A/N: Okay, I actually know what I'm doing now... For the most part, so things will be easier to read from here on out. Sorry about that, and thank you for reading, blessings!

Everyone was shivering. It was cold, and the clothes they were wearing weren't meant for this sort of travel... They were hardly clothes at all, to be honest. But that really wasn't going to stop them. They had freedom held by the ankles... They were so close to getting their permanent freedom, that they could taste the clean oxygen already. It was the best feeling they've ever had, and they weren't about to turn around and ruin this opportunity. It was so farfetched, following a puffin of all things to their dream... But at that moment, their desperation would have clouded any sane decision, and this was something they could be thankful for, since no one was currently trying to kill them... Except the god of cold, if there was such a thing.

The red faces of the group was proof enough the weather.. If they stayed in this any longer, it might turn into some sickness, which was something they really didn't want to worry about quite yet. Maybe once they knew they were safe, then they could worry about it, but not right now.

"We should stop soon," Antonio said, looking at the rest of the group. They all looked worn, a couple of them, sick. If they pushed themselves, they might just not make it. "Find a place to escape the cold wind..."

"We have to lay something down this time," Toris added, looking around tiredly. He felt weak, but ignored it. It wasn't exactly the first time of it. "The cold ground is worse than the wind."

The others nodded, and was intent on following those orders, but the bird insisted they continue on. It didn't seem to take note at the physical strength the group was lacking, and only chirped to make sure they kept up. While Magnus and Emil did fine, but others like Lukas and Toris were about to drop, they could hardly walk anymore. Just a little longer was the sentence that floated in and out of everyone's head... They didn't want to lose after coming so far... They just couldn't...

Matthew looked around, but didn't see anything that looked familiar. He frowned surveying the land more. "Allistor, Kumajiro is taking us the way you didn't want to go, so if you don't want to continue with us, that's fine."

"Oh no, boy. Mama didn't raise no quitter. I'm coming with you."

Matthew smiled. He was glad his uncle would be with him still. He was glad his uncle found him. It just calmed him, knowing Allistor was there... If it was his brother, it would have the same effect... just knowing he really was loved, just warmed Matthew's heart.

It didn't take long until a sign of life was heard by the two, and that's when they broke into a run.

"I can't go on... Any longer..." a voice wheezed quietly, but with the large expanse, it still echoed.

"That's Toris!" Matthew had gasped, and gave up on following the bear, and guiding himself completely on instinct. If he hadn't been paying attention, Matthew would have run right into Magnus, who immediately got defensive, and would have punched Matthew in the face more than once, had no one stopped him. But Emil actually recognized the amethyst eyes that were wide with fear at first, but dulled down with realization.

"We found you," Matthew said, tears of happiness filling his eyes. "Finally."

Francis was just chilling in the room with Kiku and Arthur sipping tea on the floor. They were waiting for Alfred to finish his part of the plan. It was taking longer than it should have... That meant the boy had managed to get himself sidetracked... Which should not have been surprising in it's simplest form. Suddenly, the Frenchman's phone lit up with texts from someone he hadn't gone drinking with in a long time... Gilbert.

'I just ran into your son. He's a lot less mature now that he's older.'

'What were you thinking sending him on his own like that?'

Francis smiled. He knew what they were thinking, but they didn't exactly think it through. He didn't reply, but he was surprised his old time friend was in the country; especially considering where the guy lived.

"So it's like this: Matthew said something about remembering someone with blond hair and blue eyes, and it turned out to be Alfred, his older brother. But then he told us Ivan, when I asked who did it... Was he lying?" Arthur was heard, speaking to Kiku.

The Japanese man thought about it before responding with: "It's probable the name was all he could remember..."

Arthur nodded, not completely understanding, but still getting the idea through his thick-but-not-as-thick-as-Alfred's skull.

Without another word spoken, the door to the room burst open, and Alfred ran in, sweat coating his face, his shoelaces untied, and just looking a little out for a few moments.

"Did you find Ivan?" Arthur inquired, doubting his son.

Alfred shook his head, taking a few more moments to catch his breath.

"I knew it. The job was too bloody important to give to Alfred. What were we thinking?"

Alfred held up a hand. "I didn't find Ivan," he repeated... "But I found out something that's just as good, just as reliable, information."

Toris was dead on his feet. He couldn't step forward one more time. Antonio had him going for a while... Bless the man... but with each step, it became harder and harder, and the walk just seemed to drag on longer and longer... Would they ever make it? Toris was beginning to think... No, they wouldn't. But then Matthew nearly pushes Magnus to the ground just by running. Relief filled Toris's being as his legs gave up holding him. Thankful Antonio was there to support him, Toris saw Lukas also being supported, by the guy no one really knew. At the moment, it didn't seem like the guy would do anything, but he still hoped someone else would take the little weight of Lukas from the soul. He could be a little dangerous, and that's what Toris didn't like.

"We've come to take you home," was the last thing Toris heard before his thin sheet of consciousness wore out, and darkness enveloped him.