Swords & Scars Original Concept

Chapter 3

Edward walked into town to get Rea more bandages and medicine. He was the only one with enough money to afford it. Rea tagged along with him to buy some food despite Kady's concerns. She got in line to buy some meat for burgers while Edward wandered off to buy what he came to town for. When he came back outside, a bag full of ointment and bandages in hand, he heard shouting from the direction he had left Rea in. She was smacking the man that ran the stall selling meat over the head with her pipe. She seemed to knock him unconscious before running off. Edward ran after her and grabbed her hand in hopes of that stopping her. "Rea, what's wrong?" He asked calmly. "He wouldn't sell me meat because I'm a girl." She responded. "We got into a fight as a result. I only knocked him unconscious. He'll live." Edward nodded, angry at the man even though he knew he would've done the same. He told her to wait while he went and bought meat. He returned shortly and they headed back to where they were staying.

~ ~ ~ ~

Rea washed the meat in a pot of water and pushed it into a circular shape. She cooked the meat and set them on buns before calling everyone to dinner. Everyone sat down at the small table as Rea set the plates down in front of everyone. "So the fearless lady that practices black magic is also a cook?" Edward asked. "Shut up, Ed." Rea responded in a playful tone. "Rea has always been good at cooking." Kady said. "She's the best cook ever!" Rea smiled. "I'm not the best cook. I just have a lot of experience." "Okay, well you're the best fifteen-year old cook." Kady added on. Kady and Rea laughed together. "I'm almost sixteen, so you can't say anything!" "Well, you turn sixteen in two days' time! And I'm turning seventeen shortly after, so..." The two of them kept laughing together and everyone dug in.

~ ~ ~ ~

Rea was wandering around in the woods on the edge of the property. They only had a few more hours to stay in the building before they'd be kicked out. It was still early morning, and no one else was awake yet when she left. She was hoping to pick fruits and berries so they wouldn't waste too much money on food and she had come across a black horse with a white underbelly. It was having trouble foaling, and she helped it deliver its baby. She named the horse Rain, and the colt Creek. She gave Rain one of the apples she picked and decided to keep them both as pets. She brought them back to the rented house and showed the two horses to Kady. Kady tried to ride Rain, but got bucked off instead. "Kady, are you okay?" Rea asked. "I'm fine, just surprised." Kady giggled. Rea climbed on Rain's back and led her around Kady, "That's weird. She's acting fine with me." Kady laughed quietly. Rea smiled and started walking Rain around the yard. Peaches sat off to the side, watching her with a sad expression. Rea slid off Rain's back and hugged him. Rea got back on Rain's back and rode her to her childhood home to see her mother. She told Kady where she was going beforehand and the others showed up not long after she did. Rea was sitting beside her mother's lifeless body when the others arrived. Her throat was slit, and Rea assumed it was Farter's doing from the bloody note that was in her mother's hand when she found her. She was sobbing beside her, and Kady did her best to comfort her. Alphonse and Edward took the body outside and buried it in the backyard next to her father's grave. Rea grieved, along with Kady, who had considered Rea's mom her own since her own mother died. Rea cried until she couldn't anymore. She just sat inside with Kady, Peaches, and her corgi, Cookie, and her cat, Bebe. Rea had all kinds of pets, which was why her mother bought such a big house. It felt empty without her mother though. She curled up with her animals and went to sleep. She didn't dream this time though. She almost didn't wake up.

~ ~ ~ ~

Edward went into Rea's room to wake her up for breakfast, and saw only a strand of her hair outside the blankets. "Rea..." He whispered softly. There was movement under the blankets as Rea sat up, her golden-brown eye red and puffy. "Hey, Ed." She said quietly, her voice scratchy from crying. She began to stand up, her legs wobbly, causing her to fall. Edward caught her and helped her to the kitchen. She ate very little before heading outside and feeding all her animals. There were more animals here than the last time she had visited. She returned to her room and recorded their species and names in a journal she had been keeping. [List of 25+ animals and names here.] Afterwards, she went to sleep. She woke up in a nightmare. Farter and Scar were killing her mother. This scene kept replaying, over and over. Edward entered her room to bring her lunch and saw her writhing around in her bed. He tried to wake her up, but it was a nightmare she couldn't wake up from until it was over. Her wound had reopened, and was bleeding quite a bit when she awoke. Rea nearly bled to death, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. She kept her bandages over the wound. She hated the scar that was left behind. It only reminded her of her mother's death. Edward helped take care of her until he and Alphonse had to leave to continue their research for their mission. Kady stayed with Rea out of worry. She left the room to try and make them both something to eat. Rea fell asleep while she was gone, finding herself in a dream she was enjoying. She felt happy here, and never wanted to wake up again. Little did she know, she was only there because she was dying. Kady came back into her room with a plate with two sandwiches on it, as she failed to make anything special. She set the plate on the edge of the bed and tried to wake Rea up, but she didn't budge. She was barely even breathing and her pulse was very faint. Kady pulled the blankets over her and hoped she'd be okay as she ate her sandwich. She laid down beside Rea when she finished and tried to go to sleep, telling herself everything would be fine.