Winter
Mother is dead. Our farm has been obliterated. Ivan screams for our past, as Katyusha strokes his hair from his forehead, whispering reassurances. She won't have time for me anymore, because Ivan demands guidance. We have to find Moscow.
We'll only be safe in Moscow.
It's dark now and we need to find shelter. I push my way through deep cavernous snow. There is a path through this particular field that leads to a cave that me and Katyusha discovered. I try to hold Ivan's hand, to comfort him but he pushes me away. It's as if I'm the one who bombed our home, who burnt our farm, who killed our Mother.
As if I'm the intruder.
I finally stumble across the rocky passage that marks the entrance of the cave. It's comforting compared to the bitter snow that we have endured. Luckily, in the fire we were able to salvage the enormous deer pelt that Father left us, our only hope of warmth against the cruel, hateful cold.
Reluctantly, I wrap my arms around Ivan and allow myself to be warmed by the feeble heat that is left in him. Katyusha provides much more powerful warmth as she snuggles in, pulling the skin around us as tight as possible.
Ivan is now fast asleep, the shock and sudden heat overpowering his weakness. Katyusha was hesitant to let him rest, in fear of the possibility of never seeing his innocent purple eyes again.
"Natalya." She whispers, turning my head to face her. I forget about Ivan and fulfil the urge to throw my arms around her. She does so too but breaks away quickly.
"Listen, Natalya my love you must promise something."
"Anything for you dear Katyusha."
"You must remember, that I might not be with you and Ivan forever." I recoil at the mention of his name but manage to disguise my disgust for her sake.
"You have to promise me that you will protect Ivan and yourself, with your life. You can't die. I know you don't like Ivan, but you must promise me. I don't want anymore of us to die." Then suddenly, her head lands on my shoulder and she begins to cry.
"I don't want anyone else to die!" She screams, pressing me closer, hugging me tighter, squeezing the breath out of my exhausted lungs. I hug her back, bending so I reach a place where I am on top of her.
I kiss her. One final shot at this hopeless love. She allows me to search her, to take her away.
"And remember this my beautiful, amazing, sweet sister." She whispers, bowing her into my shoulder.
"I'll always love you, no matter what." We end the night in each others grasp.
It was only when I left with Ivan, that I realised she was truly lost from me.
I'm thinking of making a sequel to this... PM me if you'd like one please 3 Thanks for reading and following Katyusha and Natalya's story to the end.