Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Child's Play ❯ Helping Hand ( Chapter 2 )

Silent_adoration: Hey guys second chapter here and please R&R. This portion of the fanfic begins in your POV so remember this is personal pronouns and such. Until it says otherwise it remains in your pov.

 

 

Chapter 1: Helping hand

 

Had I not witnessed everything thus far I would have believed the two boys roaming miserably about were figments of my imagination. Truly I was going insane from lack of interaction. But not, here it was already morning and the two boys appeared as real as they had looked the day before.

 

I wisely remained hidden in the treetops, carefully assessing them at my leisure. I had made the best of my disheveled red hair that tickled my bare ankles even when standing.

 

Currently I was crouched atop a sturdy branch, gazing down at the forest below. I had been so surprised when the boat had stopped here the day before and scared when the boys had been left.

 

I donned my fox skin pelt that I had left the skull intact to use as a makeshift helmet to cover my forehead. They were so much like me yet they seemed very out of place in the jungle like landscape. Or maybe they reminded me of myself when I was five.

 

I'd lost track of time being stranded here alone and forgotten. I leaned against the moss-laden tree trunk remembering a time before this island. But before I could delve further into my memories a triumphant cry nearly unseated me and caused me to be on my guard.

 

Curious at what had caused such an abrupt uprising, I glided stealthily across the branches remaining above ground at all times and hidden.

 

When spotted the two-naïve boys they were dancing happily and had a rabbit tied up before them. I was surprised to say the least and vaguely wondered if they were more like me than I had given them credit for. If they could hunt successfully they must be.

 

That thought was soon dashed away as I watched, to my amusement, the older one kneeling and hesitating to kill the struggling animal. I nearly laughed when the blonde thrust the knife towards the younger one to accomplish the task at hand, and the boy protesting.

 

They soon erupted in an argument and I was about to leave when a fox glided out of the thicket and snatched the small mammal they had intended to eat.

 

Immediately the two were after her and dashing through the bushes screaming. I took a moment before following at a distance. I easily jumped and grabbed for branches, keeping pace with the boys below and smirking at their futile attempts to recapture their meal.

 

However unexpectedly the fox dropped her stolen prize to leap, open mouthed, at her pursers. Fangs met the blonde boys right arm and he fell backwards into the bushes the fox reclaiming the kill and dashing off.

 

“That stupid fox!” Resilient he was up and running again clutching the arm that had been injured.

 

I wanted to help. I really did, but what if they were afraid of me? What if they thought I was a threat? Would they attack me? Chase after me if I fled?

 

My head hurt with the nearly ceaseless possibilities and decided if I were to help in any way, I'd do so from a distance.

 

I soon found myself at the shore as I often did during the endless hours of the day. I sat on the rough, but warm, sand gazing wistfully at the land beyond my reach.

 

Very rarely did boats come b y or even pass the island. And when they did I always remained hidden and out of sight. My knees drawn up to my chest I buried my face in them, holding myself. Holding my sanity.

 

Days had become weeks, weeks had become months, months had become years, until it didn't matter. No one knew I was missing. No one cared I was alone here.

 

I felt the familiar burning behind my eyes again and forced myself to stand, even when all I wanted to do was lay under the sun and die.

 

I wouldn't do what my mother had done. I refused to.

 

So what if no one came for me? Who cared if I was gone? At least here no one could hurt me. I was beyond their reach, and I them.

 

I was determined to live and become strong, so if I ever found a way back I'd be untouchable. I stared into the ocean before removing my pelt to stare at my eyes, as green as the leaves against the crimson of my hair.

 

My shorts were frayed some and my shirt was in no better condition. Thank god I hadn't grown much since I could barely thread the fur I wore never mind make a shirt for myself.

 

To live I had to eat and now wasn't the time to make myself sad for my loses. I waded into the warm water and submerged myself in it. The water was clear and stretched as far as the eye could see, holding as may secrets and mysteries as I.

 

Swimming always eased my self-induced anxiety. Always made me calm.

 

I came up for air and saw the sun setting and I had learned the hard way that fishing at night was not the best idea I'd come up with. I dove under again and remained motionless, barely even kicking my legs to stop from floating up. Fish were too curious of the floating mass to sense their own doom and by the time I had emerged and was at the shore I had a fish in either hand.

 

I shook out my hair as best I could and watched the sky dance with orange, red and purple. The breeze brought forth the scent of the see and the serene landscape almost made me forge my pains. Until a loud grumbling came from the distance.

 

Though the sound didn't come again I found the boys sitting on a rock each dangling a stick with a string attached. I vaguely remembered this to be another form of fishing.

 

It had been hours since I'd last saw them, had they caught nothing in that time?

 

Sympathy drove me back into the cooling tides with my limp fishes. I found the strings attached to little metal hooks and as gently as I was able I hooked my fish on the hooks.

 

But for every second I stayed under the surface, I was fighting to stay below. If I rose they'd see me, if I didn't I'd drown.

 

I furiously yanked on the strings, fighting myself not to breathe. As soon as the fish broke the surface, so did I and thankfully without being seen.

 

Crawling to shore was an effort and I flopped down on the sandy beach in a soggy heap trying to catch my breath. My fox pelt was folded neatly along with my makeshift knife and a few animal fangs.

 

I dried off as best I could and put on my pelt and began moving towards the thickness of the forest. But before I did so I saw the two boys feverishly trying to make a fire to cook their meals.

 

I couldn't suppress the grin that merged with my face, knowing at least once I was helping not hurting. Even if it was just feeding someone and with that I left for my nest.