CW:
(VERY dark themes, blood and gore, and suicidal ideation)
Chapter 15
"So what brings Anna and The Pack out here so early in the morning?" Roy asked in as calm of a tone as he possibly could, trying his best to keep his growing sense of dread from showing as he gazed back at Anna. The ragged chimera's blue eyes were like shards of ice and glittered coldly; looking so different from the nervous and pained creature he and Ed had helped only a few hours earlier.
Anna tilted her head to one side in a mockingly innocent manner, seeming to deeply contemplate her response as the sun finally managed to rise above the horizon. In the gradually brightening and warm light Roy was now able to get his first clear view of The Pack. Every chimera looked battered and had a wild gleam to their eyes, reminding him more of the beast deep within than the humans they had once been. Only two figures, both on either side of their equally bedraggled leader looked familiar, the spark of a humanlike intelligence still showing in their eyes.
On Anna's right stood Faye, seeming to be the only one of the battle scarred group to not have a single mark marring her short and scruffy pelt. She was gazing eagerly up at the dark chimera that she had called her mother for so long, looking completely unfazed by the hostile behavior of her surrounding pack members.
At Anna's left crouched Colin, who was definitely looking worse off than tiny Faye. One of the sandy brown chimera's ears had been partially shredded and a long scar snaked across his muzzle, ending just underneath both eyes. Colin's good ear twitched nervously, an uneasy glimmer to his shadowed eyes as his gaze flickered from Anna to Roy. The poor chimera looked years older since the last time Roy had seen him…what had Anna done to The Pack in that time that could have caused such despair?
"Oh, nothing much," Anna's voice dripped with a menace that was poorly hidden by her light and nearly dismissive tone. Roy kept himself from flinching, instinctively pressing closer to Ed as he kept his gaze locked on the ragged chimera. Those once soft and understanding blue eyes never lost that cold glimmer of malice as she continued on. "Anna was just leading The Pack in a hunt this way since there seems to be…better prey here than around the hollow."
A cold shiver of fear ran down Roy's spine as he took in the words that normally would have seemed so innocent if not for the dark look to Anna's expression. A few of the feral chimeras let out vicious growls, seeming to be waiting for their leader to order them to attack. It was then that Roy realized that his earlier suspicions had been right all along…something much more sinister was at work here.
At his side Ed grew tense, his fur bristling uneasily and brushing against his own pelt. A strong surge of protectiveness raced through Roy's wary body alongside the blood flowing through his veins, being pushed throughout him by his hammering heart. While Roy was still very concerned by Anna and The Pack's behavior, he knew that no matter what was going to happen he would do absolutely everything in his power to keep his pup safe.
"So what prey is Anna hoping to find with all of these chimeras?" Deep down in the very darkest and most animalistic part of his mind Roy already knew the answer; he just needed to hear it straight from Anna herself. He had seen many deplorable things in his life, many of which taking place in that terrible war that still managed to cling to his mind like thorny vines even now after all that had recently happened. Though even back in those dark times he had known not a single soldier who had resorted to something so desperate and brutal…
"Anna is hunting for chimeras." Anna's voice was a low snarl that dripped with menace as she lowered her head and licked eagerly at her lips. "And she knows that Roy and his pup will be just what The Pack needs to continue to survive out here."
Roy heard an audible gasp sound from Ed and he turned his head to see his dismayed pup take a step back, looking as though he would be physically ill. Roy himself felt truly disgusted by Anna's terrible crime against nature and all things that a fully human mind abhorred…to resort to cannibalism just to survive…
"A-Anna must be joking…" Ed managed to gasp out as his wide amber eyes gazed imploringly back at Anna, who looked ready to attack at any moment. "And it's not a funny joke at all…"
"No, Anna is more than serious, she assures." The ragged chimera said in a quiet growl, a wild light beginning to glow in her icy gaze as she crouched lower. Before Anna could think of leaping at his pup, Roy stepped in and blocked Ed from her sight, growling out a warning before speaking.
"How did Anna come up with such a terrible idea?" While Roy hoped to reason with the savage creature before him, he knew it would most likely be in vain. Anna seemed to have finally succumbed to the dog mind…but there was still even just a slim chance of talking her down. "Has she learned nothing from the scientists' cruelty?"
The only chimera to show any sort of emotion at first was Colin, who visibly winced and turned his head to look down at the cold earth below his paws. The rest of The Pack was completely unmoved, gazing at him and his pup with blank yet hostile eyes. For a quick and fleeting moment though, Roy thought he saw regret and sorrow shadow Anna's cold gaze before it was viciously chased away.
"Anna will do whatever it takes to keep herself and The Pack alive." The ragged chimera's tail twitched in irritation, as though the beast longed to spring into battle while the human half felt obligated to give a reason for this atrocity they were about to commit. "Anna and The Pack are no strangers to this…they have already had their first taste of chimera."
Her response completely stunned Roy and he felt his racing heart skip a beat as Ed let out a small and horrified whine from behind him. While Roy longed for nothing more than to wake up from this horrid nightmare that was all too real, he knew that this was no dream. He had to keep Anna talking though…he still had to at least try his best at attempting to talk her out of such a savage betrayal.
"When?" Was all Roy managed to rasp out, still feeling shocked and sickened to his core. He both desperately wanted to find justification in Anna's actions as well as to block his ears to hear none of the gruesome details.
"When the worst of the cold and snow came…one of the feral chimeras couldn't handle it…and The Pack was just so hungry…" For the first time that morning Roy was able to see the older and more compassionate side of Anna shine through her body's outer darkness. Hope momentarily blossomed in his heart as the ragged chimera continued on in a sorrowful whisper. "They were all too weak to bury the body…so they ate it instead…and it actually tasted good…"
At the mention of a burial Roy was viciously thrown back into his memory of the day he and Ed had found Cale's body. Those terrible wounds that had brought about his gruesome end…had they even been made by a bear? Or had it actually been caused by an unfair fight with a dozen or so wild and bloodthirsty chimeras?
"There was no bear then…was there?" Roy asked aloud in a quiet voice, feeling Ed flinch behind him as his pup realized what his guardian was getting at. Roy felt his voice harden as he glared at Anna, pure disgust causing his paws to tremble as he held back his growing outrage. "Anna let The Pack attack and kill Cale for food."
"There never was a bear, Roy is correct." The just barely visible glint of humanity quickly vanished from Anna's eyes as she gazed callously back at him, a terrifying and feral savagery taking its place. The ragged chimera almost seemed proud, drawing herself up boldly as she went on. "No…Anna herself killed Cale."
At the malicious and crazed gleam that soon shimmered in Anna's blue eyes Roy felt his once budding hope shrivel and die. He was shocked into silence, unable to even think of any sort of response as he heard Ed make a terrible retching noise from behind him. Roy placed his tail comfortingly onto Ed's trembling shoulders, turning his head to gaze at his distressed pup.
Roy took a step back so that he was able to stand by Ed's side, supporting the golden chimera's body as his pup's legs shook violently, the only thing keeping him upright being Roy's flank. Ed's amber eyes were full of sick horror as he looked momentarily at his guardian before fixing his compelling and questioning gaze to Anna.
"H-How could Anna do it?" Ed rasped out in a voice full of pure anguish, taking in deep breaths as though trying to keep himself from actually vomiting. "Cale was Anna's mate…how could she have killed him…done that to him?"
"Cale wasn't able to understand what needed to be done," There was little to no emotion in Anna's voice as she recounted the grisly murder of her mate. "Cale even told Anna that she was a terrible leader for letting The Pack do what they did…called her nothing but a monster. So Anna decided to show Cale exactly what a monster could do."
Silence met Anna's emotionless response, both Roy and Ed gazing back at her in a shocked and confused daze. He felt as though the chimera before him, one he had thought he'd known quite well during their hellish imprisonment in the basement, was nothing but a stranger. The Anna Roy once knew had been so kind and understanding to the plight of their fellow pack members…this creature was the complete opposite of that. How could she have done something so savagely cruel to anyone, let alone her own mate?
Roy felt that what Cale had told Anna was completely true. She really was a monster…
"Cale wasn't the only one to die like that either." The ragged chimera carried on in an almost dismissive tone, as though her horrid actions were nothing to dwell upon. "Anna and The Pack have killed more chimeras since then…mainly the weakest among their ranks. Anna was even starting to wonder who would be next; until she found Roy and his pup…They would make for a much better meal than a boney old chimera. The Pack would eat well for the first time since their escape…"
"So what about earlier then, when Roy and Ed helped free Anna from those thorns, was that all fake too?" Roy asked as he pressed closer against Ed, noticing then that the feral chimeras seemed to be growing more impatient by the second. It looked as though the battle he had tried so hard to prevent would descend upon them at any moment…
"No," Anna replied steadily; regret seeping into her voice as she shook her head. "Anna really was trapped in those thorns…and while she thanks Roy and his pup for their help…this is how it must be."
Even though there was genuine remorse in the ragged chimera's tone, Roy knew then that there would be no reasoning with Anna now. The kind soul she has once been was gone for good; all that was left behind was a husk full of rage and hunger. Anna was too far gone to be saved, no matter what they did…The beast within had finally destroyed what little bit of humanity that had remained.
Roy kept a close eye on The Pack, watching every move the feral chimeras made as they began to snarl impatiently and bare their sharp fangs. While all of them looked weak and frail, there was a desperate sort of strength held within their taunt, lean muscles. It was obvious that they wouldn't back down without a fight…a fight that was completely unnecessary.
He knew that this battle would only end badly for all involved, no matter which side would be victorious. While Roy empathized with the nearly starved chimeras before him, he knew that he and Ed needed to survive this…there was no other option…
"Go." Anna said calmly to The Pack, raising her tail high into the air as with a single word the wrath of over a dozen feral chimeras descended upon Roy and Ed. He had failed…there was no time left to stop this storm…
"Ed! Run now and don't look back!" Roy howled as he shoved his pup away and turned to face the onslaught of blunt claws and snapping teeth. He knew that he stood no chance against these bloodthirsty enemies alone, but the thought of Ed dying by his side was almost too much to bear. As Roy prepared to close his eyes, to go out quickly and without a fight, a flash of gold caught his eye.
"No! Ed will not leave Roy to fight alone!" Roy turned to see Ed next to him, a stubborn gleam to his yellow eyes as he drew himself up to stand boldly by his side. He watched his pup's muscles grow tense as the mindless beasts drew ever closer and closer…more than ready to tear into their prey…
There was no more time to exchange words as four chimeras, led by Anna herself, slammed into Roy and knocked him carelessly to the ground. Roy heard the sounds of snarls and savage howls echo in his ears as Anna pinned him down, her eyes flashing above him like blue lightning. He tried desperately to catch even a glimpse of Ed through the throng of torn and dirty fur around him, but he knew it was useless. Now Roy had to focus, to do all he possibly could to survive.
The battle had begun.
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Time seemed to slow, if only for a moment as Ed helplessly watched his guardian vanish underneath a writhing mass of ragged fur, Anna's dark pelt mixed in amongst the mayhem. Before he could even attempt to reach Roy's side and offer his aid, Ed was tackled to the frozen earth below so hard that all the air was painfully forced from his lungs. He struggled feebly beneath his own onslaught of snarling chimeras, trying desperately to catch his breath while somehow managing to dodge a few blows from sharp fangs that snapped dangerously close to his throat.
How had their time spent just trying to survive the elements out in the wilderness come down to this? A desperate struggle between life and death…an unnecessary war that had been started for no reason other than bloodthirsty greed…One final battle that Ed and Roy needed to survive.
All of this was Anna's doing…she had been the vicious and faceless monster lurking in the shadows this entire time…planning out this savage attack in secret. To have even brutally murdered her own mate…letting the feral chimeras tear Cale's body into pieces and scatter his blood and entrails across that frigid clearing…It was more than clear now to both Ed and Roy that Anna had finally lost her humanity to the beast within, unable to be saved or even reasoned with…
Ed's bleak musings were quickly cut short as one chimera managed to lunge forward, aiming for his jugular with a savage snarl of dark pleasure. Instinctively, Ed raised an arm to block the attack, the starving creature biting down hard as triumph lit up its wild gaze. This victory was short lived though as disbelief clouded the chimera's eyes, its fangs having shredded past the thin layer of fur to embed themselves into hard steel.
A small wary, yet pleased smile parted Ed's lips as his opponent drew back with a pained cry before rubbing at its sore jaw with a single front paw. How could he have ever forgotten that he had an advantage here over the other chimeras? Having two limbs made of pure steel had been more of a curse than a blessing during Ed's imprisonment in the basement, but now it served him well as he kicked out with his left leg to land a painful blow to the whimpering chimera above.
While his current adversary was flung backwards and into the bushes another quickly took its place, lunging at him just as the first one had. Ed quickly guarded his throat with his automail arm, nearly laughing aloud as the new opponent pulled away with a strangled yelp, one of its sharp fangs now deeply embedded into the steel as the chimera backed away. The beaten creature let out another howl of pain and fear before turning and fleeing into the bushes, plowing head long into another of its packmates before vanishing amongst the frostbitten foliage.
Now the once eager chimeras that surrounded Ed seemed to be having second thoughts, having finally noticed how easily their other two comrades had been beaten and sent howling their pain into the forest. A few shared hesitant glances with each other, clearly wondering if it really was worth fighting him, while one or two decided that they'd rather not take that chance and drew away.
As the chimeras silently debated amongst themselves, Ed took his chances and managed to get to his paws, a broken canine still sticking out of his metal arm. He let out a loud and threatening snarl, glaring at his enemies as he held his head high, daring them to attack him again. One chimera, who was braver than the rest, answered the call and charged forward with an enraged growl, seeming to think that it would be harder for Ed to use his arm as a shield while standing.
Ed dodged to one side and nipped at his opponent's flank, his fangs cutting through fur and flesh as blood dripped onto the frozen grass below. The chimera wheeled around with surprising speed as it launched itself at him once more, managing to land a clumsy blow with one paw to Ed's right hind leg. Ed stumbled slightly, and that was just enough incentive to send the once hesitant and fearful chimeras into action once more.
The forest whirled around him as he fought, muted green blurring alongside dull browns and grays as the chimeras attacked from all sides. Ed struck out with his automail limbs, nearly in a blind frenzy as his fangs sliced and bit through anything that strayed too close. He could taste blood in his mouth, the sanguine liquid that wasn't his own making him want to vomit as it splattered upon the grass, soaking into the dry dirt below.
While it felt as though Ed had been fighting this desperate battle for hours, in reality it must have been only a few minutes, his body starting to ache dully from the exertion. The now bruised and bloodied chimeras finally backed off a bit, licking at their various injuries while one or two took the chance to flee into the undergrowth.
Now that he was able to turn his attention away from his own fight, Ed once more sought out his guardian's familiar black pelt among the chaotic clearing. He finally managed to locate Roy, who had sent a few of his own opponents away and into the forest as he lashed out at the remaining chimeras ferociously.
Even from a short distance Ed could see streaks of blood staining his guardian's torn pelt, a mixture of his own as well as those he had fought against. Crimson slowly oozed from a few gashes on Roy's flanks as well as from the corner of his mouth, his guardian beginning to look a bit overwhelmed as he dodged blow after blow in desperation. Ed knew that Roy couldn't maintain this pace for much longer.
"Roy!" Ed howled as he pushed his way past a few defeated chimeras that lingered in his path, racing with determination to his guardian's aid. Roy hadn't seemed to have heard him, blind and deaf to anything but his own battle as he lashed out at his opponents, managing to stand his ground as a sudden weight slammed into Ed's side.
He hit the ground with a loud and painful thud, lying in a pain induced daze for a moment as Ed looked up at the creature that had knocked him down. As the pale dawn light gradually illuminated more of the forest and his surroundings, Ed was able to make out the identity of his new adversary, managing to stifle a gasp of shock as his eyes met with the chimera's fearful gaze.
"Colin." Ed rasped out as his breath slowly returned, his apprehensive stare locked firmly onto his sandy brown opponent, finding himself unable to lash out at a chimera he had once regarded as a friend. While Colin's short fur was stained by a few crimson streaks of blood, no new wounds marred his already torn and ragged appearance.
"Colin is so sorry that he has to do this…" Colin's voice trembled with regret as he lowered himself closer to Ed; his fangs now inches from his throat, warm breath rustling unsettlingly through his fur. "He hopes that Ed will forgive him…"
"Wait! Colin!" Ed cried out frantically, gazing deep into the chimera's brown eyes to see a familiar and intelligent, humanlike clarity. While Anna may have lost her own personal battle with her canine half, it seemed as though Colin still had a chance to be saved…as long as Ed could stop him from going through with this terrible act. "Listen to Ed, please. Murder is never the answer."
The sandy brown chimera froze, his mouth still open and hovering dangerously close to Ed's jugular as his eyes grew wide in response. Clearly Colin was still in there, and this would more than likely be Ed's only chance to reason with him. "If Colin goes through with this…if he kills Ed…he will lose himself to the beast. Surely Colin has seen it change Anna…and does he really want to turn into something like that?"
"B-But it needs to be done…" Colin's voice was hoarse and full of anguish as he gazed down at Ed with desperation shimmering in his brown eyes. "It may be wrong…b-but it is how things need to be…"
"What would Sammy think if he could see The Pack now?" Colin flinched violently at Ed's sorrowful words, his distress giving way to pure horror as he went on. "Sammy would never have wanted any of this…Sammy loved them all and would have never dreamed they would turn on each other…Sammy would be so sad…"
His words seemed to finally reach Colin through his wild and panicked haze as the sandy brown chimera shut his mouth and backed away from Ed. His tail was tucked between his legs, ragged ears flattening close to his skull as Colin looked steadily at the ground, unable to meet Ed's gaze.
"Ed is right…" Colin's voice was no more than a whisper whisked away by the cold breeze, but Ed heard him as clearly as if the chimera had howled his response to the sky. "Sammy wouldn't want this…Colin doesn't want this. He just believed that Anna was right…she is leader now after all…So Anna would know best…right?"
Though Ed didn't know how to actually answer that question in that moment, he finally met Colin's brown eyes and shared an intense and compassionate glance with him that said more than words ever could. The chimera nodded his head, stepping completely off of Ed as he sat hunched and miserable at the edge of the clearing.
While he longed to stay and comfort Colin, to soothe his troubled thoughts, there was another chimera that needed his help more as Ed whirled towards where he had last spotted Roy. His heart leapt in his chest when he saw that his guardian was now pinned to the ground and surrounded by snarling chimeras. Roy gazed back as his attackers with a sorrowfully resigned look to his onyx eyes, hardly putting up a fight as one chimera leaned ever closer towards his throat.
Seeing his guardian look so tired and beaten, seeming more than ready to accept his death, Ed began to feel fatigue settle deep into his own worn muscles. He didn't know how much longer he could keep fighting, his already weakened body aching from exhaustion and his own wounds beginning to sting…could either of them still win this battle? Or was it already too late…maybe it would be easier to just give up…
A sudden, loud and booming howl echoed through the trees, every chimera freezing as their eyes and ears turned as one towards the sound. A large creature leapt clear over the surrounding undergrowth while it's much smaller companion bounded out from in between the frostbitten foliage. For one horrible, heart stopping moment Ed thought that these were two fresh chimeras coming to fight on Anna's side. He soon recognized the two, one having a brown splotched pelt while the other had silver and gray striped fur, and Ed almost collapsed in relief.
"No more harm will come to Roy and his pup!" Star cried out as William slammed headlong into the mass of chimeras that surrounded Roy. As her huge companion knocked a few stunned chimeras aside with ease, Star raked the clearing with rage simmering in her sky blue eyes before she leapt towards one or two that had strayed off to the side.
Panicked howling filled the clearing as the once fearsome and vicious chimeras fled in a terrified frenzy, darting out of the way of the snapping jaws of these new opponents. Ed watched with a growing sense of hope as chimera after chimera vanished into the undergrowth, Star and William making short work of any that lingered too long. Even Roy was back on his paws, standing side by side with William as the huge chimera knocked away any stragglers with his broad paws.
With a small shock Ed noticed that Anna was nowhere to be found, not amongst the fight or huddling in the bushes like a fearful Colin and Faye. Had the brutal and bloodthirsty leader already been chased off? What would this mean for all of the chimeras that had followed her orders? Before Ed could contemplate more about The Pack's fate without Anna to lead them, a sudden weight slammed into his side and sent him tumbling to the ground.
As Ed attempted to stand he soon realized that his limbs were pinned down to the cold earth below by surprisingly strong paws, unable to break free of their hold as he gazed up and into the eyes of his attacker. Ed felt his heart stop when he recognized who was holding him down, her blue eyes glittering with a wild and hateful light as she glared down at him.
"Anna can still win this!" Anna snarled with a demented smile that showed her sharp fangs as they neared Ed's throat. With her muzzle brushing against his neck the ragged chimera let out a frenzied laugh that morphed into a crazed shriek. "With his pup dead Roy will give up and then Anna will kill him too! Star and William will run away as well…and The Pack will survive!"
Ed gazed fearfully up at Anna as her teeth dug into his neck, sinking deeper as he just managed to let out a howl full of pain and panic. His cry was cut off as the weight around his throat tightened, agony flowing through his body as Anna tore into his neck. In a daze Ed saw his own blood splatter against the crazed chimera's muzzle; staining the ground beneath him as memories of those he loved the most flickered like butterflies before his eyes.
He could see his brother's emotionless metal helm gazing at him with soul fire eyes, hearing a quiet and childlike voice echo through the armor as Al called his name. Then there was Roy, a human with a smirk on his face one moment before morphing into the chimera Ed was now so familiar to seeing…Affection brimming in those dark onyx eyes…warming his heart one final time…
The last thing Ed saw before his world faded to black were Anna's narrowed blue eyes glowing with a hateful triumph…he even thought he could hear Roy screaming his name in a panic…but soon everything drifted away as all thoughts vanished from his mind.
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Roy could still hardly believe what was happening all around him, hoping with all his heart that this wasn't just a sick and taunting dream created by a dying mind. One moment he had been pinned to the ground, finally ready to accept his death as those sharp and bloodstained fangs drew closer and closer…Then there had been a large brown blur that knocked into his would be killer and sent it flying into the undergrowth, a few other chimeras howling out in fear as they fled behind their packmate.
Once Roy had heard Star's familiar, rough voice rise above the chaos he knew then that this was no dream. As Roy struggled to keep his balance upon his still trembling paws, he felt a sturdy shoulder move to support him. He turned his head in mild confusion and was greeted by William's lilac eyes, full of both smoldering rage towards his enemies and a sympathetic warmth directed at Roy.
"It looks like William and Star showed up at the right time." William commented in a deep voice, turning his head to focus once more on the now panicking chimeras that still lingered in the clearing. "Roy and his pup are very lucky."
Roy was only able to manage a nod full of deep appreciation, still a bit too rattled from his near death experience to speak. William seemed to be able to sense this weariness, continuing to let Roy lean against him as the huge creature knocked away any other chimera that happened to stray too close. After taking a quick moment to both catch his breath and calm his nerves, Roy was soon fighting blow for blow at William's side, a silent and savage joy to his movements as he lashed out at those who had tried to kill him just moments before.
As chimera after chimera fled from the clearing, their terrified cries echoing from between the trees as they raced into the surrounding forest, Roy finally noticed that Anna was nowhere to be seen. While he knew that with their leader gone The Pack would completely scatter, a handful of chimeras still remained. So where was Anna?
Roy got his answer as a single crazed shriek reached his ears and lingered in the air. He could just barely make out what the voice was now saying. "The Pack will survive!"
The demented and completely unhinged scream was no doubt Anna's, the brutal leader still intending to fight this now losing battle until the very end…but who were her words directed towards? Roy turned his head just as an agonized wail pierced his ears…a cry that was now all too familiar to him as his gaze finally found Anna and her victim.
Time seemed to slow down into a terrible crawl as Roy watched, frozen in absolute horror, as Anna sunk her sharp fangs into Ed's throat. His heart shattered into thousands of sharp and painful shards when his pup's final wail, full of agony and fear, was abruptly cut off as crimson blood splattered against the frosty grass below.
No…this…this could not be happening…Maybe Roy really had died, and this was all just an awful nightmare before his soul winked out of existence…There was no way that this was real…right?
"ED! NO!" Roy howled aloud his anguish as Ed's body went completely limp, those beautiful golden eyes closing one last time as Anna raised her head from the broken body of his precious pup. The twisted chimera's hateful blue gaze found Roy and she gave him a cruel smile, Ed's blood still dripping from her muzzle as she lifted her head to the sky in preparation to howl aloud her victory.
Roy didn't even realize that he was moving until he had already made it halfway across the clearing, a dull roaring in his ears as his vision tunneled until only Ed and his murderer were visible. How could Roy have let this happen? Hadn't he promised his pup time and time again that he would do anything to keep him safe? Roy had failed…Ed was gone…there was nothing left for him to lose.
Anna never had the chance to make a single sound as Roy slammed into her with all the strength left in his exhausted body, sending her flying backwards and away from Ed's motionless form. She landed hard on the cold earth, his pup's blood soaking into her fur as Anna managed to let out a gasp of shock and surprise.
Roy was hardly aware of his own actions, the savage and brutal canine half of his mind taking control as it both promised to share in his pain while making it fade away. The dog rejoiced in Roy's sudden bloodlust…ready to destroy anything it possibly could to avenge the loss of his pup.
With a vicious and absolutely feral snarl Roy felt his fangs slice through fur and flesh, blood gushing into his mouth as he cut effortlessly into Anna's jugular…just as she had done to Ed. The copper tang of blood sent the canine half of his mind into a frenzy as he thrashed his head from side to side, tearing open a dreadful wound as the ragged chimera beneath him let out a gurgling moan full of agony.
More crimson splattered across the clearing, staining his fur as both Roy and the beast within were finally satisfied with their work. With his vengeance now sated, Roy stepped back and off of Anna, watching the dying chimera's last moments with cold and hate filled eyes.
Anna desperately gasped for air, pawing at her neck as she tried and failed to breathe past the tear in her throat. Blood began to run from her nose and mouth, eyes growing wide with horror and agony as she gazed pleadingly up at him. Roy felt a savage joy as he watched Anna's struggle, the heartless monster choking on her own blood as she tried her hardest to draw breath.
"A-Anna…please f-forgive…A-Anna…" The sudden and absolute regret that filled the dying chimera's voice was able to reach Roy through his feral haze of hatred. As his anger began to slowly fade away the canine half retreated back into the darkness of his mind, growing hesitant and a bit fearful of him as Roy finally regained control and realized what he had done.
While he could honestly say that he felt no regret for doing this to Anna, Roy instead felt a deep sorrow that it had come to this. Anna had once been so smart and compassionate, truly a good friend to both him and Ed as well as a respected member of The Pack. She could have led the rest of the chimeras to greatness had something not changed deep within her…and now as she lay dying at Roy's paws that usual humanlike clarity once again shimmered in her tear filled eyes as she begged him for forgiveness.
"P-Please…was so…so w-wrong…" Anna's voice was a quiet and gurgling whisper as she reached a bloodstained paw out towards Roy, desperately seeking redemption before she died. He placed his paw on top of hers, looking deep into her eyes and nodding, silently giving her the forgiveness that her soul longed for.
Anna's eyes softened as her wavering gaze wandered from Roy to a spot just beyond his shoulder, peace glittering in her eyes as she finally succumbed to her terrible wound. Her body went limp, sagging into the blood soaked dirt as Anna's once vibrant blue eyes lost their glow. Her last breath left her body as a low and drawn out whimper full of sorrow. "Oh…C-Cale…I…I…"
Then she was gone and Roy bowed his head as grief for both Anna and Ed began to tighten its agonizing hold over his shattered heart like a massive snake…pushing the broken shards deeper into his aching chest. Roy could hardly breathe past his own anguish, only just managing to raise his heavy head when a loud wail of sorrow rang out from across the clearing.
"Mommy! No!" Faye's small and warped, childlike voice sliced through him like jagged knives as the tiny chimera raced across the clearing and flung herself down beside Anna's body. As Faye buried her muzzle deep into the dead chimera's blood soaked fur, Colin approached them with much slower and heavier pawsteps, grief glistening in his own eyes as he crouched down by Faye's side.
"Why?" Faye asked as she looked up at Roy with confusion and pain in her tear filled eyes, not even waiting for an answer as she let out another wail. "Mommy! Please…please come back!"
Roy watched the two chimeras grieve in silence, not knowing if there was anything he could even say to help alleviate their grief. Faye and Colin had loved Anna, maybe even as much as Roy loved his pup, and now that figure was gone forever from their lives…two deaths caused by Roy in different ways…
"William and Star will see to Faye and Colin now." Roy nearly leapt out of his fur as William's deep voice sounded close to his ear. He turned his head to see the huge chimera standing at his side, William's hunched shoulders and tired eyes making him look years older than he had looked at the beginning of the battle. William gestured with his massive head to the area behind them…to where Ed's body still lay. "Roy can grieve in peace now…"
As William padded past him to sit beside Colin and Faye it was then Roy realized that all of the feral chimeras had disappeared, more than likely fleeing when they realized that their leader was dead. He had no idea where they could have run off to, but at that moment Roy didn't really care. The battle was over…but not without a heavy toll…
A soft pelt brushed against his side and Roy turned to see Star gazing back at him with nothing but sorrow brimming in her tear filled blue eyes. Nodding silently to him, Star went to join William, sitting down beside Faye and pulling the tiny chimera close in an attempt to comfort her.
While part of Roy longed to try and comfort the small group of chimeras, he knew that his words would be of no help to them…and he also had to do something much more painful and heartbreaking. Roy slowly turned around, his hesitant gaze resting upon Ed's hunched and bloodstained form that lay completely motionless just a few feet away. A deep exhaustion settled into his bones and sorrow pierced his very soul as he crossed the distance between them, still unable to believe that his pup was dead.
Roy found himself thinking of all the times he had shared with Ed, memories rushing through him like water through an open sluice. All of the good as well as the bad, every interaction replaying in his grief hazed mind. Ed had been there by his side, suffering alongside him through the hardest and most hellish moments of his life…They had been kidnapped, starved, tortured, and tested on until finally being turned into chimeras…together the whole time.
No one would ever be able to understand Roy better than Ed…and without him by his side Roy saw no future for himself. As he drew closer to Ed's bleeding body, the pain filled expression on his pup's face only drove that sharp shard of sorrow and guilt deeper into his chest…How could Roy have ever let this happen? He was so useless…unable to keep his beloved pup safe time and time again…
Roy's thoughts grew darker as he began to wonder how he could possibly bring an end to his own life, hoping to be reunited with Ed on the other side. There was the nearby stream, so drowning was a viable option…or maybe Roy could fling himself down into the collapsed ravine from the highest point…in the same place where he had saved Ed's life what felt like so long ago now…
At that very moment though, the only method that made perfect sense was to simply lie down next to Ed's corpse and wait until either the cold or a mixture of dehydration and starvation finally claimed him.
Roy slowly settled down beside his pup's still warm body, feeling blood soak into his fur as he rested his head atop Ed's tawny shoulder, tears beginning to flow unhindered from his eyes like tiny rivers. The only thing Roy could do was sob as he buried his muzzle deeply into the golden fur around Ed's neck, breathing in his familiar scent one last time as he felt his heart and mind beginning to crack and shatter under the weight of his sorrow and guilt.
"Oh Ed…Roy is so sorry that he let this happen…Roy will never forgive himself…" Roy managed to choke out as he curled himself around Ed's body, leaning against him as his grief tore deep into his very soul. Roy felt like his body was crumbling to dust from the inside out as he continued on in an anguished whisper, knowing full well that Ed could no longer hear his words. "Roy failed his pup…he let Ed die…but Roy will soon join his pup…just wait for-"
Before Roy could finish his sorrowful statement he was abruptly cut off as the body just beneath his chin began to let out a horrible, hacking cough that soon turned into a pained wheeze. Stunned into silence, Roy pulled his body away from Ed's and sat up, shock flowing through him when his pup began to tremble violently. Roy looked down at Ed's face, watching his golden brow furrow in discomfort as he let out another low moan.
"Ed…Ed is alive?" Roy felt hope soar in his chest like a bird taking flight, his shattered heart slowly piecing itself back together as he leaned down to lap fiercely at Ed's cheek. While Roy continued to fuss over his pup, nuzzling at the side of his head, Ed's eyes slowly slid open. For a moment he stared at nothing before the pain hazed yellow orbs rolled in their sockets to fix themselves onto Roy.
"R-Roy…is t-that really Roy?" Ed's voice was a rough and raspy whisper as he craned his neck in an attempt to look his guardian over. The movement caused the thick leather collar around Ed's neck to finally snap and fall away onto the blood soaked earth, appearing to have taken the brunt of Anna's attack and sparing its owner from the same gruesome end. As Ed suddenly attempted to prop himself up onto his elbows the golden chimera let out a pained whine as he flopped back down to the ground, his wound starting to bleed more as the motion caused the gash to tear open around the slowly healing edges.
"Stay still, Pup." Roy fiercely urged in a low and soothing voice, beginning to lap at Ed's laid back ears in an attempt to comfort him. Fear was slowly starting to trickle through Roy's veins like ice, growing more and more worried that Ed may accidentally hurt himself more in his pain induced haze. That terrified urgency seeped into Roy's voice as he spoke up once more. "Roy is right here, and he will never leave his pup's side. Ed just needs to stay still or his wound will open more and keep bleeding."
"But it h-hurts…" Ed whimpered as his paws worked anxiously at the bloody grass below, his fear slowly increasing as the crimson stain beneath him began to grow. "It hurts s-so bad…Roy…m-make it stop…"
"Roy will try his best; Ed just needs to stay calm." Roy felt terribly heartsick as he watched his poor pup writhe and cry out in agony, not knowing what he could do to help. Roy ran his tail down Ed's heaving flank in an attempt to reassure him as his pup only grew more and more distressed. What could he do to help heal such a dreadful wound? Was there anything he could actually do?
Before Roy could think of a brilliant plan to stop the bleeding and ease his pup's pain, fur brushed against the side of his head and he turned to see Star taking in the scene before her with wide eyes. As soon as she saw that Ed was alive and in distress she leapt into action, pressing her scarred white paws down onto Ed's throat in an attempt to staunch the bleeding.
"Roy needs to get Star as much moss and leaves as he can carry." Star's voice held a great amount of authority and confidence as she looked up momentarily from her work. Those sky blue eyes that were usually hazy and clouded over by the canine mind were now clear and focused, almost like staring into a human's intent gaze as she spoke up urgently. "Hurry though, Star needs to stop this bleeding as fast as she can."
While Roy was still very worried and a bit hesitant about leaving Ed's side, even for a moment, he knew that he needed to in order for his pup to survive this. As he nodded in response to Star's order, Roy cast a quick and fleeting glance down at his suffering pup. Watching as Ed's breathing grew more ragged and uneven in his desperate struggle for air; Roy turned tail and quickly raced across the bloodstained grass in the direction of their den.
As he made his way across the clearing Roy was distantly aware of William whispering words of comfort to Colin and Faye, though at that moment he was much too focused on the task at hand to dwell on the others grief. Roy slipped into the den, his fur brushing through the overhanging lichen of the entrance as his eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom.
In a few steps Roy reached the edge of the nest he shared with Ed, grabbing a mouthful of moss and brittle fern fronds while using his paws to gather up a small pile of long dried leaves. Once he felt that he had enough of the necessary materials that Star had requested, Roy turned around once more and rushed back out and into the clearing.
The world around him was nothing more than a dull green and brown blur, a tunnel with only Ed and Star at the very end, as Roy skidded to a stop next to the two chimeras. Chest heaving as he caught his breath, Roy carefully placed the moss and leaves that he had gathered beside Star, glancing over her shoulder to see that there had been no change in his pup's current condition.
For a heartbeat Roy wondered if it was wise to trust the gray striped chimera with Ed's life, after all Star was the oldest chimera of the group and had been changed many months, maybe even years ago. Then she turned and gazed at Roy with those intelligent, humanlike eyes and he knew then that there was nothing to fear. Whatever Star had learned about healing seemed to have remained intact after her transformation, and he was just grateful to have anyone with this type of experience by Ed's side.
"Thanks. Now Roy needs to keep his pup distracted," Star said as she gathered up a pawful of moss and pressed it against the tear in Ed's neck. She gestured down at her patient with a sympathetic warmth glowing in her eyes. "Pup needs to stay awake and alert until the bleeding stops, and Roy will do a better job of keeping his pup calm than Star could."
Roy nodded in response, carefully padding past the silver chimera to settle down at Ed's head and brushing a stray piece of golden fur from in front of his pup's closed eyes in a gesture of comfort. Ed seemed to sense his guardian's presence and slowly blinked open yellow eyes that were overflowing with pain, his wavering gaze managing to focus on Roy.
"Roy…" Ed breathed out in a raspy sigh of relief, the ghost of a smile forming on his tired face as he gasped for his next breath. "E-Ed wondered if…if h-he would come back…"
"Of course Roy would return." Roy soothed as he leaned forward to lap gently at his pup's cheek. Ed took that opportunity to rest his trembling head atop Roy's paws as he drew closer to his pup. "Roy would never leave Ed to fight this on his own."
Ed's eyes slid closed for a long moment, his expression filling with pain as he gritted his teeth against a sudden wave of agony from the wound Star so desperately tried to heal. "It h-hurts…w-why…why does it h-hurt so b-bad?"
"Star is doing everything she can to make it stop." Roy whispered as Ed's eyes opened once more, his newly mending heart cracking when he saw the pain gleaming in his pup's half open eyes. It was very clear that Ed was suffering through an immense amount of agony, and Roy wished with all his soul that it would come to an end very soon. "Roy is so sorry that he can't fix Ed's pain."
"I-Is Ed dying?" His pup asked in a quiet, breathless moan, the fear that Roy would have expected to follow such a thought was instead replaced with a deep exhaustion. "Because if h-he is…then E-Ed wishes it w-would come s-soon…"
"No, Ed is not dying…he will be fine, Roy will make sure of it." Roy's voice shook nearly as much as Ed's body, trying to hide his fear and uncertainty as he nuzzled the side of Ed's head. "Pup just needs to stay calm and still; Star will get the bleeding to stop soon."
"A-At least Ed h-has Roy…" Ed's voice was quiet as he struggled to draw air into his lungs. Roy leaned forward and lapped at his poor pup's ears as Ed continued on despite his ragged breaths. "Roy h-has saved Ed s-so many times…"
Roy felt that steadily growing crack in his heart splitter off into a jagged shard that stabbed deep into his chest. Sorrow and guilt coursed through him as he rested his chin atop Ed's head. "But Roy couldn't save his pup from this…he is nothing but a failure. Roy will never forgive himself for letting Ed get so hurt…"
"But R-Roy couldn't have k-known…t-that this would ever h-happen…" Ed wheezed, his voice turning into an agonized whimper as a painful shudder passed through is suffering body. "H-How could R-Roy have…have k-known that Anna…would do t-this to them?"
Roy grew silent for a moment, shame washing through his pelt like icy water when he realized that Ed still had no clue as to what had happened to his attacker. "Roy killed Anna though…because he really thought that his pup was dead…Roy only ends up hurting others even when they don't deserve the pain…"
"Ed is a-alive right now…b-because of Roy…" If this news brought any shock to Ed he either didn't seem to care or was in too much agony to comprehend it. His pup's pain hazed amber eyes glowed with nothing but love as he stretched slightly to lap weakly at Roy's muzzle. "A-And if Ed can f-forgive Roy for this…then R-Roy should forgive Roy t-too…H-He needs to s-stop blaming h-himself…f-for things that…t-that Roy cannot c-control…"
"Oh, Ed…" Roy closed his eyes and leaned as close as he possibly could against his pup, tears stinging his eyes and sorrow choking him. As Ed let out a small whimper of discomfort Roy pulled his head closer and managed to speak past the lump in his throat. "Roy will do all that he can to fix this…he is so, so sorry…"
The two of them then lapsed into silence, Roy too overcome with conflicting emotions and Ed in too much pain as he kept himself focused on taking in his next labored breath. He knew his pup was still stubbornly clinging to consciousness though, letting out an occasional whimper when an involuntary shudder passed through him as the minutes dragged on. It felt to Roy like a lifetime had passed between them, mercifully ending when Star's voice sliced through the heavy silence.
"Star was able to stop the bleeding." Roy's eyes snapped open and he lifted his head to gaze hopefully up at the striped chimera, hardly able to believe that she had managed to save Ed's life. "But Pup will have a long recovery; he is not out of the woods just yet. Star can see that Pup is in pain, and she knows plants that will help with that. Give Star a minute to gather some, Roy can take his pup to their den while she looks, but be very careful when moving Pup."
With that the humanlike clarity to Star's eyes faded away, though she still held herself in a way that told Roy that she knew exactly what she was doing. Star gave him a brisk nod before turning and padding purposefully into the surrounding forest, the foliage swallowing her form as Roy was left alone with his pup.
He glanced down at Ed, his gaze instinctively wandering to look at his wound, which Star had bandaged with leaves and strips of moss. Roy was immediately relieved to see that no crimson was soaking through the makeshift binding, and hope soared in his chest for a short moment until he heard his pup let out a low moan. As Roy watched, Ed slowly opened his pain shadowed eyes and gazed lethargically up at his guardian, looking so terribly exhausted that Roy's heart began to ache once more.
"Ed can rest in their den now…he'd probably be more comfortable there." Roy coaxed in a gentle voice as he leaned down to lap comfortingly at his pup's cheek before slowly getting to his paws. "Roy will carry his pup there, and he will be very careful."
Ed only nodded listlessly as he closed his eyes again and seemed to brace himself, his breathing now seeming to come a little easier without Star putting pressure onto his throat. Roy crouched down and maneuvered himself under the upper half of Ed's limp body, essentially draping his pup over his shoulders and back before carefully standing up. His pup let out a small and pitiful whimper at the sudden movement, but as Roy began his slow trek towards the den Ed made no other sounds that would indicate his discomfort.
Roy padded carefully across the clearing, hearing the faint sound of Ed's lower body trailing through the dry and frostbitten grass below, his gaze firmly fixed on the entrance of their den. His pup's ragged breaths echoed in his ears, a steady current of air rustling through the fur of his neck. Roy took comfort in the fact that Ed was breathing much easier, and the fast yet constant drumming of his pup's heart against his back gave him a small sense of renewed hope. Maybe Ed would pull through this after all.
The two finally made it safely into their den and Roy crossed the last few feet that brought him to the edge of their nest. He slowly and carefully crouched down as low to the ground as he possibly could, feeling Ed slide off of his back and into the soft moss below with a muted thump. Roy then drew back and began to adjust the ferns and lichen around his pup, hoping to make Ed more comfortable as well as a little warmer. Once his pup was settled partially on his side, Roy lay down next to him, keeping himself propped up on his elbows as he let his gaze remain upon Ed's pain tensed form beside him.
"Rest now, Ed." Roy said as he rested his head close to his pup's, lapping gently at his cheek as he wrapped his tail around Ed's weakly trembling body. "Roy is sure that Ed will feel better if he gets some sleep."
"Ed is still hurting too much…" His pup breathed out in a whimper full of fear and pain, exhaustion radiating off of Ed's body in waves as he curled closer to Roy in an attempt to ease his suffering. His pup looked truly miserable as he let out a worried moan. "What if the pain never goes away?"
Before Roy could answer a shadow blotted out the pale dawn light from just outside of the den, and with terror flaring in his mind at the thought of another attack he quickly turned his head to see who the intruder was. Relief washed over Roy like a gentle breeze when he recognized Star staring back at him from the entrance, her blue eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.
Star crossed the den on soft paws and Roy finally noticed that a mixture of frost wilted flowers, leaves, and roots hunt from her jaws. She sat gracefully down in front of them before setting the herbs she had gathered gently to the ground in front of Ed's twitching nose.
"Star can see that Pup is in great pain, so she brought these to help." She gestured down at the mixture of plants, pointing to each one in turn as she explained their usage. "The leaves will help fight off infection, and will help with sleep. These roots are for pain and unrest, though they taste bitter. And the flowers are to help heal wounds when mashed into a paste. Star recommends taking two roots and two leaves when the pain becomes too much."
As Star spoke Roy could see that Ed was eying the plants doubtfully, his once brilliant human mind still holding him back as he seemed to mentally debate if any of the herbs were safe to ingest. The mixture of pain and the presence of the canine mind soon won out as Ed leaned forward to lap up the two leaves Star had set aside.
"There is no need for Pup to be afraid." Star soothed as she pawed the gnarled roots closer so Ed could reach them. She watched on sympathetically as Ed chewed and swallowed the herb with a shudder and a disgusted twist to his mouth before letting his head rest against the moss below once more. "Star may not remember much of her human life, but Star would never forget about herbs that help heal."
Still feeling a bit hesitant about the healing nature to the leaves and roots, Roy watched his pup closely, praying with all his being that Star had remembered correctly. A few minutes passed with no change, and while Star remained calm and collected, Roy could feel his unease grow alongside Ed's palpable anxiety.
Then, very slowly at first, his pup's trembling began to fade and his tensed muscles started to relax. As Roy continued to watch on in silence he saw Ed's eyelids begin to droop and his breathing grew more even as he gazed almost peacefully back at his guardian.
"It worked…Ed can feel the pain fade away…" His pup breathed out in a sigh of relief and exhaustion as he tried to keep his eyes open a moment longer. Ed then stretched out a desperate paw towards Roy, tugging weakly at the soft white fur of his chest. "Roy will…Roy will stay with Ed…right?"
"Of course," Roy soothed in a soft and loving tone before giving his pup's cheek a reassuring lick. "Roy will stay by his pup's side, so Ed can sleep and heal in peace."
A small smile formed on Ed's face as he finally allowed himself to succumb to the effects of the herbs. His body went limp and his golden eyes slid closed, looking so much more comfortable than he had just a moment earlier. As Roy curled protectively around his pup's sleeping body, resting his head atop the back of Ed's neck, he heard Star speak softly to him as though trying not to wake his pup.
"Star and William must leave for now. They will watch over Faye and Colin back at Star's camp…and William will take care of Anna's burial." Roy saw Star's movements from out of the corner of his eye as the silver chimera leaned in closer to breathe gently into his ear. "Star will come back here soon though with more herbs. If Pup wakes from pain then Roy can give him two leaves and roots again."
"Thanks," Roy said softly, nothing but gratitude and relief flowing through his tired body. "Star has saved his pup's life, and Roy will never forget that."
Star let out a small, pleased hum as she rested her chin atop Roy's head before speaking. "Roy needs to rest too. When he next wakes Roy needs to clean his and his pup's wounds before rubbing the flowers into each cut. Don't remove Pup's neck binding though as it is still keeping his pup from bleeding out, wait a day and let Star take it off."
Before Roy could thank Star again for all of her much needed help, she first lapped fondly at Roy's ears before moving to gently nuzzle Ed's cheek. As gracefully and silently as she had come, Star soon vanished from the den, leaving Roy alone with his pup once more.
Exhaustion finally sunk its sharp fangs deeply into Roy's weary body and mind, his eyes slowly closing as he let sleep descend over him. The last thought he had before drifting off into a blissful and pain free darkness was that he would do everything he could to help his pup heal. After all, he had promised to do all he could to keep Ed safe and alive, and Roy was not one to break such a promise.
And so we finally find out what did Cale in...and damn did Anna deserve her death after that. I also bet you guys thought I'd actually killed Ed, but nope, he'll never actually die in my stories. :3
This is another chapter that I absolutely couldn't wait to write when I started this story. It's a very important chapter in the grand scheme of things, and it's probably now at the halfway point of the story. Still have no clue how many more chapters there will be just yet though.
And on that note I now have no clue when the next chapter will be uploaded, but assume around late March-early April at the latest. It's really all up in the air still, since I've yet to even start it yet, but check my profile here for updates as I try to update it about once a week or so.
Side note for Star knowing about healing herbs: Since she is literally just my World of Warcraft character as a chimera, I'd assume that she'd remember all her 12 or so years of being an herbalist and would never forget something as important as which herbs are safe. Just thought I'd throw that in there, since she does heal in game at times, so she's quite knowledgeable lol.
Anyway, I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out, and I really hope you all like it as much as I do! Thank you everyone for the favorites, follows, and reviews that this story has already received. Now that my email is working again I can finally see who did what again and I look at each one! You guys are awesome and I hope you all keep staying awesome.
Well, that was long. So I'll end it here. See you all in the next chapter!
:3
