When Seychelles saw the French soldiers carrying the large box, she hadn't thought much of it. That is, until there was a muffled thump from the inside, a repeated banging noise. It was curiosity that drove her to follow the soldiers, dressed in the Québec-Canadian military uniforms. She followed them secretly, using the skills she had learned from Canada to erase her presence.
It wasn't until one of the soldiers stumbled, almost dropping the box and cursing in a distinctly American accent, that Seychelles knew something was wrong. She moved quickly, and the soldiers didn't stand a chance against her superhuman strength. In seconds, both lay unconscious on the ground. With quick hands, Seychelles ripped the wooden top off the box. The gagged child inside stared up at her with fearful eyes. Seychelles caught her breath. She hd never known her brother at this size, but somehow he knew this was him. She pulled the gag away quickly, gathering him to her chest, untying his hands.
As soon as he was free the boy pushed at her, fighting to get away. "Canada, its me!" She soothed, softly grabbing his clawing hands. "It's your sister." Canada froze at these words, and when he spoke, his voice was trembling. "I want to go back." He whimpered. Seychelles felt her face harden with anger, and thought she would like to do something worse to the kidnappers, but only picked Canada up and walked back towards the camp. "Is France here?" She asked him softly. He buried his face in her shoulder and nodded mutely.
None of the soldiers stopped her when she walked into he camp with the tiny nation on her shoulders. None of them even seemed to acknowledge the pair, and Seychelles was glad for this fact. Somewhere in the middle of the camp, a distraught wail rose, and Seychelles recognized the voice and followed it, quickening her pace. When she reached the tent where the cry came from, she heard more upset voices along with the first. She recognized them all. How could she not? America, the loudest country, and Canada's brother. France, both her and Canada's parental figure, and England, the one who raised Canada most of his life. She knew all of them well.
"I should have knew!" France cursed in French, and Seychelles flinched at the language used. England too, was cursing. "That man was only keeping us busy, it was a ruse the whole time!" His voice was bitter, but there was a shaky undertone to it, betraying deeper emotions. America's voice was broken and weak. "It's over. We've lost him. He'll... to Canada..." He broke off with a choked sob. Seychelles waited, and hearing no other voice inside the tent, slipped in herself, quietly. "It's not over." She announced, strongly but without raising her voice, and all three countries turned widely to look at her.
"They don't have Canada." France was the first to recognize her, and it was only his soft cry that stopped the frenzied America from attacking her. "Seychelles." France barely breathed, but his eyes were not on her, but the small child clinging to her neck. She noticed this, and felt a small twang at her heart, but pushed it aside. Right now her brother's safety was more important. She met France's gaze equally. "We can't talk here." She said seriously, taking a few steps back. "Come with me." She retreated from the tent, and America lunged after her, desperately. "No, don't take Canada away!" The word tore from America's lips almost against his will, and Seychelles could see the fear in his eyes.
She froze, unwilling to let go of the boy in her arms, but the child stirred, reaching out his chubby arms to America. America moved closer to receive him and Seychelles let him go, watching carefully. As Canada settled into America's arms, both seems to relax, and she could all but see the tension flowing out from America's shoulders, his eyes filling with relief. It was England who brought them back to the presence with his sharp, tense question. "What's going on?"
Seychelles was jolted back to reality, and she gestured for them to follow her and led them away from the camp, behind a boulder that provided a wall between them and prying eyes. "I'll explain everything." She whispered urgently. "But it's no longer safe here." She stared hard at France, trying to communicate her seriousness. Her pulse pounding with adrenaline. "There's traitors in your midst."
