Early on, there's one ponytailed blond kid loitering around the perimeter who looks anything but calm. Nor does he look much like he should be wandering out here by himself rather than staying securely inside the camp, if his height is any indication. To his credit, Ed had intended to help keep an eye out when he'd seen for himself how many little kids were caught up in this mess... but out of sight is out of mind, at least while the situation is still relatively calm, and there's more than enough else on his mind to occupy him.

"I don't need to do this," he mutters to himself as he walks along, hands in his pockets and hunched over like the quintessential teenager. "I don't owe them a damn thing..."

Frustrated, he kicks savagely at a nearby rock, not bothering to glance up and check whether anyone is in its path first.