[fic] State of Mind - Chapter Eleven
<’But what is it?’> Ward cocked his head this way and that, staring at the frost and snow spread across the clearing.
Perched just inside his den, the snow stuff was disturbingly white and clean. With its arrival the air had gotten much colder than it was the disastrous evening before. He pushed away all thoughts of bloody heads, glazed eyes; the way the body had continued twitching after life had left and it was dead. The Edward focussed instead on the crisp air and the clean smells surrounding him.
<’It’s hard water. Cold, so we don’t want to get covered in it. It goes wet again.’> Fons replied from across the clearing. He had caught them a squirrel while Ward had watched admiringly. The Heiderich had used the new snow as a blanket for sound and snuck up behind it so very quietly with barely a whisper of noise. He’d moved so quickly he was a blur as the Alfons grabbed the squirrel and broke its neck all in one swift movement. Effortlessly.
Ward tentatively stepped out of the den. The ground was cold and slippery against his feet, he would need to make foot pelts soon. The alchemy clapping was almost trusted enough to make them, but he would wait until he found a suitable amount of leaves. It took a lot of leaves and bark to make anything. Lots of practice at the riverbank had taught him so, along with patience that not everything would be right immediately.
He slipped and slid his way over to Fons and crouched next to him eagerly as the squirrel was ripped in half. The part with the heart was his today, the Heiderich was constantly after him to eat more and build up his reserves. Accepting the meat gracefully, he chomped down and made short work of it, fur, bones and all.
Ward grudgingly allowed Fons to lick him clean and groom his hair for him. He flicked his ears impatiently, gave put upon sighs and lashed his tail but it did not hurry the other along as he gave an admonishing clip to his head and continued the braiding. The Edward really didn’t get the fascination with constantly grooming him, but he supposed he could live with the Heiderich’s peculiarities in exchange for help.
With one last frustrated sigh and impatient wiggle the grooming was done, Fons quirking an amused smile at him. He huffed back in annoyance. The smile grew and Ward pouted.
<’Well, stop wasting time! Let’s get water!’> He blustered, stomping off to the river.
<’I’ll catch up,’> the Heiderich said behind him, easily keeping pace, <’I need to get my winter pelts.’>
The Edward nodded absently as the Alfons loped off to his den. Winter pelts were a good idea; he could try to make some of those to keep the chill out and the rest of him dry.
As he came up to the river, he eyed it warily. The edges were frozen hard, cold and sharp. When he lapped at the water he could reach it sapped the warmth from his mouth and settled heavily in his stomach. It gave him a sharp headache and the Elric felt slightly ill and numb of face. He rubbed his lips hard to get the feeling back and eyed the water disdainfully. He wasn’t too sure he liked this season.
A snap rattled the air and he brought his head up alertly.
Frost cracked and crunched beneath steps as Sting emerged from the forest, Havoc in tow. They stood out brightly from the white surroundings with their vibrant blue pelts and shiny black foot-covers as they marched over to him. The Mustang was back to his clean, crisp and smug self; a smirk lifting up as he eyed the Edward. Yellow eyes narrowed suspiciously.
<’Hello, little Elric.’>
The smirk widens and Ward growls at him, <’I am not little, you smug bastard!’> He fumed as he was ignored, biting down on the desire to stamp his feet and kick the pack leader. Arrogant, confident ass. Always mocking him on his size and turning up when he was least wanted! He hissed at them.
Sting looked down at him, plopped a hand on his head and gestured the Havoc over. <’This is Havo. Havo, the new [recruit].’>
Ward bristled, slapping the infuriating bastard’s pelted hand away. <’I am not in your pack!’>
Ignored.
The Mustang smoothed his pelts out, flicking off imaginary bits of dust. <’Ignore his enthusiasm, he has yet to accept it.’>
Havo nodded with lidded eyes as smoke slowly spiralled up from the fire stick. <’Alright then. Wanna stick, [pup]?’> He glanced down at him, <’Good for keeping calm.’>
The Elric wrinkled his nose at the smell and eyed the white stick doubtfully. He stuck fire in his mouth?! That was just all kinds of crazy. He started in surprise as the Mustang stepped between him and the Havoc.
<’Havo! He is a [pup]! He is much too young to be given your fire sticks. Keep it to yourself, gunbu.’> Sting frowned heavily until the Havoc had backed down, hands raised harmlessly.
<’Right you are, boss. Wasn’t thinking.’> A hint of a smile and a wink at the Edward, <’No harm done.’>
<’Hmmm. Don’t repeat it.’> A final admonishment before the Mustang returned his focus to Ward, who shuffled his feet awkwardly in front of the elder. Really, why was the Mustang here? He flicked his tail sulkily.
<’You are a [pup], winter season is here and it is only going to get colder. You can come join my pack now, I care for my [subordinates] very well.’>
Oh, that was right. The fuss over joining the pack or not. The Edward sighed. It was getting rather cold.
<’We have a big den, nice and warm with lots of food. Good for growing [pups].’> Ward flicked his ears as he looked up at the Mustang. Warmth and food did sound rather nice. <’I can teach you how to hunt properly, too. Show you how to survive.’>
A glance to the side as he thought it over, the two gunbu watching him with staring eyes and perked ears. This would likely be to his benefit, and he could always leave come warmer weather…
A firm nod with a set mouth and the two lazily wagged their tails back at him. Sting looked extremely pleased, suspiciously so. He leant backwards as his personal space was invaded again and he was patted on the head.
<’Good! Big packs are very safe.’> The Mustang smiled down at him, before looking over his shoulder, <’Your friend is here.’>
Fons trotted up to them dressed in a thick outer pelt. Glancing unconcernedly at the gunbu, he gave some quick sniffs at Ward’s pelt and grimaced in Sting’s direction. <’You smell like him.’>
The accused placed hands into his pelts and grinned back smugly, <’The Edward is part of my pack now. Mine to care for.’>
The Heiderich’s expression darkened as he looked over to the Elric. <’Is this true? You are leaving?! I bought you food!’>
<’…huh?’> Ward blinked, utterly confused. What was the big deal? He would catch food for Fons in return later. He’d be much safer in the pack, the Mustang had already helped him out twice.
<’Argh! You’re so frustrating!’> Fons huffed, shoving the small Edward in annoyance. <’So…thick headed!’>
<’What?’> Ward implored for someone to make sense. The Heiderich huffed angrily at him again.
<’You’re a big idiot!’> Flinging his arms into the air, the Alfons stalked back off into the forest, angry mutterings about block headed Edwards following him.
Ward stared after him in bewilderment, flicking his ears at the other two’s amused gaze. <’What?’>
<’I know Edward’s are meant to be slow on the uptake, but…’> Havo shook his head while Sting leered, <’Don’t you know anything?’>
Fussing over his single pelt layer, Ward paused. Fussed some more to hide the embarrassed flush rising up his cheeks. <’Not…not really. No.’> It wasn’t his fault the masters hadn’t taught him the right things. Like clapping.
<’Fons wants you, but he can’t have you because [Commander] Sting does.’> The Havoc mused, <’So he is angry.’>
The Elric furrowed his brows in confusion. Wants him? Lips tugged downward, he didn’t want more masters. Masters abandoned you. <’I’m not anyone’s. I am mine.’> he pointed out bluntly.
<’Ah!’> Sting pounced in gleefully, <’If you are in the pack you are mine.’>
Ward hissed at him. <’Then I won’t be anyone’s! I’m not a territory! I’m going home!’> Sticking out his tongue and jerking a finger at them, he stomped back off to his den. Stupid, annoying and confusing animals! What did they want with him? He growled his entire way home, frozen grass crunching under his feet as he holed up to brood and fume the rest of the day away.
= = =
It was cold, so very cold. Ward curled up tighter as his breath made white puffs in the evening sky. The miserable Edward gave a small whine to himself as he peered outside. There was more of the snow coming down and the metal den drew his warmth away. Every crack and crunch from the frost in the ground and trees had his heart racing from imagined human-predators
Ward wrapped his pelts tightly about him and slowly shuffled out into the sharp air. It made his eyes water and he flinched as his bare feet touched the snow. Stupid winter season. Stupid gunbu. Stupid Heiderichs. Stupid everyone and their weird ways.
He hurried quickly through the whiteness to the river, reluctantly walking out to the banks and looking around.
There, a dark figure.
He reluctantly stumbled over to them, feet dragging and tail limp.
<’Ah, there you are,’> Flash smiled up at him from his pile of pelts, <’I was worried how long you would take.’>
Ward looked down at him, misery radiating off his damp and cold body. He shivered.
<’This won’t do at all! Here,’> the Hughes’ large outer pelt was draped over him, <’Come with me! I will show you the base. It is very secure. You’ll be warm and safe.’>
The small Edward followed him gratefully, cursing the cold weather all the while. Ward gave a glance back, he hoped the Alfons was all right and untroubled by the weather.