I sling drink

Four months later

"Remember to keep pet on leash,"

"Oh course, come along little one,"

"I can't believe this....."

"Quiet you..."

"It's....more humid than I remember," I untied her leash, "Remember to stay close to me, is not exactly civilized out here,"

"But I thought you said you grew up here,"

"I did...was shit hole then too, inside city is different...but the swamps are...it's easy to get stuck out here," We hurried though the grass, eventually Nightshade took to flying a few feet behind me, "Perhaps you stay on ground, we do not need unwanted attention,"

"Fine...I'm gonna need a shower after this,"

"Yes yes, now come, is not much further," It felt strange to be home, certainly colder if less snowy.

"So...this church...is it nice?"

"Yes..." We pushed through the swamp eventually linking into a dirt path, "Aha, we are very, very close,"

"Why is it so far away from the city?"

"...so discourage grave robbing..."

"Oh....that's sad...."

"We catch one once, he joined the dead,"

"Oh....wait will there be other people?"

"Perhaps...my sister and her husband still leave here, I send them letter of my return,"

"...they wont....they wont hate me will they?"

"If they do I will remind them of their place..."

"You'd...your own family?"

"My sister was entitled brat...our family teach her humility, she forgets some times,"

"Oh....hey is that it?"

I looked forward, there it was, a small orthodox church, it looked in oddly good condition considering it's location, "Come we get inside,"

We pressed forward to the threshold, "Are you ok?"

"....yes...come let us go," I pressed into the door, "Zdravstvuyte Vosa," Vosa turned to me and nodded, his voice ruined during the war. He walked over to me and gave me a friendly hug, his smile wide and genuine, "Nightshade this is Vosa, brave soldier of Russia,"

"NIce to meet you..." Vosa knelt down and looked her over, deciding she was acceptable if a bit odd, "Is tha- horosho?" This made Vosa smile and nod.

"Vosa...yest' li drugiye," He shook his head, "...My budet bystrym, Come little one," We started out the back door to the cemetery.

"Wow....these are..."

"Carved by my uncle...can you tell which is his?" I pointed to an un-ornate stone cross, "I hope to make his grave more representative...but I have yet to find a craftsman such as him,"

"...this place....it's a lot of people,"

"Are many generations buried here," We walked towards the more recently deceased, "There...." We stopped quickly at our first target, "...Hello Gregor....has been long time,"

"....I though-"

"He had no next of kin....body was given to me in absence of family,"

"No family?"

"We were his family....standing side by side to the end,....come we come for reason," We slowly left Gregor, walking even further to the back. It was a long walk, near the end of the lot was a small cross with flowers planted around it.

"This is her's isnt it,"

"....yes...my aunt came after her death....she planted flowers each spring....is good to know she is still well." I walked up to the grave, "...Hello Anna....is good to see you," It was quiet, cold, damp, and quiet. "I told you...I would never forget you,"

"Vlad...." Nightshade shot a hoof out, "....Libra gave it to me...." I turned and met her hoof, my ring hung from a string across her hoof, "I...I thought you might want it back,"

I slowly took it from her, "....I let go....I regret....thank you...." I took it and hung it across the top of the cross, "Now at least it is home....in it's proper place," I quickly stood, I took a deep breath, "Good bye for now Anna....I will return..." I turned with Nightshade walking with me, I pulled her so that she was pressed against me as we walked, "Come....we get food, anyone say anything...I break them,"

She beamed up at me as we walked, "Thanks...it's really nice out here by the way...."

"...Spring is ok....winter is hell," We hurried off back to the great city, it felt better, a new chapter in my life, I think it's called...closure.