Brotherhood (New Zealand Countryhumans)

Bullet-Proof Vests

New Zealand's POV:

I grasped at the branches above me, trying to climb higher and higher. I wanted to get away from everything, but wrists were badly bruised. Grabbing on to each branch was a challenge. I wasn't expecting the gun to be so heavy, let alone the bullet-proof vest.

I could hear the gunfire below me. They were close. I just hated how I had to be the enemy first. I grasped onto the final branch above. It seemed strong enough to hold me, but when I grabbed onto it, my hands were weak and cold from the morning's event.

I really need to stop jumping out of windows. UK had cuffed both of my arms. I thought I could break them with my bodyweight, but I was only left hanging there. At least the cuffs didn't cut my wrist. I ended up hanging there until UK found me.

I tried my best to pull myself up onto the branch, but I just couldn't. I was up as high as I could go. All I needed was to wait them out.

I let myself drop back down onto the lower branch and lent myself against the trunk. Looking down at the ground, although it was tricky to see through the leaves, I watched as Canada ran right underneath the tree. Part of me wondered if UK threatened them too into 'training'.

"I still don't feel right about hunting our own little brother..." I suddenly tuned into a conversation below.

"You know what Dad said. Whoever has the least bullet holes gets to sleep without those shackles." America responded.

"But these are real bullets. We could kill him."

I didn't think of that. I quickly pulled out my gun to see for certain that there were real bullets. As I unloaded the chamber, I my gun accidentally slipped from my hands. Luckily I still had it strapped to my vest.

"Did you hear that? I think he's nearby," America mumbled.

I held my breath and my gun still. I was able to get a good look inside the chamber. They really were real bullets. But that was when I heard footsteps. They sounded uncareful, but to light to belong to UK. There were too many to belong to one person.

It seemed to distract Canada and America enough to leave and investigate. Whoever they were, I hoped that they didn't get hurt.

With Canada and America gone, I got a chance to breath and regain my position. I decided to give climbing higher another go. I gripped onto the branch above me and hoisted myself up. This whole game made me tense and the sweat on my hands made it easier to climb.

I climbed another three branches before I heard the sound of gunfire. The loud noise frightened me and I could feel myself become unsteady on the branch. I had crawled away from the trunk in hopes on getting onto a taller tree.

Doing the only thing I could, I laid down on the branch and wrapped my arms and legs around it.

"He's in the trees!" I could hear someone shout.

"No ones in the f#cking trees!! Can you shut up about that!" Canada shouted.

Canada's POV:

I lied. I spotted Zea in the trees ages ago. I just didn't want him getting hurt. We had heard some footsteps. It honestly didn't sound like any animal I know, but maybe I could get Ame away from Zea.

America constantly fired warning shots into the trees. Every time he fired, it'd make me jump. He was so keen to get some bullet holes in kiwi before we switch roles. It didn't help that dad chained us together. The vests were a pain too. They were so heavy but so necessary. 

Dad keeps saying that this is just training. I don't want to go to war. I don't want to kill. Not humans at least... There are a few countries I would like to stick a gun too.

"I didn't know you swore?" America said smugly.

"This family pushes me to my breaking point," I grumbled.

"And how would you know he isn't in the trees?" America questioned, taking us back to the initial conversation.

"Use your head. Look at the trees. Even the lowest branches are to high for even me to grab onto." I muttered.

America seemed to consider my words and we walked side by side.

"What if we all turned against dad and shot him?" America said.

"If we do that, we will be put in separate homes again, and we both know how that ended," I explained as grabbed his arm and rolled up his sleeve.

"Hey! That isn't yours to just pull out at any moment," He shouted, yanking his arm back.

"Sorry. I just don't want it to keep happening." I sighed. I knew it was a touchy subject.

There was a crunch not too far in front of us. America stood in front of me and cocked his gun.

"Wait, it could just be an animal..." I said putting my hand on his shoulder. He ignored me and seemed really focused on the bushes.

BANG!

His gun went of and the voice of someone much younger than us wailed out.

"Arghh!! My arm!!" It screamed. I noticed America go pale as he stood there.

"Antarctica!" Another voice came. The name was familiar.

"Th-that wasn't Zea..." America muttered.

"You would have rather shot our brother?!" I shouted. I felt panicked.

"Zea is wearing a bullet-proof vest!" America argued.

"Like you wouldn't shoot him anyway." I sighed.

"I never wanted to hurt someone innocent,"

"Yet here we are."'

"Let's just get out of here and try to find Zea," America mumbled as he turned around.

I decided it was best to follow after him. I really didn't want to see the damage caused.

We kept walking for a while. Although I had been out in the forest before, it seemed to become more and more unbearable. I kept my eyes to the treetops, to see if I could spot Zea. But, when I finally did, he had spotted us too.

He had the gun trained right on us. Without thinking, I quickly pushed America out of the way and drew out my gun.

Wait. What am I doing? I don't want to shot him.

BANG!