Big Sister Kievan Rus -
She felt the charge in the air. The change in the wind. The tingle all nations feel in the back of their necks when it happens. A new nation.
Granted she hadn't been there for that long. She had only recently gained identity when she moved her capital to Kiev and took on the physical appearance of the Rus Vikings. Even then she had had issues with bordering khaganates and roaming steppe nomads that threatened her settlements.
Nonetheless, she gradually built her own nation and now she was beginning to take on a new role. A role that nations all face at some point or another which was caring for siblings.
It started a couple of months ago. She had had the same feeling that was flooding her now. As she started to move to the source of the energy she recalled the last time when she had gone south west, pulled by the inexplicable force, only to find a little girl. The little girl was lost and barely old enough to walk. She didn't have anywhere to go so Rus had taken her back home where she taught her Slavic and gave her minor around the house. All contributed to the community and the new girl was no exception.
Going farther and farther north, the harsh wind whipping in her face, Rus wondered what kind of nation could possibly have come from such a barren wasteland. She was literally in the middle of nowhere. Not quite attached to the innovative and calculating nations of what was to be known as Europe but also not part of the rich, far-off lands of Asia.
Vaguely wandering she could feel the presence grow stronger until she was standing in a small dip in the land that was filled with snow. She stretched her foot out and felt her way around until it collided with something. She crouched down and shoveled with her hands until she found him. His face was peaceful. She put her hand up to his face and felt shallow breathes. His whole body was blue and he looked on the brink of death but the strength in that small face made her decide that he was worth saving.
She scooped him up and bundled him in a scarf she had with her before placing him under her arm in her coat. Then she turned and made for home wondering what he would be like and if he would be of any use to her. After all, one couldn't afford to raise the weak. She had already thrown out two other pseudo-nations because the first was underdeveloped and the second was incompetent. If this new one didn't prove himself fast he would go just like the others.
A toddler stumbled around trying to walk on two stubby little legs. On the other side of the room a young girl made encouraging noises and held out her arms waiting to catch him if he fell. They were alone in a little hut that contained a bed, a stool, and most importantly, a fire. A great burning hearth in the middle of the room that protected and sheltered the two little children from the raging storm that was screaming through the cracks in the make-shift wooden door.
As the toddler pushed himself up to try again the door opened and a cold wind came blasting in pushing him back down. A tall woman with pale, silvery-white hair came in holding a bundle. Both of the children looked over and came over to where she sat down after latching the door shut.
The woman placed the bundle on the floor letting the girl unwrap it while the boy looked on, his beautiful violet eyes lighting up with curiosity. A smile spread across the little girl's face as she was met with the face of another little girl, pitiful and mewling, her hands lashing out to claw at anything that dare come close.
Rus sighed and closed her eyes wincing. It had been a while now since she had brought the little boy home and in that time she had grown weaker. The Vikings' reign was declining and with the weakening of the once powerful and rich Byzantium, her friend and enemy, Keivan Rus felt her energy and will to live falter. The ominous feeling intensified with growing presence of a deadly enemy massing in the east. Keivan Rus felt her death coming and was set on finding all her succeeding nations before she fell.
Rus watched the three children interact. Once the infant had realized she wasn't in any danger her movements slowed but she still watched them cautiously with her deep navy blue eyes, like a cornered animal. The girl cooed and tried to smooth the little tuft of blonde hair popping out of the baby's head but pulled back when her hand was bitten, the sting lessened by the lack of teeth.
Moving forward, the toddler loomed over and took in the appearance on the newcomer. Reaching out the babies eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. The toddler stroked her tiny head and she purred with happiness.
Rus still hadn't named the children but that would come later. It wasn't her job to show them everything but to hold the higher knowledge in front of them like a carrot to a rabbit. They would hunger for that knowledge and using that hunger they would grow stronger, gaining pride and dignity. Rus had no doubt that these three nations would be the ones to take over her lands when she was gone. She had no doubt of their strength, their power. She had made sure of it when she raised the girl and the boy and she would do the same for the baby.
Kievan Rus later fell to the Tartars. Her three children came under their dominion and for a long time were subjected to the humiliation of paying them tribute. The Golden Horde felt no pity for the strange and alien nations and he was confident of their inferiority. He was wrong.
Hmmm... I wonder if Kievan Rus falls under the Ancient category with Grandpa Rome and Germania... Next chapter will be the rise of Moscovy and beginnings of the Tsars. Critical reviews are helpful especially when I get to the forming of the USSR. (I'm not exactly the expert in this stuff) ~Nami