CW:

(Blood and gore)


Chapter 10

"Ow! OW! Stop!" Roy tried to block out Ed's whines of protest as he tugged hard against the collar around his pup's neck. He felt that if he just pulled at the right angle with a precise amount of pressure that the tough leather could probably tear and snap between his teeth.

Roy and Ed had awoken earlier that morning to a soft and gentle sunlight creeping slowly into their den, the cold breeze from outside the cave contrasting with the sun's warm light. They had huddled against the chill; slowly rousing as the sun above eventually brought a fair amount of heat into the den.

Once they had finally woken up, Ed had begun to complain about his collar, pawing at the leather in annoyance as he tilted his head in an awkward angle as though trying to grasp it with his own fangs. Before the young chimera could break his neck Roy had stepped in with the foolish belief that the collar would be fairly easy to remove.

And yet here they were, a few minutes in now, and the wretched thing just would not give. Roy had tried tugging in every direction with varying amounts of force, but the collar seemed as stubborn as its owner, holding fast and defiant against his many attempts. With Ed's collar still clasped between his teeth, Roy pulled back hard as he twisted his head quickly, trying once more to slice through the leather binding. But when he heard his pup let out a choked yelp of pain Roy immediately let go, both of them falling to the ground from the force of the sudden release.

"Dammit Roy," Ed gasped, his low growl sounding rough from the many failed attempts to pry the collar off. "Is Roy trying to kill Ed? Ed couldn't breathe with Roy choking him like that!" His pup said in between deep and ragged breaths.

"S-Sorry…" Roy was taken aback by the anger in Ed's voice, looking away as his pup began to rub at his throat with a paw. As he watched the tawny chimera recover from the ordeal, Roy felt horribly guilty for putting his pup through such an uncomfortable experience. He bowed his head shamefully before speaking up. "Roy thought he'd had it…that if he pulled real hard one last time…"

"Yeah, well…" Roy heard his pup's voice trail off, the little bit of anger in his tone fading away when he heard the guilt and sorrow in Roy's voice, more than likely taking in the sight of his hunched and miserable position. He heard Ed cross the small distance between them before he felt a rough tongue lap gently at his ears.

"There is no need for Roy to be so upset." Ed's voice was soft and apologetic as he nuzzled the side of Roy's head. He was still too hesitant to look up at his pup, worried that he was still angry from Roy's earlier attempts. "Roy did his best, even if it hurt. Now they know that the collars are impossible to get off, well at least by dogs. Maybe human friends will be able to get them off."

"Sorry…" Was all Roy managed to say as he continued to avert his gaze from Ed, still feeling guilty and hurt by his pup's well deserved anger. How could he have been so clueless as to put Ed through such discomfort? He had even tried to block out his pained cries…what a fool he had been…

"Maybe Ed and Roy should leave the den." Roy was forced to look up at Ed as a tawny paw gently pressed against his chin and forced his head up. Relief washed away any lingering guilt when he saw the affectionate glimmer to Ed's golden eyes, his pup leaning in to lap comfortingly at his cheek before continuing. "They should explore the area around the den; make sure there are no dangers nearby. They also need to find a source of fresh water."

At the mention of water Roy was suddenly reminded of how agonizingly dry his throat felt, eager now to leave the den in search of the life giving liquid. The last time he and Ed had a good long drink had been before they'd decided to leave The Pack, and even then it had been from a puddle nearby to where they had spent the night. Roy could remember how dirty the water had felt, tasting coarse and gritty with a stale and stagnant quality that reminded him of the water they had been given in the basement. The thought of finding a nearby stream and drinking fresh water for the first time since their capture made all of Roy's earlier troubles fade away.

"Let's look for water first." Roy said as he gazed steadily back at Ed, unconsciously licking his lips with his dry tongue at the thought of a drink. "Roy's throat feels like it is full of sand."

Ed nodded in agreement, the same longing Roy felt reflected in those golden eyes. His pup let his paw drop back down to the ground as he turned around, Roy trailing close behind as they exited the den and stepped into the sunlight.

He stood in slight awe as he took in his surroundings, looking far different than they had yesterday in the sun's dying light. Large trees surrounded them, leafless branches reaching into the sky as though trying to grab at the thick and fluffy white clouds above. Even the dry and brittle undergrowth looked lively and green as a few bare branches trembled in the breeze, leaves falling from their boughs to dance and flutter along the ground.

A sudden nudge to Roy's side nearly caused him to jump until he turned to see Ed staring at him, a mixture of understanding and impatience in his gaze. Roy ducked his head slightly in embarrassment as his pup let out a low snort of laughter before he began to walk away from the den. Roy trailed slightly behind, continuing to take in the beautiful sights around him.

The sounds of birds chirping happily from the highest branches of the nearby trees filled the air, their songs mixing together into a beautifully jumbled melody. And while the ground was covered in dead leaves in a few places, the grass that poked through was soft and green. A few wilted flowers crossed their path, their scents still fairly strong though their petals drooped towards the earth.

After they had walked in relative silence for a few minutes, both chimeras' ears perked up at the distinct sound of flowing water. While Roy was eager to race through the undergrowth to search for the source of the beautiful sound, he knew that suddenly running off into unknown territory could be dangerous. From dashing right off the side of a cliff or stumbling into an ornery bear, this forest held secrets neither he nor Ed knew about just yet.

Ed was just as cautious as he was, picking his way around dead bushes and bramble thickets with his senses trained on the sound of water running over stone. As Roy followed along close behind, he kept a lookout for any hostile creatures that could possibly try to catch them by surprise, muscles going taut in case the worst could happen. But the tension in the air faded away once the two had pushed their way through a particularly leafy bush, eyes widening at the sight before them.

A small yet fairly wide stream was only a few feet away, water rippling down a small cluster of submerged rocks as it wove its way through the woods. The water glimmered in the sunlight as fish swam just below the surface, bugs gliding over the stream or stopping to rest among the remarkably green foliage that lined the riverbank.

Roy bounded carefully down the small embankment, tiny stones clattering and shifting beneath his paws as he finally reached the edge of the stream. For the first time since they had left the den, Roy let his guard down as he drank eagerly from the flowing water, a small shiver traveling down his spine at how frigid the stream was. The burning and cracked feel to his throat vanished like falling rain in a drought, grateful to have found such a perfect source of water so close to their temporary home. From his right side the sounds of a similar and frantic lapping signaled that Ed had joined him, their pelts brushing as they both drank as much as they could.

Once Roy had completely quenched his thirst, he sat back with a contented sigh, glancing over at his pup who was also just finishing up. The two of them sat in an amiable silence for a few moments, just watching the stream flow by and taking in the tranquility of this small haven.

"It's all just so beautiful…" Ed breathed out in awe, his golden eyes flicking from the water to the opposite riverbank, where a few birds relaxed in the lower branches of an overhanging willow tree, Roy saw an almost longing, feral gleam in his pup's eyes before he gave his head a quick shake, the glimmer disappearing as he turned his gaze to Roy. "They should leave now though and go explore a little bit more."

Roy nodded, getting to his paws with a small grunt as he turned and followed Ed alongside the stream. The water glimmered brilliantly from out of the corner of his eye as they walked, and while his senses were still alert for any signs of danger, he couldn't help but marvel at the natural beauty around him.

Eventually though, the stream came to an end just as they entered a fairly large clearing surrounded by evergreens and leafless oaks. It seemed as though the creek had once cut through the clearing, a large and deep ravine now taking its place. Farther down the ditch was a massive rock fall, this seeming to be what had blocked the flowing water long ago. The ravine was quite steep and the muddy ground at the bottom was scattered with sharp stones that poked out of the earth like tiny fangs.

"Roy and Ed should try to keep away from this part of the woods." Roy said as he continued to look down towards the bottom of the dry riverbed. The ground below him crumbled from under his paws and Roy knew that if either of them slipped and fell, there would be very painful consequences.

"Yes…it is much too dangerous." Ed said as he nodded his head in eager agreement, turning away from the ravine to head towards the center of the clearing. Roy followed behind, noticing that while the field they now stood in was quite pretty, there was little to no wildlife here. It seemed a shame that such a beautiful place was now seemingly abandoned by the creatures that called this forest their home.

But the two chimeras carried on, pushing through the undergrowth as they continued to explore the woods. Trees blocked their view of the sky above, leafless branches dappling the ground with long shadows. A snake slithered slowly through a pile of orange and yellow leaves, its brown scales blending into the surroundings as it settled among its comfy nest. This truly was a peaceful and seemingly untouched forest, and Roy began to wonder why the cruel scientists would have built such a terrible lab in the middle of it. How had they even found this place to begin with?

Roy's musings were cut short as the dry brush crackled around them, he and Ed tensing as the ground began to vibrate from under their paws. He instinctively moved closer to his pup, teeth bared in a threatening snarl as his gaze swung around the undergrowth on either side, trying to pinpoint the location of the sound's source. Ed stood stiffly at Roy's side, eyes going wide for a moment, only to glimmer with relief as Roy followed his gaze. A small group of deer was running through the woods, dashing away from them, most likely startled by the scent of dog that the breeze blew in their direction. The deer were clearly more afraid of the two of them, vanishing into the undergrowth and disappearing from sight. Roy took in a ragged breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding, taking a moment to let his pounding heart return to a normal rhythm.

"That was scary." Ed gasped out once the quivering brush had settled in the wake of the small stampede. While his golden eyes were huge, they seemed to be filled with more wonder and curiosity than true fear. His pup then turned his entranced gaze to Roy, letting out a relieved laugh as he pressed reassuringly against his side. "Maybe Ed and Roy should start to head back to the den before they stray too far and get lost in the woods."

"Sounds good to Roy," He said as he let his gaze wander around the area of woodland they now stood in. The trees and foliage around them looked very similar to what was around their den, but Roy know that they had strayed quite far from their makeshift home. And while the sun shone bright and high overhead, he knew that they shouldn't wander about aimlessly until it set.

As they headed back towards the stream, walking through the large field and past the ravine, Ed suddenly stopped in his tracks as he lifted his chin. His pup's nose was twitching erratically, and before Roy could ask what was going on he picked up the scent of a nearby rabbit as the wind began to blow towards them. The musky scent alone was enough to make him feel a disturbingly feral tug at his mind, the dog within just begging to be set free, even if only for a moment.

While Roy pushed the canine's incessant pleading away, trying desperately to remain in control of himself, Ed had dropped down into an impressive crouch. He caught Ed's eye and was confused to see that the golden irises were now dull and glazed over, reminding Roy more of a wild beast than his beloved pup. Before he could voice his worry though, Ed leapt into the undergrowth to their left, the branches of the bushes rattling as his pup chased after his prey. Roy heard a low and pleased growl right before a panicked squeal was abruptly cut off, the woods growing quiet in response.

Then Ed reappeared, his eyes once again clear and focused, with a limp rabbit hanging from his jaws. Roy was still too stunned to say anything as his pup dropped the freshly caught prey right in front of his paws with a happy whisk of his long tawny tail. "Ed caught them both something to eat!"

"T-Thanks…" Roy managed to sputter out at Ed's prideful statement, his empty stomach rumbling as he took in the sight of the still warm body at his paws. He hadn't even noticed how hungry he truly was until the rabbit's scent drifted tantalizingly towards him. The dog half of his mind once again begged for his attention, it's longing and bestial hunger startling Roy as he shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts.

"Is Roy not hungry?" Ed's concerned voice cut through his inner struggle as he was brought back to the present, reeling slightly after pushing back the canine influence. His pup was looking at him with a hesitant and worried gaze as he leaned closer to stare intently into Roy's eyes. "Roy isn't sick is he?"

"Roy is fine." He said as the dog within conceded defeat, finally surrendering as it sulked forlornly back into the recesses of his mind. Roy smiled reassuringly at his pup before leaning over to give his cheek a swift lick. "Was just lost in thought."

Ed's eyes glimmered with relief as he pushed the rabbit closer to him, the eager look on his face telling Roy that his pup wanted him to have the first bite. Holding back a shudder of unease, Roy hesitantly bent down and took a bite from the rabbit's haunches, trying not to shiver at the sight of the raw and bloody innards. This seemed to please Ed, who let out a relieved sigh before digging in to eat his own share of the prey.

"Roy is very impressed." He managed to say after swallowing a few small mouthfuls of the rabbit, focusing on Ed once more. His pup's golden eyes seemed a little cloudy as he lifted his bloodied muzzle from their meal, the haze gradually lifting as Roy went on. "Last night Ed promised to teach Roy how to hunt. Perhaps he can show him after they finish eating?"

Ed's eyes gleamed eagerly as he nodded happily before returning to the few remaining bites of rabbit that still lay between them. "Of course," His pup managed to say past another mouthful. "Hunting isn't so hard, it's actually pretty fun. Ed would love to teach Roy."

Roy nodded gratefully as he took another reluctant bite of rabbit, wondering to himself why Ed's eyes had grown so hazy just now and during the hunt. The last time he had seen that look in his pup's eyes had been during their final torture session, when Doctor Kramer had given Ed his special serum…when the canine had almost won in taking complete control of his pup's mind…

He kept these thoughts to himself though, feeling like he was worrying over nothing. And once the rabbit was nothing more than a few scraps of fur and bones Ed stood up, licking the blood from his muzzle before turning towards where he had caught the prey. Roy had no time to voice his concerns as his pup beckoned him with an eager flick of his long and fluffy tail.

"Come on, Ed wants to show Roy how to hunt before the sun begins to set." Roy nodded as he stood and followed Ed into the undergrowth, trying to push the nagging doubt and concern from his mind. But he failed miserably at his task, feeling reluctant to learn the answers to his silent questions, worry causing his paws to tremble slightly.

Roy really hoped that he was worrying over nothing.

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Ed let out a quiet sigh as he shook his head in a mixture of amusement and frustration. He had been helping Roy with getting the basics of hunting down…well at least he had tried to. As the sun rose high into the sky, the shadows of the trees and bushes shifting and growing from the changing light, Ed was starting to think that he was just continuing to fight a losing battle. He had no clue as to exactly how long he had been trying to get his guardian to understand even the most basic of movements, but no sign of his dedication or instruction was showing.

To put it bluntly, Roy was terrible at hunting. The dark furred chimera seemed to stumble over his own paws, tripping over even the smallest of obstacles with an ease that almost impressed Ed as much as it irritated him. He knew his guardian was trying his hardest to learn, but after so long and with little to nothing to show of it, Ed was gradually reaching his breaking point.

And even now as Roy dropped into a sloppy crouch, he wondered how much of his patience remained.

"Try to get closer to the ground." Ed said as he circled Roy, taking in his form and positioning closely. "And Roy needs to lower his tail just a bit." He gently tugged at the dark and fluffy appendage with one paw as he spoke, continuing with his instructions. "But don't let it drag along the ground or it will shake the leaves and alert the prey."

"So…Something like this?" His guardian sounded hesitant and uncertain as he let his tail hover a few inches above the grass below. Even after instructing him for so long, Roy was still very unsure of himself, almost as though he knew for a fact that no matter what he did he would end up messing it up.

"Yes, that is very good." Ed didn't fail to notice the proud and happy glimmer in his guardian's eyes at the praise, causing Ed to smile softly to himself. Roy was still very eager to learn, despite his setbacks, and he admired his guardian's unwavering determination. "Now slowly move forward, and remember to be very careful about where he places his paws."

With a silent nod of acknowledgment, Roy very carefully stalked forward, his form nearly perfect as he approached the small branch Ed had stuck in the earth farther off for their practice. Finally it seemed as though his guardian was getting the basics down…

Ed's hopeful thoughts were short lived as Roy let out a tiny yelp before tumbling to the ground, landing ungracefully into a furry heap after he had, once again, tripped over his own paws. Ed raised a single paw and placed it to his head in frustration, Roy had been that close to understanding just the most basic of movements…

"Maybe they should move onto leaping instead, take a break from stalking." Ed tried very hard to keep the exasperation and disappointment from leaking out of him and seeping into his voice. His guardian really was trying; it wasn't his fault that he was a terrible learner. As Ed spoke, Roy managed to stumble into a sitting position, gazing at him with confusion in his dark eyes.

"But Roy almost has stalking down…right?" Ed really hoped that his guardian hadn't caught onto his growing frustration. It seemed to be welling up from deep inside his body, rising gradually like a river in a rainstorm. He closed his eyes for a moment as he took in a deep and grounding breath, trying to ease the waves of irritation that threatened to wash him away.

"Leaping is just as important as stalking." Ed managed to say calmly as he opened his eyes, completely avoiding Roy's question. "They can come back and practice it at any time."

His response seemed to placate the dark furred chimera as Ed motioned for Roy to move off to the side so that he could properly demonstrate. His guardian nodded as he took a few steps back so that he was sitting closer to the surrounding undergrowth, letting Ed have most of the space in the small clearing. Roy then gazed at him with dark and attentive eyes, taking in every movement.

Ed dipped his head as he dropped into the proper position, the dog mind seeming to give him its own approving nod, almost as though it was teaching him as well as Roy. Ed stared back at his guardian, making sure he still had his full attention before he began to explain.

"To leap high enough to surprise prey or to catch an escaping bird, Roy needs to position himself like Ed." He eased more into the crouch, muscles going taut in preparation for the jump. "He needs to put all of his strength into his back legs before pushing off the ground as hard and as fast as he can."

Ed ended his words a moment before he leapt high into the air, his body twisting slightly as he landed right next to the practice stick. As he nudged the dry wood with one hind paw he looked back towards Roy to see that his eyes were wide with amazement. Ed hid a small smirk as he concluded his lesson. "Don't forget to aim where Roy will land either; try to land just behind the prey."

"Okay," Roy said with no uncertainty in his voice for once as he copied Ed's crouch. His guardian did a good job of mimicking his form, and Ed took a few steps back when he saw Roy's muscles tense up in preparation for the leap.

And his guardian's leap would have been close to perfect, had he not just jumped straight up in the air. Roy let out a small squeak when he saw how high he'd leapt, and as he neared the earth once more he landed clumsily, stumbling just to remain on his paws.

Ed couldn't stop himself from letting out a sigh, shaking his head as Roy shot him an embarrassed glance. The frustration within was continuing to rise, and it took all of his willpower to keep the tide at bay as he responded with a clipped, "Try again."

His guardian nodded, looking a little nervous as he seemed to pick up on the annoyance that Ed had so desperately tried to hold back. Roy once again dropped into a crouch, tensing his muscles once more. He leapt into the air at an angle this time, more than likely aiming for the practice stick…but instead of landing beside it, Roy ended up practically flinging himself into a nearby clump of ferns just beside Ed with a surprised yelp.

As he watched Roy try to untangle himself from the ivy trailing between the leafy fronds, Ed's wall of patience finally cracked and crumbled in the wake of the angry river flowing deep within. He stomped over to his guardian, standing over him as Roy finally managed to free himself and turned to face Ed.

"Is Roy even trying?!" Ed's sudden snarl of frustration caused the black furred chimera to flinch as he looked up at him, his eyes wide and full of a mixture of embarrassment and shock. "A fucking rock would be easier to teach! There is no way Roy could be this terrible unless he was doing it just to piss Ed off!"

"R-Roy is…is very sorry…" The short silence that followed in the wake of his outburst was broken by Roy's small and fearful voice, his guardian cowering away from him in response to Ed's sudden wrath. Roy began to tremble as he lowered his head in shame, a sad hitch to his voice as he spoke once more. "Roy p-promises that he is really trying…he is very sorry and hopes Ed can forgive him…"

Ed's anger melted away like morning frost in the dawn sunlight as he took in the sight of his distressed guardian, who now looked genuinely afraid of him as though expecting a physical blow. Ed let out a sigh as he sat in front of Roy, guilt dropping like a stone on his heart when the dark furred chimera flinched backwards and away from him. Ed drew closer in response and lapped gently at Roy's ears, receiving a startled and wary glance before Ed spoke up in a much softer tone.

"Sorry…Ed is sorry for snapping at Roy like that…" Ed could feel the tension that had spread throughout Roy's body slowly ease as he leaned closer to the dark furred chimera. He let his guardian rest his head against his shoulder for a few moments, allowing him to calm slightly before Ed broke the brief silence. "It's just…Roy almost seems to be holding back…but for what reason?"

Roy flinched in response, despite Ed's calm voice, and pulled back enough that their gazes met. His guardian's eyes were wide and confused, like he wasn't able to fully comprehend the question asked. "Roy isn't holding back at all though, he is trying his hardest…"

"No…there is something else…" Ed gazed deeper into Roy's onyx eyes, hoping for some reason that they may hold the answer. While the dark irises glimmered with a worried confusion, there was a certain clarity to them that gave Ed pause. That stare reminded him vaguely of a time when they were both still human and far from this place, when those familiar eyes had held an annoyed yet fond light to them. They almost seemed too human for a chimera that was in the middle of a hunt though…too clear and focused, as though something was being held back… "Is Roy pushing the dog mind away?"

Roy reeled back as though physically shocked, his eyes now rounded in disbelief as he stared at Ed as though he'd suddenly grown a set of wings. "Of course! Why would Roy let the dog have any control? Roy saw how badly his pup struggled to stay himself when they were being tortured…was so scared that he had lost him completely…the dog means nothing but harm to both of them!"

Ed remained calm and collected in the face of his guardian's concerned outburst, keeping his gaze level as he tried to reassure him. "Roy doesn't need to give the dog full control, only just a…"

He was cut off by Roy's sudden growl that wavered slightly from a mixture of anger and fear, his guardian backing up slightly as though trying to escape. "No! It is far too dangerous to let it take over at all, even if only for a moment. Roy and Ed could lose themselves…they could turn into mindless beasts forever…they might never get a chance to be human again!"

"Roy, calm down." Ed stood and closed the small gap between them, unafraid of his frantic guardian in the slightest as he placed a paw over one of Roy's in a soothing gesture. "Neither Ed or Roy will become beasts, and Ed knows this for a fact. Ed has let the dog mind have some control while he hunts…the dog means no harm if they agree to come together with the goal of survival. That is why Ed is so good at hunting; he has let the dog guide his paws."

"So that is why Ed's eyes became cloudy while he hunted…" Roy's voice was lower now and full of a sudden clarity while his wide eyes remained locked onto Ed. "Roy wondered why they seemed too…too wild…it is because he let the dog control him…"

Ed could tell that even after this revelation that his guardian was still quite hesitant and afraid. He leaned forward to nudge Roy's cheek with his muzzle, directing both of their gazes back to where they had left the bones of their latest meal. "But Roy can see that Ed is still completely here…and look at the rabbit he caught! Roy needs to let the dog have only enough control to guide him, to help him catch the prey they both need to survive."

His guardian still seemed scared, trembling slightly as his dark eyes remained locked onto Ed's, many different and conflicting emotions flickering in his gaze. He knew that Roy was still concerned and unsure; he himself had felt the same until yesterday's hunt. But Ed knew that in the end his guardian would understand and come to terms with this new reality.

While they had stood, silent and still, a small bird landed among the branches of a nearby bush, seemingly unaware of the two chimeras as it pecked at the leaves surrounding the shrub's roots. The dog within perked up eagerly, and from the fleeting glimmer of longing that flashed in Roy's eyes for only a moment, Ed knew his guardian could feel the dog's presence too.

"Try just once," Ed whispered, meeting Roy's reluctant gaze as he motioned with his tail to the bird behind his shoulder. "Let the dog do most of the work, let it do what it does best. It will still let Roy have control, even while hunting."

Still looking rather hesitant, Roy nodded slightly before closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath as his body grew tense from concentration. Ed watched his guardian carefully, making sure that Roy was still maintaining most of his control as he channeled the beast within. After a few moments the dark furred chimera relaxed and opened his eyes, the once sharp and focused irises now hazed over as they locked almost instinctively onto the bird.

Saying nothing to Ed, and with hardly a sound, Roy dropped into a near perfect crouch, his attention fixed completely onto his prey. His guardian carefully stalked past Ed, staying low to the ground as he drew closer and closer to the bird. Roy stopped a few feet away from his target before he leapt into the undergrowth and pinned the startled bird to the ground with one white paw. Before the winged creature could let out a full cry of alarm though, his guardian lowered his head and snapped the bird's neck with ease.

"Very good job!" Ed cried out, pride flowing through him as he bounded the short distance to stand at Roy's side. He watched as his guardian pulled away from his prey, his eyes once again clear and full of surprise as he gazed back at Ed. He nudged the side of Roy's neck gently with his muzzle as his guardian puffed out his chest with pride, his tail beginning to wag happily in response.

"Roy really did it! He finally caught something!" Ed lapped proudly at Roy's cheek as the dark furred chimera trembled with relief and joy. Ed looked over his guardian's shoulder to inspect the prey, noting that while it was rather small it had at least given Roy the confidence boost that he had desperately needed.

"See? The dog mind isn't the monster that Roy thought it was." While his guardian was still internally celebrating his catch, Ed didn't fail to notice the small glimmer of reluctance return to those dark eyes. He knew it would take Roy some time to get used to the fact that the dog he shared his mind and body with was actually on his side. But until he accepted that fact then Ed would do all he could to support his guardian and try to help him fully understand the dog within.

"Yes," Roy conceded with a small nod before looking back down at his prey, seeming to ignore the rest of Ed's statement as he knelt to pick up the bird, his gaze still cheerfully locked onto him. "Now that he has learned to hunt, Roy and Ed should return to the den. They can share his bird there."

Ed nodded in agreement, both of them growing silent as Roy grasped the bird carefully in his jaws before leading the way back through the sunlit woods. He stayed close to his guardian as they soon reached the side of the stream, pushing through various bits of undergrowth as they walked side by side. Occasionally Ed would lap proudly at one of Roy's folded ears or give his shoulder a friendly nudge, receiving a fond glance each time. He was just so happy that his guardian had enough trust in him to listen to his seemingly outlandish idea, to let the dog mind have a chance to show that it was on his side.

And as they got gradually closer and closer to their temporary home, Ed thought about how far the two of them had come in the few days since their escape. They were managing to survive fairly well on their own and he hoped that they could maintain this small amount of tranquility for as long as possible. Ed and Roy had already been through so much since their capture, and surely things could only get better from here now.

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The chaotic cacophony of growls and snarls echoed around Roy on all sides, the sounds reverberating off of the basements cold stone walls to hang heavy in the stale air. He was frozen in place by fear, eyes darting from one desperate fight to another, both chimera and human locked together in a mutual battle for survival. Sharp fangs flashed and blood splattered the ground, the horrible copper scent of the sanguine liquid lingering in his nostrils as Roy huddled against the nearest wall, just wanting all of this to end.

A sudden jolt of fear and panic raced through Roy as he remembered that he wasn't the only one observing the mayhem from the sidelines. He looked around desperately, searching for a familiar flash of gold amongst the gray and crimson that surrounded him. Roy's eyes grew wide and the blood seemed to freeze solid in his veins once he found who he was looking for.

Ed was crouched a few feet away, his round golden eyes locked onto the man who loomed menacingly over him. Doctor Kramer held a gun in his hand, a hateful sneer on his face as rage burned savagely within his dark eyes, his long and boney finger resting against the trigger.

"ED!" Roy howled in pure terror as he was finally able to break free of the ice that seemed to hold him in place. Though as he tried to race to his pup's side his paws skidded out from underneath him, feeling like they were slipping on the blood soaked floor. Roy tried his hardest to reach Ed, but he couldn't move properly and the distance between them only seemed to grow…he just wasn't able to make it in time.

The gun fired with an ear shattering bang that brought an unsettling stillness and silence to the hectic scene around him, the world freezing in a single moment as the bullet sliced through the air. Roy willed his pup to move, to run, as the bullet neared him, but he stood as still as a concrete statue. Roy let out a wordless cry of horror as his paws finally found traction on the slick ground, but it was far too late…and this time Sammy wasn't here to save Ed.

The bullet ripped effortlessly through his pup's chest, exiting out from between his boney shoulder blades in a burst of deep crimson. Ed turned his attention to the gaping, bloody hole through his heart, mouth opening in a silent wail as blood began to flow from both the wound and his mouth. As soon as he saw the damage, Ed collapsed to the ground in a red and gold heap of fur, Roy finally managing to reach his side as he looked down at his dying pup.

"Ed…no…god, no…" Now up close Roy could see the messy puddle of gore that was his pup's chest. Tissue and bits of shattered bone littered the inside of the wound, Ed's heart visible as it strained to pump blood through the deep hole in its center. He had never seen something so terrible and sickening until this very moment, and he held back a wail as he crouched beside Ed.

As Roy placed both paws over the dreadful wound, trying desperately to slow the seemingly endless torrent of blood, his pup's gaze wandered over to him. Recognition glimmered in those pained eyes as Ed let out a small sigh, body gradually growing limper below him.

"R-Roy…" Ed's voice rattled from deep within his chest, his exposed lungs pressing grotesquely against Roy's paws as they filled with enough air to let out an agonized whimper. "Roy…t-this is…the e-end…"

"No…no, no…it isn't…Ed can make it through this…" Roy moaned in anguished denial, hoping and praying that all of this would be miraculously fixed. But as the pool of blood beneath Ed only continued to grow, he knew that his hope was in vain.

"G-Goodbye, Roy…" He whispered as blood flooded his mouth, causing Ed to choke as the viscous liquid flowed down his throat. With a painful shudder his pup managed to place a bloodstained paw to Roy's cheek, their gazes locked on the others as his pup's golden irises lost their brilliant glow. "L-Love you…so much…and a-am so…sorry, Roy…"

Ed's body shook violently one final time before going completely limp, his head hitting the blood soaked stone below as his paw slid down Roy's cheek. His pup's eyes remained open, the once lively gold now hazed over in death, irises still fixated onto Roy as he let out a sorrowful howl and crouched closer to Ed.

"No…no, Ed…please…" He begged as he placed a single bloodstained paw to his pup's neck, pulling the body closer in response. Roy trembled and tears began to flow from his eyes like water through an open sluice. He lapped gently at Ed's cheek as grief slowly began to crush his heart, shattering it to dust as the reality of the situation finally began to sink in. "Ed can't do this to Roy…he can't be dead!"

As Roy gazed at the body of his beloved pup, wailing his grief aloud in absolute anguish, he heard the metallic click of a gun reloading. He dragged his gaze from the broken body below to stare blankly up at Doctor Kramer, who smiled maliciously as he aimed his gun once more.

"Don't worry, you'll be joining him soon enough!" The doctor's voice sounded like splintering glass before he fired the weapon. Soon the sight of Doctor Kramer's grinning face and the sound of his cruel laughter faded away as light flashed painfully behind Roy's now closed eyes. A loud bang echoed through his skull as the bullet exploded through his brain, blotting out all thought…

Roy awoke with a startled gasp, taking in deep gulps of the cool night air as his racing heart threatened to pound itself free of his ribcage. He was back in the middle of the woods surrounding the lab, hearing the faint sounds of branches creaking and leaves rustling in the chilly breeze. The moon's silver light shone into the small cave, bathing the world around him in a soft silver glow as Roy began to remember exactly where he was.

"It was all just a bad dream…" He thought to himself with a quivering sigh, trying to ease the shaking of his body as he basked in the warmth radiating from the golden body that lay curled tightly against his side. Roy glanced down at his pup just to make sure he was safe, his panic now slowly beginning to ease.

Ed was fine, not a trace of blood to be found as Roy rested his chin on the back of his pup's neck, absolutely aching with relief at the realization that it had all just been a nightmare. He still had Ed safely by his side…the battle had long since been won and they were completely free of that terrible place. Roy closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a few deep breaths that were heavy with Ed's familiar and comforting scent, in order to calm himself. Then there was the sudden sound of a quiet and distressed whimper that caused him to freeze, his ears straining to locate the source of such a somber noise.

Roy then felt the body beside him twitch suddenly, Ed letting out another low moan as he began to squirm at his side. For a moment he was confused and worried, having no clue as to why his pup was making such troubling sounds, until he realized that Ed must be trapped in his own nightmare.

"N-No…" Roy was able to make out as his pup curled tightly in on himself, seeming unaware of his presence as he began to twitch as through fighting an invisible enemy. "Please…no…"

The rest of Ed's words were too quiet and mumbled for Roy to fully understand, but the distress in his voice was all too clear. As his pup let out a short whimper he began to lap softly at his laid back ears, pulling Ed closer as he wrapped his tail protectively around the trembling body.

"It is okay Ed, everything is fine…it is all just a bad dream…" Roy soothed in a low voice, running his tail along his pup's side in an effort to calm him. Roy continued to lap at Ed's ears, stopping occasionally to nuzzle fondly at the back of his neck as he continued to whimper. "Roy is right here with Ed…he would never let anything bad happen to his pup…"

But Ed seemed unable to hear his words or feel his loving gestures as he began to whimper out indistinguishable words and fidget weakly in his sleep. The nightmare only seemed to grow in its intensity, despite Roy's efforts as Ed's distress seemed to reach its peak. Before his pup jolted forward into consciousness, Roy had managed to move his head just in time to stop them from smashing their skulls together. As Ed let out a horrified shriek his eyes snapped open, yellow irises glowing dimly in the darkness.

"No!" His pup wailed aloud, his eyes now wide with panic as his head began to dart frantically from side to side, seeming to be searching for something. "R-Roy…w-where is Roy?"

"He is right here…" Roy leaned forward once again and gave Ed's cheek a gentle lick as his pup slowly began to go limp with relief. Their gazes met momentarily as Roy continued to lick and nuzzle his pup as he spoke once more in a soothing voice. "Roy will always be here…there is no need to worry…"

Ed grew still and silent for a few minutes, too busy pressing against Roy as relief radiated off of him in waves. After a while though his pup began to whimper once more, burying his face deeply into Roy's chest as hot tears began to soak through his fur. He placed a paw around Ed's shoulders in a comforting gesture, gently nuzzling the back of Ed's head before asking. "What did Ed dream of that has made him so upset?"

At first Roy thought that he would get no answer, but as a few moments passed his pup seemed to gather up enough courage to pull his head away from Roy's chest. Those brilliant golden eyes met his own onyx gaze as Ed took in a deep and trembling breath before speaking. "Ed…H-He dreamed that Roy had died instead of Sammy…Roy was just…gone forever…in the blink of an eye…"

"B-But then Sammy did appear…" His pup's voice was starting to grow in pitch, seeming to border on hysteria as he recalled the nightmare. "H-He blamed Ed f-for his death…he told Ed t-that Ed would only keep getting others k-killed…that Sammy a-and Roy's deaths w-were all h-his fault!"

Ed let out an anguished howl as tears continued to flow unhindered from his eyes, his body beginning to tremble violently as he sobbed hard. Roy felt like his heart would break at the sight of such distress and he held back his own tears as he pressed his muzzle fiercely against Ed's. His pup leaned more and more into his touch, seeming to soak up any form of contact as Roy wrapped a paw around Ed's neck before he managed to find his voice.

"It is all okay now…Roy is here and alive, he'll always stay by his pup's side." He soothed as the two of them seemed to gather strength from the others presence. "Sammy's death was not Ed's fault…and even if it had been, Sammy would never hate Ed…"

"B-But it all just s-seemed so real…" Ed sniffled as he lifted a paw in a useless attempt to wipe away his still flowing tears. "Roy was dead…t-there was just so much blood…and t-there was nothing that Ed could do to help Roy…"

"It was just a nightmare though, and Ed knows that." Roy's voice grew steadier as he pulled back slightly in order to gaze deeply into his pup's anguished eyes. "See? Roy is right here, he isn't dead and he won't be for a very long time."

Roy spoke the last few words in a stubborn voice, heartened to see that his tone seemed to calm Ed, even if only slightly, as he let out a short snort of laughter. His pup then nodded before lowering his head to speak up in a meek and slightly embarrassed voice. "Still though…Ed shouldn't have let a dream affect him so much…"

"Sometimes nightmares get the best of us," Roy spoke calmly as he gave Ed a quick and affectionate nuzzle. Then he suddenly remembered his own bad dream, holding back a small and fearful shudder as he went on. "Even Roy has fallen for their tricks. He…He actually woke from one right before Ed…and he was very scared…"

His pup stared back at him with wide and surprised eyes, sympathy gleaming in their golden depths as he then hesitantly asked. "W-What did Roy dream of?"

"He dreamed that Sammy never came to save Ed…and Ed…his pup…died instead…" Now Roy was the one to feel slightly embarrassed as he did his best to keep his own voice from trembling. He risked a quick glance up at Ed to see compassion and understanding glimmering in his eyes.

His pup then gently lapped at Roy's cheek before burying his muzzle deep into the dark fur of his neck, nuzzling him in a soothing gesture. Ed's next words were muffled, but Roy heard them as clear as day. "It seems that neither Ed or Roy are fully recovered from what happened…from what they saw and experienced during the escape…"

In response Roy pulled Ed as close to him as he physically could, resting his chin on the back of his pup's head while he closed his eyes and simply savored Ed's presence. "Yes, it does seem that way…But Roy thinks that he and Ed will be able to get through it together."

Instead of words Ed nodded fervently against Roy's neck, his warm and regular breaths bristling through his fur as he felt his pup's tail gently entwine with his own. Roy returned the gesture, keeping Ed close to his body as they both began to relax, slowly being eased to sleep by the others presence.

Silently comforted by each other, both Roy and Ed soon fell back asleep. This time though, their slumber was not plagued by nightmares, only the warmth that their curled up bodies lying side by side created.


I wanted to have a chapter that was a little less chaotic, poor Ed and Roy have been abused a lot by me at this point lol.

Anyway I know that I said I'd be posting this in June, but I've had the chapter finished for a few days now and I don't want to make you guys wait on it when it's completed. Uploading this on memorial day weekend (if you're in the US) actually has some meaning to me, so I thought it was fitting.

When me and my brother were growing up we'd go camping three times a year (memorial day weekend, 4th of July, labor day weekend) and I actually incorporated where we used to camp into this story. As Ed and Roy explore they find a large field surrounded by trees, but there is no life to be seen. This is because we no longer camp up there for various reasons that don't really matter in the here and now, I just wanted to add it in as an easter egg of sorts from an important part of my past. I miss camping, and I miss all the people we used to camp with (a few sadly have passed away since then).

Ok, enough with the emotional stuff. So I'm thinking that Chapter 11 will be uploaded by early July, because at the moment I have the first part of it finished. My event is towards the end of July, and I think I've prepared enough, so that leaves me plenty of time for writing, which I'm super happy about. Again if you want updates check my profile every week or so since I update it pretty frequently.

So I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Thank you everyone for the favorites, follows, and reviews, they make me super happy and I'm grateful to you all. You guys are awesome, and I hope to see you all again in the next chapter!

:3