Chapter 3

New Zealand's POV

"Excuse me Sir?" a quiet and calm voice woke me from my dream, I groggily rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I stretched out my limbs before sitting upright,

"Yeah?"

"Well, I have some news about Boomer Kirkland and I was just going to-"

"IS HE ALRIGHT!?"

"Technically yes but-"

"WHEN CAN I SEE HIM!?"

I jumped out of my seat and gripped the shoulders of the nurse's tightly, I scanned her facial features quickly, trying to get an answer from her. Her eyes widen massively and she took a giant step back it was clear that I had scared her but, I really needed to know if Australia was okay. A few awkward moments passed by before she finally answered, her voice was shaking slightly.

"H-he is currently in a coma but, for some reason his body seems to heal quicker then the average male so, there's a slight chance that he could wake up either this week or the next… we're not 100% sure- WAIT!" I ignored her panicky scream and bolted down the corridor, 'He's gonna be okay, he's gonna be okay!' these thoughts repeated in my head as I scanned each room that I ran past, I didn't need directions on where he was, it was like this force that just led me right to him.

I swung open Australia's door… and I froze. His eyes were closed, wires and lifeline supports were connected to his body a heart rate monitor was to the left side of his bed. A cream coloured blanket was wrapped around him, I just stared down at him, watching the rise and fall of his chest. I was motionless… I was lost.

Pat, pat, pat.

The sound of small footsteps could be heard running the corridor and heading straight towards our room.

"Sir *pant, pant* next time, could you please wait for me to lead you to his room? Anyway, *cough* If you had waited before then I was going to tell you that you're supposed to be quiet and not make any noises."

"…"

"I-I'll leave you now…"

As the small nurse left the room I quietly made my way to the side of Australia's bed, I sat myself down on the cushiony chair and moved it forward. I reached out and grabbed Boomer's hand and placed my forehead on it, silence engulfed the room, the sound of the heart rate monitor beeping in the background.

I didn't know what to do, I felt useless. This isn't the first time a nation had tried to end it all in fact, I don't think I can even name a nation who hasn't tried… myself included. But, the thing was I never went through with it because I had Boomer the whole step of the way. When he found out I was cutting myself for not being noticed he made me feel as if I was important, like the entire world revolved around me. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. But now… seeing him like this, seeing him so weak and vulnerable, nothing like how he acted yesterday. Australia was so bubbly and cheerful, so what made him snap?

I opened my eyes and lifted my head from Australia's hand to stare at his peaceful face. When a chilling thought appeared.

'Maybe it's my fault, I've been rejecting him this entire time…"

Oh no…. what if it really was my fault!? After all, I never told him why… I never told him the truth! What if he jumped because, he couldn't take anymore of it. I know he loved me but, I just assumed it was because his government wanted me as their new state. It's not that I don't love him back it's just that if we showed that we cared for each other then the bosses would join us together as one country and people might forget that my people were New Zealanders and then I'd disappear. Choked with emotions, I started sobbing loudly.

"Oh Aus, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I should've noticed, I should've helped you sooner, I should've noticed the signs. I promise I will wait for you, no matter how long you take to recover after all, no one can separate the pacific twins not even death itself. You've been the biggest inspiration of my life and I still need you in my life, I still need you with me to protect me and so I could protect you back, I still need you to comfort me and I need you to be my partner in crime. I just want to tell you that if the reason you jumped was because of me then… I'm so sorry. I do love you, I was just so caught up in my fears and-."

"Sir..."

"I-I have to go since visiting time's over but, I'll be back tomorrow and the day before that and the day before that."

I untangled my fingers from Australia's hand and gently moved it back onto the bed, I closed my eyes and leaned forward toward his head and placed a kiss on the top of his forehead. I stood up straight and stared at his face, I had a tiny sense of hope that Australia would react maybe even open his eyes?

….

After no response I sighed disappointingly and moved away from the bed. From there my body went on autopilot, I ignored the questioning stares of the nurse as I walked down the corridor. Hopefully Australia heard me, I hope he understood my message that's something I admire about him, he understands me better than anyone.

'But, how do I tell the others about Boomer's condition?'

I'll have to tell the more closer members of the family first, Wy and Hutt River for sure, England, France, America, Canada… maybe Indonesia? I know Boomer had a relationship with her centuries ago but, would he even remember it? He has changed a lot since colonisation.

As I was walking back towards my car, I had this feeling that I was forgetting something.

What was it?

Matilda's POV

Stupid curly man. Stupid curly man left me in place filled with man and women everywhere. I don't know where mother is, mother supposed to protect me from dangerous man and women. I'm scared, mother don't have any other joeys… so, where is mother?

Scuttling under the burrows that the men and women sit on, I try to find mother, but weird loud noises are confusing me. My ears hurt from the wailing of the joeys from men and women, my nose hurt from smelling the air the scent of mother is lost. The burrows had stopped and a dirt less path was clear, I started crawling out the burrows when-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! THERE'S A KOALA IN HERE!"

Sudden movement and drop of wooden thing scared me. I wailed for my mother, she must protect me! More loud noises and confusing yapping came from behind, I turn my head and see men lunging toward me! I opened my mouth to let out another wail when, I smell curly man's scent… and mother's!

I rapidly start running toward welcoming scent but, white men grab me and take me away! I grunt loudly trying to show them my dominance, but white men do not follow warning. I open jaw and sink sharp teeth into flesh, dark liquid covering my fur. Men scream and drop me to ground where I run toward mother's scent, I see large gap in the dirt wall meaning another burrow was made. I rush into large burrow and see mother laying on a… horizontal tree? The tree looked like mine, cut down and used for men's and women's purposes except, mother isn't like men and women no, he special soul that lost his way. I climb on horizontal tree and lie in mother's large pouch; his pouch is weirdly wrapped around body instead of connected to stomach. I curl in little ball and close eyes but, little women walk in room and stare at me; she scream loudly and more men came with sticks, they move slowly toward mother and I; I make another grunt form my throat if men don't leave I will attack again.

"Come here little guy..."

I uncurl my body and stick claws out, opening mouth to show large fangs. Breathing heavily, I watch men stare at me, men look scared…. men should've listened to warning. Men too stupid to listen.

I lung at closest men with stick, clawing at face while biting at his neck. Men fell to ground screaming like little joey, I launch myself at other men who were hitting me with sharp stick. Men weak, they couldn't protect themselves and both men and women dead in seconds.

I look up at horizontal tree*, mother still sleeping.

I drag men bodies under the tree where mother sleep, I cleaned up the burrow; burrow looked messy with red stains everywhere. I look up at mother again when burrow clean, mother still sleeping.

More sounds of men coming towards burrow, I listen to warning and hide under tree with dead men and women. The men stop at burrow… then they leave, they could not smell the scent of blood or the reek of death.

I crawl out and climb next to mother; mother still sleeping. I curl into ball and nestle myself on mother's shoulders, while nuzzling my face in his neck.

Mother still doesn't wake up.

I close my eyes and dream of the times when mother would protect me from the animals that tried to punish me. I was supposed to be a gentle and caring creature known as the Koala but, I became drop bear; drop bear is creature that attack when humans near home or family. Mother is family so, I attack anything or one that looks dangerous and mostly every time mother would fight first so men and women don't know I drop bear.

I don't know why mother sleep so long but, I'll watch over him like he did for me.

Curly man better come back as well. Mother likes him for some reason.

Little Note

So, I tried to write from an animal's POV specifically Australia's Koala, Matilda. Hence, the incorrect grammar.

*Horizontal = Bed

I attempted to try and incorporate some animal knowledge into the story, cause Matilda wouldn't know what most things are called in the 'Human realm'.