Finland 1945
Somewhere close to a region once called Yoitsu
Holo rested as the truck bounced around on the dirt and snowy road. In her arms was a sleeping Dmitri, still in the form of a pup. Holo stroked the pup's fur as they traveled.
"We are almost home, Dmitri." She would say every now and then ever since they entered Finland. Holo could smell her home. The untouched snow, the sap of the trees, the cold waters that she remembered. Then, she would smell wolves, and fear would enter her.
"Please, leave us alone long enough for me to rest. I have been away for only 6 years, and yet you treat me as a stranger," she thought as she smelt the packs. True, she never had great relations with her kind once she married Lawrence, but she knew the risks that came with being the mate of a human. Now, she had Dmitri, and the wolves would see him as an abomination. Holo would protect Dmitri, but she did not know to what extent she could protect him. Suddenly, the truck came to a stop, something Holo feared.
"Malik, just run those dogs over and keep driving," Sasha argued.
"They are wolves Sasha. And I will not," Malik answered. Sasha was getting angry.
"Well why not!" Malik looked at Sasha.
"Because this not normal wolf behavior," Malik coldly answered. Holo heard this, and held Dmitri tighter.
"They're here for me," Holo answered as she exited the truck. Sasha wanted to help Holo, but Malik stopped him.
"We are surrounded. You leave this vehicle, and I guarantee the wolves will bite your neck off" Malik told the drunk Russian.
"But it is comrade Holo. We need to help her and Dmitri," Sasha reminded, not realizing the situation.
"Sasha, this is their fight not ours. We simply watch," Malik answered. Sasha grumbled at what the Chechen said. Holo looked around, and sensed the hostility that the wolves had to her. A couple began to surround the vehicle, circling it like vultures.
"Leave them alone, this is between you and me!" Holo yelled. The wolves stared at Holo, growling at her.
"You have brought shame to your kind. Mating with a human and giving life to an unnatural liter, you should be dead, Holo the Wise Wolf," one wolf said.
"I loved that man, much more than any wolf," Holo answered back. All of the wolves howled in anger at her comment. Sasha was shaking, while Malik just watched.
"How dare you insult your own kind. Humans know nothing but war and sin," another wolf growled.
"They also know love and forgiveness," Holo debated back. Already, the wolves came closer.
"So do wolves," the pack said. Sasha was now grateful that Malik kept him inside the truck. The number of wolves was terrifying.
"Not in the same way as humans. Humans love their mate, to the point they stay with their mate. They stay with the children they bore. And humans want to see the fruits of those children. Wolves just mate with any of their kind; we never truly know our family. There is no love in that," Holo answered. A wolf pounced at Holo, standing on top of her.
"You're weak and misguided, so called wise wolf. I might just mark you as Holo the idiot. That way you would have a more accurate name," the wolf taunted. Holo couldn't bare to look at what the wolf would do. Nothing happened. Holo opened her eyes, and saw that Dmitri had bitten into the wolf's neck. There was blood seeping out of the neck.
"You are the idiot," Dmitri said as he bit harder into the neck. The wolf began to shake the pup off of its neck. Dmitri held.
"Let go of me, you unholy spawn!" the wolf barked. Dmitri held on, now using his claws to rip the neck. The wolf began to slow down, dying of blood loss. Dmitri let go, and the wolf collapsed.
"Anyone else wants to harm my relative," Dmitri taunted as he stood on the corpse. The wolves moved closer, they were not threatened by the pup. Still, Dmitri was ready. He went to a crouch position and growled. If he had fought in the great patriotic war, he can fight a battle against the wolves. Holo got up and was in awe by Dmitri's stand. She became filled with pride in herself, pride she had not felt in a long time. A wolf charged at Dmitri. There was a bang, and the wolf died in front of Dmitri. Dmitri looked back and saw Holo holding the C96 he gave her back in Berlin. The barrel was smoking.
"Anyone who gets close to my family will die by my hand!" Holo exclaimed as she pointed the pistol around. The wolves backed off. They knew not to fight anyone with such a weapon. Malik watched this and smiled.
"Looks like Holo has found resolve," he commented. Sasha just watched as wolves began to scamper away. Dmitri turned around and looked at Holo.
"Thanks," he said. Holo dropped the pistol. She went forward and slapped Dmitri. Dmitri was shocked.
"What did I do!" he asked.
"For almost getting yourself killed. I can't believe that after Malik and I taught you the ways of the wolf, you still act like an ass," Holo scolded. There was silence for a second, then laughter.
"An Ass? Really Holo, I would have thought the wise wolf would have a better insult," Dmitri laughed. Holo also laughed.
"I know. I have no idea why I picked that word. There are many words that are more powerful than it," Holo said as she laughed. Holo, then, hugged Dmitri, and held him up.
"Thank you. I never would have had the courage I demonstrated without you," Holo said. Dmitri nuzzled her arm.
"I never would have found the courage without you, Holo." Holo smiled as she boarded the truck.
"You truly are related to me." Holo, then, banged on the cab.
"You two, get moving. I haven't come this far only to be denied my home," Holo said. Sasha grumbled, but said nothing. Malik turned the truck back on and moved forward. Despite Holo's and Dmitri's heightened senses, they did not notice a snow white wolf following her. She was someone from Holo's past.
The truck shook as they traveled over paths that haven't been traveled in generations. Holo groomed Dmitri as he slept. She, then, felt her fur and was not shocked by its roughness.
"At least Dmitri's fur is clean," she consoled as she began grooming his tail. She groomed the small tail, looking at the top coat of greyish fur. Dmitri may have white hair, but his wolf ears and tail were a bit more grey. Holo did not know why, but didn't care. She was just grooming the fur. The truck kept moving until it reached a stop.
"Holo, there is no more road, where do we go?" Malik asked. Holo held Dmitri and disembarked from the truck. She remembered the area.
"Nowhere, I am home, now," she explained as she walked forward. Malik and Sasha exited the truck and looked around. To them, it looked like random section of woods. Then, Malik saw the rubble of a small shack. He said nothing. Holo went to the ground, and began to play in the snow.
"It has been too long since I have played in clean pure snow. Not the soot you call snow," she said as she rolled around in it. Dmitri woke up and also began to play around, as well. The two looked happy as they played.
"So, this your home, Holo?" Sasha asked as he stared at the rubble. Holo looked back, and sadness set in.
"At one point it was. Now…" Holo began to stare at Malik.
"You want me to help you?" he offered. Holo shook her head.
"No, you have done enough for me. You should have some rest," Holo replied. She saw Malik took a cigarette, and light it with a Zippo lighter he had bought from an American.
"Still, you need a house," Malik observed. Holo thought a moment.
"No, really, I will take care of it. We wolves can live without housing," she answered. Holo, then, smelled Vodka.
"Either way, our job is done, Malik," Sasha said as he sat down. Malik nodded.
"True," he simply said as he walked back to the truck. Sasha handed Holo some vodka bottles, and Dmitri's pistol.
"Good luck you crazy creature," Sasha said. Holo laughed.
"You're the crazy one, you just gave me your vodka…not that I am complaining," Holo chuckled. Sasha nodded.
"Dmitri, you treat Holo well. Otherwise…ok I have no idea what I would do," Sasha said. Dmitri nodded.
"I will. She is blood," Dmitri answered. The Chechen came back.
"If you ever need a home, my family will provide. One way or another," He offered as he boarded the truck. Dmitri nodded.
"Thank you," he said. The four said their good-byes. The humans boarded the truck and headed off back to their homeland. The wolves stayed, they deserved the rest. Holo picked up Dmitri.
"So, young one, it seems that we are now home," Holo said. Dmitri nodded. He looked around his ancestral home.
"So, what do we do now?" Dmitri asked, not knowing what to do. Holo began to think. She, then, sighed.
"I do not know." Holo answered. Dmitri looked at the wolf.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Dmitri questioned. Holo sighed as she sat down. She petted Dmitri.
"You see, I had no idea that my home would still be here. Now that it is, I have nothing to do." She then looked at the rubble.
"I used to drink and watch humanity evolve. Now, that doesn't seem right," Holo commented. Dmitri sighed.
"Let's get some sleep. Maybe, tomorrow we will figure out what to do," Dmitri said as he yawned. Holo nodded. She stretched a little. Then, she became a wolf, easily done as she no longer needed human blood or wheat to transform any more. She laid down and began to rest. Dmitri slept by her side, feeling the warmth of Holo's fur.
The next couple of days were uneventful for the two wolves. Yes they began construction of a new shack, yes they hunted a little, and yes the two wolves talked. But, altogether, nothing ever happened. One day, the wolves' lives would change. Holo and Dmitri came back from a hunt. The fruits of the hunt where as usual, a couple of rabbits. Holo merely sighed. Years of war had decimated the local populations of game. Either way, it was food. As the two neared their shack, Holo smelled someone.
"That scent, why is it so familiar?" Holo thought. The two kept walking, and Holo kept smelling the scent.
"It's not human or wolf. What is this scent?" Holo kept thinking. As they arrived at the camp, the two saw a large white wolf, waiting for them.
"Who are you, explain yourself!" Holo demanded as she went into an aggressive stance. Dmitri also went to the stance. The white wolf did not move, and just stared at Holo.
"Holo, wise wolf of Yoitsu, have you forgotten me?" the wolf said. Holo stared at the wolf.
"You smell familiar, but I have never seen the likes of you in these parts," Holo said. The white wolf laughed. To Dmitri, the wolf's voice was somewhat calming.
"And yet you have, maybe I need to show myself in a different form," the wolf explained as winds went up. Snow began to circle around the wolf in a twister. Holo and Dmitri hid their eyes. When they felt the wind end, they were surprised to see a young woman, clothed in the purest white clothing that practically glowed.
"You…" Holo said in shock. It was the women from years ago. Dmitri sat down, seeing not threat in the women.
"Are you a pagan god?" Dmitri asked. The woman chuckled.
"People have called me that. And no, I am not an apparition of a saint or of your lord." the wolf replied.
"Then, what are you? How did you make me…me?" Holo asked as she herself sat down. The women walked forward.
"I am merely a spirit, a median. I have unique powers. But that is not important. The Important thing is that me, as well as other spirits are happy at your actions with the wolves," The women told the wisewolf. Holo was confused.
"I merely protected Dmitri, hardly an impressive action," Holo commented. Dmitri agreed.
"Yes, but the way you did so. You used a firearm on your brethren. Holo, you no longer wish to live here," the woman observed. Now Holo got angry.
"I do not wish such thing. This is my home. I merely protected my family," Holo answered in a booming voice. The women did not stir.
"And your Family is pleased that you would protect them, but is saddened by what you call a home," the woman turned and faced the hut.
"Ma'am, when you mean family, you're not referring to me, are you?" Dmitri asked. The woman was silent as she stared at the house.
"I cannot answer that question, as I was not here to answer such questions."
"Then, why are you here!" Holo demanded. The woman smiled.
To deliver this message from someone dear. Wake up and open your eyes," the woman said. Holo was perplexed. True, she was great at riddles. This riddle, however, was different. Something was missing.
"Anything else?" Holo asked. The woman shook her head.
"No, nothing else for you." The women looked at Dmitri.
"You, on the other hand, well, it is rare for a wolf to fall in love with a shepherdess," The woman said.
"WHAT?" Holo said as she looked at the pup.
"I do not know any shepherds, much less a shepherdess," Dmitri said. The women smiled. The snow around her funneled.
"Time will tell," the woman said as she started to disappear.
"Wait, at least tell me your name so I can thank you for the gift you gave me so many years ago," Holo pleaded. The women smiled.
"Primrose, my name is Primrose the Wise." And with that, the women was gone. Holo and Dmitri were dumbfounded. They had no idea what had transpired. Yet, in a way, they knew. Holo sat down and became human. She looked at her hands, contemplating what Primrose had spoken. As she stared at her hands, she became sleepy. Dmitri was also pulled into the sleep. Soon, both collapsed into a slumber. Then, Holo woke up.
Opening her eyes, she saw a lush landscape that was warm and comforting. She felt the area move away, as if she was on a truck. Looking down, she saw the familiar rim of a wagon wheel.
"Well it seems you finally have awoken," a familiar voice said. Holo turned around, and was shocked. It was Lawrence.
"L...Lawrence," Holo stuttered as she raced forward and hugged him.
"Whoa, careful, Holo. I could have crashed the wagon," Lawrence said as he tried to pull Holo away.
"Oh Lawrence I had a horrible dream. There were these people, and they had horrible weapons. One was a giant beetle that fired a large metal object the other beetles. Another was a device that allowed man to fly…..and ...and." Holo was stopped by Lawrence.
"Holo, you drank some alcohol that was too strong. You were out for days," Lawrence said. Holo stared at the man.
"Oh…so, it was a dream" she sat down in front. "A very real dream," she commented.
"Well, they say that dreams can confuse a person at whether or not they are alive or dreaming," Lawrence answered. He then looked back.
"I see that wolf pup you picked up is doing fine," he observed. Holo was confused. She turned around and as a sleeping Dmitri.
"Dmitri," She said. Lawrence nodded.
"Yes, Dmitri is ok. A bit tired, but ok," Lawrence said. Holo sat back.
"All just a dream," she told herself. The wagon kept moving down the road. Holo felt at peace as she closed her eyes. As she did, she heard the sounds and smells of war. Looking all around her, she saw Kursk. Red army soldiers moving in trenches, firing their rifles. Tanks moving forward, crushing all who stood in their way. Holo Looked forward and saw a Tiger tank aim its barrel at the Wagon.
"LAWREANCE, LOOK OUT!" Holo yelled as she jumped from the cart and hid behind the tree.
"Look out for what Holo?" Lawrence asked. Holo looked around. Everything was still. The land was untouched by war.
"But…but there was a Tiger Tank in front of us," Holo said as she lay down, confused. Lawrence went over and helped Holo back into the cart.
"You might have remembered something from the dream," he said as they continued down the trail. Soon, they reached a village. There, Lawrence disembarked and bought some apples for Holo. Holo did not eat any, the images of Kursk still fresh in her mind.
"Holo, I will negotiating for a bit. Is it ok if I leave you for a second?" Lawrence asked. Holo half-heartedly nodded. She was still thinking about what she saw.
Holo walked around the village, looking at the people and buildings. There wasn't much to see. She sat down near a building that seemed like ale house. She began to close her eyes. Instantly, she heard and smelled the sounds of war. She looked around, and saw Berlin. Troops entering buildings, killing the occupants. Russians being gun downed by machine guns, a tank bursting through a wall. Holo went to her knees and screamed. She then felt a hand on her. Looking up, she saw Lawrence with a frown on his face. Holo looked around, and was shocked. The village looked like a combination of Berlin and the village. Villagers traded in the square as red army soldiers ducked and weaved around the stalls, firing at Germans doing the same. The villagers acted normally and simply walked around and looked at the wares of the traders. A tank fired a shell, as children played with rocks. Holo saw a building where a soldier through a molotov in. Germans came running out in flames. Villagers also came out, unharmed by the flames.
"Lawrence, what is going on?" Holo demanded. Lawrence looked around and sighed.
"Let's talk someplace less violent," he said. Instantly, they were in the kitchen of the shop the two owned. Holo got up, and was furious as she demanded,
"WHAT IS GOING ON!" Lawrence took a seat. Likewise, Susi and Alfonse entered, taking seats.
"Susi, Alfonse," a shocked Holo said.
"Holo, your dream was not a dream. It was real, all of it," Lawrence said. Holo took a seat.
"Ok, now tell me where I am" Holo asked. Lawrence looked around.
"Holo, we are currently in an area between life and death. An area where souls await to enter the afterlife. Only for us three, we have been unable to achieve such eternal rest," Lawrence said.
"What do you mean?" Holo questioned. Lawrence got up.
"Many years ago, our children and I passed on. Now, normally, we would enter heaven and live in paradise. Unfortunately, something happened," Lawrence said as he looked out a window.
"What happened?" Holo asked. Susi answered.
"When we died, you mourned our death. What was unique about your mourning was that you kept mourning. As a result of years of mourning, we became bound to the earth as wandering spirits," Susi answered. Holo sat back.
"How do I know you are spirits and that this is not a prank," Holo questioned. Alfonse took a knife and stabbed himself in the heart. Holo rushed to his aid, but immediately saw as he pulled the blade out. There was no mark on him. Holo sat down, silent.
"Over the years, we tried to communicate, but were unable to. Then, you became captured. We continued to watch, helplessly unable to help. Then, something amazing happened," Lawrence said.
"I joined the red army," Holo answered. Lawrence chuckled.
"Not only that, but you met one of our descendants. When you did, you almost stopped grieving. For a time, you were happy with Dmitri. However, you continued to grieve over our deaths," Lawrence said. Holo stood up.
"What must I do to free you?" she asked Lawrence, who turned to look at his wolf wife.
"To leave us, and never turn back," Lawrence answered.
"No! I can never do such thing. Not to you Lawrence," Holo cried as she stood up. Lawrence went to his wife, and hugged her.
"Holo, please. Do it for our children," Lawrence said. Holo removed herself from his grasp.
"No, I cannot. I cannot bear myself to let go. You're too much to me," Holo said.
"What about me?" A raspy country-ike voice said. Holo turned around and saw a bearded man in his 60s stand at the door.
"Do…I know you?" Holo asked. The man laughed.
"We met once before, long ago. Around after my father died," the man said.
"And who was your Father?" Holo asked. The man smiled as he took out an apple and peeled it.
"Kraft Lawrence, husband of Holo the wise wolf," the man answered. Holo stood there, contemplating what he said.
"You're…you're my son," Holo said as she sat down. The man nodded.
"Edwin the Wolf-Hearted. A fitting name for my heritage," Edwin said as he ate his apple.
"But, why do you look so old. Susi and Alfonse look like your grandchildren," Holo asked. The man chuckled.
"I lived a long life. And in that long life, I always asked who my parents were. My step father told me I had my mother's red eyes. So I searched all over the north for you. Never did find you. Eventually, I wedded a woman. Unfortunately, our love didn't last long. My wife and I were slaughtered by mercenaries. Our child, young at the time, was taken in. He later became leader of the group and had a wife. He had a daughter who was kidnapped at birth and made a slave. The story keeps going on in a pattern," Edwin said.
"Each generation never knows their parents," Holo stated. Edwin nodded.
"Yes. Many Generations later, Dmitri was born. He broke my wandering by meeting you." Holo looked at her aged son.
"What?" She simply said.
"Many years ago, a gypsy woman told me that one of my descendants would meet you. She said that my soul would travel the earth until my descendant found you. Once you did, I found Lawrence. Hearing his plight, my children and I stayed behind and waited so we could enter heaven together." He then leaned forward on the chair.
"Holo, please," he said. Holo looked at the ceiling, thinking.
"I do not want to just leave Lawrence, yet he is bound to the earth like I was. I do not want to, but he needs me to leave him," Holo thought. Lawrence went to Holo and took a knee.
"Holo, please. You were not meant to stay in one place. You always said you loved moving around. Holo please your binding yourself to the land. As such, you have bounded me as well," Lawrence pleaded. Holo sighed.
"Where would I go Lawrence? This is my home. I have always considered Yoitsu as my home," she answered.
"America," Lawrence answered as he stood up.
"Go to America. Nothing will change in Yoitsu. America, however, will be having some massive changes in the years. Already, she is a super power. Please, Holo, visit America for my sake. Live for me, our children, and our family in America," Lawrence said. Holo thought for a moment. She sighed.
"I am your wife. I will go for America for you and our family," Holo said.
"And never return to Yoitsu as a home," Lawrence added. Holo nodded.
"I will make sure," she promised. It was too much for her. Yet, she cared for her husband. If that meant leaving him, she would do it. Still, it was much her. Lawrence saw this, and began to nuzzle Holo's nose. Holo blushed at her husband's wolf like action. She smiled.
"Don't worry Holo; we will always be there for you. You will never be alone. You have me, Susi, Alfonse, Edwin…and Dmitri," Lawrence said with a smile. Holo smiled as well. She was now ready. Then, Dmitri woke up and looked around.
"Where am I?" he asked. Lawrence chuckled as he picked the pup up.
"At your ancestral home Dmitri," Lawrence said. Dmitri was confused at what was happening, until he took a closer look at Lawrence's face.
"You're…Lawrence?" Dmitri asked. Lawrence nodded.
"Yes, I am your ancestor," Lawrence said. Dmitri looked around and saw the other people.
"If you are here, I guess those are my ancestors," Dmitri asked. Holo nodded.
"Which one of you is my mother or father?" he asked. A young white haired woman stepped forward. She held Dmitri close.
"Hello, son," she said as she held him. Dmitri looked at the women who looked like Holo with white hair.
"What is your name, who was my father, and why did you abandon me?" Dmitri asked rather rudely The women smiled.
"To the point, just like your father," she said before answering.
"My name is Diana, the housemaid. Your Father was an officer loyal to Lenin. I never knew his name, but remember how he acted." She began to scratch Dmitri's stomach, to which Dmitri wagged his tail.
"As for abandoning you, it was not my choice. You see, I was killed by a left over White Russian soldier. You father was devastated when he learned his lover was killed. He wanted to adopt you, but his wife prevented such action. Feeling pity for a loyal soldier, the government placed you in an orphanage." Tears began to form in Diana's face.
"I wish I could have been there for you. To help you grow, to take care of you, to see live." She held Dmitri close as she cried. Holo moved forward and hugged her descendent.
"And you did. Maybe not directly, but you helped Dmitri. You should not cry over this, you should be glad," Holo said. Diana smiled.
"Thank you Holo." Diana replied as she placed Dmitri down.
"So is this goodbye?" Dmitri asked. His mother nodded.
"At least for now, but do not worry my little pup, I…we will be watching," she said as she indicated to Dmitri's ancestors. From the poorest of the ancestors, to those who looked like nobles and intellectuals, they all nodded. Holo walked up to Lawrence and hugged him.
"So, I guess we will not be seeing each other for some time Lawrence," Holo said with a tear. Lawrence wiped it away.
"You could say that. But think about it like this. Think about the time we had together, not the time we had apart," Lawrence said. Susi and Alfonse also hugged their mother.
"We will always be with you, mom," they said. Edwin also hugged Holo.
"We are family, and family never abandons family, even after death," he said. Holo smiled, she, now, felt a surge of happiness. For a moment, a bleak one at that, Holo's family was together.
"Holo, it's time to wake up," Lawrence said. Holo nodded.
"I know," she said. At that moment, Holo opened her eyes.
Holo looked to her side, and saw Dmitri wake up as well.
"How did you sleep?" she asked. Dmitri shook his head.
"Fine, though I had a strange dream. I met my mother, and ancestors, and…" Holo stopped the pup.
"It was no dream Dmitri, it was real," she said as she got up.
"Holo, what do you mean?" Dmitri asked. Holo turned around and smiled.
"I mean, we had the same dream. A dream I must complete," she told Dmitri as she took a vodka bottle. She placed a cloth wick on the bottle and lit the wick. She threw the Molotov at the shack, setting it aflame.
"Let's go Dmitri, America waits," she said as she placed clothes on. She went to the hut and took a piece of clothing, a hat from her time with lawreace. She headed towards civilization, with Dmitri following her. As she walked on her trek, she thought she heard wolves in the distance howl, "Thank you, Holo." Holo smiled.
"You're welcome, Lawrence," she said to herself.
Again, I want to thank Gemralts for Betareading my chapter. I also want to thank him for allowing me to use his charator Primrose, even if it was a small refrence to his charator. As for the fans, I thank you for all your reviews...but I need more. I only have 2 more chapters left, and I want them to be good. Granted Holo will no longer be in Europe, but you get the idea. Anyway, I hope to see you guys next time. Till then, stay frosty.