Riza frowned at the gunshot and looked back at Roy. "We should hurry, sir. I don't like the sound of that shot..." she admitted before heading odd to the direction they heard it. A sinking feeling grew in the pit of her stomach at what could cause someone to shoot randomly in the middle of a city. Did it have anything to do with Fuery calling them? Roy immediately followed her, faintly hearing Edwards voice as he chewed someone out. He furrowed his eyebrows, now knowing they weren't far.
The MP dropped his gun, looking frantic before disappearing into the building. What had he just done? "Wait!" Al didn't waist any time, using alchemy to make a doorway in the wall and chased after the MP into the abandoned building. Nova slowly shifted back into her human self, balled up and tightly holding her side, where the bullet hit her. Her beanie still covering her ears. "This is why I hate the city.." She murmured. Edward placed a hand over top hers, trying to still the bleeding when Riza and the Colonel appeared. Why were they here? "Colonel!" Edward called to the man dressed in a blue uniform. Nova grit her teeth. "I can stop the bleeding..but..you're not gonna like it." She murmured quietly. Edward glanced down at her when he heard her, watching as she slowly brought her hands together.
The blonde moved his hands just in time for her to clap her hands together and press them into the wound, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth in pain as she did so. Edward watched as the light from her alchemy faded. "Amazing.." He murmured quietly. Nova glanced at him with a small smirk. "All I did..was stop the bleeding.." She murmured quietly. "It won't last long.." Riza slowly approached the pair. "You still need a doctor, then." She said casually. Nova slowly shifted so she could sit up, and shook her head. "No hospitals.." She murmured. Ed frowned some.
Al finally caught the guy just after passing Riza, grabbing his arm. Roy paused and rose an eyebrow. "What's the meaning of this?" He asked, knowing the younger of the Elrics wouldn't have done so without reason. Watching as Al brought the MP to him. "I'm sorry sir, I saw the boys being cornered by a wild animal and my hand slipped.." He explained. Roy narrowed his eyes and grabbed the guy by the collar of his uniform, and pointed to Nova with his free hand. "Does she look like a wild animal to you?! Why didn't you call your commanding officer?" He scolded, angry. "S-she had the form of a wolf, sir! I thought it'd be too late if I didn't act." Roy let him go. "Report to headquarters." He ordered plainly, watching as the man scurried off.
Roy approached the trio glancing down at Nova. "Changing forms on us now?" He asked cautiously. "Something else you were born with?" He asked. They were alone, so he didn't mind if she told him. "The officer claimed you were a wolf, and he panicked, thinking you were a threat to Fullmetal and his brother." He stated. "I understand that probably wasn't the case, but other people don't know that." Nova shook her head and gently placed a hand over where she had been shot moments ago. "No sir.. I didn't have the ability to change forms until after the eastern military locked me up in their lab." She murmured quietly. "It was a rebound of last night's events.. I'm sorry for troubling you and your Lt." Edward gave Nova's shoulder a squeeze, frowning at what she told then. "Do you think this happened because they experimented on you?" he asked gently.
Riza didn't like the way Nova seemed ashamed. At her apology, she shook her head. "It wasn't a trouble, Nova. I'm honestly glad that it was the Colonel and I who found you, rather than someone else. Despite what we seem, you can count on us to have your back. We're not perfect, but we'll be here for you." She spoke softly, but honestly as she stood Nova was a little surprised when Riza spoke. She glanced at Edward when he spoke and lowered her head. "It's possible.." She murmured, honestly not knowing. For all she knew, the gene kicked in all on its own after being in that place. She shivered some just from thinking about it. Roy nodded in agreement with Riza. "We were in the area anyway, and you're safe. That's all that matters." He spoke, glancing at her. "Answer me one question Nova; do you have enough control over your other form, or are you a threat to my officers?"
Nova lowered her head enough for her bangs to cover her eyes as he spoke, and Al stood behind his friend. "What are you saying Colonel?" He asked, not liking how his words seemed to be attacking her, even if he didn't mean to come across like so. Edward's head shot up the moment the Colonel asked Nova that question, his eyes glaring at him as he nodded, agreeing with his brother. "Edward, Alphonse, think about this for a moment." Riza spoke up, seeing what Roy was getting at. "Imagine someone other than you two find her in her other form. There is a risk that she won't see us as allies as she sees you two. There is a possibility she could attack us before realizing who we are." She explained to them. Al couldn't help but be upset, even if they had a point. His hand balled and he lowered his head. Thinking back on it, if Edward hadn't talked to her like he had, there was a chance she could have attacked them as well.
Roy kept his eyes on the young girl, ignoring Edwards evident anger at his chosen words and waiting for her answer. "...I can't answer that, Colonel." Nova murmured quietly. "I've only got enough control to deal with so much, and I could very well attack one of your men." She answered honestly. Roy was impressed by her honesty, and nodded some. "Show me then, as a test. If you pass, I'll let you go back Maes with Fullmetal and Alphonse. Fail, and you'll have to put up with me and my men until further notice." He said. Yes, he vowed to protect her, but he also had his men to think about. Riza didn't know how the say turned so around, but listening to Nova and Roy, she narrowed her eyes at him. " Sir? You just can't ask her to switch like that!" she scolded him, wondering what he was thinking. Plus, she just finished healing herself. She still needed a doctor!
"You're insane!" Edward's outrage matched Lt. Hawkeye's scolding tone as he clenched his fists. "She was in pain when she transformed, and you're just expecting her do it at will like this! Her wound could open too!" He didn't want Nova to go into pain again. Hell, he didn't even know if she was able to change at will. Roy glanced at Riza. "What else do you think I should do then? If she attacks one of my men, there's a chance she'll be in even worse condition than the condition we found her in." He then glanced at the overprotective Elric brothers. Nova couldn't help but to start laughing at how the situation turned. "So that's how it is." She murmured quietly after a moment. She would've agreed to it to, if not for Al picking her up like she a mere feather. Which surprised her enough to look at him with wide eyes. "Alphonse?" She murmured quietly.
"We can take her back to Resembool. Scar's gone and she won't be a threat to anyone back home. We're a family there. She needs a doctor too, Colonel." He said calmly, trying to de-escalate the situation. Edward rubbed his temples, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Is there no other way to ensure she's safe around others?" he asked the Colonel. As much as he hated the thought of it, he could see the man's point. "Nova, it's your choice in the end..." He was going to get a lecture from Al about this, he knew it. Riza frowned, nodding her head. She knew he had a point, she saw why he asked, and knew it had to be done. But that didn't meant she liked it. "I know, I know..." she sighed in resignation. "Al... I understand you're protective of her, but the Colonel does have a point." She spoke quietly. "It would be best if she's familiar with us in her other form, just in case we're the ones who do find her in such a condition..." Roy didn't like it either, both parties were caught at the end of a double-bladed knife. It was the only way he could think of to ensure everyone's safety. He glanced at Edward and shook his head, then glanced back at Nova and Alphonse.
Nova looked up at Al with an apologetic smile and put a hand on his metal torso. "It's okay, Al.. Put me down." She murmured quietly. When he silently did so and moved to stand beside his brother, Nova looked at the Colonel and the Lt. Colonel and nodded her head. "If I should attack you, don't hesitate. That's all I ask.. Oh, and Edward, you might wanna close up the wall." She said, taking a few steps back and closing her eyes. The change happened quickly this time, since she wasn't holding it back, but she briefly grit her teeth before shifting into the form of her brown wolf. Edward gritted his teeth, but did as she asked, closing the wall up and stood next to Al. They couldn't interfere with this. Either Nova recognized them in her wolf form, or she attacked them, and they attacked back to protect themselves. "I really don't like this." He gritted out quietly. Al lowered his head and stood silently.
Riza stood next to Roy, trying to keep herself relaxed. She watched in awe as Nova transformed before her eyes. "Beautiful." She murmured, unable to stop herself, but she remained next to Roy, unmoving. This was the form she first met the girl in, before shooting her in order to knock her out. Roy watched as well, restraining himself and trying to keep calm as to not set her off. Riza had Black Hayate and she had to explain to him that animals could smell fear and if they did, it causes the animal to lash out in fear. Even if you meant them no harm, their senses were heightened. Now in her wolf form, Nova stared down the military officers. She growled at them in a way that wasn't really threatening, it was more so a way to try and intimate them.
Riza stared back at Nova, finding herself calming down internally as she slowly bent her knees, bringing her to the same level as Nova. "It's okay. Take all the time you need." she spoke in a gentle, calming voice. Keeping every movement slow and her body language unthreatening. Edward lightly tapped his brother's chest, making sure not to distract Nova and the officers, giving him a knowing smile. They both didn't like this, but they trusted Nova, and Edward hoped this encounter wasn't going to ruin everything. Al glanced at his brother and nodded lightly, wearing a small invisible smile, knowing exactly how his brother felt.
Nova stepped back as the woman lowered herself, then hesitantly lifted her nose to sniff her. She faintly caught her own scent on the woman before her, sounding a quiet and curious whine as she spoke. Riza smiled at Nova's whine, slowly holding her hand out in a non-threatening way. "It's okay, you know us, Nova. Just take your time." She spoke softly, keeping her tone gentle. She had to go with Nova's actions, she was the one in charge, not her or Roy. " Colonel, you're going to have to relax more." She spoke softly, not taking her eyes off Nova.
Edward watched, almost entranced at Nova and how she was reacting to the two adults. He was ready to act if things went sideways, but this was amazing to witness. Roy blinked when Riza suddenly called him out, and frowned some. Why was she so calm? How? People don't have ears or turn into animals! This was crazy! And even though he already knew that, witnessing it didn't make it any easier to deal with. He slowly inhaled through his nose as he attempted to relax.
Nova watched the woman, taking a step back when she began to hold out her hand, ears lowering only slightly. Her head briefly turned to the man when he shifted some and she growled, to which Roy paused. Riza watched calmly and let out a small breath. "Roy, slowly come to your knees, keep your eyes locked on her, but keep yourself open. Don't go rigid, be relaxed. Remember how Lt. colonel Hughes interacted with her? Keep that in mind." She instructed softly, keeping her arm out. "Nova, he's trying to relax, this isn't something he's used to, he's no threat to you either, I promise." She continued in her calming, soft spoken tone, hoping -by some miracle- she could get these two to relax. Roy slowly did so, and kept his eyes on the wolf. Right.. Despite how she looked, this wolf was in tune a child with a wolf's form.
Nova's fuzzy ears twitched slightly at the woman's voice and she turned her head back to Riza, sounding a quiet whine. She slowly stepped towards her with her tail lowered to the ground and lifted her muzzle to sniff her hand once more, only a bit closer and her nose barely poked her hand. Riza smiled softly, letting Nova smell her. She didn't move to touch her, not until Nova gave her permission to do so. "That's right, you know who we are, just take it slowly." She spoke gently and slowly held her other hand out to Roy. "Non-threatening, she's the one in charge. Don't try touching her, let her come to you." She told him softly. Nova tilted her head to the side as she spoke, touching her nose to the palm of her hand and sounding a quiet whine for attention from the woman. However, when she noticed Roy's hand moving she retreated back towards the brothers a bit, growling at him. He was intimidating, even when trying to relax. He reminded her of the men she escaped from and this form was acting on it.
Roy had slowly moved his hands towards the hand Rizs had held out, when the wolf retreated. He listened to Riza's words and kept his eyes on Nova. If this was a dominance thing, they could be here a while. Riza inwardly sighed when Nova moved away from her, but nudged Roy a little. "Remember, gentle, try thinking her as a child, be soft, be gentle." She smiled at him encouragingly, and wiggled her fingers a little, trying to coax Nova back. "Its alright, Nova, he's trying. He's more soldier, but he's trying to show you no harm. I promise." She spoke softly with a kind smile to the wolf. Nova's ears twitched as the woman spoke to the man, then tilted her head as she began to wiggle her fingers and whined quietly when addressed by the woman. The woman, she liked, the man.. Not so much. Nova turned in a circle and turned her attention to the man.