Sorry that this took so long. Enjoy~

Matthew and his friends hefted up the boards that would put the last wall in their shelter. Even through all the weight that they were putting on it, the rain that had begun yesterday hadn't stopped, and the boards just kept slipping in the mud. Finally with a great push the board stood upright in place and they took a few steps back and placing a few more pieces of wood in place so that they wouldn't fall again. Matthew let out a sigh of relief and picked up his bear again, despite how the small fluff ball was soaking.

"What's wrong Mattie? Sad you missed the fun with the savages?" Alfred boomed loudly as he slapped Matthew's back. Matthew hissed and glared at his brother. Really he was upset because he hadn't heard from Gilbert in what seemed like years, but it had just been a couple of days. Matthew didn't respond to his brother, but it didn't matter anyways, his brief moment of recognition was already done with.

"Don't worry Matvey, your time will come soon," Ivan said to Matthew. Matthew tried to smile back, but it felt hollow and didn't reach his eyes.

"Aiyah Ivan quit it!" Yao yelled out, trying to shield his hair from the rain, even though his hair was already soaked.

"Is Yao-Yao cranky?" Ivan smiled and wrapped the Chinese man in his arms, despite the struggle that Yao gave him.

"I am not cranky! I'm mad because we've been here all this time working our buts off and haven't found a single bit of gold! All the while Franny-pants refuses to work," Yao retorted, giving up on getting out of Ivan's grip. He never would succeed and besides, Ivan was warm.

Matthew tuned out, figuring that watching the clouds move overhead was way more interesting than listening to these idiots talk. As he watched the cloud fly by and water got on his glasses, Matthew saw a yellow puff ball that could only be one thing. Without hesitation, Matthew snuck out began to follow Gilbird through the woods.

Gilbert was out in the woods with Elizabeta, collecting fruits and other things that could be useful. It had taken time to convince Ludwig that they would be okay, but eventually Gilbert had done so. He was just so tired of being cooped up inside the village, but more than anything he really wanted to see Birdie again. Gilbert's movements were slow, he just couldn't bring himself to think of the task at hand.

"Bruder, I think that you've been out long enough. It's to dangerous to be out while these strangers are here," Ludwig said suddenly, appearing almost out of nowhere. Gilbert sent him a glare, but his heart wasn't into it so it looked like a hard stare.

"We'll be fine West," Gilbert said shortly. Elizabeta nodded besides him. Ludwig stared back, probably calculating what the probability would be that he could drag his brother back home without to many bruises.

"Just be careful." Ludwig finally gave in.

"We will West." Gilbert said shortly.

"What happened to your necklace?" Ludwig said suddenly. Gilbert looked down at where the necklace used to lay, thinking about how Matthew was still probably wearing it.

"I left it back home," he lied easily. Ludwig seemed to buy it, but at the same time there was a bit of suspicion is his eyes.

Ludwig left for home, disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared. Gilbert let out a breath of relief when he left, but Elizabeta turned to him with a look that said that she knew something was going on.

"Alright, what are you hiding?" Elizabeta asked, hands on her hips.

"What are you talking about? I'm not hiding anything," Gilbert responded back, crossing his arms over his chest. Elizabeta just sighed.

"I know you're hiding something. You're my best friend, you can tell me anything," Elizabeta gave him a pleading look, and for a moment Gilbert wanted to tell her everything. Before he could though, her expression turned to one of shock and fear.

"Gilbert, it's one of them..." she whispered. Gilbert whipped around to have Gilbird right in his face and Matthew standing there awkwardly.

In a swift movement Gilbert was at Elizabeta's side, hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

"Birdie what are you doing here?" Gilbert whispered yelled. Matthew shuffled in his place, staring at his shoes.

"I wanted to see you and Gilbird led me here," Matthew replied. Gilbert shot his bird, who looked might proud of himself, a glare.

"Don't you dare say anything Elizabeta," Gilbert said to her before he grabbed Matthew and took off into the woods.

Elizabeta stood there awkwardly, trying to get her mind to process what had just happened. Before she could really do anything from going after them to calling for help Roderick appeared, bursting her poor fragile thought bubble.

"Eliza? What are you doing out here alone? Where's Gilbert?" Roderick had a weapon in his hand, there just in case he needed it.

"Oh you know Gilbert, always running off," Elizabeta said with a wave of her hand. Roderick frowned though.

"Well come on, I'll show you back home. Could you tell Gilbert not to run off so much? It's dangerous," Roderick said as he put an arm around her shoulder. Elizabeta blushed at the contact.

"Ya, Gilbert sure does listen to me," she muttered to herself sarcastically.