Book 3 - Retrievers

XLIV - Chip Off the Ear

Texas shakes against him for a moment before letting go. Alabama and Mississippi follow suit. Mississippi says something that looks like "thank you" as he leaves. 

Texas sits next to America and stiffly leans against him. America doesn't move. Alabama begins sorting through some of the firewood out of the pile and Mississippi starts digging through their bags.

"Dad?" Texas asks, his voice shaky.

America scowls. He shifts and pulls Texas down with an arm around his shoulder. Texas burrows his face into America's chest. America grumbles.

Russia tosses his bag to the ground and takes out the phone. He reads the screen and his face drops.

No service.

'Shit.'

Russia looks around to see Ukraine shaking. He stands up and helps Ukraine down to the ground.

'We can't have anyone passing out. Not now.'

"Hey," Russia soothes, "just sit down for a minute."

Ukraine mutely leans into Russia's grip. Russia lowers him slowly. Once Ukraine is on the floor, Russia returns his attention to Finland, who is laid out on the floor with Florida and Kansas holding her legs up.

"Ruby?"

Russia's ears perk up and he turns around, curious.

"Yes?"

"Are there any magic sources nearby? At least, ones that we could use?"

Russia takes a deep breath to soothe the anxiety that raises to the idea.

"I want to make sure nothing is following us over here before I go searching," Russia compromises, trying to soothe the fear rising in his throat.

"That makes sense."

Russia walks around the trees, creeping in the shadows. After a few steps, the only light that remains is the moonlight from the cloudy sky above. He slips up the trees and quickly bounds across the branches. It's a quick journey back to the edge. He looks across and sees some magic users summoning a sphere around the thrashing, bloody dog creature.

They don't seem to be looking in his direction.

'Hopefully, they think we fell.'

Russia offers his side of the crevasse one last cursory glance. Something shiny and metallic catches his eye. The urge to investigate fills his mind. Russia looks at the magic users and the guards exiting the door. The guards look down into the pit. Then, one of their heads pops up to the tree line. His ears pin back and he ducks behind a nearby trunk. He waits for a second, the ringing in his head his only company.

He peaks back around to see the creature lashing out and attacking the guards. Russia smirks a little to himself as it rips one of the guards apart.

'This is my chance.'

Russia runs out on all fours, creeping in the brush. As he gets closer, he recognizes the shiny thing. It's Finland's machine gun.

'I have to get it. She lost her arm trying to get it.'

Russia creeps up when a screech rings out. Russia's ears pin back and he falls to the ground, his tail puffed up. He looks through the grass and sees one of the magic users being thrown into the pit. Russia reaches out and shuffles slowly. He grabs the barrel and pulls it toward him. Once it's to his stomach, he stalks back to the tree line on his free hand and feet. His ears are perked up, alert.

A gunshot rings out, and his ear burns.

'Owww.'

He bites his tongue to keep from crying out. Instead, he lays out and plays dead. Ructious laughter rings out behind him. Blood creeps into his fur and reaches his face. It trickles down his cheek and in his hair.