East Bound - Russia x Germany

A Tree Without A Trunk

"So where are you going?" The girl whispered to Russia, while I pretended to sleep. Better them talk freely. The warmth of the central stove was so nice after the sharp cold of the snow outside. The reindeer hide and wood tent held up remarkably against the winds.

"To Pevek," Russia's hoarse voice sounded. "Then...to Sakhalin. I pretty much made this whole route up from scratch. Don't even know where we are."

"I can take you guys to Cherskii," Yakutia offered, shaking her head. "But after that, I don't know the terrain much. And we're near Tiksi, so the winds are bad."

"Figured as much," he agreed. Out of the corner of my eye, I could make out their faces against the fire that casted shadows across the yurt. Without his thick fur coat, Russia looked thin and scraggly next to Yakutia's well fed form swathed in hides.

"What's with your friend?" Ah, the good part. I always felt self conscious, now I wanted to know what people thought of me.

"Who? Germany?"

"Yeah. He seems very unfit for arctic travelling." Her tone was more worried than disapproving. "What were you thinking of dragging him along with you?"

"Listen, it's not my fault," came Russia's gravelly hiss. "I was all set for a very uneventful train ride from Berlin to Sakhalin. I didn't expect some sort of adventure trip over the 72nd parallel!" He broke into a hacking cough at the end. Yakutia didn't press further, but stared into the fire. I shut my eyes once more and tried not to succumb to the inviting warmth. It was easy to just drift off, sprawled on a carpet of softness. Some minutes of silence passed before Yakutia spoke again.

"Is your father worried?" Her whisper was so light, I had to strain to hear.

"Probably. I don't know," he breathed back. "I don't know."

"Its almost January, you know," the news hit me almost as bad as Russia. I made a small audible grunt to hide my surprise. It went unnoticed, thankfully.

"No!" He wailed.

"Yes!" She replied with equal urgency. "How long have you been travelling?"

"We started in October," he said. "Father might think I've forgotten him and just turned around."

"Well, don't worry," she said, as if that helped him. "I'll get you to Pevek, if it's the last thing I do."

"Thanks," he smiled. "Its nice to know that someone's helping us."

"Of course." She churred like an owl. "You're my friend."

"So how long do you think this journey will take us?" He asked, wrapping the black blanket up to his chin. The reflection of the flames looked glassy in his lavender eyes.

"If we don't stop, then less than two weeks, I'm sure of it." Yakutia said confidently. "That's if you cooperate."

"What do you mean, if I cooperate?" He said incredulous. "I always do."

"No." She laughed. "You're as stubborn as a reindeer." He didn't answer and they both looked into the fire. Russia yawned loudly. I was about to fall asleep when her voice cut in again.

"Your friend looks troubled." She noted.

"What do you mean?"

"He is like a tree without a trunk."

"What?" He asked, this time sharply.

Struggling to keep looking asleep, I squinted into the semi darkness. "A Tree. Without a trunk. He has roots and leaves, but nothing in between.