America frowned at Russia's statement, confused.
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," he snapped, gripping his hands into fists at his sides. "You don't know anything about me!? You stupid fucking creature!? All you stupid beasts do is lie and hurt people!"He yelled, eyes glowing brighter.
"Just fucking murder!? Making people's lives a misery!?"

"ENOUGH!?"Russia roared, striking his fists into his desk, leaning over it and glaring daggers down at America who had done quick work of shutting himself up. His eyes were slightly different now, the sclera almost a dark grey rather than white.
Russia groaned roughly, ears flicking, looking over to Ukraine with a calmer look.

"I've decided I won't be getting 'rid of you'," America grumbled, unmistakably knowing that he meant killing him. "You will be staying here from now on. This will be your new home where you will train, eat, sleep; everything."

His heart dropped for a second time.
What...? But- what about his life!!! His lovely solitary home... away from danger...
It was a struggle for America as he tried to think for the right words, fidgeting and mentally panicking as he stood there. "I-I... I can't!!! W-what if-!" Before he said it he quickly shut his mouth, glancing down and gritting his teeth.

"What if what." Russia snapped, studying America almost curiously... suspiciously.

"...Nothing..."
"That's what I thought."The werewolf grumbled, sitting back down, flexing his fingers a little.

"Why do you even have so much authority over people," America muttered the question more to himself, making eye contact once again which sent Ukraine slightly on edge.

Russia, who had his eyes closed, opened one of them, his sclera still a dark grey, his pupil a slit. A cold smile stretched across his face as he opened the other, pulling his hands back to his lap.
"Do you know who I am?"

"Uh yeah, a fucking dumbass," America scoffed, hardly giving a damn about his attitude and manners.
There a bit of a scuffle and Russia stood back up, dusting his sweater down slightly and walking around his desk until he was standing in front of America.

"Because this place? Is my castle. My home. The place of MY throne."He grinned, revealing his sharp canines, hands slowly shifting into dark grey and slight purple claws as fine as knives.
"I. Am the King of the Northern Werewolves." He chuckled, smiling in amusement as he watched America's face turn pale, pupils shrinking in terror, backing away from Russia quickly.

A million thoughts were shooting through his head and America suddenly turned, yanking the doors open and running out, leaving Russia and Ukraine here, watching the doors clank as they hit the walls.
"Hm...~"

The door of his room was kicked open as he ran in, slamming it shut behind him, leaning back against it before sliding down. He gasped for breath, shaking and grasping at his shirt as he desperately tried to calm himself down but to no avail.
Russia was the fucking King!? How did he not see that!
Tears started to prick at the corners of his eyes, leaning down and gripping his head, staring at the floor as his vision began to grow cloudy.
The tears just didn't stop coming, streaming down his face as he sat there, haunched over himself, all alone.

That guy...
Memories came flooding in and America couldn't help but cry out, trying to shove them out of his head hopelessly as he mentally squirmed.
He could hear the voices screeching in his head again, laughing cruelly, surrounding him, hands stretching into dark claws. Even though these were just memories. They always seemed to scare him every time, frightening him.
There were swords everywhere in his head and he soon found himself crouched over in the hard sand of the training grounds, blood streaming down from his nose as he sobbed.
"GET UP!?"There was yelling and he only cried harder before he was yanked up to his feet by his arm, staring directly up at his father.
"LEARN HOW TO FUCKING FIGHT, YOU USELESS BRAT!?"

America sobbed and gasped as he felt arms wrap around him.

His eyes shot open as he quickly looked up, freezing as he felt someone hug him, flowers brushing against his cheek, ears flicking.
Ukraine was there, his arms wrapped around America gently, pulling him into a warm and comforting hug, patting his back. "It's okay..."He mumbled quietly, keeping America close who relaxed and leaned into the werewolf, burying his face in his shoulder as he sniffled. The tears starting to stop.
They stayed like that for a bit, America couldn't remember how long it had been, just staying still, keeping close to Ukraine as he got his breath back.
Once he was calm he slowly pulled away, rubbing at his slightly swollen eyes with a small frown, cheeks lightly flushed.
Ukraine sighed before pouting, resting his hands on America's shoulders and giving him a confident smile. "Don't worry America. I'll make sure you're safe, I promise I won't hurt you or let you down. You can rely on me.
I'll be your friend."

Those words took America by surprise, gawking a little before smiling a little.

"Thank you..."He mumbled softly, making Ukraine grin happily.

Carefully, Ukraine hummed and pulled a thumb over America's cheeks, wiping away a few tears tenderly. "Now come on. I'm sure you'll enjoy a nice walk with me through the gardens!"
Ukraine stood up, offering America a hand which was taken.

It was comfortingly warm when America stepped out a set of glass doors, humming a little and smiling timidly as he looked around. Ukraine walked on ahead while America just stood there, gawking a little at the mesmerizing view.
Ukraine hummed and turned, further up on the path, "come!"

America sighed a little shakily as he started to stumble after Ukraine, eyes running over the sides of the path.
Daisies bloomed in clumps, bees hovering around them, bluebells thriving with roses. There were also lilies of so many colours, some pink and white, some a beautiful sun orange, deep crimson and a wonderful purple, petals splattered with small black and brown dots.
Around the back, there was a large cluster of fruit trees and bushes, America recognizing the leaves, smiling. There was elderberry, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and so many others, the plants still flowering, fruit nowhere near ripe, still a sharp green and light pink.

Here are there, an apple tree grew, even tangerine trees, flowers blooming.
The grass was a pretty, healthy green, still wet with the morning dew.

A large stone wall lay out around the garden, bordering it off from the outside world. The stone seemed old, slightly cracked, flourishing with moss. Honeysuckle, ivy and grape vines stretching across it.
Butterflies fluttered about, cabbage whites, peacocks, painted ladies and even an entrancing tiger swallowtail which America observed, slightly gawking. Its great wings beat at the air, meekly landing on the flowers of the zinnias.
A small gang of sparrows sat and bounced on top of the wall, wings flapping as their chirped at each other before the appearance of a robin sent them flying away in a hurry and into the surrounding forest.

America almost stumbled a little, still dazed by the pure beauty around him, the warmth, the light breeze, the wonderful sweet smell of flowers and the light buzzing of bees.
He huffed and quickly hurried down the path, sniffling and looking around with confusion until he spotted Ukraine.

The young werewolf stood there with a mischivious grin, holding the reigns of two horses which stood behind him, tails swaying and ears flicking. One of them was a wonderful silver, mane almost a grey colour, its shoulders, thighs and stifles covered with natural silver speckles, matching its mane. A true light beauty with slender yet strong legs.
The other horse was bay coloured, mane a darker brown, coat shimmering in the sunlight. Both of them blinking with muddy brown eyes.
America gasped and nearly ran over, trying and failing to contain his excitement which only grew when he saw the leather saddles sitting neatly on their backs.
He looked to Ukraine, "a-are we gonna-?"
A nod, "yes! Only if you promise not to ride off."

America grinned and after some agreement was helped up onto the silver stallion which bucked its head a little and huffed roughly. The country took the reigns, smiling as he ran his fingers along the buckles and shining leather.
Ukraine rode up beside him, sitting atop his chestnut stallion.

"I'm guessing you know how to ride a horse?" America's new friend hummed and was answered with a slightly confident nod.
"It may have been years since I last rode one, but I'll never forget it all."

And with that America tensed and squeezed his thighs over his stallion, triggering it to begin a trot forward until it was galloping away through the set of garden gates.
Ukraine laughed joyfully far behind him before doing the same, sending his horse racing after the mortal.

He loved it all.
The wind blowing in his face as he shot through the forest, a powerful animal running under him and leading the way to nowhere but some sort of freedom. The leaves swaying over their heads, the singing of faraway birds, the clinking of the saddle and buckles, the pleasing sound of hooves beating the ground. And the adrenaline that rushed through his body when his horse leapt over the trunk of a fallen tree.

Ukraine giggled as he galloped ahead of America, giving him a smirk.


They immediately started an inevitable race.




America sighed in contentment as he laid in the soft grass under a large oak, looking over to watch the two stallions grazing and chewing on the grass, sunlight pouring in through the gaps in the overhanging canopy of leaves and branches.
Ukraine stretched his arms next to him, "ah... That was fun!"He laughed again and looked over to America who nodded in agreement before sitting up.

"I've never seen that breed of horse, what are they?"He asked quietly, still watching the two great animals.
"Oh! They're Терские лошади!"

America blinked, raising a brow nervously.
Ukraine kept smiling but then realized, "oh- You don't speak Russian- I meant they're tersk horses! I chose the silvery one especially for you, since I thought it would kinda suit your flag and style. He's yours now," a smile.

"What's his name..?"

There was a bit of ruffling as Ukraine stood up, slowly walking over to the horses, gently petting their heads. "Yours is called принц, call him Prince. You don't need to use the proper language. And mine is called Чес, or Ches!" 
The horses perked up a little to their names and turned their heads to watch America walk over to them, smiling and slowly stroking his hand up Prince's head, sighing quietly.

Ukraine watched before his smile faltered very slightly, hardly noticeable. "You said you've ridden horses before. Where?"He asked curiously, hands in his lap now.

A gulp and America looked over to Ukraine, halting his petting and pulling his hands away before looking down at them, frowning. "I..."
"I learned when I was a kid, my childhood friends taught me how. We used to ride around and have fun," America smiled over to Ukraine. But it didn't meet his eyes, looking a little... nervous?
Ukraine noticed but nodded, standing up and stretching his arms over his head and groaning. "We better head back then. Don't tell Russia about this, he doesn't know."He giggled a little as he rubbed the back of his head before carefully patting Ches, making him stand up along with Prince.

A chuckle escaped America, gripping Prince's saddle and hauling himself up onto the stallion. "He doesn't know? Pft."

The two rode back, America trailing slightly behind as he stared down at Prince's shiny coat, deep in a bubble of unsettling thoughts and memories that sent him on edge, hardly paying attention to Ukraine who continuously glanced over to him with a raised brow.

Once they got back, America quietly watched as Ukraine took Prince and Ches back to the stables which was in a far area in the garden, listening to the birds and horses.
Closing his eyes, he relaxed very slightly, his new cloak swaying behind him.
Ukraine hummed and headed over to him, prodding him in the arm as he walked by towards the doors into the castle. "Come on America, I gotta talk to Russia about something so I'll just take you to your room, alright?"
America nodded, "okay."
He took a glance back to the beautiful garden, smiling warmly before turning and walking to the doors, heading to his room with the werewolf's guidance.
When he got inside he waved Ukraine goodbye and closed the door, looking around his room and noticing the pile of neatly place books on his desk, a ribbon wrapped around them with a bow ontop.

Gently, he trailed a hand over the spines of the books and then started to untie the ribbon, pulling it off and reading over the titles of the books, examining their covers and flipping through the beige pages.
It had been some time since America had actually read something new, other than the old and ripped books he had been able to collect over those years of solitude, raiding the carriage of a rare passing merchant while they slept. Of course, he did feel bad for his actions and the merchants, guilt flooding his thoughts as a sad look crossed his face.
Maybe one day he would be able to repay them...if he were to ever come across them again.
He looked up from the books, gazed around the room and towards the window.

Would he ever be free? He wondered hopelessly.
And even though freedom seemed like a far or impossible dream.

Faith flashed in his eyes.

---------------------------

wow

how incredibly boring

._.