Cast a Dark Shadow part 5
anonymous
March 9 2009, 08:26:46 UTC
He arrived sooner than he had thought possible, and quickly latched the door, swiftly going to his window. Outside a blizzard raged. He didn’t know why he did it, but the young nation stood there for a long, long time, searching for the dark shadows in the blinding white.
General Winter was hard on him sometimes, and life got difficult, but… he got smarter, stronger. The growing nation learned.
Winter stayed longer that year.
*
Footsteps crunched into the familiar deep snow, the strides long and purposeful, bringing the figure through the woods towards that destination. A blond head of hair was the only lively colour amongst the cool shades of the season.
Canada was tall in the midst of the trees, a far cry from the tiny frightened child he had once been. His newly acquired wire-frame glasses fogged rhythmically with every breath he took, light blue eyes searching for the presence of that dark shadow of a man he had met on a cold, cold night so long ago.
He broke through the overgrown foliage and the adult nation saw him there.
“Winter…” Canada breathed.
Dark eyes struck his and Canada could tell that the General was not happy. The tension of defiance stretched thin between them like the most fragile bows of ice. But he wouldn’t turn away this time. He had no more fear, he had no more excuses - he had orders from his newest bosses.
“I’ll be walking down there today.” The nation nodded towards the path beyond, ignoring his growing apprehension. “I have to see what’s out there.”
The crack of a hundred breaking branches thundered through the forest and General Winter turned to face Canada fully, his voice a nonnegotiable command.
“You must not.”
The order swept over the clearing and the blond forced himself not to wilt, squaring his shoulders and turning imploring eyes to the man he had known for so much of his life.
“I…” Canada’s tone was apologetic, and whether it was directed at himself or the General was unclear. “…I have to.” He said, and walked past the General on that snowy path to head deeper into the land he had never explored before.
The first few steps were an exhilaration as well as terrifying, and amazement flooded Canada when winter did not immediately intervene.
It did not last long though, and dismay prickled in his fingertips when the snow at his feet became jagged. Canada tripped slightly, but kept walking, chin held up in determination.
The wind began to whip savagely, throwing hail like daggers at his unprotected cheeks, and the nation pressed his lips tight together, raising a hand to shield his face, still moving forward.
The forest floor turned into sheets of ice and this time the nation did fall. Hard. His palms dug against the harsh ground as he skidded down the small slope of the path.
“Aah-!” A gasp tore itself from the blond’s throat after he stopped tumbling and eyes widened in shock as the nation looked up to see General Winter begin to walk after him.
Panic flaring in his chest, Canada struggled to his feet and began to run.
General Winter’s voice echoed all around him. “You will not!”
Canada’s breaths came in puffs as he ran blindly through the storm. He dodged drifts and stumbled as the gusts of wind threatened to send him to his knees. He broke through a sharp gate of icicles that leapt up to keep him from escape - and suddenly stopped.
The edge of a cliff face loomed before him, and Canada’s heart seized, chest heaving as he realized there was no where left to run. It was one instant, frozen in time, and standing at the edge of death, he felt more alive than he had ever before.
The chill of the cold touched at his shoulder, and he knew who was behind him. Canada smiled slightly and the first tears slipped over his cheeks.
General Winter was hard on him sometimes, and life got difficult, but… he got smarter, stronger. The growing nation learned.
Winter stayed longer that year.
*
Footsteps crunched into the familiar deep snow, the strides long and purposeful, bringing the figure through the woods towards that destination. A blond head of hair was the only lively colour amongst the cool shades of the season.
Canada was tall in the midst of the trees, a far cry from the tiny frightened child he had once been. His newly acquired wire-frame glasses fogged rhythmically with every breath he took, light blue eyes searching for the presence of that dark shadow of a man he had met on a cold, cold night so long ago.
He broke through the overgrown foliage and the adult nation saw him there.
“Winter…” Canada breathed.
Dark eyes struck his and Canada could tell that the General was not happy. The tension of defiance stretched thin between them like the most fragile bows of ice. But he wouldn’t turn away this time. He had no more fear, he had no more excuses - he had orders from his newest bosses.
“I’ll be walking down there today.” The nation nodded towards the path beyond, ignoring his growing apprehension. “I have to see what’s out there.”
The crack of a hundred breaking branches thundered through the forest and General Winter turned to face Canada fully, his voice a nonnegotiable command.
“You must not.”
The order swept over the clearing and the blond forced himself not to wilt, squaring his shoulders and turning imploring eyes to the man he had known for so much of his life.
“I…” Canada’s tone was apologetic, and whether it was directed at himself or the General was unclear. “…I have to.” He said, and walked past the General on that snowy path to head deeper into the land he had never explored before.
The first few steps were an exhilaration as well as terrifying, and amazement flooded Canada when winter did not immediately intervene.
It did not last long though, and dismay prickled in his fingertips when the snow at his feet became jagged. Canada tripped slightly, but kept walking, chin held up in determination.
The wind began to whip savagely, throwing hail like daggers at his unprotected cheeks, and the nation pressed his lips tight together, raising a hand to shield his face, still moving forward.
The forest floor turned into sheets of ice and this time the nation did fall. Hard. His palms dug against the harsh ground as he skidded down the small slope of the path.
“Aah-!” A gasp tore itself from the blond’s throat after he stopped tumbling and eyes widened in shock as the nation looked up to see General Winter begin to walk after him.
Panic flaring in his chest, Canada struggled to his feet and began to run.
General Winter’s voice echoed all around him. “You will not!”
Canada’s breaths came in puffs as he ran blindly through the storm. He dodged drifts and stumbled as the gusts of wind threatened to send him to his knees. He broke through a sharp gate of icicles that leapt up to keep him from escape - and suddenly stopped.
The edge of a cliff face loomed before him, and Canada’s heart seized, chest heaving as he realized there was no where left to run. It was one instant, frozen in time, and standing at the edge of death, he felt more alive than he had ever before.
The chill of the cold touched at his shoulder, and he knew who was behind him. Canada smiled slightly and the first tears slipped over his cheeks.
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