A/N: Why am I like this.

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Hugo's eyes set in determination as he quickly swung his arms to gain momentum and let go, flying and landing his hands on more branches. He quickly got close enough and caught Yong's arm, adrenaline fueling him along with pure desperation as he swung the short small boy upwards towards a cliff, Yong quickly scurried up the steep ledge.

A bison horn caught Hugo's leg and he screamed and groaned as he fell.

Right into the stampede.

" HUGO!!!!!!!" Varian screeched.

The dust had become too thick to see nothing but vague moving bodies of bison. Varian's eyes scanned and searched every inch of the ravine, hoping and praying Hugo would come out.

Suddenly, the blonde boy leapt from the depths of the dusty highway. Latching on to a solid hold of rock, his pants tattered and blood oozed from his cuts and bruises. Brown muddy dust caked onto his hair and body.

Moving one arm at a time, the boy's arm muscles strained as he made his way up the cliff. Varian let one tear slide out as he smiled a breathy sigh of relief.

******                                                                         *                              *                                                                  ******

https://youtu.be/nKSsLEYc1xs

( Play music at 1:50 )

The alchemist scrambled to the edge of the branch and held out his hand.

Hugo slowly but strongly climbed up the cliff, the teen was only a hair's reach from the cart. The boy reached out his arm to connect to Varian's hand, Hugo's face wearing a small tired smile.

When suddenly, the sickening sound of rock cracking and sliding echoed around them. Hugo's green eyes wore that of despair as he looked at Varian.

Hugo's hold on the cliff suddenly fell, and the boy screamed as he tumbled, far far far below. Into the stampede.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Varian's raw voice screamed as tears spilled over his eyes and down his face.

The last of the bison hurried out of the gorge. Varian slid down the rock with Yong and Nuru behind him. The boy ran into the cloud of dust.

" HUGO? HUGO WHERE ARE YOU?" His voice called out, raw from screaming. Varian jogged through the fog, searching behind boulders.

" HUGO! COME ON, PLEASE! ANSWER ME!"

A hand gently grabbed the boy's shoulder. " Varian." Nuru said. The boy turned his head to see tears in the girl's wide eyes as she pointed.

Varian narrowed his eyes to see what she pointed at.

In the dusty fog, you could barely make out a shape.

" Is that..."

A body on the ground.

" No...." Varian whispered, a hollow sound.

Hugo.

The raven haired alchemist let out a strangled sob as he quickly ran to the boy on the ground.

" Hugo..." He whispered. He kneeled down and brought his head in his lap. Hugo's banged up, beaten, bruised body was warm and yet, his skin was ashen. He was quiet and still.

" Come on, you gotta get up." Varian's scratchy voice whispered. " Come on, Hugo. Wake up."

His voice was teasing, but tears cascaded down the boy's face.

" Please, no."

" HELP! SOMEBODY!" Varian screamed into the gorge. Yong and Nuru were quiet as they stared, tears in their eyes.

" Anybody...." Varian sobbed quietly. " help."

A small voice whispered in his ear. " Varian."

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A/N: YEP! That's right, I left the ending open ended so it can be interpreted by you. Who called Varian's name? Nuru or Yong? Or...Hugo? Did he really die? If he did, who called his name? 

Hope you enjoyed!