Cast a Dark Shadow part 2
anonymous
March 9 2009, 08:21:39 UTC
Time passed, and the tiny country eventually stepped out into the frigid morning, trying not to think about the terrifying meeting and promise Winter had given to him. The sun shone down harmlessly though, and Canada hummed to himself softly as he tugged a small sled filled with fishing tools behind him. Today everything was calm, and the young nation eagerly made his way to the frozen lake for some much needed food. Sooner or later France would return to this land, and the child vowed he would be there to meet the older nation again.
Standing on the edge of the lake, Canada cautiously stepped onto the thick ice, searching for the best place to fish. His friends had taught him how to do it, and he had gotten very good, quickly boring a small hole and lowering his line.
The small nation lay down on his stomach, hands pillowing his chin as he kicked his legs back and forth, waiting. The lake was so quiet…
A bang startled Canada, and his eyes shot open. The child sat up realizing he had nodded off to sleep for a moment. A glance around, and Canada noticed that the wind had overturned his sled, skidding the craft a ways away from where he sat.
A chill went through Canada’s small frame but he shook his head and smiled uneasily. General Winter was not here.
Mustering courage, the tiny nation shimmied gradually across the ice, hand grabbing the cord on his sled and carefully righting it. Canada let out a soft sigh of relief. Now for the trip back.
Canada shifted his weight to turn around, and there was no warning for the crack like a cannon shot, and the icy plunge that suddenly dropped the solid world out from underneath him.
Cold!
The water was so freezing, his thoughts were a chattering whirlwind as his flailing hands searched frantically for the jagged edges of salvation, but stubby fingers only skimmed smooth, perfect ice.
The last thing he saw were dark, dark eyes, before his own light blue ones slowly slipped closed.
*
When his eyes opened again, it was like the awakening from a nightmare. Canada’s breaths came in puffs as the child stared up into the white, cloud-covered sky.
With a start, Canada realized he was back on the bank of the lake. “What?” His voice was hushed and a loud snuffle to his right made the blond boy turn his head in surprise.
A white bear cub sat beside him, staring down imperturbably.
Canada blinked and gingerly sat up. “D-did you save me?”
The bear blinked black eyes lazily back at him and then raised a paw to scratch behind its ear. Canada’s expression turned imploring at the animal.
“Was it really you…?”
The child’s breathless questions went unanswered, and Canada looked out across the silent snow-covered landscape.
He wondered if one day it would become his burial ground.
*
“France!”
“Ahh, mon petit!”
Canada smiled widely at France’s arrival and struggled not to shed happy tears when the strong nation patted his hair in greeting. The last vestiges of winter had faded away, and Canada managed to forget for a while the presence of that dark and frightening man.
Work in the settlements was of the utmost importance, and Canada hurried to make France proud. Even Kumajirou did some chores, and soon the colony was returned to its former glory.
With France, Canada was protected, safe… warm. But… sometimes France stayed with him… and sometimes the nation left and didn’t return for many, many years.
It was then that the creep of the cold nipped at his tiny fingers and nose with acute clarity, and Canada could not help but feel the shivers of death’s promise as he walked through the snowy woods.
The wind blew terribly and ice clung to his cloaks, but somehow his feet would bring him back to that place again, and Canada would swallow, stopping to stare at the route which led deep into the forest.
The path was always empty of footsteps. Was he the only one who had ever walked down it? He wondered if General Winter was standing there, in solitude, waiting. Did he wait there for the day that Canada would try to cross him?
The small colony felt scared, but at the same time he wanted to know if the dark figure of the man was there, in that clearing.
Canada turned away from the path, unable to form the courage to do more than look.
Standing on the edge of the lake, Canada cautiously stepped onto the thick ice, searching for the best place to fish. His friends had taught him how to do it, and he had gotten very good, quickly boring a small hole and lowering his line.
The small nation lay down on his stomach, hands pillowing his chin as he kicked his legs back and forth, waiting. The lake was so quiet…
A bang startled Canada, and his eyes shot open. The child sat up realizing he had nodded off to sleep for a moment. A glance around, and Canada noticed that the wind had overturned his sled, skidding the craft a ways away from where he sat.
A chill went through Canada’s small frame but he shook his head and smiled uneasily. General Winter was not here.
Mustering courage, the tiny nation shimmied gradually across the ice, hand grabbing the cord on his sled and carefully righting it. Canada let out a soft sigh of relief. Now for the trip back.
Canada shifted his weight to turn around, and there was no warning for the crack like a cannon shot, and the icy plunge that suddenly dropped the solid world out from underneath him.
Cold!
The water was so freezing, his thoughts were a chattering whirlwind as his flailing hands searched frantically for the jagged edges of salvation, but stubby fingers only skimmed smooth, perfect ice.
The last thing he saw were dark, dark eyes, before his own light blue ones slowly slipped closed.
*
When his eyes opened again, it was like the awakening from a nightmare. Canada’s breaths came in puffs as the child stared up into the white, cloud-covered sky.
With a start, Canada realized he was back on the bank of the lake. “What?” His voice was hushed and a loud snuffle to his right made the blond boy turn his head in surprise.
A white bear cub sat beside him, staring down imperturbably.
Canada blinked and gingerly sat up. “D-did you save me?”
The bear blinked black eyes lazily back at him and then raised a paw to scratch behind its ear. Canada’s expression turned imploring at the animal.
“Was it really you…?”
The child’s breathless questions went unanswered, and Canada looked out across the silent snow-covered landscape.
He wondered if one day it would become his burial ground.
*
“France!”
“Ahh, mon petit!”
Canada smiled widely at France’s arrival and struggled not to shed happy tears when the strong nation patted his hair in greeting. The last vestiges of winter had faded away, and Canada managed to forget for a while the presence of that dark and frightening man.
Work in the settlements was of the utmost importance, and Canada hurried to make France proud. Even Kumajirou did some chores, and soon the colony was returned to its former glory.
With France, Canada was protected, safe… warm. But… sometimes France stayed with him… and sometimes the nation left and didn’t return for many, many years.
It was then that the creep of the cold nipped at his tiny fingers and nose with acute clarity, and Canada could not help but feel the shivers of death’s promise as he walked through the snowy woods.
The wind blew terribly and ice clung to his cloaks, but somehow his feet would bring him back to that place again, and Canada would swallow, stopping to stare at the route which led deep into the forest.
The path was always empty of footsteps. Was he the only one who had ever walked down it? He wondered if General Winter was standing there, in solitude, waiting. Did he wait there for the day that Canada would try to cross him?
The small colony felt scared, but at the same time he wanted to know if the dark figure of the man was there, in that clearing.
Canada turned away from the path, unable to form the courage to do more than look.
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