The Canadian-American border

Subject: The Canadian-American border Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:29 am

For the first time since the War of 1812 and its subsequent aftermath, the border dividing the United States of America and Canada has been closed. Being the only border Canada has with another Nation (except for the Alaskan border), the country has ordered hundreds of his armed forces to spread across its length and protect it. It is nearly impossible for an American citizen (or any other person) to cross, with a few exceptions such as prove of relatives living in Canadian soil. The infected are immediately shot down and the uninfected are told to go back to designated ares within the United States.

Subject: Re: The Canadian-American border Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:00 am

Date: May 18
Location: Niagara on the lake, Ontario
Character Canada
Infection Status: Mild

Canada took the flask he kept on the side of his backpack and drank the last bit of water he had. He was walking along the river so finding clean water wouldn’t be a problem, the problem was food. Digging around his backpack he found the last piece of bread he had taken from a supermarket back in Saint Catharines and ate it quickly. This time food hadn’t last long, he knew he had to be more careful with that.

He was tired, he had only slept for an hour last night, hearing noises that came from the forest and fearing for the life of his citizens. His government had managed to contain the illness for the most part; there was the great advantage of having few people in your land. The uninfected were quickly relocated north, to Nunavut and Northwest Territories, hoping the virus would have a hard time surviving the harsh rule of winter. Main cities were deserted, Toronto and Vancouver abandoned and Ottawa heavily protected against anyone who wanted to get in. The Prime Minister was safe as were most members of Parliament, they had ordered any planes and boats to be turned down and for the first time in Matthew’s long history every single one of his borders North to the Arctic Passage and South to his brother’s land was closed to anyone, no exceptions.

Canada could have just locked himself in the city with his boss, but no, Alfred was still somewhere out there, he could feel his presence and he needed to find him before anything else. So he had grabbed a bow, a knife and a few guns and left Parliament without being seen, only leaving a note on Harper’s desk that read ‘I’ll be back’ signed ‘MW~’, that should be enough.

He had been walking for over five hours, stealing bits and pieces of the bread in his backpack and picking the grapes and apples from the farms that had managed to survive the initial chaos but he was still hungry. There was not a single soul in sight, and it was the first time in a long while that Matthew was alone with his nature and his surroundings. The next town, ‘Niagara on the lake’ was not far away and from there only a thirty minute walk separated him from the American border. He figured he will stack himself with food and sugar then immediately head pass the border. It should all go smoothly if he didn’t encounter any infected ones.

It was almost 9:00 pm when he reached a small convenience store at the end of a narrow street. The light was on, the windows broken but it seemed to be in good enough condition. He got a few essentials from there; a flashlight, a pair of batteries, matches, a new lighter and he filled his backpack with canned food, bread, chips and a few bottles of energy drinks. He was eve tempted to grab a bottle of maple syrup, but he figured nothing that had to be prepared on a bonfire in the middle of the forest went well with the syrup; and he decided to take maple candy instead, two boxes.

One of the boxes was already half done when he exited the store, and he kept eating more, candy after candy, not being aware that the usual rush of sugar he felt when he used to eat them was gone, instead there was an emptiness inside him that was never quite filled.

Subject: Re: The Canadian-American border Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:55 pm

Date: May 18
Location: Youngstown, New York
Character: America
Infection Status: Mild

It took two days to make a walk he once would have been able to make in only half a day. Laden down with weaponry, and basics for food, Alfred found himself stopping constantly to help other people. The first night, he slept in an abandoned house in Ransomville with a family of four. He stood watch while they rested. They went their separate ways in the morning, he gave up a good amount of his ammo and showed the eldest boy, their father having died just a few days beforehand, how to fire the big hunting rifle.

Alfred was armed more to fight grizzly bears then humans. His aim was excellent, and Al didn't want to take a chance of not doing enough damage. He could feel the pain of his people dying, as they rushed to find some place safe. All he could do was pray some of them would survive. As childish as Alfred F. Jones was, he knew there was little he could do. That his country was in just as much trouble as anyone else's. That this might actually be it.

Knowing that, and having to deal with the fact that there was little he could do- it was all riding on the President now, Alfred had packed up and decided that the only thing he could do, was look for family. Make sure everyone else was okay, or at least, look for them and hope they were okay. On his way north, he stopped to seek out his States, most of them chose not to leave their homes just yet, so he went on alone.

He was just hoping that Matt would come to meet him as well. He'd heard that the border had been closed of course, though days had passed before the news had reached him. He had hoped that Matt would let some through, if they weren't infected, but from what he'd been hearing, he knew that wasn't the case. He wanted to blame his brother for shooting his people, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. This was a crisis, and it was Canada's job to protect his people- if that meant keeping everyone else out, so be it.

Alfred just wished he'd had enough time to do the same. As it was, nothing was coming or going by air or ship. The border between himself and Mexico was being heavily guarded as well, and his people were being moved around as much as possible. Mostly into the areas where it would be harder for the zombies to travel, rocky terrain, or the areas where it stayed cool and wet.

By the middle of the day, Alfred managed to make it to Youngstown, he got along the coast, but made no effort to cross the water. He had thought of making his way down and trying to cross the Rainbow Bridge, but somehow, it felt like he was closer to Matt here, so he decided to wait. A bit of a rest would do him good, anyway.

((Hey Mattie, you forgot this... ))

Subject: Re: The Canadian-American border Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:55 pm

Date: May 19
Location: Rainbow Bridge, Ontario/New York
Character: Canada
Infection Status: Mild

Niagara on the lake was left behind him just a couple of hours later; he had managed to sleep inside an empty house for three hours and then some of his supplies, two or three grapes, maybe ten and canned beans, a good enough meal to start the day.

He walked down the old Entertainment district of Niagara, passing by abandoned haunted houses and wax museums, almost sobbing as he saw the Memorial to World War Two Heroes, crumbling down half destroyed. Everything that had been pooling up inside him since this trip began exploded. Falling to his knees and making fists with his hands, he felt hot tears running down his cheeks and wetting the edge of his coat. This was his land, this was him, and he could do nothing to protect it, to protect himself and those people who had adopted his name as part of their identity.

It wasn’t time to give up though, he could see Rainbow Bridge in the distance, and with that he was a step closer to his brother.

The bridge connecting Canada and the United States hadn’t look this bad since the old one collapsed in 1938, Matthew remembered well. This place had been previously filled with cars of eager Canadians and Americans, going back and forth between the countries with only a passport in hand. The booth where the custom officers used to be was now destroyed and in its place a muddy, green military tank stood, flanked by two men with the coat of arms of the Canadian army on their shoulder.

Matthew approached the end of the bridge, expression firm and body straight. He still hadn’t forgotten how to give orders to his own soldiers. He looked at them through the rim of his glasses and cleared his throat to catch the attention of the one holding the biggest gun. A brunette, he couldn’t be more than twenty one years old. He locked purple eyes with him, waiting for recognition to sink in. He may be forgotten often by other nations, but his citizens in some level always recognized him, especially military men, most of them were aware of his existence.

“Good morning. I’m commander Matthew Williams; I need to know your new policies in border control and then I need you to give me access to the other side.” At first the young soldier looked at him as if he were insane, but soon enough his eyes had widened as he recognized the man he had been taught about in the first years of the academy.

“Mr Williams, I mean Sir, I… uhm Sir Canada…”

“Shhh it’s alright, Mr. Williams is more than okay.”

He learnt from the soldier that they weren’t allowed to let anyone pass the border. Anyone who tested positive to the disease and was still in the mild stages, was given the option of a simple injection, those who refused were shot. Sadly to treat worst cases there wasn’t another option but a gun. The uninfected ones were being directed to special refugee camps along the border to Montana and Washington. It was just as Matthew though, and it wasn’t much he could do to help improve the situation, these were orders from above. He couldn’t disobey his boss without civil unrest, and what his people needed the most was stability. This was the hard way and it needed to be done.

“Thank you…”

The familiar feeling of leaving a part of himself behind invaded him as he crossed the yellow line that blurred his borders from his brother’s and he felt America’s essence washing over him, the cool winters of his brother, his mountains and rivers, he was still going strong, that much Matthew could tell… something was wrong though, he didn’t quite know what…

The half an hour was spent walking along the coast of the Niagara River in New York, making his way through trees and uncut grass that had grown so tall it reached his hip and what was left of the small village of Youngstown. At least the sound of the water was calming, he could see Rainbow Bridge still in the distance, smaller and smaller as his steps continued to lead him forward.

Matthew saw him then, and he wondered why he hadn’t felt him sooner.

“Alfreed!!” His feet speeded up and he ran, almost tackling him when he was less than a meter from him but thinking it out last minute and taking him into a powerful bear hug instead. It had been too long and he had been so worried and feeling so guilty. But he was alive, he looked fine and they were together again. Without really thinking, he pushed his lips against Alfred’s and kissed him, for all those days he had wondered if he was safe, for all those days he had missed him.

He was with him now though, that’s all that mattered.

Subject: Re: The Canadian-American border Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:05 pm

Date: May 19th
Location: Youngstown, New York

Character America
Infection Status: Mild

Alfred had ended up spending the night in Youngstown, his resting had taken up what was left of day light, and he didn't feel up to travelling once the sun went down. Didn't see any reason in risking it by trying to make his way further. He slept more heavily then he'd meant too, but woke, as planned, when the sun came up, light filtering through the window of the house he'd found. There was no sign of life, and he was a little bothered by just how quiet it was when he got outside.

It seemed like there was no one around, and he didn't like seeing it so deserted, though he knew he couldn't expect anything else. If people couldn't go up to Canada, he assumed they'd all tried to go down instead. It was depressing to walk through the town knowing it was empty, knowing it would be that way for a long, long time, if not forever.

He tried not to think about it, to think about how everything was falling to pieces, how this time he might not be able to pick them up. Being a Hero was hard, even more so, when you knew you couldn't do anything to save the people you cared about. He was still contemplating this, the fall of his Nation, the aches and pains from where they weren't about to get away- wondering how Germany had handled the feeling during World War II, when he heard his name.

The shout had caught him off guard, dragging him from his depressing thoughts and back into the present. Hands instantly going to grab his gun, only stopping when his mind registered the voice as his brother's, the feel of his brother so close by. He had just enough time to release his hold of his guns, before Canada collided with him. Pulling him into a hug so tight for a second he couldn't breathe, that reminded him just how strong his brother could be- even if he never showed it off.

Alfred's eyes went even wider at the kiss, having expected it even less, but after a second he wrapped his arms back around Matthew, and kissed him back. Pushing all his relief that Matt was okay, that he wasn't hurt or in danger, that he'd come to find him too.

Breaking the kiss to breathe, America's arms tightened around Canada, and he buried his face in his brother's shoulder for a moment, then lifted his arms to bury his hands in Matt's hair, feeling the strands shift through his fingers. He kissed Matt again, a rough, but quick kiss, “You're okay! I was so worried! You closed the border!”

At that last statement he punched Canada's shoulder with a fair bit of power in, but hugged him again before he could respond. “I didn't know if I'd be able to get to you!”

With his face against Matt's shoulder, and his arms wrapped tight around him, Alfred tried to ignore the sting of tears in his eyes, pushing them away. This wasn't the time to be a baby, he was relieved, but he wouldn't cry, there more important things to worry about now that he knew Canada was okay.

Like what to do now. They couldn't really just stay right here, they'd have to figure out where to go now. Alfred still had a lot of states he'd like to check up on, but he didn't think many of them would leave their homes. They needed to try and get in contact with other Nations too, America couldn't help the worry for England building, now that he knew Matt was okay, he could feel all the worry for everyone else making itself known.

Subject: Re: The Canadian-American border Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:29 pm

Date: May 19th
Location: Youngstown, New York
Character: Canada
Infection Status: Mild

Matthew was so glad when Alfred kissed him back, his brother had never been big in public affection of any kind, and so Matt hadn't known how he would react to his kiss. The end of the world changes people however and ah wasn't that depressing? The fact that his brother would kiss him like this in here because of the high odds they wouldn't survive. He held America close to his chest, pressing fluttering kisses all over his cheeks and giving small reassuring sounds, it was as he melt into that hug that he actually noticed the state his brother was in, he was thin, there were bangs under his eyes and the marks left by the use of a gun had appeared strong for the first time since the Korean War. Matthew couldn't help but whimper at his brother's his twin's, his neighbour's state, and how he wished he could do more to help.

The second kiss took him by surprise but he kissed by fervently and as roughly, needing more than anything to feel the other close to his skin. The closeness however couldn't lessen the pang of guilt that raced through his spine at Alfred's statement. He hissed at the punch but closed his eyes and took it without further comment, he felt he deserved that and much more, and waited to receive another punch but his brother hugged him instead and Canada couldn't contain the pained sob that escaped him. "I'm sorry so so sorry. I'm sorry Al... I- there was no other way, I couldn't, I couldn't risk the infection spreading more; they -my citizens- they are my children Alfred I couldn't risk them. I'm sorry." It had been a hard measure, that much he knew; he actually hadn't supported the part where he had to shoot anyone who did not obey and tried to cross, he hated that, hated causing his brother or any of his citizens any pain. He also hated not being able to give aid to those families who simply came begging to his door, watching soldiers turn away children and youth broke his heart little by little.

There was no use to dealing with that at the moment though. As Canada he couldn't do anything, he was forced to yield to the will of his people and his government. As Matthew however, he still had enough free will to decide on abandoning everything, leaving it as good as he could and head south to this moment, to Alfred.

He gave one more squeeze before breaking the hug and looking directly into his brother's eyes. Much of that gorgeous sky blue was dimmed and there was something underneath it that looked different, something that Matthew couldn't quite place, but he quickly brushed it off as simple tiredness and stress. He wished they could stay here, live of the forest like in the old times where they were both really small, before Francis or Arthur found them and separated them, before they had to worry about politics and war and the apocalypse, when they could only play and hunt and smile. His hand reached forward to cup Alfred's chin and for a moment he was back in time, but the spell was broken too quickly and the force of reality fell on his shoulders again, he realized they only had a couple of hours before it started to get dark. "We have to move Al, we can't travel at night, they come in massive groups once the sun sets, we have to find somewhere to spend the night in and recover strength, we can think of a plan of what to do next then."