"Stupid Teutonic Knights...more like...Teutonic...Butts...wow, that was really bad..." I muttered to himself, kicking a pebble.
I stared at the arrow sticking out of my arm. It was so painful. But being a nation, I was tough enough not to pass out. I glared down at it, wanting to just rip it out of me. Or hack off my arm, either one would've been fine. With a sigh, I stared ahead.
I wonder how many other nations will be after me...I watched the bloody slowly, like a tightened tap, drip out of the wound that was partially sealed with the arrow. The flesh around it was extremely red, rather than the light color that the rest of his skin was.
"This is going to get infected..." I muttered to myself, tapping the little stick in my arm lightly.
It shifted, making me wince as the arrow head tore a smidgen of my muscle, like paper.
"Ow ow ow! Katyu-!" I looked around and remembered that my big sister was back in Ukraine. With a sigh, I rubbed my arm and simply kept walking.
Maybe if I find a woman, she'll help me...all women are smart and good with making people feel better, right? I thought. At the time, I didn't know many people, and all the women I knew were rather similar. Kind, strong, helpful, and beautiful.
...
...
Another town lied up ahead, looking just as...no, more ragged than the last. I grimaced at the horrible shape it was in. But I walked up to it anyway, hoping that someone could lend me a hand.
As I weakly walked through the village, people sent me strange looks, glares, and some even walked in their houses as I passed. This was not a friendly settlement town. I looked towards a woman with a child clinging to her waste. But she just turned her back. I huffed in annoyance, and looked at the flesh with the arrow in it. Reddening with infection. This needed medical attention. But no one was willing to offer it.
"Good thing I'm a nation..." I whispered to himself.
But it really hurt...
There was a woman staring at me a bit differently than everyone else. It wasn't a glare but it sure was an uncomfortable stare. But it was the only look that wasn't nasty. I hated to approach her as she'd probably expect it, given she's looking right at me. It'd feel awkward. But...the bugger fucking hurt. So I found myself running straight towards her.
Before I knew it, I was staring straight up at her with pained eyes. I was tempted to tug at her dress as I had done to Katyusha when I was hurt or upset, but I didn't want to scare her off. But I suppose I didn't even have to worry about that...
"And I suppose you've come asking me for help?" she grumbled.
I looked down and nodded.
"Why of all these people, me? You passed all the others but came up to me?" she said impatiently. A sheepish redness came to my cheeks. I don't know why I was embarrassed...she was seems to turn a pebble into a boulder, if you'd ask me now.
"They...they are frightening..." I whispered, only audible enough for her and my ears alone to hear.
"Well, I can be just as frightening."
At this point in my life, is when I learnt...people are more cruel than they've ever been kind. Selfishness. I got a taste of that. Or at least I think it was. To be honest, I'm not quite sure what selfishness is...I've never been to sure. Is it ignoring others' pleads because that's what they're content with or...not wanting something in the way of a bright future...ah, but anyway, I'm getting off topic. To sum this up, the woman didn't want to help me.
"Have you ever been shot..?" I asked darkly. "If you have, you'd understand..."
With that, I walked away. I had no intentions of sticking around to see a reaction, because that may very well be being slapped straight across the face, leaving a bright red mark on a swollen cheek. That's not fun.
...
...
Kicking over pebbles, I waited for that whole death cycle to happen again. Surely, with this thing painfully ripping at my skin, muscles, and veins, and starting an infection, I didn't have much longer. But I didn't want to die again. It hurts...it hurts because I don't go anywhere. I lie their in pain until I've healed enough to allow my heart to tick again. Everyone else goes to heaven or hell...I bet that doesn't hurt...or well, going to hell may be exceedingly painful but...and I'm getting off topic again.
I clutched my arm, beginning to rock back and forth as if I were in the middle of an anxiety attack. As I began to black out, I saw a tiny, doll-like hand reach over me.
...
...
"Boy! Wake up!" a childish voice pleaded. I felt my shoulders being shaken harshly. Blinking a few times, I tried to focus on the face. At first, I only saw blond hair and the outline of a dress.
"Katyusha?" I muttered, rubbing my eye.
"You are up! Who is Katyusha?" she exclaimed, then asked, getting over her excitement quickly.
This little girl was actually nothing like Katyusha, besides the darker blonde shade of hair color. The blue eyes couldn't be called a similarity, for they were darker, and didn't have the green tint to them. She was a small thing, her fists were only bigger than chicken eggs. The toddler didn't stand past Ivan's belly-button. Her green dress was an ugly shade. A large white bow stood out amongst all of the features. Her eyes shown with shyness and concern. I smiled faintly.
"Hello there..." I greeted, holding out a hand as I'd seem big sister do frequently. She stared at it. I withdrew.
"What is your name?" I decided to ask her. She looked at me with full blue eyes, shining with an excited glint, as if that question just rocked the kid's world.
"I am special, because I do not have a name!" she chirped, beaming proudly as if it was some sort of an accomplishment to be able to use the label "no-name". "What's your name, boy?"
No name, huh...
"Oh...my name is Ivan, nice to meet you."
She smiled.
"Ivan! I pulled your stick thing out for you!"
Quickly, my eyes darted to look at my arm, which had a slowly caving in wound, cleansed of blood, not of infection.
"A-Ahaha, thank you...with that arrow out, it should heal easier..." I said quietly, secretly freaking out over the chunk taken out of my arm, like someone took a bite out of it.
"Hey! Did you know, you were dead for five hours! That ticky thing in your chest wasn't ticking!" she said, sounding more carefree than she really should've been. I stared at her with wide eyes.
"Uh, I can explain..."
"But I do it all of the time!" she grinned.
...
...
"So...you found yourself alone, in a place far off. How'd you get here?" I asked the strange little girl.
"I had a quest!"
I nodded knowingly.
"Ah, I see, it must had been very long, yes?" I asked.
"Yes! I did that dying thing at least seventy times, too!" though it was an exaggeration, it must've meant more than once. I held sympathy for her. It must have had hurt...
"Wow, was it worth all of it?"
"Yeah, because I met you, Ivan!" she giggled, quickly hugging my waste, not quite being able to wrap her tiny arms all around, even though I had such a small waste.
I looked at her in surprise. She was either very lonely, very trusting, or both. The little girl released me with a grin. I reached down and petted her head, as my older sister had done to me.
"Oh oh hey! Do you want to see something? I found something very pretty!" she said as soon as I moved my hand.
Oh, what a straight forward little girl...
"Sure..!" I answered. She took my hand and led the way.
...
...
"See here? Isn't it so pretty?"
My eyes shone at the dazzling sight. I was at a loss for breath.
"So...beautiful..."
"Yes, it is!" the girl agreed, throwing her hands up.
A lovely field of flowers stood before me. Tall, with thick stems, and broad leaves. Petals...narrow, light, yellow. The large flower reminded me of what I loved most. The sun, and its welcoming warmth. I traced a finger over a nose length flower, marveling over its radiance.
"I...I love Muscovy!" I suddenly shouted.
