on Edward's shoulder, "We need to split up." An idea had sprung to mind along with a plan.
"What? No!" Edward's head spun only to see Mustang's hardened expression. The sheer determination in his gaze beckoned no argument.
Is this what he was thinking about earlier? Edward gaped.
"Fullmetal! We need to split up because one of us has to escape. One of us has to make it out to tell the military about the rebels and where they are. I don't have my gloves, but I have an idea on how to use my alchemy to help give you the cover to escape. Your flexibility with alchemy will give you the best chance of getting away and making it to the military to warn them. You must be the one to go!"
"But…"
Mustang grabbed Edward by both shoulders and gave him a small shake, "Edward, this is an order!"
Edward looked Mustang in the eye and saw the determination, but he also saw something else. Something he did not want to name.
Taking another look around them, both alchemists noted the two groups coming from their right and left start moving toward them, still leaving the area ahead of them open, but that gap was swiftly closing as the rebels closed in.
"We're going to make a break for the gap between the two groups coming in from the sides. Then, once all nine of them are behind us, I'll create a distraction, and you go on ahead."
Edward merely nodded, still very much disliking the plan as they made their way toward the gap. It may be a good idea, but the two of us might be able to take them on together.
Edward turned and focused on planning which way he would run and did not notice the moment Mustang drew out the knife from the pack and brought it to the top of his hand.
In a moment, Mustang surged forward and gave Edward a nod. At that moment, both began moving forward, in the same direction they had been moving before. They moved toward the still decent-sized gap.
Once they began to move, the rebels noted their intended direction and moved to block them off. However, their efforts were uncoordinated. All six coming in from the sides moved forward, leaving a relatively large gap between them and the group approaching from behind.
Mustang noted the movement. If they keep moving like this, they'll leave the sides open.
All the while, Edward continued to grumble. The sting and limp from his broken automail made him grimace. It was at this point that the rebels drew close enough for an attack.
I might have better flexibility with my alchemy and be better suited for this than the colonel bastard. Still, Edward clapped and sent a shot of ice at the rebels coming from the left as he cast a sideways glance at Mustang, who had just snapped at the rebels coming from their right, he's injured, and it's because of me, and I can create a cover too. Maybe he thinks he can't outrun them, and I can…
It was a testament to his tiredness that he thought nothing of Mustang using his flame alchemy despite not having his gloves. Edward turned his attention back to the rebels approaching him.
Edward's face formed a slight grimace as the last thoughts flitted through his head. Edward's attack had succeeded in creating a large laceration in the leg of one of the rebel's legs. The man stumbled to his knees and, clutching his leg, fell to the ground. Mustang's attack had caused the three to their right to rear back from the flames. The other two, to their left, had barely dodged Edward's attack, but it had widened the opening they needed to slip through.
Mustang's sudden call almost startled Edward.
"Okay, Edward, they're behind us. Now, go!"
It took no further prompting. Edward ignored the intense desire to stay and fight. The short run through the gap that had nearly winded him.
Mustang watched as Edward bolted away and silently cheered Edward on, you can do this, Edward, escape. I'll catch up if I can.
Grimacing to himself, Mustang turned to face the rebels with determination. Mustang could now see all their pursuers, all of them behind them now and following quickly. In his haste, he did not notice that there were only eight.
He did note that they would catch up within only a matter of seconds. Shifting the lighter in his hand, Mustang took one last look at the transmutation circle he had drawn on the back of his hand. Blood seeped from the lines carved into his skin. It was not perfect, but it was working.
And so, Mustang clicked the lighter once more as two of the rebels darted past him, ignoring Mustang as they took off in pursuit of Edward. Mustang would not let any of the rebels go, even if it meant worsening his own chances of escape.
Fullmetal had to escape.
Edward almost turned around at the sound of the explosion, but the wave of heat that followed kept him going.
Dammit, Mustang, I've put a reasonable distance between us, and I can still feel the heat. Just how much power did you put into that? You better not have cooked yourself along with your own attack.
Mustang's attack hit the two pursuers who had darted past him, causing them to stumble and fall, one wailing in pain. Once confirming that the two were down from his attack, Mustang turned quickly and barely avoided the blow from Jimmy, who seemed to tower over Mustang. Mustang barely came up to the man's shoulder.
Jimmy's momentum caused him to slip, and Mustang took a moment to analyze the situation.
There were still three rebels from those who had moved in from the sides, the man who Mustang had avoided and two who were now cautiously approaching, having noted their large friend fall. At this point, Mustang could see another on his knees farther back, clutching his leg while the snow turned red.
That must have been from Edward's attack. I don't think I'll tell him about it, though.
The rebels who had been approaching from behind had only just caught up to the kneeling rebel. One stopped to help his injured comrade while the other two continued forward.
Mustang grunted. Three down, six to go.
Mustang dodged again as the two closest rebels decided to try to tackle him at the same time. One landed face first in the snow, and the other bumped into Jimmy. The large man caught and steadied him. Then he turned to face Mustang.
Jimmy was fast and moved forward just as Mustang stepped into a drift of slightly deeper snow. Mustang's arms wind-milled as he tried to regain his balance, and although the sudden tilt caused Jimmy to miss Mustang's wrist, Jimmy still caught hold of his sleeve. A tearing sound echoed through the clearing, and Mustang jerked away, his sleeve hanging loosely in Jimmy's hand.
The sudden ripping of his sleeve caused Mustang to lose his balance once again, and he fell. Jimmy took a few steps back, but the large man managed to stay upright.
The other two men took advantage of Mustang's position and moved in. Mustang kicked at the knee of one, and the audible crack gave him the satisfaction that one more was at least somewhat out of commission. The second, however, lunged forward and pressed forward, trying to pin Mustang to the ground. Using his hips as leverage and his free left hand, still clutching the lighter, Mustang clicked the flint once more, and the man rolled away howling.
Mustang rolled up and had to dodge another attack from one of the men who had been approaching from behind. Keeping all the men in sight, Mustang backed up and continued to do so as they followed him. Jimmy had dropped his sleeve and was now advancing on Mustang, anger burning his face from Mustang's attacks and the scent of scorched skin.
In the midst of trying to keep track of the rebels, particularly the angry Jimmy, Mustang did not see Casper flick his finger at one of the rebels, who then bent down and, picking up the torn sleeve, ducked behind a crop of trees to follow Edward's trail through the snow.
It was then that Mustang felt the world tilt sideways as the ground suddenly and completely disappeared from beneath his feet, his surprised yell echoing through the forest.
Edward ran for what felt like ages. In the beginning, he had been able to hear the fight behind him, but it had since faded into the background, muffled by the trees and snow. A muffled yell had sounded out a while after all the other sounds had faded. It caused Edward to jerk to a stop for a moment, his blood pounding from exertion and panic as he glanced over his shoulder.
That better not have been Mustang!
Edward began to move again, but soon the sound of crunching snow caused Edward to stiffen, and determining the direction from which he thought the noise was coming, he shifted his course away from the direction of the noise, which he presumed to be one of the rebels.
Edward dodged trees, and after becoming confused by the twists and turns he took around the trees and landscape, he rested a hand on a tree and, leaning over, tried to catch his breath. The sound of crunching snow had Edward shooting back up to a standing position and jerking at the sight before him.
A young man stood in front of Edward. Having left the others behind at Casper's direction, Logan was able to catch up to the younger alchemist relatively quickly. He had followed the young alchemist's stumbling footprints in the snow.
The two watched each other for a moment before Logan spoke.
"The Flame Alchemist, we caught him again."
Edward felt a vein pulse in his temple, "Like hell you did," he gasped, still trying to catch his breath.
"But we did," Logan held up a ripped sleeve, the sleeve of the very same coat that Mustang had been wearing.
Edward paused, but only for a moment.
Screw it! I know Mustang said to run. I know that finding help is important, but it doesn't do any good if he's dead!
Logan was approaching Edward slowly.
"If you don't want anything to happen to him, you should come back quietly."
Edward only smirked, "for all I know, you only have that 'cause it got ripped off in the fight. It means nothing.
Logan only smiled, "And how do you know?"
As Logan spoke, Edward charged forward. He had no intention of having a long, drawn-out conversation. He was tired and hungry, and he was sick of the rebels who acted as though they knew what they were doing.
Minutes later, and after only a few blows and transmissions, Edward cast one backward glance at the unconscious Logan as he began to hobble away. While Logan had had some training, he was woefully inexperienced, and Edward's use of alchemy had only further secured his victory despite his broken automail knee.
I have to find Mustang! I don't care if he told me to leave. If the bastard dies… Edward stopped his line of thinking, shaking his head.
Edward could not finish the thought. As he started to back-track, he kept far enough to one side of his tracks so that if anyone else was following them, he would be able to avoid them.
Only a half-hour later, he was traveling alongside the edge of a steep gorge. Soon he came upon an area with disturbed snow where he could tell multiple people had been moving around by the edge. To his growing concern, he could also see evidence in the snow that someone had fallen down the side of the gorge. The snow on his side showed evidence of many people passing through, but on the other side, he could see that someone had climbed out of the gorge.
Maybe that was Mustang?
Edward carefully made his way down the slope using his alchemy for balance. Once he was down, Edward leaned over, breathing heavily, his vision blurring. Then, after a few moments, Edward started up the other side. By the time he reached the top, the snow was falling again.
Mustang collapsed, his knees sinking deeply into the snow. With his flame alchemy, he had been able to injure and quite possibly kill some of their pursuers. Mustang had been unable to confirm for himself if any of the fallen rebels were dead.
However, in the midst of the fight, they had inadvertently moved closer to a deep gorge, and fatigued as he was, Mustang had completely missed it. When the ground had disappeared from beneath one of his feet, Mustang had become disoriented. The fall was not bad, but he had done more damage to his already battered body. The use of his alchemy had done him no favors in energy consumption. The only good thing that comes of falling into the gorge was that, unless the four rebels he could see standing at the top wanted to risk injury due to the snow and steepness of the slope, they could not follow but would need to find another way down.
Mustang had taken the opportunity to crawl up the other side, which was significantly less steep, and make his way further into the woods. Glancing only once over his shoulder, he watched Casper give directions and then the group break. His eyes had met Casper's for only a moment before Mustang turned and focused on getting away before they found a way to his side of the gorge.
Now, however, Mustang's entire being felt like led, and the dizzy spinning and pounding headache had returned. He had not heard the sound of pursuers since he had scrambled out of the gorge, but he knew they could be closing in at any time. He had left an obvious trail in the snow. Once they crossed the gorge, they would catch up quickly.
His body teetered as he knelt as he tried to find the energy to stand once more. As his muscles twitched, the only response he got from them as he tried to stand, everything gave out, and he collapsed on top of the snow.
Everything felt numb.
Whiteness filled his vision, and only one thought filled his mind.
I hope Edward was able to get away safely.
And then, his world faded into darkness. A gentle snowfall began, and small soft flakes began to cover the top layer of snow and Mustang's back.
Earlier, just after Mustang had fallen into the gorge, Casper watched Mustang climb the far side as he and the rest of the men eyed the slick, steep slope. There was no way they were going to follow without risk of injury, and a plan had formed in his mind.
Turning to Jimmy, Casper quickly got his attention, "Go and see if you can find any sign that Isaac is returning. I sent him back to get a truck, so we could more readily transport the alchemists back to the base. It shouldn't take long since he should be bringing the trucks in the direction where we confronted the military dogs initially, and we're not that far off. I want to cut him off before he has to find a way to back-track to the base of the gorge. If he has more than one truck, have one come over for the injured men. I'm sure Damien will have sent him with more than one truck and some other people.
"Meanwhile, we'll scour that side of the gorge. In only a few miles, it runs up against the cliff face. Given the alchemist's condition, he'll need to travel along the base. Get Isaac to bring one truck up on the other side of the gorge. It levels off a few miles south of here, closer to our base. I'll have you rendezvous with Kevin there. He'll follow the gorge down and find the best place to cross. If we can find one closer to where we are now, that would be best."
Kevin, who was standing behind Casper, nodded, and Casper continued. "Alex and I will scout out his trail while waiting. Hopefully, Logan will be successful in convincing the small alchemist to come searching for his boss."
Kevin grunted, "You sent the kid out after the Fullmetal brat?"
Casper glanced over his shoulder at Kevin and smiled, "Yes, with that coat sleeve that came off too."
Jimmy merely nodded and soon was on his way. Kevin and Alex snorted, and then they, along with Casper, began to make their way down the gorge.
After an hour, they found a safe spot to cross. Casper and Alex waved off Kevin as he continued down to find a spot for the truck to cross.
By the time Casper and Alex came back to the spot where Mustang had climbed up the other side, the snow was falling once more, but not enough to cover the fact there now there were two sets of tracks moving away from the side of the gorge. When Casper looked into the gorge, the tell-tale signs of alchemy only made him pause for a moment.
Everything was going according to plan ever since he sent Logan off to find the little alchemist.
Edward skimmed the snow-strewn landscape as he looked for Mustang. He was aware that Mustang was in the general vicinity from the rapidly disappearing tracks but did not realize how close Mustang was until he saw the dark figure lying motionless in the snow, almost covered by the white powder.
Edward stumbled forward, encumbered by the thick layers of soft, damp, and deadly whiteness that wrapped around his legs with every step as if to hold him back.
Once Edward reached Mustang's side, he dropped to his knees, almost sinking to his waist. Mustang's legs and knees were almost completely buried, while his upper body only had the dusting of snow that had fallen since he succumbed to the cold and his injuries.
Edward leaned over Mustang and shook him.
"Wake up! Wake Up!"
Edward carefully rolled Mustang onto his back. Edward's heart jumped when Mustang sank deeper due to the movement. However, Mustang remained still, cold, and unresponsive.
Edward shook him again.
"Mustang, wake up! We need to… you need to wake up!"
Edward tried to feel for a pulse, but he felt none. Whether his fingers were too cold or whether Mustang did not have a pulse, Edward did not know. Mustang's pulse was too slow and too weak to feel. In frustration and desperation, Edward's fisted flesh hand came down weakly on Mustang's chest.
"Dammit, Mustang."
When Mustang still did not respond, silent tears gathered in Edward's eyes, and the cold left the tears in icy tracks as they ran down his face.
The intensity of Edward's focus made him oblivious to everything else around him. He did not hear the crunch of footsteps as they approached from behind, and he did not notice the arms that reached for him until it was too late.
Thick burly arms curled around Edward, pulling him back and restrained him. Edward was so focused on Mustang that, at first, it seemed as though Mustang was moving away from him, but then, Edward realized that someone was tearing him away from Mustang's side.
Edward's head spun around to take in his surroundings. The alchemists' pursuers had found them. One of the man's arms wrapped around Edward's chest, under his arms, and the other arm was around Edward's waist, pinning Edward to his chest as he dragged Edward back and farther from the dying Mustang.
Edward reached for Mustang.
"NO!" Edward's voice came out as a screech.
He's dying!
Edward bucked and kicked as he tried to pry the arms from around him.
"No! Mustang! Must-ang!"
I can't leave him! They can't take me away from him!
No matter how much he kicked or tore or pushed at the man's arms, the grip around his waist did not slacken. No matter how many times Edward called, Mustang remained unconscious and by no means in any position to help the trapped alchemist.
Edward's voice rose in volume and pitch.
"Bastard! Wake up!"
They'll kill him! They'll leave him for dead!
The man continued to take steps back but kept Edward tightly against his chest, facing Mustang all the while. As he pulled Edward into a military-grade truck, Edward continued to struggle and call for Mustang. Unconsciously and unregistered by Edward, but to the surprise of the rebels, the last word from Edward's mouth before the door slammed shut a desperate high-pitched call, "Roy!"
Inside the truck, Edward continued his attempts to escape the grasp of his captor.
"Let go of me!"
Edward continued to squirm, and the rebel, fed up with the writhing alchemist, let go only enough to place a well-aimed chop to the back of Edward's neck. Edward slumped, and the rebel bound his wrists with cuffs and then tied his arms to his chest with ropes. Similarly, his ankles were cuffed, and a generous length of rope was wound around above and below his knees before he was laid on the floor of the truck at his captor's feet.
Fun facts from my little bit of research:
Ed's tears do not literally freeze. Due to the salt in tears and body heat (cheeks), tears freeze at around -40⁰F [compared to the 32⁰F at which water freezes]. At -40⁰F, it takes about 5-7 minutes for hypothermia to set in. So, it's below 32⁰F, but not -40⁰F right now. Poor Ed and Mustang.
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This chapter, in particular, was the one inspired by Akarri's War Heroes. I was reading War Heroes, and I thought, what if Mustang and Edward were caught again? And thus, the story was born. I really am mean… (and even more so in the next chapter). Poor Mustang and Edward work so hard to escape, only to be caught again by the rebels. And Drachma soldiers are there now, too!