Ashes to Ashes

[Latvia]

Latvia coughed harshly, sputtering at the foul taste of ash in the air. Pulling the thin scarf up higher on his face in an effort, the small nation couldn’t help but remember the good old days. Even his time in the Soviet Union seemed like smiles and sunshine compared to this… This hell.

As he shifted the pack on his back, Latvia took another look at his surroundings. He was in a valley walking along a river choked with dreary gray ash. His scarf helped to protect his throat and lungs from the clogged air, but he knew the rest of his body wasn’t being spared from the onslaught. Pausing by the river, he tried to catch of glimpse of what he looked like at the moment.

The ash didn’t improve the river’s ability to reflect anything, that is for sure. Not that he needed a reflection to tell. He could feel the ash that had settled in his hair, making it appear to be a dark gray color as opposed to it’s usual dull blond. His eyes seemed to almost always be red and tearing up these days, sensitive to the harsh air. In fact, he had a few clear tracks running down his cheeks as the moisture washed away portions of his face. His clothing: covered in ash. Any exposed skin: not quite exposed any more. It was covered in a layer of ash as well.

All this ash was making him depressed.

Setting his pack down on the ground, Latvia plopped himself down next to it. It took a moment for the ever-present layer of ash to settle around him, but it did. He was just so tired. So alone. He wanted to go home. Or, more importantly, to have a home to go to. Or even just someone who wouldn’t hurt him to keep him company. Actually, more like someone who would protect him.

You know what? Screw it. He just wanted someone. Anyone would do, really.

Sighing, he raised a hand to wipe away the tears streaking down his face, just barely stopping himself before he got more ash in the sensitive organs. In stead, he curled in to a ball, resting his chin on his knees.

“I’m t-tired…” he mumbled to himself, trying to fill the silence. The overwhelming silence. Letting his eyes droop, he continued staring off in to the distance. Maybe a short nap wouldn’t do any harm…

Too bad the ash was like snow: it seemed to engulf all sound as it fell.

[Finland]

Click. Tino's shaking hands checked the ammunition once more, before he left what was now his home—an abandoned shop. Tightening the flimsy paper-mask once more, he looked over at Hanatamago. The little dog wagged his tail and the Nordic smiled before pushing the door open, slinging his bag over one shoulder, then the next. He was going to go searching again today. Making sure that Hanatamago went out before him, Tino then turned and shut the door, securing it with a large plank of wood. With that the Finn set off, over the ashy ground and under the permanent grey sky. His thoughts traveled as he did. 'The first person I really need to find is Peter.' A frown. 'I hope he's alright, please let him be alright...' Though in his current condition, Tino would be happy to find any sign of life besides Hanatamago. He'd been searching around the perimeter for about a week's time, going farther and farther each day in the hopes to find someone who was still alive and hadn't succumbed to Death's sweet kiss. So far, all the Finn had found were bones. Whether they were the bones of people or animals, he had no way to tell.

Crunch, crunch, SNAP. The man cringed as he felt a few branches underfoot crack. It was an unsettlingly loud noise in a world completely devoid of noise. He hated the noise of cracking branches, it gave away his presence and sounded a horrible lot like the crack of a body breaking. He looked about. Trees, trees, a river, more dead trees. So far, nothing worth noting. That is, until Hanatamago's ears pricked up and he stilled. Tino looked at the dog and murmured, “What is it boy? What is it?” The dog's little jowels quivered and he ran off in one direction, yipping. Startled, for Tino hadn't expected that, he ran after the furball. “Hana! Hana, wait! Where are y--” Tino's voice cut off as he caught sight of what looked to be a figure. A human figure. The Finn felt his heartbeat skyrocket in his chest.

“Hei! Oletko kunnossa?” He called in Finnish first, in case it was one of his people that had actually survived. Then, in English. “Hello? Are you alright?” As he walked closer, he could make out the form of a child. Again his heartbeat skyrocketed. More to himself than anything, he whispered, “Peter, if that's you...please be alright.” No doubt his mothering instincts would kick in anyways, even if the figure didn't turn out to be his 'son'. The closer the Finn got, the more he hoped, the more he prayed. He knew the chances of finding another person were slim, so actually finding one was amazing. As soon as he got up to the figure though, he felt his heart plummet into his stomach this time. “...Raivis?!” He gasped, “Oh my god...come here. You poor thing.” The Finn held out a hand and waited for the boy to take it. He looked so scared, so sad, so grey with the ash all around him. So thin. Thinner than Tino remembered. But then, a lot of things had changed since the last time he'd seen the Latvian.

[Latvia]

Just as he fell to the brink of sleep, Raivis heard a voice. Honest to goodness, it nearly gave him a heart attack. The silence does things to a person like that. Turning, he couldn’t withhold the elated smile that graced his face. “T-T-Tino? Is that r-r-really you?” He took the offered hand gratefully, not wanting anything else but to hug the mother father of his best friend.

No that he actually would, of course. Not unless a hug was offered first. Raivis was just as shy as ever, even when he was desperate for the company of others. That was something he doubted he would ever get over, even until the day he died. It was just something that was in his nature, to tell the truth.

On a more important subject, Raivis’s curiousity regarding the safety of his dearest friend was coming to mind. Hopefully asking wouldn’t bring up any issues, but that was a risk he was willing to take. “H-How’s P-P-Peter f-f-faring?” He stuttered out, nervousness leaking through his voice. There was a desperate gleam shining out of his red, watery eyes. Eyes that wouldn’t stop blinking in an effort to expel foreign contaminants. Oh how he wanted a bath! He would give almost anything for a nice, hot bath and a warm meal right now.

He would give almost anything for a lot of things, really. Not that he really had anything to give.

[Finland]

"Yes Raivis, it's me.” A worried smile pushed into Tino's lips, though Raivis probably couldn't see it behind the mask. "Here, I have another mask with me...” Gently wiping the boy's face off with a hankerchief carried in his pocket, the Finn then helped him put it on, after helping him to his feet. The smile faltered at the mention of Peter. "I-I don't know, actually. I sort of...we got seperated.” Darn it, his hands were shaking again. "I'm sure he's alright and with Sweden though...” 'Oh god, I hope he's with Sverige. Please let him be with Sverige.' To keep himself from crying, the man looked down at Hanatamago, who was hovering at their feet, his tail wagging. That made him smile again, and he was able to look back at Raivis. "...Oh, you need food and a bath and...come on, follow me.” Turning, he looked back at the trees.

"Do you, um...” Tino paused for a moment. "...Know where we are?” It felt a little awkward asking, but the blonde needed to know. Tino started walking forewards, Hanatamago running ahead of him. The little dog was probably excited because Raivis was there. Tino couldn't blame him; the Latvian boy was the first sign of life they'd seen beside other animals. And those animals they'd seen anyways; most of them ended up as their dinner. It wasn't like Tino wanted to kill the animals, but...food was scarce. He did what he could. Tino kept walking along the burnt trees, pausing every so often to make sure that Raivis was behind him. Luckily enough, he remembered which way he'd come, so getting back wouldn't be too hard. There was the log he'd had to duck under, there was the tree he'd had to step over. There was the beginning of the abandoned town again. Good, they were almost back. Glancing backwards again, Tino paused as Hanatamago did. The little fluffball stood staring into what seemed like nothing for a moment, alert. But then, he went right back to normal and moved on. Raising a brow, Tino hoped there was nothing out there...Moving on, he re-opened the barricaded door and motioned for Raivis to go first.