Wolf and War

By Vladimier Norton

Finland, 1940, Winter War.

No movement could be seen over the battlefield, but looks can be deceiving. Our story begins, where the tale of a sniper is about to end. Simo Hayha looked down the sights of his Nosin Nagant, hunting for his prey. Likewise his prey, a Russian sniper, was looking for Hayha. It was a deadly game of hide-and-go-seek. As Hayha scanned his sector, he noticed something he had never seen before. A girl, no more than 16 or 17, watched him. She seemed calm despite the iced blood that was on the ground. Something about her caused Hayha to feel uneasy. He looked again, and saw wolf ears and a tail. Curious, Hayha lifted his head for a better look. At that moment, a pang of a rifle went off, the bullet ripping Hayha's mouth into shreds. His spotter, seeing the blood, fired some shots into the direction of the bullet. But the Russian was gone; his name will never be known.

"Even with new toys, Humans still kill with no reason," Holo said as she watched the battle.

Holo turned, and started on her trek home. The cold nipped her human form, her clothes offering only some protection. It had been years since Holo transformed into her wolf form, how many she could not remember.

"Funny, she said to herself," I am Holo the Wise Wolf, yet I have not the knowledge of the years that have passed. I must be more human than I thought."

Holo was no longer was bound to the wheat, she had since eaten all of it years ago. She could turn into a wolf at any time she wished, but she didn't. She prevented herself her wolf form out of respect for her late husband, Lawrence. Holo kept on walking, looking depressed. Two of her three children died, one she had to abandon due to the grief of her husband's death. Suddenly Holo dropped on the ground, crying.

"WHY Lawrence, WHY did you not want to become like me, we could be together forever. My blood would have cured you and make you live forever as a wolf!" Holo sobbed.

It had been over a hundred years since Lawrence died of sickness. Her first-born human son died of the same sickness, her wolf daughter died of a hunter, and her third son whom she abandoned over a century ago was sure to be dead. Holo got up, and continued to walk. Her home of Yoitsu had changed over the years. The humans had called it names such as Russia, Soviet land, Finland, Soumi, etc. They also stopped worshipping her as a deity. I her place, the Church rose. Later, the Ideas of fascism and communism came into power. To Holo, it meant nothing; she had since disregarded herself as a deity once she married Lawrence. The one thing that Holo hated about the changes over the years was the technology. She was okay with the cars and planes, but it was firearms that got her.

"Damn the one that invented that weapon, damn the one that used it to kill the first wolf, and Damn the one that improved the weapon!"

She remembered times when a wolf could easily kill a human. Now the humans could kill a wolf without the wolf knowing it. She hated that Finnish sniper called white death; he had killed many of her game and kind. She also hated his killer; she knew he would kill her game and kind. Holo saw her house and entered, hoping the drink beer to drown her sorrows.

"I am Holo the Wise Wolf," she said in a depressed tone," But I am nothing without Lawrence".

Taking another swig from the bottle, she slept by its help. But the alcohol also did something else; it prevented Holo from noticing movement outside.

Ulrich look out his binoculars, seeing what look like a shack. Beside him were a troop of German troops and his Finnish guide.

"You certain that she is the one we are looking for?"

Ulrich looked at the guide, making the guide nervous.

"How many other shacks would be the home of a she-wolf, not to mention the fact that she said her name!"

The Officer kept staring at the guide with a blank face, and then he signaled his troops to surround the shack. Holo, now sleeping heavily, could barely hear any footsteps.

"Must be some reindeer." She mumbled in her sleep.

Once the Germans surrounded the place, Ulrich ordered them to stop. Then, with his Lugar pulled, he fired into the air. Holo woke up, and instantly sensed men outside, all armed with rifles. Jumping up, she grabbed a knife.

"What little good this will do." Holo commented.

The German's then stormed the room. Instantly, she lunged at one, stabbing his neck. But it was pointless, for the instant he died; another whacked her on the face with the butt of his rifle. Baring her teeth, she ran toward the man. She was slapped again by the butt of a rifle. Another hit her, and another. Soon, she was weak and on the floor. Then a man in a black trench coat entered, followed by a smaller man.

"Is she Holo the Wise?" The man asked with a blank tone.

"She matches the description, doesn't she?" The fin answered,

"There is one way to tell"

The officer grabbed the fin.

"Wait, we had a deal!"

But the officer just smiled. The soldiers grabbed Holo's mouth, causing it to open. Holo tried to resist, but she was too weak. Then the officer pushed the Fin's neck into Holo's Mouth, the soldiers forcing Holo's mouth to bite the man. The fin died, his blood in Holo's mouth.

"Ah no, Please no, don't change."

But despite Holo's pleasding, her body was changing.

"Men, get out," The officer order.

But it was too late. Holo changed into wolf form, breaking the house she lived in. The soldiers were on the ground, stunned. The officer only laughed. Holo stared at the man, and ran to him, her mouth open ready to eat the officer. The officer did not flinch, as more soldiers fired upon Holo. Holo, in pain, fell to the ground. She was not dead, but she wished it. Reverting back to her human form, she felt the cold nip her skin even more. She took one last look at her Husband's grave before Ulrich kicked her in the face, knocking her out.

Ulrich looked at the mess, and felt pleased. As the troops prepped the body of the one called Holo, one of the soldiers came up, giving the Hitler Salute.

"Mein Sturmbannführe, the wolf is ready to move."

Ulrich looked at the body of the she wolf.

"Ja, and Heir Hitler will be pleased, soon the world will know of the BEOWULFE project."

The group picked up their prize, and headed on the long trek home