Chapter 19
A crisp yet frigid gust of wind managed to brush its way softly passed the blanket that shrouded the entrance of the den, bringing with it a few stray snowflakes as Roy instinctively shivered against the bitterly cold breeze. While yesterday's storm had mostly subsided, the snow still fluttered down in irregular bursts from the thick gray clouds obscuring the afternoon sky high above. Now that the fierce squall had greatly decreased in its intensity the hope of help arriving very soon continued to grow like a blooming flower within Roy's aching heart.
The joy that usually came along with that wonderful thought was tempered by sorrow when he gazed down at his poor pup though. Ed still remained completely unmoved from where he was settled limply in their nest, his frail and feverish form leaning heavily against Roy as he took in labored, uneven breaths. A full day had now passed since Ed had fallen into his deep, fever induced slumber, and he still showed no signs of improvement no matter what Roy tried in a desperate attempt to help combat the internal wildfire.
There was no reason to try to use herbs to help with the fever now though; yesterday had shown that Ed could no longer keep down anything solid long enough for it to do any good. Roy wished there was more that he could do but right now the only thing he was able to do was watching over his pup, monitoring his fever alongside forcing water down the sick chimera's throat.
He still remembered waking up earlier that morning with the events of the prior day feeling as though they'd been nothing more than a vivid nightmare. Roy was quickly reminded that the day had been horribly real when he became aware of the fever wracked body leaning limply against his side. It was then that the memories had flooded through his sleep hazed mind, like flood water through an open sluice, and panic had attempted to take control with this abrupt reminder of how dire their situation had become.
Roy had then glanced down at his sick pup, taking in the sight of Ed's weak and painfully think body lying completely unresponsive next to him. That despair had gradually hardened into a fierce determination to do all that he possibly could to protect his beloved pup, knowing that right now he was the only one able to keep Ed alive.
The very first thing Roy had thought to do was clean up the now dried vomit and undigested herbs from yesterday that still lay in front of his pup. He'd quickly used the soiled piece of torn blanket to fully gather up the mess without dirtying his paws too much before tossing it out of the den.
As he'd carefully washed his paws with some water from the nearby metal dish Roy suddenly realized that Ed hadn't had anything to drink since the day before, and he knew that his pup wouldn't last much longer if he became dehydrated. Distant and foggy memories of getting Ed to drink as he'd slept after the first time his body had been pushed too far flickered in his mind and Roy had immediately tore away a new strip of blanket to dip in the water.
Roy had continued to use this same method all throughout the morning and well into the afternoon with no problems, making sure that his pup was getting a steady supply of water into his struggling system. He knew that this was only a temporary solution though…that no amount of water would keep Ed going forever…The only thing that even stood a chance at saving his pup was real medical care.
Though Roy was starting to fear that Ed was now too far gone for medication to save…his poor, sick pup looked so close to death, as though he were hanging weakly onto life by the thinnest of fraying threads…Was there any hope of bringing him back from this?
As he mourned over a death that had yet to happen Roy let out a forlorn sigh as he wrapped his tail securely around Ed's body and sat up in their nest. He could feel the almost unnatural and unnerving waves of heat radiating from his pup suddenly spike, and Roy moved to grab a different length of blanket before carefully dipping it into the water dish until the cloth was thoroughly soaked.
Roy moved to drape the piece of damp blanket over Ed's forehead and as he placed it over his closed eyes a pang of sorrow raced like lightning through his heart. He couldn't help but remember how Ed had reacted to this same treatment just yesterday, waking up almost instantly in response…what he wouldn't give for his pup to simply rouse and complain about the wet cloth now…There wasn't even a wince when the cold water ran down his cheek…
"Roy is so sorry that he can't make his pup wake up…" Roy knew it was useless to talk to Ed now, but a small and desperate hope still remained that his words could be heard through the fever and thick darkness of slumber. "Roy is doing all that he can for Ed…but it just isn't enough…"
Without Ed's conscious presence Roy was beginning to feel truly isolated and alone out in the frozen forest, longing to have even one more simple conversation with his pup. For now the only thing able to combat this desolate feeling was hoping that Ed could somehow hear and understand him…maybe it would even give his pup a reason to try and remain amongst the living…
The sudden realization that his dear pup could simply die at any moment almost caused Roy to panic…just the thought of that frail chest rising one final time before growing still…the sound of ragged breaths going completely silent…it was nearly enough to finally drive him mad.
"Ed can't die yet…" Roy whispered sorrowfully as he leaned down to lap fondly at Ed's ears in the way his pup liked. There was absolutely no sort of reaction though as he drew back with tears stinging his eyes, blurring the world around him. "Ed still has so much he needs to do…Ed needs to see his brother again, and Roy needs his pup…so please…p-please stay, for them…"
There was no response, not even the slight twitch of an ear to show that Roy had been heard. He felt like his heart was slowly shattering once again…the sharp edges digging in like icy claws deep into his very soul…The last thing that Ed had told him was not to be afraid…but how couldn't Roy fear the thought of his pup's rapidly approaching death?
As he sat there simply gazing down at his pup Ed began to squirm slightly in his sleep. Hope rushed through Roy for a moment as he wondered if his pup was finally about to regain consciousness, but he quickly realized that this was just the ailing chimera's body moving in response to an internal need. Roy knew it was time to give Ed some water; he had waited a little too long so now his pup's body was starting to complain.
"Even when Ed is asleep he still finds a way to order Roy around…" Roy couldn't help but smile sadly as he leaned towards the water dish where he had left a second strip of blanket partially dipped in the icy water. "Ed can be so damn bossy sometimes…"
Now he was unable to talk to himself or his unconscious pup because of the dripping fabric in between his jaws. Roy bent over Ed's head before using his paws to slowly open his mouth. It was an easy task without Ed to try and fight against him as Roy tilted his pup's head back slightly so that the water wouldn't accidentally drown him instead of help.
A thin line of water trickled down from the torn blanket to travel past Ed's parted jaws and carefully down his throat. At first his pup made a tiny gagging noise before his unconscious body picked up on exactly what was happening. Then Ed was steadily gulping down the water without issue, the tense muscles of his throat relaxing as he allowed the cold liquid to slowly drip past his jaws.
Roy knew to stop when Ed's mouth attempted to close, sharp teeth nipping at his paws as he let go of his pup's head to carefully settle it down on a pillow in their nest below. The water continued to drip onto Ed's cheek, but Roy was quick enough to place the soaked fabric back where it had been before his pup or their bedding got soaked.
"All of this would be easier if Ed just woke up…" Roy said in a soft voice, hope burning brightly in his chest that Ed would hear him and actually respond. It was useless though, his pup lay completely oblivious to his presence as Roy sighed out in a low whisper. "Everything would be easier if Ed woke up…"
He grew silent though as he continued to gaze down at his pup, looking him over with a critical eye as he took in his current condition. Roy was relieved to both see and hear that Ed's breathing had evened out a bit, sounding much less raspy after his drink. It even felt as though his fever had gone down as well, burning less intensely while Roy felt a small semblance of peace wash over him.
Any positive emotions were very short lived as of late though and Roy felt sorrow sweep over him once more when he realized that Ed still looked absolutely terrible. His pup was nothing but honey colored fur raggedly draped over empty bones, looking more and more skeletal as the days dragged painfully by. At that moment Roy wondered both how he had kept Ed alive for so long and if he would be able to keep it up until help hopefully arrived, feeling as though he had still failed his poor pup in the end.
"I should have tried harder to get him to eat even after he got injured and refused…" Roy thought bleakly to himself as he let out a tired, sorrowful sigh. He closed his eyes for a moment, doing all he could to keep his self-hatred and despair under control. "If I had done something then, he wouldn't be so weak now…If he dies I will never forgive myself…I failed him back in the lab and I'm continuing to fail him even now…How much longer does he have because of my incompetence?"
It was then that Roy realized that he was also guilty of not taking care of his own body as well. He slowly opened his eyes to gaze down at himself, taking in the sight of his equally weak and frail form. He looked no better than Ed…hollowed out by hunger and anguish, thin and fragile bones hardly hidden by his dark pelt…
Not only had Roy failed Ed…he'd failed himself as well.
"There's nothing I can do now though…my own body is much too weak to even search the lab for dog food…" Roy let out a quiet, miserable whine as his tired body sunk back down into their nest, pressing gently against his pup. Just the mere thought of leaving the den to scour the many levels of the nearby lab made him feel tired…would he even be able to muster up enough strength to make it to the entrance now?
"At least if Ed dies…then I'll be following close behind…" This morbid observation both frightened and relieved Roy as he settled his head atop Ed's neck, feeling completely exhausted both physically and mentally. "The two of us stay together no matter what may happen…"
As Roy nuzzled gently at his pup's ears his gaze traveled listlessly towards the entrance of the den, to the darkening world beyond the blanket, watching as the falling snow seemed to slow. The icy flakes were hardly falling now, only a few stray bits of pure white drifting down from the sky to settle onto the cold ground below.
If the snow was indeed stopping now, did that mean that help could possibly arrive soon? Surely their friends were searching for them, and without a freezing storm of ice to contend with maybe they'd decide to explore this isolated forest. Maybe they were just waiting for the perfect conditions so they could safely head out…
The thought of his human friends slowly yet steadily making their way to Roy and Ed made the fragile bud in his heart bloom into a magnificent flower of pure happiness. The two of them would be free of this place at last…they'd finally be able to see their loved ones again…maybe they could learn to forget about the horrors they had witnessed…
Even if Roy and his beloved pup were forever stuck as inhuman beasts, trapped between man and dog, they would at least be home with their friends…they could maybe even live a meaningful life…but there was still hope that the pair could be returned to their human forms.
Roy smiled softly to himself as his heavy eyelids began to slowly slide shut, feeling sleep tug longingly at his already fragile grip over consciousness. Knowing that Ed would be okay without Roy's watchful gaze for a little while, he allowed himself the sweet reprieve of slumber, quickly being whisked away into a peaceful and warm darkness.
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A thick inky blackness made of roiling waves of scorching flames was all Ed was currently aware of. He was completely alone within this fiery void, feeling terribly weak and nauseous as his fever burned unhindered through his suffering body and pain rattled mind.
Occasionally Ed was able to power through his internal distress, mustering up the strength to thrash around wildly in a feeble attempt to escape this hellish limbo, but he knew there was nothing he could do to break through. It felt as though Ed was trapped deep within his body, imprisoned in the darkness by intertwining shadows, his mind now a cage that forcefully kept him separated from the waking world.
From somewhere far beyond the confines of his mental prison Ed could hear Roy's gentle voice whispering unintelligible words to him, his tone full of sorrow and fear. Ed longed desperately to reply, to tell his beloved guardian that he could hear him and that he missed him dearly, but he was unable to manage more than a tortured whimper. Internally Ed cried out to Roy, fighting desperately against the darkness' hold over him, wanting more than anything to return to the realm of the living.
"Why is this happening…why can't I wake up?" Ed thought to himself as he opened his jaws to let out a panicked cry that only he could hear as his thoughts slowly began to spiral. "Am I dying? But I…I…I'm not ready to leave yet! I need to get back to Roy!"
Hot tears stung Ed's closed eyes as he let out another internal howl full of anguish, his flailing paws grasping at nothing as he remained weightless and alone in the darkness. The fiery shadows had a firm grip over him and he knew that they would never let him go now…not until the black flames had completely consumed him down to his very soul.
Even now Ed could feel his body weakening, unable to do anything about it as he withered away like a flower in the middle of a blazing drought…his energy slowly fading alongside rational thought as he sunk further and further into the darkness…gradually becoming nothing…
"Roy…" Ed thought miserably as he felt himself fading away…he was dying…but he didn't want to go just yet…he had no choice though…"I'm so sorry to leave you behind like this…I wish I could stay…but this feels like the end…"
The sudden sensation of a pair or warm arms wrapping firmly around his struggling body caused Ed to gasp in shock, feeling himself being pulled from the very depths of the darkness. His still weakly flailing hind paws met with solid ground and Ed gratefully crumpled into the soft, cool grass that had seemingly appeared from nowhere. The once blazing heat from his fever had abruptly vanished alongside the pain…and that observation brought with it a strong sense of dread instead of the relief that it should have.
Now thoroughly confused, and growing increasingly fearful, Ed slowly opened his eyes to fully take in his new surroundings. He was lying partially on his side at the edge of a warm and sunlit clearing, the bright and almost ethereal light bringing the surrounding bushes and trees into stunning detail. The sky above, as well as a little bit past the green foliage of the clearing, was a near blinding, hazy white that obscured the world beyond.
Though Ed had never seen this place in full bloom with its green leaves and budding flowers swaying softly in the warm breeze, he quickly recognized exactly where he was. A fierce surge of disbelief and a growing anxiety rushed through his body as he began to tremble despite the warmth in the air.
This was the same clearing where he and The Pack had buried Sammy and Twenty two. His friend's grave was just a few feet away and from where Ed lay he could clearly see his own torn and bloody bandages still tied firmly around the weathered wood that served as a marker of his dear friend's final resting place…What was he doing here? Why was he in this place?
As Ed carefully pushed himself up off the ground and into a sitting position he was quick to notice that his paws were no longer paws. Pressed into the lush grass below was a pair of fully human hands, both made of flesh and blood, and he realized then that he was no longer trapped within his painfully twisted, distorted chimera form…He even appeared to be dressed in his usual garb that he'd worn long before the terrible transmutation…and instead of feeling soothed by the sight Ed only felt his horror slowly growing.
"W-What is this?" Ed thought to himself as he gazed down at his now human body, starting to tremble as his fear slowly reached its peak. This felt too much like when he had been trapped in that near endless expanse of white with Al…but this time was different. Everything about this situation seemed right, but it just felt so completely wrong at the same time…What was happening to him now? "I-I…I must be dead then…right? How else could I be back in my original body?"
"No, you're not dead…at least not yet," From somewhere behind him a new voice answered his inner thoughts and Ed quickly turned his head to see who it was. The person who had spoken to him was a younger man, somewhere in his twenties, and dressed in all white. His long sandy blond hair was tied back into a loose ponytail and his deep blue eyes were full of peace. "Your physical body is in pretty rough shape right now though…but I have a strong feeling that you're stubborn enough to pull through."
Ed was very sure that he had never seen this man before in the waking world…and yet his tone and demeanor felt so familiar to him for some unknown reason. The stranger only smiled wider as he offered a hand down to Ed, who gazed up at him hesitantly before gripping on to his wrist. He was pulled to his feet with a single strong yet gentle tug.
As Ed swayed a little from not being used to standing up on only two legs the man nodded before he walked past him and towards Sammy's grave. Still staring after the stranger distant memories of his time spent caged up in the dark, stone basement of the lab flickered through his mind like butterflies in the breeze. Confusion was slowly replacing the fear in Ed's body as he wondered why those forcefully buried memories had come back to the surface.
"Who are you?" He finally managed to ask aloud as he continued to sway precariously upon his human legs. The stranger remained silent as he sat down in front of Sammy's makeshift grave, glancing back at Ed from over his shoulder as he gestured at the ground beside him.
"My name is not important right now," The man murmured softly as he stared back at Ed with nothing but a deep fondness glimmering in his blue eyes. "And there is no need to be scared of me. I've brought you here so we can talk for a bit, nothing more."
Though he was still a little bit wary of the strangers true intentions, Ed slowly moved forward and settled himself comfortably on the ground next to him. He took in a breath of fresh, warm air, savoring the feeling of the light breeze rustling through his braided hair alongside the sensation of soft grass against the palms of his hands.
"This is a beautiful place," The man breathed out in a long sigh full of pleasure, closing his eyes for a moment as he too seemed to bask in this place's otherworldly splendor. "It's very peaceful here as well."
While Ed was still watching the stranger closely, taking in every single movement and word spoken, he was surprised by the sudden feeling of tranquility wrapping around him, the sensation reminding him of a loving embrace. Ed felt comforted down to the very core of his being as his anxiety vanished like mist in the morning sun, nodding in response to the stranger as he turned his gaze to Sammy's grave. All the guilt and sorrow he would have usually felt when staring at the weathered branch never came, and he was both grateful and a bit confused.
"So what brings you here, Ed?" The man asked in a relaxed tone as though casually discussing the weather, looking back at Ed with wide and friendly eyes. Ed felt so completely at ease in that moment, feeling not even the faintest hint of concern that this stranger somehow knew his name. "Tell me everything that has happened to you after making it out of the lab. I'd like to hear it from your point of view."
At first Ed hesitated out of a deeply ingrained instinct, but those words spoken so calmly, coupled with the peacefulness of his surroundings, was all it took to open up the floodgates to his partially repressed memories.
Ed began to spill his soul out to the inquiring stranger, telling him everything beginning with his guilt over Sammy's sacrifice before moving on to how he and Roy had then set out on their own in hopes of finding their human friends and the many obstacles they'd faced together as they struggled to survive in the harsh wilderness. Eventually Ed got to the battle against Anna and her own twisted version of The Pack, describing every bloody detail about the dark chimera's savagery as the man listened on in silence, never once flinching at the gory descriptions.
Once Ed had finally finished with his long and grisly story he felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, like the thick gray clouds hovering over him had just parted to reveal the sun after an intense storm. It was almost like his soul had been purified as the words left his body, replacing his earlier wariness with a much deeper sense of peace.
The whole story had then been told, at least to the point that Ed was able to remember, leaving off on his wound growing infected as his body began to slowly shut down. He got the strange sense that the man had already knew about most of the story already though…and that realization brought back his confusion from earlier as he wondered who exactly this stranger was. To have known everything yet still wanting to hear it from Ed…
The strange man gazed back at him in silence for a while, as though contemplating all he had just heard before finally speaking in a hushed tone. "That must have been so hard on you and Roy, and I'm very sorry for all the pain and grief you two have suffered. I've been watching over both of you from afar, doing anything I possibly could to help in any way…but I wish that I'd been there physically instead…"
"Who exactly are you?" Ed asked in a low voice that held more curiosity than fear as he looked closer at the man. There was something so familiar about him…but what was it exactly? Had the two of them ever truly met in the waking world? "It's almost as though you already knew about everything before I told you…so why did you want to hear it all over again from me?"
The stranger shook his head slowly in response, seeming to search for the proper words as his blue eyes shimmered with sorrow. After a moment of silence the man steadily met Ed's gaze before continuing. "I was nothing but a spectator of your journey, unable to sense your emotions or even able to speak with you as we are doing now. I was desperate to know how you felt…because all I was able to feel as I watched on was my own sorrow…"
As the man spoke a very faint and wavering shadow began to slowly materialize in the overly bright clearing just a few feet behind the stranger. At first Ed felt a twinge of fear as the mysterious figure gradually took on a more humanoid shape, turning to look at him with dark eyes, but the man seemed completely unafraid, even turning his head to regard the specter with a faint smile on his face.
"I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you two for staying strong after all you've been through…how you managed to endure through so much heartache and fear together." For some reason unknown to Ed the stranger seemed to be talking not only to him but to this new, shrouded figure as well. "I'm so glad to have gotten the chance to talk with you once more…to see you again before moving on."
For a moment Ed felt sure that he recognized the dark and intense gaze of the shadowy figure, but the being's form began to flicker and dance like the rippling of waves against the shore. As it slowly began to fade away the man watched on with that calm smile still parting his lips, murmuring out a few words too quiet for Ed to hear to the shadow before it completely vanished.
"W-What…or who, was that?" He managed to ask as his earlier fear was replaced with a sense of calm confusion, the man sitting beside him seeming to radiate an overwhelming sense of peace. "What did you tell it?"
The stranger closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a faint sigh as he turned to regard Ed with a sad yet friendly smile, sorrow glittering in his blue gaze. "I'm sorry, but I must be leaving now. This place is but a passageway, a middle ground of sorts, where the still living and the dead are able to meet. Neither of us can stay here for too long…or else your soul may forget which realm it truly belongs to."
With that the man slowly stood up, leaving Ed to sit alone beside Sammy's grave as a mixture of wonder and bewilderment raced through him. He tried to stand as well, to follow the stranger in hopes of getting a solid answer to his questions, but it was as though his body was slowly turning to stone, leaving him unable to move as the man began to walk away.
"Wait!" Ed cried out as he somehow managed to free his right arm and reached towards the stranger as he stopped to listen to Ed's pleas. "Before you go can you please tell me who you are? I-I need to know!"
The man stayed where he was as he turned around to regard Ed with a long and loving look from warm blue eyes. He let out a small, amused chuckle before responding. "You already know who I am, Pup…but then again you never got to see this version of me when we were caged up in the lab."
Ed froze, feeling stunned down to the very core of his being, shocked into silence as a slight chill ran down his spine. No, it couldn't be him…it was impossible…he had died months ago…Yet there he was, watching Ed with that painfully familiar friendliness and amusement gleaming brightly in his brilliant, clear blue eyes.
"S-Sammy?" Ed managed to whisper out in a shaking voice as he was overcome with emotion, his own eyes now overflowing with tears as they ran like a river down his cheeks. He just couldn't believe it, but it had to be true…there was no way his dying mind could have fabricated all of this. "I-I…I'm so sorry you died…all to save my life…it should have never happened…"
His dear friend only shook his head, the smile on his face never once wavering as he continued to gaze at Ed with nothing but love shining in his eyes. "No Ed, it was not your fault. It was my time to go, and if it had to happen to save you and the others then it was completely worth it. I have absolutely no regrets and I hold no grudge, I never have and never will. You and Roy were the best thing that happened to me in that hell, and I'm eternally grateful to have gotten to know you both."
Tears now glistened in Sammy's gaze, managing to remain unshed, with his warm smile still in place as he went on. "But now I must say goodbye to you. I have done everything I could to save you, and now my work here is done. Ed, you still have so much to live for, so much to give to those who love you. It's not your time yet, and I hope it will be some time until you see me again. Live well and until then, my dear friend, farewell."
As Sammy said his goodbyes the world surrounding both of them crumbled away until it was just the two of them hovering in the dark void. While there was still so much Ed wanted to tell his friend, he knew that there was not enough time to voice half of it. As he floated in the darkness he felt his human façade fall way to be replaced by his now agonizingly familiar chimera form, he could feel that time was growing short.
"Goodbye, Sammy…I'll never forget you…" Ed managed to say as Sammy's smile grew broader, his body beginning to glow brightly before his form faded away, leaving him alone once more. This time though Ed felt no pain or even the heat from his more than likely still blazing fever, all he felt was the deep sense of inner peace that Sammy had mercifully left in the wake of his appearance.
With nothing to disturb him now, and the darkness no longer feeling threatening or scary, Ed felt his senses drift away. His brief sense of conscious thought gradually faded, and this time Ed welcomed the now soothing shadows as they blotted out his vision and thoughts, feeling nothing more.
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Run…run…RUN. Roy had to keep running no matter what. If he stopped then he'd surely die.
Terror coursed throughout his body as he watched the once familiar forest begin to crumble all around him from out of the corner of his eye. Large and towering trees came crashing down, leafless branches rattling and cracking like dry, brittle bones. The undergrowth shriveled and blackened, wilting away until nothing showed but dusty earth.
It was almost as though huge, invisible claws were tearing deeply through the cold soil below, shredding everything in its path until nothing remained. Roy had no clue how he had gotten so deep into the forest, but as soon as the first tree began to topple and the ground began to quake he had raced away in the opposite direction.
As Roy ran through the dying woods only one nagging thought came to mind…where was Ed? He had absolutely no clue where his pup was right now…had Ed managed to escape or was he huddled fearfully somewhere in this chaotic storm, waiting for Roy to save him?
All he needed to know at the moment was that Ed was nowhere to be seen…and he had to find his pup before the forest disappeared.
"Ed! Pup! Where are you?!" Roy howled as his paws carried him through vast swathes of withered grass and over fallen trees, desperate to find Ed. What if he was lying in their new den next to the lab, unconscious and oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him…trapped deep within a fever induced slumber…God, was he still even alive right now? Could he survive this?
"No, don't think like that." Roy thought fiercely to himself as he leapt clear over a clump of tangling thorns that seemed to reach out towards him in an attempt to slow his flight. He couldn't let such negative thoughts take over; he had to keep going…if not for himself then for Ed…anything to save his pup…
While Roy was mostly blind to exactly where he was and where he was going, his paws seemed to know which direction to go as they led him along well-worn and increasingly familiar trails. He never once broke stride even as the world came crashing to an end around him, the thought of saving Ed bringing fresh energy to his weary body.
He soon realized that his seemingly mindless running was bringing him closer and closer to the clearing where they'd buried Sammy, and Roy hoped that Ed was sheltering there amongst the graves. Some strong and unknown sensation seemed to pull him in that direction, as though urging him onwards, and Roy allowed himself to be guided along by this mysterious force, putting his complete trust in it.
As Roy drew ever closer to his intended destination the forest around him began to shake, crumbling away faster in its desperate attempt to swallow him whole. The surrounding trees trembled before they all fell down at once to land deep within the undergrowth, once green leaves wilting into black husks at the contact as they became nothing but dust. Roy knew that he needed to reach the clearing soon…or else he too would fade away into nothingness along with everything else.
Thin, leafy branches scratched uncomfortably through Roy's pelt as he began to push his way through the dense foliage that surrounded this seemingly untouched bit of woodland. Behind him the forest seemed to roar in frustration, enraged that it had been unable to consume him as Roy made his own rough path through the brambles. He soon managed to break through the thorny barrier, panting hard as he stopped to look around the overly bright clearing, the crisp air seeming to shimmer with an almost otherworldly glow.
The fur along Roy's spine slowly started to bristle out of instinct when his eyes landed upon two humans sitting side by side in front of the weathered branch that served as a marker of Sammy's final resting place, too lost in conversation to notice him cautiously padding forward. As he got closer to them he felt dread sink its sharp fangs deep into Roy's still racing heart when he recognized one of the figures, completely stunned to his core.
One of them was Ed, but this was not the suffering and deathly ill chimera that Roy had last seen in the waking world. There his beloved pup sat, in all his former glory, looking relaxed and completely at ease as he talked with the stranger. It hurt Roy to see that Ed hadn't even noticed his presence, those brilliant golden eyes never leaving his human companion as Roy drew closer and closer to the pair.
What exactly was going on here? How had Ed returned to his human form, and who was this oddly familiar man he was talking to? Roy knew now that this must be a dream…but why did it feel so real? A mixture of fear and curiosity coursed throughout his body as he took in the scene before him, wondering if either of them could see him.
Once Roy was just a few feet away from Ed and the stranger, who had his back to him, he moved to raise one of his paws only to realize that he was now completely unable to move. With foreboding creeping into his mind Roy gazed down at his frozen form and was stunned to see that he too was no longer in his battered chimera body. Roy recognized his former military attire almost at once, feeling both wonder and a terrified confusion warring deep within.
As Roy's gaze returned to Ed and the stranger he was surprised to see that his pup's wide amber eyes were looking back at him. He wondered if Ed could see him, though judging by the small glimmer of confusion in his pup's gaze he guessed that he wasn't able to identify him. Roy opened his mouth in an attempt to ease Ed's fear but found he was unable to talk as the strange man turned his head to regard Roy with a warm smile before he began to address both him and Ed.
"I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you two for staying strong after all you've been through…how you managed to endure through so much heartache and fear together." The man spoke in a low, fond tone as a strong sense of peace seemed to radiate out from the stranger's form, causing Roy's tensed muscles to soften in response. "I'm so glad to have gotten the chance to talk to you once more...to see you again before moving on."
As Roy wondered once again as to who exactly this enigmatic man was he felt his grasp on this strange, dreamy realm begin to weaken as though some opposing force was tugging incessantly at him. The stranger only continued to smile calmly, understanding in the depths of his blue eyes as he softly spoke a few words only intended for Roy.
"It's time for you to wake up…Ed needs you to watch over him until help arrives with the rising sun." The man's eyes suddenly sparkled with an all too familiar amused fondness as he went on. "I always knew that Roy would do all that he possibly could to keep his pup safe."
"W-Wait…are you..?" Roy gasped out in shocked amazement, unable to finish his question as the world around him began to blur and swirl away into nothingness. All he was able to see for a moment was that friendly, reassuring smile as Roy felt himself plummet back down into the waking world and his chimera body.
Roy sat up with a start, heart pounding in his chest as he sucked in a lungful of icy air and his eyes flew open. For a moment all he saw was darkness, fearing that he was trapped somewhere between the waking world and unconsciousness until he was able to make out a few faint outlines of the inside of the den in the moonlight. It seemed as though the sun had long since set, stars now twinkling faintly against the inky black sky…God, how long had he been asleep…and what was it that had awoken him so suddenly?
Almost at once Roy became aware of Ed's feverish body writhing weakly against him in their nest, a ;pw and drawn out whimper escaping from his pup's dry throat as fire burned deep within his gaunt form. For a moment Roy was shocked that he hadn't sensed Ed's slowly increasing distress earlier, the ragged and worn body at his side feeling more like a raging bonfire than an actual living being.
At first Roy had no idea what to do, knowing that a simple damp cloth would be useless now as panic began to creep into his still sleep hazy mind. He tried desperately to remember anything that could possibly cool down this all-consuming internal fire as his poor pup let out another quiet whine of pain.
It was then that Roy remembered Star's determined blue gaze as she told him exactly what to do if this situation ever occurred, if Ed's fever ever spiked so dangerously high.
Roy immediately got to his paws, eager to help as he grabbed a mouthful of blankets from his side of their shared nest and carefully pulled one free. Once he had the blanket in his jaws Roy lifted it up and carried it out of the den, finding a nearby pile of fresh snow and thrusting the fabric deep into the icy crystals.
After waiting a few anxious moments, mindful of Ed's tiny whimpers of discomfort, Roy uncovered the now soaking wet blanket. He did the best he could to wring out the excess water with his jaws, trying to keep the fabric from dragging against the cold ground below and possibly staining it with mud. Once the blanket was finally dry enough to bring into the warm den without flooding their nest, Roy returned to stand by Ed's side and draped the cold blanket over his feverish form.
Roy did his best to make sure that the rest of the blankets lining the hollow dip in the earth didn't get too wet as he tucked the remaining damp fabric around his pup, nestling him down into an icy cocoon before moving to sit beside Ed's head. He watched over his pup closely as sorrow and guilt dug painfully into his heart like sharp claws, once again wondering just how he had managed to sleep through Ed's suffering so easily.
His thoughts began to wander, spiraling down into darkness as Roy tried not to let his growing despair overwhelm him, and failing miserably. What if Roy hadn't woke up when he did? Would his poor pup have suffered in his own fiery hell, alone, until death had finally claimed him? What if this carelessness brought an earlier end to Ed's life…would he ever be able to forgive himself now when his pup died?
"No. Ed won't die…he can't die…not yet, not here…" Roy's inner voice sounded more like an anguished howl that only grew louder when he reached out and touched Ed's tawny brow with his paw in order to check his temperature. While it seemed as though the cold blanket had brought down the worst of the fever it still felt like a wildfire was raging beneath Ed's ragged fur, and this greatly concerned Roy. Just how long would it take for the water to quench these scorching flames that burned deeply within his pup's battered body? Could it do anything to help now?
Roy gazed down at his unresponsive pup for a few quiet, somber moments before gently nuzzling at Ed's cheek, wondering if this was truly the end of his pup's life. They had suffered through so much physical and mental agony together for things to simply end like this…they'd survived through horrors far worse…and yet there his poor pup lay at his paws, still writhing feebly underneath the damp blanket…valiantly trying to fight back against the internal fire as Ed let out an occasional soft whimper in between irregular and labored breaths.
The sudden memory of Ed lying limp and weak before him in their old den, after he had overexerted himself, flashed so intensely through Roy's disheartened mind that he nearly stumbled. He mentally cursed himself for letting panic cloud his thoughts and judgement, knowing that his pup desperately needed him to focus right now.
He had seemingly brought Ed back from the brink of death then, so surely he could do it again.
With the memory still fresh in his mind Roy grabbed the now dry piece of fabric he had used to give Ed water earlier that day, feeling foolish to have forgotten all about it. He quickly dunked the torn bit of fabric into the nearby water dish, letting out a small sneeze as water rushed up Roy's nose in his haste. After he let it sit in the water for a few moments he picked it up again and was pleased to feel that it was completely soaked through.
Roy then used his paws to gently maneuver Ed's head into a better position, not wanting to accidentally drown his pup as he carefully tilted his head back and began to nudge at his mouth. Ed's jaws parted easily and once Roy felt that he had gotten the angle right he squeezed the bit of fabric between his own jaws until a thin line of water slowly seeped out to drip down Ed's throat.
If he couldn't attack his pup's fever from the outside then perhaps Roy would be able to fight it from the inside instead.
Ed hardly moved as his body instinctively swallowed the icy water down, with only his paws kneading feebly at the dry blankets of their nest in response. Roy continued to force water down Ed's throat until his pup began to weakly thrash in an attempt to escape from the steady stream of liquid. As his jaws started to close Roy quickly pulled away, sharp fangs pricking at his flesh.
He watched on as Ed's jaws slowly closed, a tiny and nearly inaudible whimper rising from his throat as Roy moved forward to help settle his pup's head more comfortably amongst the pillows and blankets below. With a quick, fond lap at Ed's cheek Roy sat back and watched his pup closely, noticing with a small sigh of relief that Ed's muscles seemed to be relaxing as his breathing began to even out a bit.
For one wonderful moment Roy felt the faintest of hope start to blossom within his aching heart at the thought that he had finally figured out how to ease Ed's fever. Now his pup was sleeping without crying out in pain, seemingly feeling better…maybe there was a chance that he could last a few more days or at least until help arrived.
This newfound peace was much too short lived though.
Ed's body suddenly grew tense once more, his hollowed out flanks spasming as the muscles along his pronounced spine contracted violently. A terribly drawn out whine escaped from his pup's throat only to be cut off with a gasping choke as Ed hunched forward, his whole body shuddering as he began to heave.
Roy stood up and hovered over Ed, now knowing exactly what was happening to his poor pup. He could only watch on in horror and despair as Ed vomited up a mouthful of clear liquid onto the ground just beyond their nest. The recently ingested water mixed with slimy bile as his pup continued to expel all of the water he had been forced to drink, a quavering whimper rising up from deep in Ed's chest as his stomach forcefully emptied itself of absolutely everything.
"No…Ed, please…" Roy let out an anguished moan as he pressed his nose to the top of his pup's trembling head, closing his eyes as tears threatened to fall. He knew that this was a very, very bad sign…if Ed could no longer keep water down within his body then he would slowly become dehydrated…that he didn't have much longer…
If Roy had to guess how much time his beloved pup had left to live…it was probably less than twenty four hours.
His pup looked even weaker than he had earlier that day, his life slowly seeping out of him with each labored breath…There was absolutely nothing Roy could do now to save Ed…his fate was in the hands of some greater power, and he hoped that this omnipotent being would be kind to them both…
"Oh Ed…I am so sorry that this is happening to you…" Roy thought to himself as his legs grew weaker and weaker from under the weight of his near crushing sorrow. He slid to the ground to settle in front of his pup, fiercely nuzzling at the side of his golden head as Ed's retching finally came to an end and his body went limp once more.
Every part of Roy's being longed for all of this to just be a terrible nightmare, that soon he'd wake up to his pup sleeping easily at his side as the sun rose above the horizon, ready to brave another day alongside Ed. He knew that reality was cruel though, and that all of this was very real…his dear pup most likely wouldn't live to see another sunset…
"E-Ed…" Roy's voice was a broken whisper, full of an unimaginable amount of barely contained anguish as he opened his eyes and lifted his head to gaze down at his still unconscious pup. "Oh, Ed…Roy is s-so, so sorry that he can't d-do anything to help…but h-he will stay awake w-with his pup until…until the very end…H-He won't let Ed die all alone…"
With tears now falling from his eyes like overflowing rivers Roy curled around his pup, letting Ed's head rest snugly against his boney flank as he wrapped his tail around the dying form before him. His pup seemed to settle just a bit, almost as though he could feel his guardian and hear his words of comfort. Roy rested his chin atop his pup's neck, letting his sorrow and pain run freely from his eyes.
"Roy is right here…h-he won't leave his pup…everything w-will be fine…" Roy's voice was hollow and dull as his grief slowly consumed him from the inside out. His thoughts grew blank and bleak, the dog half of his tortured mind starting to reach out as though sympathetic to his anguish…how easy it would be to let it simply take over his husk of a body until both of them perished…he'd never have to feel this pain ever again…
The sudden glow of sliver light brought Roy back from the dark depths of his mind, the canine retreating once more as he wondered why the moon and stars were shining so brightly. He lifted his head from Ed's neck and cast a curious glance out of the den, gasping in shock as his body instinctively curled tighter around his pup at the sight.
"S-Sammy…" Roy whispered in complete awe as he took in the faintly glowing figure before him.
There he was, standing calmly just beyond the entrance of the den, his once sandy brown fur turned white by the moonlight. His body was faint and nearly transparent, wavering in the cold night air as his deep blue eyes settled first onto Roy before wandering down to Ed.
Terror coursed through Roy at the sudden thought that Sammy must have come to collect Ed's soul, to take his pup with him to the afterlife. He wanted to leap to his paws and protect Ed, to snarl threateningly at the faintly glowing figure and fight Sammy off so that his pup could live just a bit longer. His body was much too weak and exhausted to even stand; much less fight…Roy knew there was nothing he could physically do now.
It seemed as though Sammy was able to sense his fear and hesitance as that familiar smile formed on his face and he shook his head resolutely. A glimmer of love and peace shined deeply in his sparkling blue eyes as Sammy gazed calmly back at Roy, tilting his head to the side as though trying to remind him of something.
Roy suddenly remembered his strange dream from earlier…he had seen a fully human Ed speaking easily to an unknown man…had that man really been Sammy? The voice he had heard talking to him during the dream sounded once more in his mind, a calm and clear voice that was completely untouched by the canine influence as it had been in life.
"Ed needs you to watch over him until help arrives with the rising sun." Roy finally mustered up the courage to meet Sammy's otherworldly gaze, feeling nothing but love and tranquility flow through him alongside the sudden certainty that Ed would survive this.
Sammy wagged his tail happily as he returned Roy's solemn gaze before bowing his head as his already faint form flickered violently. Those brilliant blue eyes stared at him for a moment longer before turning to look up at the night sky above, a sense of relief and happiness in Sammy's posture as he began to fade away, one last thought passing through Roy's mind.
"I have done all that I can…and now I can finally rest knowing that you two will be safe with your human friends. Goodbye, my dearest friends…until we meet again in a place with no darkness…" Then Sammy was gone, his figure disappearing like mist in the early morning light, leaving Roy all alone with Ed once more. Sorrow pierced is heart at the thought of never seeing Sammy again in this life, but he was happy to know that their friend had finally found the peace he so deserved.
"Goodbye, Sammy," Roy thought to himself as he gazed up towards the star speckled night sky above, wondering if what he had just seen had actually been real and not a hallucination from his grief hazed mind. It had all felt much too real though…like nothing he had experienced before, and it brought him a strong sense of comfort that maybe there truly was life after death. "Thank you for all you have done for us…we never would have made it this far without your help…"
Roy then returned his gaze to Ed, his earlier anguish now replaced by a renewed sense of hope as he took in his unconscious form. While it hurt him to know that his pup was still suffering Roy was relieved that help would arrive soon to save them both. He would be able to keep his promise to Ed and get him home to his brother, and this knowledge made his heart soar.
"Everything is going to be alright now, Pup." Roy whispered in a blissfully relieved tone as he settled back down next to Ed in their nest, pressing closer to his feverish body to lap fondly at his folded back ears. He placed his chin softly atop the golden head below and gazed out of the entrance to the den. "And this time Roy truly means it…Roy and Ed just need to wait…then they will see their human friends again."
Knowing that he needed to stay alert for any unnatural sounds that could indicate nearby help kept Roy from succumbing to sleep once more, even though his body longed to slip back into the realm of slumber. He would stay awake through the night, not only to keep a lookout for their friends but also to keep Ed's fever from blazing too high once more. This time he would be aware of everything and keep things under control.
Roy wondered absent mindedly if their rescuers would actually be able to find them in this makeshift den, but he also knew that he'd be able to leave Ed there for a few minutes if he needed to search for them. He'd do anything for his pup, and if it meant over exerting the last of his strength in order to save Ed then Roy would keep going until his body failed on him.
It seems as though this dire situation will soon be at an end, but how long will Ed and Roy have to wait?
I really wanted to post this chapter in October, due to all the ghostly themes, and am super happy to have made this tiny deadline! This chapter was fun to write, even though I had a few set backs in the process. Nothing major, just some little things that made this chapter feel like I'd never reach the end of.
While I don't plan to spoil the next chapter, I will tell you that I'm really excited to work on it. The next chapter is another scene that had been planned long before the whole plot was even set in stone, and I'm hoping that you all will be excited for it as well.
I have no clue when the 20th chapter will be uploaded, but it may not be until next year because of the upcoming holiday season. At the moment I have just the first three paragraphs completed of the first part, and I'll need to take a break in about a week so that will delay it a bit.
To make up for this I'm going to be doing a Q&A! If you have any question about this story, or any others, or even just a question about how I work on the chapters, leave them in the comments or send me a message through this site, Reddit, or even DeviantArt if it's more convenient! I'm not sure how many questions I'll receive, so I'll be accepting them up until the next chapter is posted and will be putting the answers (and questions/shout outs) in the 20th chapter's Author's Note! So feel free to ask away!
Anyway I want to thank you all for your support and I'm always grateful for every favorite, follow, and review this story (and my others) get. You guys are awesome and I'll see you all in the next chapter, hopefully with at least a small handful of answered questions!
:3
(Small note: This chapter is named after a song by Lord Huron and I think the tone of said song fits very well with it!)