002 [Voice]

[hands4healing]

[Winry sounds agitated.]

All right, so there's a fog coming, and something's in the fog. Is that right? That's what I thought I read from Mr. Dog's last letter to everyone.

What could be in the fog that could hurt us?

And what did he mean, cursed?

Comments

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

[Winry sighs.]

It's hard to prepare for anything!

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Well, I didn't make the rules of this place, did I?

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

I didn't say you did!

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Then stop yellin' at me!

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

You stop yelling at me!

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Hey, you were the one doin' it first.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

[Reins herself in.]

Sorry. [Grumpy, but actually apologetic.]

I'm just...

[She hates admitting she's scared, and settles for.]

I hate not knowing what to do!

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Look, we just need to stick it out for a bit. Besides, the moon is with us right now. I'm ready for anything. On the off-chance I'm not, it'll buy time for you guys to get outta' here.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

[If you could see her headtilt, Akira.]

What does the moon have to do with anything?

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

It's kinda' important for werewolves.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

Werewolves? [Now she's really confused.]

What are werewolves?

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

I guess they don't have much in the way of horror fables in your world.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

[A short pause, while Winry considers how to answer that.]

Our stories are about soldiers, and war.

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

I'm a monster, basically.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

I've met monsters.

[You'll have to do better than that, Akira.]

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Tell you what. Meet me on the deck of the ship.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

All right!

[Her curiosity is on high.]

[Action]

[alwaysgrumpy]

[He's already up there, leaning against a bulk-head with his arms crossed.]

Yo.

[Action]

[hands4healing]

[Winry gives him a once-over.]

You don't look like a monster.

Re: [Action]

[alwaysgrumpy]

[He immediately slips off his shirt, then loosens his belt a few notches.]

Yeah, see, that's the thing.

[Unlike most horror movies, Akira's change is smooth and quick. Flesh gives way to fur as his body shifts forms. Soon a bi-pedal, eight-foot-tall beast in what used to be some very nice pants is standing before her.]

I don't always look the same.

[Action]

[hands4healing]

[Winry gapes for a few seconds, staring at the wolf in front of her.]

You're a chimera?!?!?

Re: [Action]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Chimera? The hell? No, I'm a werewolf.

[Action]

[hands4healing]

So, a werewolf is someone who changes to a wolf?

[Winry isn't frightened, she's more curious, and she tilts her head from one side to the other, to get a better look at Akira.]

Back home, I traveled with a man who could be a porcupine, and another was a frog. Ed knew two who were part lion and part gorilla, and Al says he met some people who were part dog, part ox and part snake. I guess, in your world, they'd be were-animals, too? But in Amestris, you'd be a chimera. How did you get like this? Did someone use alchemy and make you part wolf?

Re: [Action]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Exactly. I was born like this, it's a genetic trait. Frankly, I've never met any others of my kind, no less any were-anything-else.

Alchemy is a myth where I'm from. That shit all got disproven long ago. Though technically I'm not supposed to exist either, so I guess common thought isn't very good to go on.

[Action]

[hands4healing]

Really? Doesn't that get lonely, if you're the only one? And what about your parents? Were they werewolves, too?

[...]

Ed used to be an alchemist, back in our world.