The group traveled leisurely southeast from London with the German brothers in front and the Nords in back. Germany was hoping to get to the coastline before dark, but dusk was settling in and so far they had only traveled half the distance. If they traveled during the night, they could reach the coast before dawn.
Germany, looking back at the two Nords, tried to decide what was the best thing to do. They seemed wide awake; Finland was pleasantly watching birds fly from the trees and Sweden was walking confidently with his head held high. Although they seemed alert, Prussia was not so well off.
The albino's eyes drooped as he hung with one arm over Germany's shoulders, his snowy head of hair bounced lazily with every shuffling step. Letting out a disappointed sigh, Germany lowered Prussia to the ground and turned to face the two strangers.
"I think we should stop here for the night," Germany told them, earning queer looks from the two pairs of tinted blue eyes. Germany took this moment to observe the differences and similarities in their physical appearances as they stopped to look at him.
Both were very slender and had the traditional long, Nordic faces, slanted shoulders and refined, sturdy legs. Their hair was about the same length–Finland's a little longer–but Sweden's hair was a dusky blonde, while Finland's was a startling gold in the rays of the setting sun.
Their eyes had the same overall shape, angled and slanted moderately, both were an extravagant shade of blue–Finland's closer to violet and Sweden's had a greenish hue–but Sweden's eyes where always narrowed in a suspicious gaze, severely contrasting with Finland's trusting and invigorating glance.
"We're stoping, already?" Finland asked in dismay.
"Yes," Germany confirmed. "Prussia can't go on much farther."
Prussia looked up at Germany defiantly, but kept quiet, letting his glare speak for itself.
"May I make en sugges'n?" Sweden said, looking at Germany.
"Go ahead," Germany instructed, a little flustered.
"If yah 're determin'd on conti'ng, den I kan carry Prussia. Is dat accep'ble?"
"NO!" Prussia shouted. "I can walk by myself!"
"Not really," Germany told his brother.
"No freaking way! I'd rather die!"
"It's a good idea brother, please cooperate."
Prussia folded his arms in defiance and stuck his nose in the air. "No," he repeated.
"Prussia! Iceland is in London, and we need to get away from him. For all we know, he could be following us right now!"
Prussia whispered something under his breath, dropping his gaze to the ground.
"What was that?" Germany said in outrage.
"I said fine!"
A few minutes later the group continued, Prussia reluctantly being held in Sweden's arms like a child. Germany walked in front of them while Finland took up the rear. They left the city behind and began trudging through the woods. The crescent moon barely reached the forest floor, making it difficult to safely navigate the rough ground.

It was long after midnight and Sweden was slowly falling behind. His sore legs could barely lift high enough to avoid the tree roots and his arms shook from exhaustion. Prussia was asleep in his arms, his head turned towards Sweden's chest, keeping his face warm.
Sweden steadily put his foot onto a large root, but when he put his weight on it, his foot slipped and he fell forward, sending Prussia crashing to the ground.
"Hey, what's the big idea, you–Argh!" Prussia bent over, grasping his ribcage in pain. He looked up through squinted eyes to see Sweden hunched over, completely exhausted and gasping for breath.
"Sweden!" Finland called out, startling Germany. While Finland ran to Sweden, Germany approached Prussia, but the albino roughly shoved him away.
"I'm fine," Prussia stated.
"Ursäkter. I'm re'lly s'rry Germany," Sweden apologized.
"It's fine. I didn't expect you to be able to carry him that long," Germany said compassionately. He was embarrassed that he had become so focused on the journey he forgot about Prussia. Germany reprimanded himself and pledged to take better care of his companions. "I think we should stop for the night."
"I just need en little break," Sweden said, still gasping for air. "Besides, it's too cold, so we need ta keep moving."
"Nein, we can make a fire."
Sweden made no further complaints as Germany and Finland began gathering wood. Finland ripped dead branches off the trees and handed them to Germany who assembled them into a teepee pattern on the ground.
"Oi Sweden, you okay?" Prussia asked.
"Yah needn't worry 'bout me," Sweden said. "I 'ope dat I didn't 'urt yah any."
Germany came forward and gently lifted Prussia to his feet, bringing him closer to the fire. After getting Prussia warm, Germany removed his shirt and carefully changed the bandages.
It didn't take long before Sweden was fast asleep, Finland sitting right beside him. The young man gently readjusted Sweden's raincoat to cover him better. He raked his fingers over Sweden's hair as he gazed into the fire. He lifted his head and noticed the clear night sky, thousands of stars gleaming through the black netting of the night.
The glimmer of each star brought back memories of warm nights when he and Sweden used to observe the stars for hours on end, not a single word passing their lips. He remembered a time when Sweden taught him about the different constellations, and how to find the North Star.

"Dat is Sagittarius, over there's Cancer, and right 'bove us 's de Big Dipper. If yah find it, yah kan trace en line between de two stars on de end, and there's de North Star." Sweden lowered his arm and folded his arms against his chest.
"Can you always find it that way?" Finland asked.
"Yes, 'lways. No matter 'ow much life changes, de North star will 'lways stay de same."
Finland yawned and nestled deeper into the soft grass.
"What I want yah ta remember from all dis," Sweden continued, "is dat if yah pick any point in de sky, there's en thousand stars dat yah can't see. De sun an' moon change with de seasons, but de stars 're 'lways there. 'lways watching."
Finland closed his eyes and breathed deeply, enjoying the sweet mountain air. When he opened his eyes he saw a shooting star blaze across the sky.
"Sweden look!" he said, pointing up at the sky, but the star was already gone.
"Yah found it, dat means yah get ta make en wish."
Finland waited for a moment, he didn't know what to wish for. He had everything he could ever want; nice clothes, new boots, a good job. What more could he ask for? He turned his head to the side to see Sweden looking up at the sky, his eyes peaceful and content. At that moment he knew exactly what he wanted.
'I wish that Sweden can always be this happy, that he can always be smiling, and I can always be there for him. Always.'

But Finland knew better now. He knew that a simple comet could never grant such a wish. Nothing could. The stars meant nothing, they were just distant specks of light in an unending universe, there was nothing special about them. He used to wish the same thing on the first star of every night, but Sweden's smile disappeared, just like the stars did every morning. Finland was starting to doubt if it would ever come back. Everything changed after that night so long ago. Even the eternal stars lost their luster that night.
Finland sat silently for a while longer, then laid down in front of Sweden.
Briefly waking, Sweden slid Finland closer, protectively slinging his arm over his shoulders.
"Goodnight Sweden."
"Goodnight. Finland," Sweden murmured; his soft voice promising the coming of the morning sun, his protective arm guaranteeing safety throughout the moonlit night, his gentle breath bringing peace, his beating heart lifting sorrows and driving away pain.
That was what Finland felt every night when Sweden whispered those heartfelt words into his ear, and he knew that every moment spent with him, awake or asleep, would be one full of comfort and joy.