TSW 37: Arina Remembers

	IcePickLobotomy	"Ah, uh, excuse me comrade?" A young man's halting voice asks you, as it carries through the wind. Snow slices through the air bringing a sharp stinging pain to what few parts of your face are left exposed to the elements. The scent of diesel from the tanks and other army vehicles lingers from just over the nearby wall. You pause, stepping to the side so as to not be overtaken by the small...
	IcePickLobotomy	...crowd of people who're making their way along the street.
	Arina	looks over to him with a smile. "Hello?"
	IcePickLobotomy	He's a young man in a worn and oil-stained army uniform. His checks are red from the wind you think. He smiles back nervously "I uh,ah, . . " he clears his throat "Hi, I'm Aleksandr." He trails off
	Arina	's smile broadens. "Well, hello Aleksandr, I'm Katyusha. Did you need something...?" There's a slightly teasing lilt to her voice.
	IcePickLobotomy	"I uh, was wondering if you would like to uh, go get dinner some night? Drinks maybe?"
	Arina	"Oh, my, do you ask all the ladies out for dinner? That must be rough on your pay."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Only the pretty ones." He blinks and the red flush gets stronger, not just the wind this time.
	Arina	giggles. "I suppose that does help narrow it down."
	IcePickLobotomy	You can hear the sigh of relief
	Arina	's brows knit. "I mean, I didn't actually accept..."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Yes but you're not yelling at me at least."
	Arina	chuckles, tilting her head. "I mean, I was going to say 'yet', but it really doesn't sound like this policy has worked out that well for you."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Some of the other guys gave me some "advice" and uh. . ' He clears his throat "Well they thought it was funny."
	Arina	smiles. "Oh, I /have/ to hear what they suggested, you can tell me over dinner."
	IcePickLobotomy	He smiles "Yes! Thank you Katusha, you won't regret this I promise!"
	Arina	"I'll try not to."
	IcePickLobotomy	The memories slip past you, snatches of conversation and sensation and emotion, like water flowing past you in a river. Who are you? What is your name? You can't. . . you loose yourself in the memories again. . . . .
	IcePickLobotomy	[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OIzBRHPOsI ] You're sitting on a warm hill, the flowers in bloom around you. A golden carpet of knee high grass dotted with blues and purples from the flowers. The warm scent of the earth hangs in the gentle breeze that stirs at your hair. A near by folk band plays, the music carrying just past and over the hill behind you and Aleksandr, who has his arm...
	IcePickLobotomy	...around your shoulders. A bottle mostly empty bottle of wine lays in the now empty basket that held your lunch.
	IcePickLobotomy	"This is nice. I wish it could always be like this."
	Arina	nestles into his side. "Now there's a worthwhile wish."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I could think of something that'd help with that wish."
	Arina	smiles up at him. "Ohhh?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I uh. . ." he clears his throat "You make me happy Katyusha, there isn't anyone who's able to lift my spirits and make the world feel right like you can. And, and I really hope you think the same of me. I love you, and I'd like you to be by my side for the rest of our time of Earth." He turns,kneeling as he removes a small box from his pocket. "Katyusha Pasternak would you marry me?"
	Arina	's eyes widen. "Yes, yes yes yes yes, absolutely!"
	IcePickLobotomy	He smiles and does his best to open the box, missing the first two attempts due to shaking hands. It's a simple golden band with a pale-green gemstone set into it. "Here, Katushua," He takes your hand and is barely able to slide the ring onto your finger. "I hope you like it."
	IcePickLobotomy	*Katyusha
	Arina	"It comes with you, so it's perfect, Aleks."
	Arina	leans in to kiss him.
	IcePickLobotomy	He returns the kiss, ardently at that.
	IcePickLobotomy	Limbs tangle and embrace. More time passes, more memories. The wedding, the honeymoon. And. . .
	IcePickLobotomy	The small apartment is dark, late in the evening. Roza is finally asleep in her crib when there's a knock at the door.
	Arina	covers a yawn, moving up to the door. "Who is it at this hour...?"
	Arina	works the lock and cracks it open.
	IcePickLobotomy	"Katyusha!" Your husband smiles and drops a dufflebag to the floor "I came as soon as I heard. Are you ok? How is our daughter?"
	Arina	beams, jumping up into a semitacklehug to replace the weight of the duffel. "You managed to get leave?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"Captain Klemnko had to pull a few strings but he managed it for me, only a week though." He hoists you into the air as he embraces you. "Its so nice to see you again."
	Arina	giggles, kissing him. "And you! Thank your Captain for me when you get back!"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I'll be sure to." He smiles "Can I see Roza?"
	Arina	slips down out of his arms. "Yes, come in, come in, she's /beautiful/!"
	IcePickLobotomy	"Of course she is, she's our daughter, children inherit their parent's looks and her mother is breath-taking."
	Arina	"Her father isn't too bad himself, really," she giggles, leading him in by the arm. "Let's keep it down a bit, though, I just got her to sleep."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Right, right," he lowers his voice. He leans over the crib to get a better look at Roza as the infant sleeps. He smiles "you're right, and she even has your hair too. Lucky girl, I'll be having the beat the boys off with a stick when she's older."
	Arina	smiles, leaning into her husband. "Don't beat them too badly, though."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Of course not dear, I don't want to throw my back out carrying them to the alleyway."
	Arina	"That's not /exactly/ what I was going for, but it'll do."
	IcePickLobotomy	He chuckles "Maybe we should catch up in the kitchen so we don't wake little Roza?"
	Arina	smiles, nodding, leaning in to fix Roza's blanket over her and then drifting out to the kitchen.
	IcePickLobotomy	More memories. Another child is born. Arina. . . Arina. . . The name is familar somehow, it resonates with you. And. . . a lance of grief and pain and loneliness . . . . .
	IcePickLobotomy	The apartment is queit, your eyes feel puffy and dry. The tears stopped coming some time ago, and you have the vague recollection of a teary eyed Roza taking Arina off to their room when the news came. The news and that damnable medal sitting on the table, mocking you, a reminder of everything you've managed to avoid losing until this very moment.
	IcePickLobotomy	And two sets of small warm arms wrap themselves around your waist. "It's gonna be ok mom." Roza says softly
	Arina	smiles weakly down at her, patting her head. "Yeah, it will." No, it won't.
	IcePickLobotomy	She glances at you, and then the medal with a pair of perceptive eyes. She hesitates a moment before silently asking for it.
	Arina	rubs her eyes. "... sure." She reaches out for the medal, sighing, and hands it to Roza.
	IcePickLobotomy	And Roza nods thankfully before placing it into Arina's hands, folding her fingers over it. "I;m sorry you never really got to meet him Arisha, but I hope this helps." She says softly. Arina blinks and despite the red puffiness of her eyes, a few more tears roll down her face.
	Arina	pats her cheek. "... hopefully it'll remind you of him..."
	IcePickLobotomy	And you. . . you remember this, but from her. From your daughter's point of view? You. . you told you, no your mother. . . You told her. . . .
	Arina	"... he was supposed to come to my birthday..."
	IcePickLobotomy	Roza wraps her arms around you|her. "I'm sorry," she mumured into her|your ears soothingly.
	Arina	"I wanted to meet him..."
	IcePickLobotomy	You did. Arina wanted to meet her father, but she never did. You never did. You. Arina Alkaeva, 15 (going on 16, that song is catchy, sadly John can't sing even if he is handsome enough for it), a Pilot thrown into something that no child should have, but it was your burden to shoulder. (Or was it?).The world never cared for righteousness. The memories seem to fade, but you can feel the...
	IcePickLobotomy	...flowing around you like a river current, trying to drown out the meager fragments of your ego.
	Arina	"None of this was fair..."
	IcePickLobotomy	More memories flash by in response. Your skin cracks and chars as the flames lick at your body, as you struggle with your bonds as the jeering faces of your friends shout and cheer at your death. Your try to scream for breath as the weight of gravity and the rope around your neck darken your vision. And. . .
	IcePickLobotomy	"Doctor?" One of the Red Cross nurses rouses you from your sleep. "Dr. Liversy? You need to wake up ma'am."
	Arina	yawns, opening her eyes. "Buh?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"Doctor, the front's moved up, and Dr. Kingston doesn't trust the Whites or the Communists to not massacre the wounded here. We need to move."
	Arina	shakes herself. "Right, let's go."
	Arina	slaps herself on the cheeks a couple times and then gets up.
	IcePickLobotomy	"Some of the porters said they saw some calvary on the raod, but. . ." She passes you a mug of lukewarm tea. "We'll hopefully Dr. Kingston knows what he's doing."
	Arina	chugs literally the entire mug in one go, coming up for air with a gasp. "If they're coming for us, it's already too late."
	IcePickLobotomy	You emerge from the tent and begin to assist the others with moving the wounded. Most of them are young men, most no younger than your late brother Jacob was before he died in the Great War. But there are some children and woman who've been caught up in the fighting. You can tell something is wrong when the camp outside falls silent, save for the moans of the wounded. The nurse beside you...
	IcePickLobotomy	...freezes as the sounds of horses trotting into the camp can be heard just past the canvas walls.
	Arina	looks up, swallowing, and moves up to the tent flap.
	IcePickLobotomy	Dr. Kingston is a large man, somewhat rotund in that grandfatherly fashion a former Army doctor who'd served in the great war. And standing in front of him, waving a revolver in the man's face, is a somewhat grungy looking man in a worn uniform, along with 3 others like him. Kingston doesn't seem impressed.
	IcePickLobotomy	"I told you," he says "that our supplies are for the wounded. If you need medical care then come here, but we will not relinquish them to a group of. . of," his mustache twitches "ruffians who threaten and brandy about firearms. Now go and either bring back you wounded or don't come back at all."
	Arina	steps out with a frown. "What /is/ all this about?"
	IcePickLobotomy	Kingston glances at your direction "Dr. Liversy, I sugg-" he cuts off as the other man smashes him across the face with the butt of his revolver. "No, let the woman talk," he turns and leers "Maybe you could help us?"
	Arina	smiles sweetly. "I'm afraid I only help the wounded."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Well you see that's the thing, we've got a lot of real sick guys back at our camp, and we were hoping you might be able to give us some supplies? Maybe even come with us to check up on them, make sure they're treated right, eh miss?"
	Arina	steps up to Doctor Kingston. "What sort of illness do they have?"
	IcePickLobotomy	he snorts and slowly picks himself back up. He answers in English "Deserters and bandits no doubt, raping and stealing their way across the land I bet." he spits blood onto the ground "Only cure is a solid drop from the gallows."
	Arina	(Question was actually directed to the 'emissaries')
	IcePickLobotomy	The man blonks and glances at Kingston, not sure what he just said. "Uh, very very sick you see."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I am not a doctor, so it would be easier if you came and saw them, yes?"
	Arina	snaps her fingers. "What are the symptoms? Tiredness, coughing, vomiting, runny nose...?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"Hey, sh-" one of the men starts to say before the boss cuts him off with a curt wave. He leans close into your personal space, pressing the barrel of the revolver into your collar bone "Maybe I did not make myself clear when I said you will come with us and see to them yourself."
	Arina	looks down at the revolver with a bit of a sneer. "I would gladly do so, but I need to know what's wrong, you see? I need to know what sort of medicine and tools are needed, I can hardly pack up the entire camp and carry it on my back."
	IcePickLobotomy	The man blinks and lowers the weapon, seemingly confused at your lack of fear. Which is all the time needed as the cook, a quiet American, jumps out from a tent flap and fires his own revolver. Hot blood and bits of bone slpash across your face a uniform as the man's head simply comes apart before your eyes. Kingston drops to the ground as the cook fires 5 more times, bringing the other...
	IcePickLobotomy	...three men to the ground in a matter of moments. You ears ring from the report, but you can see one of the men laying on the ground writhing in pain as blood pools from the shot in his upper chest and lower stomach.
	Arina	blinks slowly, working her mouth to try and get the ringing out of her ears, before spitting at the taste of blood. "That took far too long."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Sorry miss,' He answers in that distincive american twang as another man steps out from behind a tent with a smoking rifle. "Me an' the Frenchie were wanting to set things up real nice like."
	Arina	wipes her face with a hand, and ducks down to the surviving man. "Congratulations. You get to use the supplies."
	Arina	sets to work keeping him alive.
	IcePickLobotomy	"I just don't get it doc," The cook observes a moment "but you do what you gota do, and I'll do what you gota do." He kneels down and helps you to stem the flow of blood.
	Arina	"He's what, twenty? He can consider this a life lesson."
	IcePickLobotomy	He whistles "One hell of a lesson Mis- Doctor. But can't say I didn't run a little wild in my youth either."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Though not that wild either." he mutters under his breath
	Arina	"Don't be afraid to break him if he doesn't seem to have learned. I'm not /that/ forgiving."
	IcePickLobotomy	Kingston huffs as he helps ease the man onto a stretcher. "I won't dishonor your efforts by having the man shot Dr. Liversy, but if he toes a step out of line." He gives the cook a meaningful glance
	Arina	wipes her face. "Well, I hope blood is good for the complexion... please excuse me, I'm going to need to spend some time cleaning off."
	IcePickLobotomy	No, you're not her. Arina, your name is Arina. A pilot, a young girl, not a woman, not a doctor. Identity crawls back to you, realization of who you are. You're not sure where "you" starts and the "others" don't. The memories and identities are mixed and muddled together, all of them crying with equal strength.
	Arina	"That's not... I can't..."
	IcePickLobotomy	But you have to. Something, there is something. . . . A flash of familiar red hair and. . .
	Arina	"Is that... me?"
	IcePickLobotomy	Is it?
	IcePickLobotomy	The fire stirs to life as Amund stirs the camp fire into life while the morning mist begins to burn off in the sunlight. It's a cold spring day, frost covering the ground in a way the promise a muddy mess in the afternoon.
	Arina	reaches out for it. "Which one am I...?"
	Arina	waves lazily. "Mornin'."
	IcePickLobotomy	"So, scouts said there's a town upriver some, perhaps half a days travel." He grunts
	Arina	"'s pretty close. Plans?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"Well scouts also said that the milita had mustered, so we landing along the river has us moving uphill. Thinking we put down a half hour's march down stream and come in along the wood line on the other side."
	Arina	"From where they're not expecting? Could work. Militia's probably not worth spit in a fight, so no need to skip it by."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Don't mean we should be fools about it. I left the berserkers for a reason."
	Arina	"Not disagreein', don't worry."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Good. Had some of the hotter heads wondering why. They'll figure it out soon enough, or else they'll be in Valhalla and out of my hair."
	Arina	"Pf, as if. Odin ain't got no use for lackwits."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Always use for some sword-fodder." He stands up "Adelais, see to your girls, I'll get my men up and about."
	Arina	rocks up to a standing position. "Won't be long."
	IcePickLobotomy	A few hours later sees you and the other warriors in your band lurking at the edge of the woods lines, observing the town. You can see a few warry eyed scouts atop rooftops, bows and quivers of arrows at their sides.
	Arina	drifts over to Amund's position, speaking quietly. "We're definitely not going to be able to avoid the alarm goin' up."
	IcePickLobotomy	He mutters under his breath "They're more organized than I'd have expected for a milita. Something's off here."
	Arina	"Wanna try anyway, or bug out?"
	IcePickLobotomy	He snorts "Not going to turn tail and run, half my men would charge regardless of what I sat. Just keep an eye out."
	IcePickLobotomy	*say
	Arina	"Yeeeep. Best bet's probably to punch through, hit the main force while they're a little disorganized and reacting to the scout warning, then mop up the rest."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Course you'd say that. Not that your wrong this time."
	IcePickLobotomy	*you're
	Arina	"I mean, we're attackin' a town with a fully active militia, unless you wanna grab the goodies from the closest corners and then run on home we're gonna have to put those men down and the best shot for that is the initial surprise."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I didn't say you were wrong." He huffs in annoyance "Gods you remind me of my wife sometimes."
	Arina	"Kyaaa," she deadpans. "This ain't the best place for a declaration o' eternal devotion so save it for the other side, yeah?"
	IcePickLobotomy	He just looks at you. ". . . . . ." and then shakes his head
	Arina	grins. "Everyone's gettin' bored, we goin', or you got some more primpin' to do, comb your beard or the like?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"No respect for your elders the lot of you. Fine!" He stands up "CHARGE!" And he rushes out, followed by his men, all screaming their war cries, you can see the sentries immediately give out shouts of alarm and a few arrows begin to pelt down around the charge.
	Arina	keeps her shield up and keeps going, counting on the armour and shield to neutralize the arrows. "Archers, yer up!"
	IcePickLobotomy	You see arrows fly out from behind you, and something impacts your shield. The archers quickly abandon their rooftops as they come under the ore accurate fire of your own archers. The few men on the streets quickly fall back deeper into the town, while the charges momentum increases as many follow, taken by the battle-lust.
	Arina	grins, pushing in, maintaining formation with the others in a long, loping stride over the ground.
	IcePickLobotomy	Your charge carries you into the town square, where a small band of spear-men await you. You have a moderate edge in numbers, and the momentum besides.
	Arina	charges in. "Get 'em, girls!"
	IcePickLobotomy	You get into the melee pushing aside the spear wall as your blade catches a man under the chin, and he goes down. You step over his body to get at the rest of them. They continue to fall back, and you realize that there too organized, the falling back is too calm and collected. They're not falling back because you are forcing them back, but because they always planned to.
	Arina	's eyes narrow. "Let 'em run!" she barks, hoping that at least a few will hear and listen.
	IcePickLobotomy	Amund nods, and a few of his veteran slow their pace, as do  your girls. But the bulk of the charge carries forward, deeper into the square as a few jeer at you.
	Arina	"This's gonna be ugly..."
	IcePickLobotomy	A few minutes pass as they pass by the towns church, and then just as their backs are too it the doors slam open and a group of men, armed in chain-mail and swords rush out into their back line. Amund winces "Aye damned ugly." He eys it "Might be able to smash them in between us and them, but at that point it boils into a melee." he gestures to a rather tall man in a fine tabard "That one is...
	IcePickLobotomy	...there commander, we kill him and we may yet win this one."
	Arina	"'s about our only shot, and we got their backs." She takes a step forward. "It's either that or we all run now, and that ain't soundin' great to me."
	IcePickLobotomy	He nods and grins "Victory or Valhalla!" he cries and him, his few men, and your small band of warrior woman rush foward
	Arina	charges in, teeth bared.
	IcePickLobotomy	Some of the enemy men see this and shift to bar your way. Amund, his men, and your girls slam into them, but you have a opening to the commander,
	IcePickLobotomy	"Go! get him Adelais, we'll handle his riff-raff!." He shouts before he burries his axe into the face of a hapless swordsman.
	Arina	ducks in and slips through, hacking anything that gets within her reach or blocks her way. "Hah, already there!"
	IcePickLobotomy	The man easily steps back and parries the blow, his reposte leaving a long gash along your arm for your efforts.
	IcePickLobotomy	The next exchange sees both of you stumbling over bodies and blood rather than actually being able to hit the other.
	Arina	grits her teeth and hacks down for his head.
	IcePickLobotomy	This time his blade bounces off your shield and you catch the side of torso with your own, he grunts and you're sure he felt that blow even through the chainmail.
	Arina	tries to exploit it and get one that counts.
	IcePickLobotomy	It's not quite enough and sweeps your leg, failing to knock you over but knocking you off balance for him to stab at your neck, which you narrowly avoid.
	IcePickLobotomy	The next exchange of blows sees you and him engaging in a grapple after you attempt to disarm him and he them repays the favor. At this point he's on top of you, a dagger in one hand while he does his best to keep you pinned with the other.
	Arina	ducks back, and cuts for his extended arm with a growl.
	Arina	kicks him in the nadgers and grabs for the dagger while he's distracted.
	IcePickLobotomy	Even with the armor and padding it still mange to distract him just enough for you to force the dagger from his hand and grab it yourself.  He scrambles back off of you in response.
	Arina	settles it in her hand and lunges in on him to plunge it into his stomach, via his collarbone. The dagger's long enough to reach.
	Arina	gets the dagger in through the man's organs, and once he's distracted by the first, stabs him again, and again, and again, until he drops.
	IcePickLobotomy	And he crumples to the ground with a satisfyingly wet gurgle. His guardsmen falter and then begin to slowly fall back before routing, as the rest of his men see this they too run, leaving the militia to itself and it's quickly cut down in turn.
	Arina	just stands there, slowly catching her breath. "Guy was /good/."
	IcePickLobotomy	"They all were." Amund nods, blood flowing from a handful of cuts he thumps his chest "Fought with honor, may they find peace with their god."
	Arina	nods, sticking the dagger in a belt loop and grabbing her equipment again. "I think we might've picked up too much heat on this trip, looks like the looting ain't so easy anymore."
	IcePickLobotomy	You pull off the helmet to wipe the sweat and grim from your bro, strands of your fiery hair come loose.
	IcePickLobotomy	"Aye, best to leave now," (No that's not your hair) "well after we loot here, we've got a decent haul at least." (No you don't. This isn't you.You don't raid, you don't murder and burn. You're a soldier. A young girl.)
	Arina	"Wait, that's not it."
	IcePickLobotomy	Flashes of memories and identities but each feels wrong. Some closer than others but none of them fit you (How do you know? How? A phrase echoes "I am I" yes, not you. You are you, not them, but which is you?)
	Arina	"Which one fits...?"
	IcePickLobotomy	And somewhere distant. .  a heart-beat? No, a drum beat. A familiar base of a song. A warm red pulse seems to wash over you, scattering the memories and identities. Not gone, but simply. . . set aside. Narrowed down. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLhU8ea4yZQ ] A voice, your voice. The roar of the crowd. The feel of a spear in hand. Your sister's arms around your waist, John's hand around...
	IcePickLobotomy	...yours as your lips meet. The cool touch and familar weight of gold in a pocket.
	Arina	"That's right!"
	IcePickLobotomy	There remains a stream of memories, older than the rest. They refuse to budge and your drawn in once more, but the song, the beat, keeps you anchored. You watch as you (no her, her. Her, not you) stumbles through the frost glazed woods, clad in rough furs and bleeding freely from her side. They'd came a at dawn, men from another tribe, the one across the river, and killed the men they found...
	IcePickLobotomy	...and dragged the other woman off. she'd manage to flee into the woods, but a spear-wound on your side has slowed her down. You stumble over a crevasse and tumble managing to avoid breaking any limbs as she does so. A cave, shelter and safety. And you go deeper in. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, but she doesn't care. A pool of blood awaits her, yet a voice speaks to her, the...
	IcePickLobotomy	...Mother of All Things tells her to drink. And she does. And she lives. And she returns to her tribe, to the survivors, uses her knowledge to guide and heal them. And as she grows older she knows what to do. She has her daughter drink from her blood, and she gains her knowledge. And the practice spreads. You fly along the memories and woman, a single unbroken line of woman who pass their...
	IcePickLobotomy	...knowledge unto their followers in a sacred ceremony. And then it ends, with the High Priestess standing before a group of armed men, clad in gasmasks. She knows who he is, Hunter, a apt name. Fire blooms and she knows no more. Except she does, the Mother embraces her soul, guards it and keep her until another comes, one who can continue this history.
	Arina	is gonna chug some juice the moment she wakes up, and /not be thirsty/ anymore.
	IcePickLobotomy	And then you close your eyes and dream. You dream of strange vistas and starless skies. And a golden dawn."