been wandering around in a sort of daze, where nothing had been certain or solid except the switches between day and night.

Before he knew it, the darkness had fallen again already. Pushing a branch aside as he made his way out of the barren woods trail he was

following, he spotted what seemed to be a human figure. An actual person! His excitement overtook caution. "...A-Ah, who's there...?"

blinked. She whipped around, startled. "I-It's Mei! Who're you?" she asked the blurred figure in the distance.

picks up one of Kiku's spare katanas. Hey, he wasn't going to miss it after all...

raises his hands in defense, catching the glimpse of silver that could definitely mean no good, rather than reach for the small handgun

carried on himself as a means of protection he didn't plan on using. "I-It's Feliciano! I-I come in peace, please don't hurt me...!"

lowered her sword immediately. "Seriously? Italy, is that you?" Keeping a firm grip on the sword, she edged closer. Sure enough, he was

standing with both arms in the air. "Oh, sorry about that. Come over here, I've got some shelter."

sighs in relief, grateful to be in the company of another nation like himself. They were pretty sturdy people, to have survive the disaster.

Which gives him hope everyone else will be alright as well. Wrapping his arms around himself, he treks on over, offering a small smile.

how long Mei has been in this particular area.

counts silently on her fingers. "I'm pretty sure it's been a week and a half." she said finally. "I started vomiting blood for a bit,

but I don't remember how long that took.

frowns and moves to touch Mei's forehead quickly in concern. "Vomiting blood...? Did you eat something bad?

I think most of the food and water is really tainted."

nodded. "Yup. I got hungry and ate some fruit a few days ago. Urhhhh, that was stupid." she laughed weakly before running behind a bush and

heaving up what was left of her sparse dinner.

"M-Mei..!" It's at times like these where the full weight of how useless he could be sinks in terribly. He wishes his brother or Ludwig were

around to help him, but they weren't and Mei was ill, so it would be all up to him to help her. "I have good water in a bottle I saw in a

grocery store. Y-You can have the rest," he offered, not shying away from rubbing her back as she puked, ignoring his own hunger pangs.

started shaking her head, pushing away the bottle. "I-Ican't take all your water!" she croaked. "You-you might need it later!"

"...N-No, it's okay! Really, you need it more right now," he insists, a newfound stubborn streak pressing forward. "I'll be okay."

just as stubborn and only takes a mouthful of water. "Thank y-you!" she says, giving the rest back. It was a big mouthful, but there was

still enough to last two days.

frowns and only takes the bottle back after she's had some to drink, determined to give her more...somehow, later. Maybe he'd have to trick

her into it if she seriously continued to refuse. "Ah, you should go lie down now, si? I-I can stay awake and keep watch for us..."

waved a hand, now ashamed she'd made Feliciano worry. "I'll be fine now. I only throw up once a day, so I'll show you the shelter first."

stepped into a seemingly shallow crack that she knew widened out into a huge cave. She pulled Feliciano in after her. "Home sweet home!"

eyes widen in wonder as he scans around the cave, not minding at all when his boots catch in a puddle heading deeper in. "Ve, this is a good

hiding place. I couldn't even tell from the outside...!" Oops. He covers his mouth as his voice echoes all around.

grins. "Yeah, I found it a few days ago. It goes on for a long way!" she disappears outside again and comes back with a branch to throw

on the fire. "So I'll take second watch after you, alright?"

"Right. You make sure to rest well...and here." Feliciano moved to take off his jacket, stepping in close to don it around Mei's shoulders.

blinked, surprised. "...thanks." she said softly. She lay down on her bedding, but jolted back upright again. "Wake me up when your watch

over, alright?" she said, already half-asleep.

"Si. You just worry about sleep for now, ve~" Though, like the manly man that he has deep down inside of him, plans to let Mei relax

and sleep the entire night.

force herself to wake up in the middle of the night because she knows that Feliciano will probably forget (on purpose)

despite his efforts, is halfway asleep by the time Mei awakes, only to jump at the sound of her rattling, his awkwars laughter following.

*awkward

plops down beside him. "It's okay, you can go to sleep now." she gestures towards the tempting, warm cave.

finds the tempting warmth and closing his eyes quite tempting. "V-Ve, are you really sure? I don't mind being awake so much, really...!"

gently but firmly pushes him to the crack. "Don't worry about it! Go sleep!"