There was blood on the rock.

Norway stumbled back, one hand outstretched, lightning crackling at the tips of his fingers. He could hear his own ragged breathing; feel the sweat making his shirt stick to his back.

'Denmark?' he shouted. His voice was ragged and terrified, ripped with fear. 'Iceland?'

Something lurched out of the shadows to his right, and Norway spun around, the lightning flaring more brightly in his hand. 'Who's there?' he cried.

The thing stumbled closer, its feet dragging on the rock. A pitiful keening sound was coming from its mouth.

'Norge...'

'Finland?' Norway heard himself gasp. He staggered forward and caught the small nation in his arms as Finland swayed on the spot.

'You've got to help, Norge!' Finland moaned, clutching at Norway's shirt. 'Sweden... Please, help me!'

'Sweden?' Norway asked, staring desperately into the other's face. 'What about Sweden? Where is he?'

Finland's eyes were glazed with terror. 'Sweden...' he gasped. 'Over - over there...'

He pointed with one, trembling finger towards a large boulder that was hunched like a bull against the ground. Norway raised his hand and increased the power of the lightning that was still flashing his palm, and a figure was illuminated, sprawled at the base of the rock.

Norway broke into a clumsy run and dropped to the ground beside the body. He felt his heart lurch into his throat as he recognised the long, navy coat that was now spattered with blood.

'Sweden?' he choked out. 'Sweden, can you hear me?'

He seized the other's shoulder and rolled him onto his back.

Sweden's glasses were cracked, the lenses misted with blood. His face was grey and mutilated; his eyes half-shut, but his chest still rose and fell ever so slightly, and every so often a rattling breath would escape his lips.

'Oh, thank God,' Norway said, his voice hoarse with relief. 'Are you alright?'

'Fin,' Sweden croaked. 'Where...Fin?'

'I'm here,' Finland said, shuffling forward and taking Sweden's large hand in his small one. 'I'm here. I'm alright.'

Sweden gave a great, shuddering sigh. 'Good. Good.'

Then his chest stopped moving, and his hand hung limply in Finland's clutching hold.

'S-Sweden?' Finland said, his voice cracking. 'Sweden?'

Sweden didn't move. His eyes behind the shattered glasses were blank and dead.

'W-wake up, Sweden,' Finland said, shaking the other's arm. 'S-stop f-fooling around! Wake up!'

'Finland,' Norway said quietly, touching Finland's shoulder.

'No!' Finland cried, pulling on Sweden's hand. 'Wake up, Sweden!'

'Come on, Fin,' Norway said, his own voice breaking. 'Come on. We've got to find the others.'

Finland opened his mouth and gave a howl of raw grief, tears streaming down his cheeks and spattering onto the floor, his fingers were still clutching at Sweden's cold, lifeless hand.

Norway bent his head and gritted his teeth to force back a sob. Why did it have to be Sweden?

'C-come on,' he managed finally, taking Finland's elbow and gently pulling him to his feet. 'We can come back for Sweden. We'll make sure he gets a proper burial. But first we have to find the others.'

Finland screwed up his face, tears still pouring out over his eyelids.

'Sweden wouldn't have wanted you to stay here,' Norway said softly. 'Sweden wouldn't have wanted anything to happen to the others.'

Finland took a deep breath - and nodded.

'Let's go,' Norway said, taking Finland by the hand and leading him into the darkness.