1943 Battle of Kursk
"How many tanks have I destroyed, 10, 15, 20? Malik says we have thirty rounds, but how many do we have. Wait, I hear another one. Hide Holo, hide from the beast." Holo thought while she hunted. It was hard work, running from one crater to another, hiding in cover from the beasts. Hunting tanks reminded her of hunting prey when she was in wolf form. To her, the squad was the pack, her lifeline to survive. As she lay on the ground with the rifle with Malik next to her, she prepared herself for the next tank. On her sights, she saw a tank that she could not recognize. The beast looked like a tan block of metal with anti-magnet armor. The engine purred like a cat as it cruised in front of Holo. Preparing to fire, she gave a smile that made her feel like a deity again. But Malik just stared at the tank with dread. It was a Tiger I tank.
"HORO, don't fire!"
Malik screamed at Holo with all his might. But Holo wasn't listening, for she already fired the shot. Soon Holo's spine became that of ice, the shot had not even scratched the tank. Slowly, the turret turned to Malik and Holo. Grabbing Holo's shoulder, Malik pulled Holo away from the rifle and ran. Holo was shocked at the break in Malik's ice, and began to run after Malik. The commander lined up his shot on the two, preparing to kill both Malik and Holo. Like guardian angels, Dmitri and Sasha ran up and threw Molotovs onto the vehicle. Although the Molotovs were a direct hit, the tiger was able to fire off one shell. Holo could hear the whistle of the shell racing towards her. The shell impacted near the two, causing both to fly into the air. Malik was lucky, as he quickly recovered from his short flight. Holo wasn't as lucky, for the shockwave threw Holo Further. As she hit the ground, Holo could feel the pain all over her body. Barely conscience, Holo looked up. Two Germans, one pointing a rifle at Malik while the other at her, prepared to kill the two. In an instant, one of the Germans died with Dmitri's knife in his spine. The second turned, only to be tackled by Dmitri and stabbed in the heart. As Holo started to loose conscience, she smiled at what she saw. Dmitri's teeth were wolf like, and his eyes changed from their normal brown to crimson red as he killed the two Germans in close hand combat. As Holo's conscience started to slip away, she smiled knowing that her third child had survived long enough to have a child; Dmitri being the descendent of her child. Then it became all black to her.
"Holo, HOLO! Wake up Holo, don't die on me." Dmitri said as he tried to bring Holo back to the living. Sasha just watched at Dmitri's attempts.
"Who's Holo?" Sasha asked. Dmitri just looked at his drunken friend, before ordering Sasha to check on Malik. But Malik was already on his feet walking towards the two. By now, Malik's actions did not surprise Dmitri or Sasha.
"Malik, is Horo alright?" Dmitri asked. Malik checked Holo's body for a pulse, which he found. It was weak, but stable.
"Good, Sasha, help me carry Horo back to our base."
"Ok, but if we get fired on by artillery, you owe me your share of Vodka. Deal?"
"Deal."
As Dmitri and Sasha lifted Holo into a fireman's carry, Malik surveyed the field for a safe route. There were none, for as soon as the three moved, they heard the whistling of shells.
"Looks like tonight is going to be my favorite night, eh Dmitri?"
But Dmitri only looked at his comrade with anger
"Shut up you drunken idiot and help me carry Horo.
It would be a long and deadly trek home. Despite this and the help Holo would receive, her mind was else ware in a place that brought her both happiness and sadness.
The sun rose over the plains and forests of Yoitsu, the snow making the sun brighter than before. Holo woke up from her slumber and yawned.
"Oh the years being bound to the wheat have been exhausting to me, how did I survive in that heat I will never know."
Holo got up and prepared herself for the day. Putting on her dress and walking to the balcony of the shop, Holo leaned on the railing smiling. Not only would Lawrence come home after supplying the shop, it would also be their 10 anniversary married. Holo chuckled to herself,
"Hopefully after 10 years, my husband has found some honey pickled peaches for me to eat."
Holo felt a tug at her dress. Looking behind her, she saw her eight-year-old daughter Susi standing and looking at Holo.
"Mother, will father be home soon?"
Holo answered the child's question
"Soon my child, soon. Till then, wake up your brother and help me prepare the shop."
As Susi walked out of the room to wake up her brother, Holo noticed how much her daughter had grown.
"She is growing up so fast, soon she will be able to transform into a wolf and hunt in these forests."
According to the local nomads and tribes, Susi meant grey wolf. This did not surprise Holo, for Susi had long beautiful silver hair, and her tail and ears had hazel tips. In many ways, her hair was an inverted form of Holo's.
"Let me sleep longer Su, I had a rough night." Said a voice for the other room.
Holo watched as her first-born son Alfonse, walked into the room with a sleepy look on his face. His hazelnut hair was untidy and unkempt. Unlike his sister, Alfonse had no wolf ears or tail. To the untrained eye, he was human. But to Holo and experience eyes, one would notice the wolf like teeth and crimson red eyes.
"You do know Alfonse we have work to do" Holo replied.
Alfonse just grumbled and prepared himself for the day.
The shop that Holo and Lawrence owned was more of a trading post/dry goods store, which was good for where they were located. The town was a small village that trappers, herders, and travelers stopped at to resupply and rest before going further to bigger villages. Often nomadic tribes would stop and resupply at Holo and Lawrence's shop. Most of what was bought was dry foods, clothes, blankets, and furs. More often than not, Lawrence would have to resupply the shop, leaving Holo and their children to keep the business running. Despite being the only dry goods store in town, business was hard.
"I am telling you ma'am, this beaver skin is of the highest quality. Feel its warmth, how soft the pelt is. It is worth its weight in gold coins."
Holo listened to the trapper's false hopes.
"Warm? My good man, most of the pelt has holes. And soft, you clearly have no idea how beaver skin is used. I offer you 2 copper bits."
"2 COPPERBITS, Madam, this pelt must be worth more. The size of the pelt is huge. You have enough material to make a hat. 1 silver strip."
"This is the smallest pelt I have ever seen. Clearly this beaver has not even reached maturity. 2 copper bits"
"3 copper bits, or I take my business else were.
Holo just raised an eyebrow at the man's remark.
"Tell me, where would you go? The inn and black smith won'taccept it, and the local trading company won't even look at you unless you have a wagon full. So the only other choice is me. 2 Bits."
The man winced at what Holo said.
"Fine, I will take the two bits. I guess I won't be having ale tonight." With that, the man stormed out the building. Holo only smiled, for the pelt was obviously worth 5 bits.
Holo wasn't the only hard trader, for Susi often times did better than even Holo and Lawrence combined. The skills that she learned and refined from her father and the wolf traits she gained from her mother caused her to be the best of both worlds. Holo and Lawrence often laughed when an experienced trader would cower at the girl's capabilities of the trade and her ferociousness at bargaining. She was so well known that many traders would often wait in the snow just to do trading with Holo and Lawrence instead of Susi. Those that did bargain with Susi quickly found themselves being the toast at the local alehouse. This fame also made Susi popular among the local and tribal boys, many asking Holo and Lawrence if they may court Susi. The answer was also no, and that Susi would be the one to choose who she would marry. Alfonse on the other hand was a horrible trader, often times losing money in his trades. He was also lazy, usually eating large amounts of food and sleeping whenever he got the chance. Due to this, he was often sent out to collect wood. To Holo and Lawrence's surprise, he often brought home numerous pelts and meat along with the wood. It was clear that despite looking like a human, he clearly had wolf'sblood in him. Holo often joked that the two had the wrong parts, that Susi should look more human while Alfonse should have the wolf traits. Holo just stared in amusement at her children as the two started on an argument over who was better at holding their breath. Holo just chuckled.
"I wonder who their mates will be, and whether my children will want to live forever as one of my kind." Holo then looked away and mused to herself. "I wonder if my husband will accept my gift of eternal life as a wolf." Just then, Holo's and Susi's ear's perked up. Susi turned her attention to Holo and Smiled.
"Fathers almost home, am I right?" Susi asked.
Holo just nodded her head.
"Yes Susi, soon he will be home."
Lawrence drove his wagon through the trail, heavy was its contents. Lawrence had been on this trip many times, and every time he would travel with barely any protection. He didn't need any, for the local nomads and tribes had marked the wagon to show that he was a friend of their tribe. Still Lawrence carried a sword; the laws of man did not apply to animals. The one animal that would not attack him were the wolves, and Lawrence knew the answer to that question.
"They smell my wife on me. Maybe they respect me for being her husband, or maybe they hate me for loving one of their kind." Lawrence sighed. "Poor Holo, to be a wolf forced to live as a human must be tough on her, worse that she had to give up the title of "goddess of the harvest" just so that she could be with me as a wife. I hope she doesn't think she owes me for taking her back to her home land." Lawrence then slapped himself. "Holo is a proud wife and mother. Out of all the wolves and men she has been with all those years, she chose you to be her mate. She knew the price of marriage and accepted it." Lawrence felt more confident that he had reassured himself about Holo as his wife.
It wasn't long before Lawrence bumped into Father Grigori, the man that wedded the two.
"Craft Lawrence, it has been too long see we last met. How are Holo and the kids?"
Lawrence just smiled. "For a wolf and wolf halves, they are doing fine. Sometimes I find it strange that I have her as a wife."
The monk just gave Lawrence the look. "You think it's strange? What about me, I am a Catholic brother who was taught that there is only one true God. Then Holo comes along and messes up years of study. Stranger still that I gave her a wedding, a Catholic one I might add, and she just goes on as if nothing ever happened. Thank the Lord almighty my price for marriage was her title."
Lawrence stared at the man before changing subjects.
"You know, it is getting close to winter. I thought that you might need a warm blanket." Lawrence searched his wagon for the blanket, giving it to Father Grigori. The father thanked Lawrence, and then asked he got anything for Holo.
"Oh just something I promised ten years ago." Lawrence said with a grin. Grigori just smiled.
"Good, so I don't have to give you last rights if Holo eats you. That's good."
The two laughed at the comment and bid each other a fair well. Lawrence continued on to the village where he lived.
Holo and Susi waited patiently for Lawrence to arrive home. Alfonse was nowhere to be seen, for he was out hunting for meat to eat at the feast that they would have for the anniversary. Looking down the dirt road, the two could see Lawrence's wagon coming into the village. The wagon wasn't even at the turnpike when Susi ran towards the wagon to greet her father. Holo just smiled at her daughter's youthful vigor, wondering if her daughter's mate would be able to survive that amount of energy. Once the wagon was next to the store, Lawrence disembarked and helped his daughter down from the wagon. The second Lawrence turned around to face Holo; Holo was already embracing and kissing her husband. Susi just watched her parents for a bit before she started to move the contents of the wagon to inside the shop. Once Holo and Lawrence stopped kissing, the two stared at each other in a way that comforted the other.
"I see that the way you greet me that today is a special. Am I right?" Lawrence asked in a loving tone.
"Why Lawrence, I hope you did not forget our anniversary. It would pain me to learn that you forgot." Holo stated in a similar tone.
"Don't worry Holo, I didn't forget our anniversary. Unfortunately, I was unable to get you…" Before Lawrence could finish his sentence, he felt a searing pain on his foot. Looking down, He saw Holo's foot stepping on his own.
"Now Lawrence, how long have we known each other? At least twelve years with our travels together. By now you should know that I, Holo the Wise Wolf, cannot be lied to. But I appreciate your attempt to surprise me, as foolhardy as it was."
Holo noticed as she said this that Lawrence still looked like he was in pain. Looking down, she noticed her foot was still on his.
"My sincerest apologies Lawrence, I had forgotten that my foot was on yours." Holo said in an embarrassed manner.
"Don't worry; the pain will go away soon enough." Lawrence said as he rubbed the general area where Holo stepped on him. "You know Holo, for a wise wolf, you are becoming more forgetful."
Holo merely blushed. "I do it so that you see me more as one of your own instead of a wolf."
"But Holo, I did not marry one of my kind. Instead, I married a wolf." Lawrence corrected.
One of the innkeepers looked at Lawrence and Holo from his doorstep, thinking that the cold had finally made his neighbors crazy. Holo noticed this, and quickly had Lawrence come inside with her.
The kitchen in the house was a small one, but Susi made sure that she used every inch of it. It amazed Holo and Lawrence that Susi could make such delicious food from scratch. Holo would always joke to Lawrence that if their store ever failed, Susi could make money as a cook. As Susi frantically prepped and cook the dinner for the anniversary, Alfonse was in a corner sharpening his hunting knife. Lawrence was always worried that Alfonse might one day die from his hunting trips, but Holo always reassured him that Alfonse had wolf's blood and that it was in his nature to hunt. What really worried Holo was how Alfonse separated himself from the family; something that went against what wolves did in packs. Holo hoped that Alfonse wasn't considering leaving the family so soon to start his own, he was far too young. Despite his loner attitude, he did his best to keep up with what was happening in the family.
While Susi was cooking, Holo and Lawrence began to discuss the resupply.
"I hate to ruin the anniversary with bad news, but here it is. The prices on many of our common items, such as clothes and blankets, have gone up."
"True, but items such as knives, textiles, and food have gone down in price. All we have to do is sell these items at higher prices so that we can make up for the loss in sales of the clothes and blankets." Holo answered. But Lawrence only shook his head.
"If only that were true Holo, but the prices aren't the man issue. It's the new taxes." Holo starred at Lawrence as he said this.
"TAXES, since when has the Church started taxing the commoners on these items." Holo said in disbelief.
"It's not the Church, but the local ruler. He fears a crusade will come from the Teutonic Knights."
"But those knights never come here; they only fight in the Baltic kingdoms." Holo answered
"I know, but the Duke is only paranoid. But if we are invaded, I do not wish to make a profit from the war." Lawrence stated.
Holo understood what Lawrence meant. Although the Knights did not invade the local area, that did not prevent lesser-known knights to go on crusades against the nonexistent pagans of Yoitsu. She knew that if they did support the local defense, her daughter and herself would be at a great risk if they were found out to be wolves.
"Hopefully the local tribes or Cossacks that travel in these parts scare the knights away." Holo replied to Lawrence's statement. At that moment, Susi arrived with food she prepared for the anniversary. Holo and Lawrence were stunned at the cooking their daughter had cooked. The smell of roasted boar and venison filled the room. To Holo, it was pure ecstasy. She wanted to eat the pig and deer in one bite, but refrained herself from doing so. Holo watched as her family sat around the table. Lawrence sat next to her, bringing out a bottle of mead he had bought in town. Alfonse was praying, being the only one to pray before his meal. Susi was still bringing out food, ranging from apple pie to preserved fish. Lawrence stood up, holding his mug to toast the anniversary. The children did also, but with mugs filled with a less strong drink. Holo also toasted, but she really wanted to eat to meat on the table. Once the formalities where concluded, Holo and Alfonse darted for the food, grabbing as much as they could get. Lawrence and Susi laughed at how the others acted.
"Slow down Holo, the boar and deer are already dead." Lawrence commented.
"True, but they could have taken away with that long toast you gave" Holo sarcastically remarked. Alfonse only nodded in agreement at his mother's remark.
"But if you become full now, you might not have enough room to accept what I have gotten you for our…." Before Lawrence could finish, Holo was already kissing Lawrence in a way that neither Susi nor Lawrence had ever seen before.
"So after ten years, you finally found Honey Pickled Peaches." Holo said with a smile.
"I only got the very best for you Holo. I was hard, but I…."Before Lawrence could finish his sentence, for Holo was kissing Lawrence again. This time her body was on his, caused the chair that Lawrence sat on to almost tip over. Susi only giggled at her parents' actions.
"You do know we still have food on the table to eat." Susi giggled
The dinner was large, but was no match for a family where two of the members ate like hungry wolves. Lawrence and Susi were always amazed at how Alfonse and Holo could eat such large quantities of food. Despite the dinner, Holo demanded the peaches. Not wanting to anger his wife, Lawrence rolled in a small barrel of the preserved peaches.
"You should be grateful Holo that the man at the shop had over stocked on this item." Lawrence said a he brought in the barrel. The barrel was not even open, yet Holo and Susi could smell the sweet honey inside the barrel.
"I am, now just open the barrel and serve the peaches. I have waited ten years for this." Holo said in an exited voice. As Lawrence opened the barrel, Holo and her children watched as the room filed with the smell of honey and peaches. Wanting to eat instantly, Holo tried to grab a handful of the sweet food. But Susi stopped Holo.
"Mother, just because you are a wolf, doesn't mean that you cannot exercise some form of self-control." Susi said to her mother. Holo wait patiently while Lawrence served the peaches. To Holo, it took too long; but the instant she tried the peaches, she felt that the wait was worth it. Not feeling that words could show how she felt about her partner's gift, she jumped onto Lawrence and gave a deep kiss. This action caused the chair to tip, putting the two on the ground.
"Please Holo; we will have time for this once we are in our room." Lawrence said to Holo
Holo merely got closer to His face, their noses touching each other.
"Then let us call it a day and get ready for the night, " Holo said while she was on top of her husband.
Susi watched as her parent got up and head upstairs, her mother resting her head on her father. As she started to clean up the mess, she noticed her brother moving the contents of his mouth around. Curious, she asked why he tasted the food more than normal.
"I don't know, but something about that Honey Pickled Peaches doesn't seem right."
"What do you mean?" Susi asked.
Alfonse just shook his head.
"I have no idea, Su, no idea. Yet I have bad feeling about it." Alfonse said with a small sneeze.
As Holo and Lawrence walked to their room, Lawrence gave a sneeze.
"Why Lawrence, you must have a cold. Let's get you in bed before it gets worse." Holo said to Lawrence.
"Don't worry Holo, it's just a cold. It will go away in the morning." Lawrence said with another sneeze.
"Don't test me Lawrence, just because it is a cold doesn't mean that it won't become worse. Get into bed, before I force you. And while you are at it, take your clothes off before you go into the bed." Holo ordered. Lawrence just looked at his wife with disbelief before remember that one must never argue with a wolf, especially Holo the Wise Wolf. As Lawrence undressed and got into the bed, he gave off another sneeze.
"Oh dear me Lawrence, It looks like that won't be warm enough, let me come in with you to keep you warm." Holo said as she undressed herself. As Holo entered the bed, the two noticed the heat of the others body. Holo come upon Lawrence's body, facing him while she was atop him.
"Is this my present Holo?" Lawrence said in a calm yet seductive voice "If it is, I need something more than peaches to not feel like I have swindled you."
Holo merely laughed at her husband's comment before she kissed him again.
"My body is part of my present, but there is more. What I offer for you is to live forever and to never die as one of my kind." Holo said to Lawrence. Despite the feelings he had at the moment, he gave an expression of shock.
"How is that possible Holo, do you have some kind of potion or ritual that I am not aware of?"
Holo merely gave a sly smile at Lawrence's remark before answering
"One of many properties of my blood is that if ingested by a person with some kind of wolf heritage in there body, then they may become a wolf like myself. Those that have no wolf heritage become a semi immortal wolf that can only be killed by one with wolf heritage."
"There is a problem Holo, I have no wolf heritage in my…" Lawrence said before Holo placed her finger in his lips.
"Actually Lawrence, you do. If there is one thing true about the Church, it is that conception does make the two bodies' one. In simpler terms by having me as a mate and mating with me, you have gained wolf heritage."
"So what you are saying is that by having intercourse with you, I have become part wolf?" Lawrence asked. Holo just nodded her head.
"Why was I not told this later and what about the children Holo?" Lawrence asked
"Like good alcohol, I wanted to tell you this when our relationship showed fruit. As for the children, I will offer my blood to them when they become older." Holo answered before continuing. "Enough talk Lawrence, I am your wife and you are my husband. We should be comforting each other, and not by talking." Holo gave a seductive smile "Don't worry about my tail, I will allow you to rough it up tonight."
It was at this moment that two became silent, their bodies doing the talking. If the bed and their bodies failed to keep them warm, then their actions defiantly would.
As Holo woke up the next morning, she felt Lawrence behind her cuddling her. She turned her body to face Lawrence. To her shock, Lawrence's was sweating profusely and his face looked flushed of any fluids. As he woke up, Lawrence's eyes looked as red as small cherries. Lawrence then gave a heavy cough.
"HoloCoughis this how it feels to turn into Cougha wolf" Lawrence barely said. Holo shook her head
"No, you have something worse than the flu." Holo said with fear. At that moment, Susi entered the bedroom panting.
"Mother, father, something is wrong with Alfonse!" Susi exclaimed. Susi blushed with embarrassment when she noticed her parents naked, quickly turning away to hide her embarrassment. Holo looked at her daughter with more shock.
"What are his symptoms" Holo asked still in shock.
"His skin is wet from sweat, he looks like he has no fluids in his body, and his eyes are cherry red" Susi panted. Holo quickly put on a gown and ran her son's room. She screamed when she saw that her son had the same symptoms as her husband. Alfonse weakly looked at mother as attempted to talk.
"It was the peaches motherCoughthere is something wrong with them, " Alfonse said before he retched all over the floor. Holo stepped back with fear as she saw her son vomit right in front of her.
"Susi, get Father Grigori NOW!" Holo ordered. Susi bolted out of the house, running as fast as she could to the monk's hut. Holo looked at her son and back at her husband.
"Please be something curable, please, " Holo said trying to bring some light to the situation.
Grigori was sweeping the front of his hut, trying his best to keep the snow from entering his home. As he swept, he heard the crunching of snow. Looking in the direction of the noise, he saw Susi panting in front of him.
"What is wrong my child?" Grigori asked Susi as she panted
"Father….Alfonse…..Sick…Come quickly" Susi said as she panted. Grigori got the idea, and grabbed his bible and medicinal satchel. Before he could even acknowledge that he was ready, Susi grabbed his hand and lead the father to on the trail to her home.
"Slow down child, I don't have the youth or wolf blood that you have." Grigori said. But Susi was not listening.
Holo did her best to keep her husband and son confortable, but it was useless. Every time she turned her back, one of them would vomit or cough up blood. As she saw Susi brining the father to the house, Holo opened a door to allow them in.
"Father, it is good that you are here, something is wrong with Lawrence and Alfonse." Holo told the Monk. The monk acknowledged her and started to examine Lawrence and Alfonse. From the look of his face, Holo could tell that the father had bad news.
"Is it plague Father?" Holo asked
The monk shook his head. "No, it is worse. Holo, your Husband and son have a rare disease that appears when one ingests food that has infected by a unique worm from a rare tree." Grigori said to Holo. Holo thought for a moment, then with horror realized where her husband and son contracted the disease.
"By my tail, it was the peaches. The peaches he bought for me." Holo said in a shocked tone. Grigori examined the barrel the peaches where in, and confirmed Holo's fear.
"Before you ask Holo, no the disease is not treatable. I also have more bad news Holo. You Husband and son may have less than a day to live."Grigori said before continuing. "Do you wish me to issue last rights, Holo?" He asked. Holo said nothing for she was in shock. Then a weak voice could be heard coming from Alfonse's room
"I would like the rights, father." The weak child said. Holo did not protest, allowing the monk to issue the rights. As he issued the rights, Holo walked to Lawrence's side of the bed. She came close to Lawrence's ear.
"Lawrence, if you take my blood now, you should be able to become a wolf and be cured." Holo said before she started to bite at her hand, drawing blood. Lawrence looked at his wife, and stopped her.
"I might have the strength Holo, but Alfonse does not. I don't want to live a life where one of my children died before he was offered the same gift that I have." Holo just stared at her husband with disbelief when he said that. Lawrence kept talking. "Try not to think of the time we lost Holo, but think of the times we were together. Don't let my death be the death of you Holo." Lawrence's eyes grew heavy, starting to close.
"No Lawrence, stop. I don't want you to die; I don't want to be alone again. Lawrence, LAWRENCE!" Holo cried as her husband's life slipped from her. Grigori entered the room, keeping quit. He knew the death of Alfonse would be salt upon wounds for Holo. He issued Lawrence's last rights before leaving Holo and Susi alone.
The next couple of months were hard on Holo and Susi. Broken by her husband and son's death, Holo spent more time in the alehouse drinking her sorrows away. Try as she could, Susi could not keep the shop open. Eventually Holo closed the shop, despite protests from the residents of the village and the tribes. Around this time, Susi learned how to change into her wolf form. She did her best to get food for her mother and herself, but she was nothing like her brother. It didn't help that Holo was pregnant, and would eat more. Holo did her best to teach Susi, but her sadness made it hard for Holo to teach Susi anything. Overtime, the two sold the shop and moved to a shack outside the village.
"Mother, I will go out hunting today. Try not to drink too much." Susi said to her mother as she removed her clothes. To Susi, her wolf form felt more natural than her human form. Still she had problems when hunting, since she was not use to the form yet. Holo just nodded to Susi before she continued to think. She put her hand on her chest, feeling her pregnant body. Any time now she would give birth to her child. Once Susi left, Holo just kept of thinking. She thought of her long life, of things she did, and of her Lawrence. She remembered the good times and the bad times with her late husband. Still, she cried when she thought of the time lost. As time passed, Holo noticed that Susi did not return from her hunt. By women's intuition, Holo got up and moved as fast as she could to Susi's scent. Despite being pregnant, Holo could move very fast. As she got closer to her daughter's scent, she smelled blood. Her worse fear was realized when she the hunter that tried to sell her the beaver pelt was standing over Susi's semi conscience body in fear.
"A demon, I killed a demon." The man said to himself with pride. Anger grew in Holo like a raging fire. With this anger, Holo tackled the man. Opening her mouth, she bit the hunter's arm. The man battered Holo away.
"You bitch, can't you see I am..." The man said before fear gripped him. Holo transformed into a wolf, staring down on the man.
"You killed my daughter, now you must pay!" Holo howled. Opening her mouth, she ripped the frightened man in half. Blood drenched and angry, Holo forgot that she had put her unborn child at risk of dying when she became a wolf. She then heard a small whimper. Turning her body, she saw the final moments of Susi's life.
"Mother, I can see now why Father loved you. You protected those you loved." Susi said on her deathbed. Reverting to her human form, Holo walked to her daughter and picked her up. She started to cry at her loss
"Why? WHY! Why must I be punished with eternal life?" Holo cried. Silent and stricken with grief, Holo took her daughter to her hut. There she dug a grave for her daughter next to her husband's. Holo cried more, her tears practically drowning her.
Days later, Holo gave birth to a beautiful son. The birth saddened her, causing her to remember her numerous losses. Out of sadness, Holo found a family of travelers. With a brief explanation of her predicament to the father of the group, she left the child. Holo watched from a distance at her child's new family. Holo then walked to a rock and laid herself on it, wishing to die. For hours she did nothing, hoping by some miracle she would die. Suddenly a silhouette appeared over Holo's face. It took time for her eyes to adjust, but even then Holo did not recognize the man. He wore some kind of cloth light brown uniform, adorned with red stars that had hammer and sickles on them. As Holo looked closer, she saw transparent wolves' ears on the man's head. The man then grabbed Holo and shook her.
"Wake up Holo; we still have a war to fight." The figure said. Holo recognized the voice and the face.
"Dmitri" Holo said before a bright light overcame her dream.
Dmitri sat next to Holo's cot, holding her hand hoping that it would wake her up.
"Wake up Holo, we still have a war to fight." He said to the unconscious Holo.
"Dmitri" groined Holo as she opened her eyes.
"Holo your alive, I thought that…" Before he could finish, Holo hugged him
"Dmitri, never leave me again, always stay close to me." Holo said to him. Holo then noticed Dmitri not wearing his helmet.
"Dmitri, where is your helmet? Shouldn't you have your helmet on?" She asked.
"I lost it when I carried you here Holo. Don't worry; my ushanka will cover my head." Dmitri said as he pointed to his ushanka. Holo looked at Dmitri with concern.
"A fur hat? I would rather you wear helmet for protection." Holo said with caution. Dmitri just shrugged his shoulders at the remark. He helped Holo out of bed, and the two walked out of the tent ready to fight another day.