It was a particularly sunny day, though it was very cloudy as well. Italy opened his eyes and sat up, noticing he was sitting in a patch of flowers. He looked around, he was confused. How did he get here? He got up slowly and he grabbed his bag. He looked through the pockets and found a letter. He pulled it out and began to read it, even though some of it was obviously missing.

mind if you go to his house, but just stay away from the forest. Hope to see you home soon. -Rome

Italy was confused by this but thought nothing of it as he put it back in his bag. He slung the bag onto his back and noticed a grayish-blue cat with a red, black, and yellow ribbon tied around it's neck, sitting on a tree stump. He smiled and walked over. He reached out to pet it when the cat looked at him with it's peircing blue eyes.

"You're up I see. That's good, I was beginning to worry."

Italy stared at it. Did that cat seriously just talk?

"Humans shouldn't be out here. Too dangerous," the cat said, licking it's paw and swiping it over it's ears.

"This must be a dream," Italy said and the cat looked at him.

"Nope, this isn't a dream. My name is Germouser by the way. What's your name?"

"Italy," he replied as he began to head down the path.

"No good going that way, you can't get out," Germouser called after him, but Italy ignored him. He came to a part of the path where the trees were less thick. He walked through them and saw a machete laying on the ground. He walked over and picked it up. He walked back out and over the the huge rose bush blocking his way. He tried to cut them with the machete, but he was pushed back by the force.

"What the... These can't be normal roses," he said as he grabbed on of the vines and tugged on it. He sighed and went back the way he came. When he got back to the tree stump, he saw Germouser was no longer there and he saw the path lead to somewhere else. He headed north, since that was the only direction he could take at the moment. He came to a small rose bush and used the machete to cut them. After he finished cutting them, the machete broke.

"Well, it was rusted. I doubt I'll need it," Italy said as he discarded it and headed up the path. There, he came across a house.

"What is a house doing all the way out here," he wondered aloud. He looked to his right and saw Germouser sitting on a tree stump. He walked over to him and Germouser tilted his head.

"Huh? What is it?"

"The roses blocked my path."

"Well, I told you that you couldn't get out that way," Germouser said. Just then, the door to the house opened with a creak. Italy looked at the door with wide eyes.

"You going to go in?" Germouser asked. Italy was about to say no, but Germouser went on, "Might as well, if you can't leave."

Italy knew the cat was right. So he walked over the door. He took a deep breath and looked back at Germouser, who was staring at him intently. He sighed and without any further hesitation, Italy walked into the house.