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I was in a similar dream to the last one. There was no grass, only a moon. It was still full as it shown directly above me. Some time passed. I do not know how much, because it did not move. I felt eyes on me. I looked around, but saw nothing. Then I saw a black form approaching.

As it got closer, I noticed that it was a large animal. The shining eyes told me that it was come kind of cat. Its pace was slow, but not stalking. That put part of my mind at ease. When it was about four meters away from me, I realized that it was a black tiger. Two meters from me, and I noticed that its eyes were grey. I knew those eyes.

The tiger stopped a little over half a meter away from me and lay down, looking at me. It seemed to be inviting me to join it. I got to my knees an moved to it, curling against its side. It was so warm and soft. It rested its head on its paws next to mine. I felt myself slowly fade from the dream.

. . .

Japan and I thanked Amaya and left. We passed through the gates we entered by and continued to where we left Mama, Germany and Aysel. It was about noon when we got there. I was hungry, even though Amaya fed us three hours earlier. I was expecting to see Germany laying next to Aysel and Mama sitting near them. When we got there, I screamed and hid behind Japan.

Germany was no longer swaddled, but was covered by the cloth. Behind him was a-a t-tiger. A jet black tiger, laying down with its head resting on its front paws. Aysel walked past us and lay down behind it, resting her head in its back. The tiger opened its eyes and looked at us. Those were Mama's eyes.

Japan started. After a few moments, I asked, "Mama?" I jumped when I heard Mama's voice say, "Welcome back. Did you enjoy Amaya's cooking?" I nodded and Japan asked, "H-how are you speaking?" She replied, "Aysel is allowing me to use her strength. Do not worry. I know how much strength she has and how much I am taking." Japan seemed to relax slightly. I do not know why.

I moved from behind Japan and sat, asking, "How are you a tiger, Mama?" A heartbeat passed and she answered, "I have been able to do this for millennia. I chose to use this form to keep Germany warm while Aysel grazed. I learned how to do this long ago, when my human form was still new."

Japan sat next to me, probably sensing that this was going to be a long story. Mama took a deep breath and began. "Soon after my form faded into a body, I was... unstable. It was a painful process. In the next week or so, I was found crying by a male tiger. He took me in and cared for me as one of his own. Within a year, My form changed to match his. I learned so much of life from him.

"One year, as age started to catch up with him, a young male encroached on our territory. Instinct drove him to defend it. The matter was between them, so I kept my distance.

"I had always hoped he would die a painless death, in his sleep perhaps. I watched as his hide was shredded by his opponent. I heard his final breath in a pain-filled cry. Something in me snapped. A rage filled me that I never felt before.

"I found that I was no longer in control of my body. I watched as a passenger in my own mind. My body rampaged, tearing apart every living thing that crossed my path. I tried desperately to regain control. I tried for months. Nothing worked. I begged Brother Sun and Sister Moon to help me. After eleven months, it stopped.

"Brother Sun created a lightning storm. As my body was drinking, it was struck by lightning. I woke up I don't know how many days later to something touching me. I turned onto my side and saw the muzzle and legs of a brown horse. My skin and hair were burned. It hurt to move. It hurt to breathe.

She took care of me as I recovered. She is a very smart horse. I asked and asked her to go away. She refused. I was afraid of losing her too, by natural death or other means. In time, Brother Sun and Sister Moon took pity and granted her near-infinite life, turning her coat white. I named her Aysel. We have been wandering together for eight centuries. You know the rest. I need to stop now. Germany will wake soon."

. . .

I did not want to open my eyes. It was so bright. I shifted slightly and felt cloth laid over me. I was laying on the ground. There was something warm and soft behind me. I leaned into it a little more and felt it... breathing. I slowly opened my eyes.

Italy and Japan sat in front of me, two-thirds of a meter away. We were under a canopy of leaves. I looked up and saw the face of a black tiger. It turned its head towards me. Those eyes... They were the same as the tiger's from my dream.

It began to stand. I blinked and a woman stood in front of me. She bent and reached past my feet, straitening with a bladder in her hand that had rope tied around its neck. She knelt next to me, removed the rope, and held it towards me. "Drink.", she whispered.

I turned onto my back and tried to sit up. I rose two decimeters before my muscles gave out. Before my back hit the ground again, I felt a hand between my shoulder blades. I looked into the woman's eyes. She was the same woman from my dreams. I looked away. She whispered, "Again." I sat up with her help.

Keeping her hand on my back, she gave me the bladder. I had to hold it with both hands, because they were shaking. I smelled it before I put it to my lips. I remembered that scent. I smelled it often in my dreams. It was some kind of broth. It was delicious.

I finished the last of the liquid and the woman gently took it from me, setting it beside her. "Lift your arm as far as you can." She commanded. I did not expect it to be difficult. "Good. Again." I was able to lift it a little higher. She had me bend and lift both arms until I was able to do it fully. Then she had me roll my ankles, bend to touch my toes, and bring my knees to my chest one at a time. I did not know why I was so stiff.

She stood and took her hand off my back. It took some effort, but I stayed upright. She stepped behind me and returned with a pale wooden staff. She offered me her hand while keeping the staff in her left. I took it and she helped me stand, placing it in my right hand. "Try to walk. I will help." she whispered. Why was she whispering?

From the scent and feel of the grain, I discovered that the staff was made of Birch wood. I leaned most of my weight on it as I took a shaky step forward. The woman kept a firm grip on my left elbow. After walking around the large cloth we were on twice, she let go of my arm and told me to continue. I stumbled a couple times, but caught myself. She never took her eyes off me.

After I finished three more circuits around the cloth, gaining ease and speed, she had me stop. All that time, Italy and Japan were watching us. Italy stood and hugged me, crying, "Germany! You are back! I was so worried! But Mama helped you and Amaya did too!" The woman, who Italy called 'Mama', touched his shoulder and smiled at him, whispering, "It is time for us to part ways."

Italy looked at her. His eyes got big and welled with tears. Japan nodded and stood, gathering bags from next to a white horse that I did not see before. Italy pulled Mama into a hug, squeezing tightly as he asked, "Can you come with us?" Mama shook her head and whispered, "Our paths must separate. Do not cry. We will meet again. Smile for me, please?" Italy looked up at her, she was half of a head taller than him, and smiled. "There you go. We need to redistribute the supplies. Amaya will provide whatever you do not have." She smiled gently at him and he let her go.

The next few minutes, I watched silently as the three repacked two bags with meat and other supplies. Mama siphoned water from a waterskin into what looked like an animal's stomach. When all was said and done, Italy gave Mama a last hug and she bowed to deeply Japan. She whispered 'goodbye' in our native languages and waved as we turned and started walking away from her and the horse. I looked back and they were gone. Italy said that we were going home.

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