In the woods (Countryhuman)

21

Dad. Why are we so, . . . different, from everyone else?

Because we are different.

There is a place where there are 'people' like us.

Really?! Can we go?

By the time the countries were up on the second floor, Australia had already finished the page of a book he found. Upon hearing the footsteps coming, the blue country looked up at them.

"I didn't know you had 'The Fish and the Ring' and 'Nix Naught Nothing'." Aussie said, mostly to China.

"I do?" It was then he took a closer look at the book. At reading the letters, his brow furrowed in minor confusion. "Mind if I-" "Sure."

Book now in hand, China showed it to the rest. Germany recognized two of the letters. South Africa noticed the style they were written in. "That reminds me." The black-red-blue country headed back down the stairs.

"Australia, you can read this?" Germany questioned, seeing as the story was written in a dead language.

"Not a whole lot of it, but a little. America's bet-" Aussie cut himself off. Acknowledging some of the glances, the Outback country defended himself. "I only know a word here or there because Grand-peré would read it to me. Ame's spent the most time with him, so he probably got read to more."

"Do you know your grandfather's name by chance?" With a shake, "What they looked like at the very least?"

"He was mostly white, with this bright red cross on his face." "Sounds like England." "But England doesn't have kids, let alone grandkids." Russia countered China's guess.

"Would you think an Aboriginal would have a flag like that?" Germany asked, bringing up the best assumption he had. Zar held a letter in her hand, and returned just a few moments earlier. "It's possible." "What's an 'Aboriginal'?"

While Zar explained to the Australian, China had gears turning.

"Say Australia? Do you have a case of vials in your bag?" The red and gold country pondered out loud.

"Yeah!" "Mind if we take a look at it?" Australia turned, fetching the bag he slung onto the bag. Digging out the familiar looking case, he passed it over to China. Japan took this moment, realizing they didn't exactly eat dinner.

"While you 4 are busy figuring this all out, me and Aussie are going to get something to eat." She said, motionally calling over the shortest country of the household. He obliged, "What are we eating?" "Whatever you choose from the kitchen. And anything you want?" She asked, getting a few 'I'm good' and the such from the adults.

"Alright. Let's go get you something." From there, she followed the blue country down the stairs.

Down in the kitchen, Japan had already got Australia a glass of water. "I'll see what we have in the pantry that I can make quick, but meanwhile you can see if anything in the fridge catches your fancy."

"Alright. Thank you Japan!"

Giving back a curt nod, she looked to raid her cousin's ample food supply. Inside the official pantry space, there was a whole shelf dedicated to rice, noodles, and tofu. Out in the kitchen she could hear the fridge door open and close. Spying some of the spices higher up and some bread crumbles, Japan got an idea.