This… This is the touch of death…

So thought Russia as he pulled away from a trembling Lithuania.  He loved the power that he had over him and other countries like him, but that look… He hated that look.  Estonia, Latvia, Poland, even his own sisters gave him that same look of fear.  No matter how many times he had seen the fear, the pain clear on their faces, he couldn’t get used to it.  He sighed and left Toris to his devices.  He had to get out, to get away.  No, he could never get away from this, only leave it for a time.  He wrote a quick note to the household, pulled on his muff and left the mansion.

It was snowing outside, the sky a dull gray.  Perfect for his mood.  He didn’t know where he was going, only that he was going somewhere.  He started walking down the familiar streets, looking for nothing in particular.  He looked about for something, anything to pull him out of his despair, and found it in a child.  She was naught but about ten or twelve, and she was gently holding onto his scarf and beaming happily.  He stopped to look at her, confused as to why she would do such a thing.

“Why do you follow me, little one?” he asked the child.  “Where are your mother and father?  Won’t they worry about you?”

“Its okay.  You’re the only family I have, Papa Ivan,” she said back to him.  Even though she said such a sad thing, she still smiled happily.  “So, please don’t be sad Papa Ivan,” she now pointed at the sky with one hand, the other still clinging tightly to his crème colored scarf, “because when your sad, the sky cries.”

He stared blankly at her.  The street had cleared for the coming night, leaving the two Russians alone in the middle of the street.  One by one, the lamps were lit by a lamp lighter as the snow gave a brief respite.  “Go back, little one.  Go back to where you came from.”

“Not until Papa Ivan cheers up,” the girl pouted, moving from his scarf to his leg.  “I wanna go to the carnival!!  Take me to the carnival Papa Ivan!!” she whined and begged, pouting.  He laughed.  So much like Ukraine…. “Alright, little one, I will take you to the carnival…”  And with a light heart, he showed the little orphan the time of her life.