Generation NeXt

Laura’s pretty sure someone’d have mentioned a big fancy hotel going up in Mister Otis’ wheatfield. She studies it carefully, her hand resting on Sakae’s broad, gray back. Sakae isn’t worried, at least, and she’s a country dog, used to being expected to know what’s dangerous and what’s harmless. Her ease is a good sign.

Laura tilts her head, then looks back the way she came, frowning. Tom’s Creek isn’t there anymore, the hard beaten dirt track she’s always followed up to Mister Otis’ house simply gone. She stiffens, her pulse loud in her ears, and forces herself to take a good long breath. And then another.

“Sakae,” she says, leaning down the short distance to the huge wolfhound’s pointed ears, “Where’s Riza, Sakae? Find Riza.”

Laura Hadley is the adopted daughter of Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye, from Fullmetal Alchemist. (Sakae is one of Riza's dogs.)

The front door swings open and Hannah, broom in hand, storms inside mumbling angrily to herself. As she begins to sweep the foyer in broad, furious strokes, it is some moments before she slows and raises her eyes to actually look at her surroundings. Lifting the broom off the ground, she clutches it protectively in both hands as she advances cautiously down the hall. All she's sure of is that her house isn't half so big as this.