"Clouds formed as his strained panting grew louder, his breath almost gave way. But his respiratory system must not surrender, he insisted to himself, exerting all his strength to his feet. He has always been a natural runner, but a force of sorts clung tight to his feet. One stop and he would quickly be paralyzed as his legs would give up, he thought in horror, and the unidentified pursuer would rip his life away, the wounds oozing his caged regrets. He kept on navigating through the complicated tangles of intertwined tree branches, primal fear controlling him.
And with just one small pebble, his legs did give way.
"NO!"
Soaking wet from the mixture of his sweat and tears, North Italy instantly rose up, his limbs trembling, his eyes running wildly to every single possible direction his flooded golden pupils could go. His vision revealed that he was in the protection of a cave thoroughly covered by green moss. His head was throbbing in pain, and he closed his shaky eyelids to compose himself.
I... I should be strong... Germany should come back-
And without warning, he blacked out.
