. . .·.·.· ¤ ·.·.·. . .

I do not believe it is normal for a horse to lay down. I could not help but wonder if she had fallen ill. Her eyes were closed since the woman left. After a while, she suddenly began panting heavily, nearly frightening me out of my wits. As abruptly as it began, it ended and her breathing returned to normal.

The sun was beginning to set, so I built a fire. I knew she said that she would be gone for a while, but I constantly caught myself worrying about her. The moon was on the rise when she came over the horizon, ever so slowly. I stood and went to meet her.

I smelled her first. She smelled of blood and death. With her staff wedged between her and a swollen pack, she came up to me, grinning widely. Under one arm she held the water skin and under the other what looked like an inflated stomach. In spite of the smell, there was no blood on her. I was relieved that she had returned. I took the skins from her and we returned to camp.

She sat by the fire and removed her staff, then the bag from her back. From it, she extracted the bundle of herbs, a pair of horns, twin disk-like stones, a gazelle hide wrapped around meat I guessed was from the same creature, and a large slightly bowl-shaped stone.

She placed the large stone in the fire, with the edges upturned, near the edge closest to her. She set the herbs and small stones on the now empty bag to her right and the unwrapped meat to her left. I sat and watched the stone with her.

Every so often, she would hold her hand just above the surface of the stone. After one of these times, she studied the meat pile, nodded and grabbed the stones and herbs. This close, I noticed that there were actually two herbs. One was a reddish-purple, while the other was a deep green. She counted and separated equal amounts of each from the bundle, grinding them between the stones. When done, she brushed the powder onto the bag and replaced the herbs. She held her hand over the stone again and smiled.

She took a piece of meet between the stones and laid it upon the third. Taking a pinch of herb, she sprinkled it over the meat, turned it over and dusted the other side as well. After some time, the scent permeated the air. It was not overly appealing, nor was it repulsing. The smell was interesting, to say the least. Again pinching the meat between the stones, she turned it over.

. . .

I smelled food. My eyes popped open and before me was such a bellezza. The fire between us cast brilliance across her features. White, curly hair hung just past her shoulders, contrasting with skin nearly as black as the sky. Her eyes captivated me. As if balancing her hair and skin, they were a bright grey ringed with silver. I gasped softly as they met mine.

They seemed timeless, spaceless. In them I could see nations being born, aging and dying again and again. My trance was broken as she stood. I tried to stand too, but half way up, my legs gave out beneath me. I squeezed my eyes shut, awaiting the sudden stop.

In half an instant, I felt hands at my elbows. I opened my eyes to hers. In them I lost my fear. She slowly lowered me to the ground, never breaking her gaze. Once there, she went back to the other side of the fire, pouring something into something else.

She returned with a small, wooden bowl filled with an almost clear, steaming liquid. When I took it, I tried to look into her eyes again, but she stared at the ground. I thanked her and drank.

It was good! Not as yummy as pasta, but still good. Japan sat next to her, facing me and said "Italy, I do not think it wise to stand. You have been asleep for four days. This woman has been caring for us." I set the newly empty bowl beside me and pulled her into a hug, trying to squeeze my thanks into her.

After a few seconds, Japan said "Um, Italy? I think you are hurting her." I released her. She was rubbing her throat, her face significantly darker and tears forming in her eyes. I instantly regretted my actions and looked down. "Mi dispiace, Bella. Why didn't you say anything?" She touched a finger under my chin and I looked up. A sad smile crossed her lips as she used the same finger to point at her throat, mouthing 'mute'. "Then why not whisper? You don't need a voice to do so." She cocked her head slightly to her right. I whispered, "Like this, Bella."

She moved her jaw around a little and opened her mouth, only to shut it again. Her cheeks darkened slightly, though it was hard to tell in the firelight. She asked, "Do you truly think I am beautiful?" My heart sank. I replied instantly, with out thought "Of course! Whoever says otherwise is blind!" Her smile broadened and tears welled in her eyes.

I just barely heard it. She thanked me again and again, smile ever widening as tears fell. Japan asked, "Why are you crying?" She wiped her eyes and beamed at him. "I'm sorry. It has been so, so long since I have had a voice. There so many things I have been longing to say. And to be called beautiful by a stranger! For longer then I can remember, I have been invisible. Everyone feels my passing, yet no one, until now, has ever seen me. Thank you. Thank you so much!" I pulled her into another, much gentler hug. She didn't hug back, but rested her head on my left shoulder.

To my right, I saw Germany sleeping soundly on the ground. I made to gt up, but felt pressure on my shoulders. Bella said, "Easy. Easy. Do you remember what happened last time?" "Uh... I got lost in your eyes?" I blushed profusely. She sighed and released my shoulders. "Stretch your legs in front of you. Try to touch your toes. Good. Now roll your ankles. Again, the other way. And wiggle your toes." I followed every instruction. It was difficult at first, but slowly it got easier.

Bella offered me a pale, wooden staff. I took it and she helped me stand. She returned to the fire as I made my way to Germany, forced to lean heavily on the staff. I sat and watched her for a moment. She lifted a large stone that was sitting in the fire with her bare hands and poured the same liquid into the bowl, then handed it to Japan. I turned my gaze to Germany. He had never slept that heavily. I reached to touch his face when I heard a sharp hiss behind me. Bella was sprinkling herb onto raw meat. She took small stones into her hands and turned it, spreading herb on that side as well. She turned to face me.

"Please. Do not touch him. The venom still courses through his veins." My eyes widened and heard Japan coughing beside me. "Venom?!" Fear rose in my voice as my heart leaped into my throat. "Do you see the bites on his lips? That is the work of the Kissing Wasps. They are native to the shores you wrecked upon." I looked at Germany, then back to Bella as she continued. "The toxin in their jaws puts their prey to sleep as they feed on the victim's blood. The more the victim is bitten, the stronger the effect is and the longer they will stay asleep. How long one stays asleep depends on the person and how many bites they sustain. Generally, from one bite, the venom will stay in the body anywhere from one day to two weeks. This one has been bitten four times, so there is no telling when he will wake. He was also attacked while conscious, which will affect him as well. It is not in the Wasps' nature to attack the conscious, but they may if they encounter a threat. Long ago, these shores were home to several beings. A disease killed all of the Wasps' natural predators, so they began to kill everything else. When their food source was depleted, they began to turn on each other until none but the strongest and most venomous survived."

I took in everything Bella said. One thing was still bothering me. She turned and again flipped the meat. When she faced me again, I asked "Bella, what is your name?" She looked down and cocked her head to her right slightly. "I have been called many things throughout my life. The most common would be 'Father'." I cocked my head as Japan asked "Why would you be called 'Father' if you are female?" She looked at him and stated "Remember, before now, no one has ever seen me. So naturally, I was assumed to be male."

I thought a few seconds and asked "Could we call you 'Mama'?" She looked at Japan, who nodded. "That would be acceptable. Rest now, you two. We have a long journey ahead of us." I did as asked and, surprisingly, fell asleep instantly.

· · ·.·.·. ¤ .·.·.· · ·