Fullmetal Alchemist: The Midnight Eclipse

Xioimara stood stiff as Ling and Xerom spoke. She spoke to Ling, "Doesn't mean I trust you to help me." Xioimara then spoke to Xerom. "I normally remember someone when I see them. Show yourself." This didn't feel right at all. Her body didn't sway or shift at all from its position. She was stiff as stone. Xioimara was however, ready, and in fact, itching to howl if she did find herself faced with real danger.

"I'm afraid I've lost your new comrade." Armstrong announced, showing the drawings to random passerbys who looked at him as if he were crazy. "Would you two boys mind helping me?"

 

"Still rocking the hair I see," Xoram said as he stepped out from the shadows.

"I guess it's no problem. Unless Ling found her..." he said. If Ling found her, they'd be in serious trouble.

 

Xioimara looked at Xerom as he moved from the shadows. She stopped growling for a second and then began again, "None-the-less, I don't know you. Nor do I trust your friend. I have orders now. I'm not leaving." Xioimara informed him. She started away from Xerom briskly to get into the streets where attention would make chance of attack less.

"Oh? But I thought you were friends with Ling." Armstrong asked.

 

"What I mean is, Wolfie would murder the idiot Prince if he screwed up." he explained

Ling sighed. "Ok," he said. "Ed! Al! Major! Wolf Girl's over here!" he yelled.
Xoram knew he'd do that seeing as to how the alley was so close to Armstrong's position. He looked at Ling and said "Later." before leaving.

 

Armstrong nodded in agreement. He did manage to hear Ling's voice over the ruckus of street noise. He started forward towards the alleyway immediatly. "Well, I knew she wouldn't go far." Armstrong commented as he neared the alleyway with Xioimara and Ling.

"Hmph..." Xioimara eyed Ling. "As if I could care." Xioimara glanced around for a later and decided it was getting a little boring, fighting Armstrong, Edward and Alphonse. Xioimara simply shrugged as they appeared in the alleyway. "I'm done."

"It's good to see you got some stress out." Alphonse commented, hoping it wouldn't come off as offensive. She just shrugged at him.

"That was quick change in attitude."

 

"A Change for the best in my opinion." Ed muttered.

Ling smiled and nodded in agreement to Ed's comment.

 

"Doesn't mean I like you though." Xioimara looked back at Ling with a scowl. She wanted him gone, so badly. But whatever. "Anyways, where are we going now, I guess." Xioimara looked at the shadows cast by all of the figures around her. It was interesting in a way. Xioimara stuck her tongue out for a second as she awaited on Ed's reply or someone else's.

"I think Dublith or Reole..." Alphonse started to answer. He wasn't totally sure if Ed wanted to see Teacher or go to Reole first. He was happy to know that remembered the name of the town they were originally headed to. Alphonse was a little surprised at how long their day had been so far. It felt like it had just begun.

"Well, in any case, I'm judging it will be nightfall by the time we get to either town." Armstrong estimated, looking up at the sky. The sun would be setting soon if they didn't hurry to where ever they were headed.

Xioimara yawned. "Sleep sounds nice right about now." She said as Armstrong mentioned the nighttime. She looked up at the sky as Armstrong did. It was getting late in the day. "We should hurry before the last train leaves if we decide to go."

 

"I'd say we head to Dublith first." Ed stated.
Ling smiled. "Good Idea Ed."

 

"Hmm.." Xioimara paused for a moment, eyeing Ed. "Sounds good." She said after some hesitation and started out of the alleyway towards the train station. It was a brisk walk away.

"Sorry to bother, but I never caught your name." Alphonse finally asked the girl, catching up with her.
"Xioimara Dwyre." She introduced with a wave of her hand. "And you are?" Xioimara asked Alphonse as well as Ed.
"Alphonse Elric." Al introduced, he felt a tad bit more comfortable around a calm Xioimara and it was nice to finally know her name.

 

"Edward." replied Ed. Knowing her name only made it worse. "His older brother," he quickly added.
"See? We're all friends?" Ling said stupidly.

 

"I don't know if you realize this but I don't like you." Xioimara directed at Ling. "Makes sense, I suppose, Alpine." Xioimara said, taking notice of Ed's quick chance to defend the fact that he was born first. Xioimara dropped behind Ed, Al and Ling, near Armstrong. She let the group continue ahead. Xioimara looked sideways at the ground once Armstrong stopped to see what the fuss was. "Daryl Dwyre lives in Dublith. As does one of my brothers." Xioimara mentioned to Armstrong.

Armstrong looked down at Xioimara as she let him in on this. He was one of the only, besides Mustang, that knew exactly why she would never want to risk being within ten feet of her family. "My duty is to protect you as well as the Elrics. You have no need to worry." He reassured her.

Alphonse glanced back as Xioimara suddenly dropped behind. He decided perhaps it was the best to keep going and to not eavesdrop on whatever she needed to tell Armstrong, after all, she did give himself and Ed space when they needed to talk. They were at standing next to the platform for their train in no time, it seemed.

"Maybe." Xioimara muttered to herself as the major walked forward. Xioimara brushed her hair back behind her ear and followed after some hesitation.

 

Lust watched them all with a smile on her face. "Humans are so entertaining." she said.

"Ok, jeez." Ling said to Xioimara
"It's ALPHONSE." Ed corrected her.

 

Xioimara smiled at Ed. "Already forgotten my name for you, Alpine?" She repeated to Edward. Xioimara put her hands in her pockets as the train pulled up. She looked down as she blocked out the sound of the train. 'What's in Dublith? Why do we need to go there?' Xioimara asked herself. She decided it would be best to stay in her alternate form once they arrived. Xioimara boarded the train once it came to a halt and the conductor gave the all aboard.

"That's ironic for a nickname." Alphonse noted to Xioimara as he got on the train as well.

"That's the point." Xioimara hinted as she dropped into her seat next to the window and looked out at the setting sun.

Armstrong followed the group on board and sat down promptly next to Xioimara.

 

Lust Inscospicuosly got on and sat down accross from them, making sure to let them know she was watching her."This is fun." she said to herself.
Ed boarded the train. "Shut up Wooly Wolfie of the East." he said.
Ling laughed at what Ed had called Xioimara.

 

Alphonse laughed as the it started to turn into a name tag contest. The atmosphere had defintley relaxed if only by a little bit.
Xioimara smiled at Edwards nickname. "You're just jealous of my beautiful mane." She said back to him. Xioimara glanced around at the other passengers on the train. One passenger did catch her eye though. Xioimara looked at a woman in a dress with gorgeous black hair. She was watching them like a hungry lion it seemed. Xioimara tried to make eye contact or at least would stare back until the woman would look away. A small growl rose in her throat, despite the fact she was still in her human form. She gave a low uff sound towards the others. She was fluent in wolf talk and this simply translated to a threat.

Armstrong enjoyed watching their little contest of wits but grew a little suspicious as Xioimara started to give them a warning, or what he took to be a warning, and stared off at another passenger who seemed quite busy making sure they felt uncomfortable by the stranger's presence.

 

Ed turned to look at the moment Xioimara spotted a threat. Who's that lady? he wondered while looking at Lust.
Ling turned to look at Lust. "Any of you know her?" he asked.
Lust felt them stare back at her. She turned away. Can't let them know who I am yet. She heard one of them ask if they knew her. In due time, she thought.

 

Xioimara sat up a little taller once the stranger looked away. 'I win.' She had a silent victory in her mind. Xioimara shook her head at Ling and looked back out the window. Xioimara didn't want to talk about the odd woman just yet. It was too risky around here. Then again, it could just be a fan of FullMetal or perhaps herself or even Major General Armstrong.

Armstrong shook his head as well at Ling's question. "But that certainly is odd behavior..." He commented.

"We're getting too tightly wound up." Xioimara said after Armstrong's comment. Why were they just jumping to conclusions suddenly?

"She's right. We are just a rather large group. We can't really assume anything."

 

A small boy no older than 10 was walking past Ed's group and crouched down to tie his shoe. Without them finding out, he started eavesdropping on them.

"That was wierd." Ed said. "She must be a fan of yours Major."

 

"Yummy." Xioimara joked once Edward commented on Armstrong's fan.

Armstrong looked at Xioimara as she commented. He wasn't sure how to react though the situation had become a little bit less stressful, though he still had a worry about this in the back of his mind. "What business do we have in Dublith?" Armstrong asked the Elric brothers, deciding it was time to get down to business if only for a few minutes.

 

"Al, would you tell the nice man and the Wolf about our business? I have to go take care of something." Ed said as he got up and left.
Wrath noticed Fullmetal get up. He finished tying his show and went to sit back down with his Mother.