Author's Note
AN: All of Pavel's thoughts will be in Italics, except when not in first person of course. All the words he himself cannot understand will be in bold with dashes before and after.
Chapter 1
October 24th, 1941
The roar of engines rang through Pavel's ears as the plane he rode in soared through the air. Neither him nor his pilot Viktor spoke, there was no time for talking in their current situation. The 95th and 208th Fighter Aviation Regiments sped towards a German airfield in Kalinin, intent on wiping out whatever equipment or personnel they had the opportunity to. Pavel manned the rearward facing machine gun in one of twenty seven Pe-3 Heavy Fighters, among many other aircraft.
Suddenly the radio crackled to life, Major Kibirinym’s voice drawing both crewman’s attention.
“Two kilometers to target!”
All aircraft began to draw together into a tighter formation, the Soviet heavy fighters prepared to drop their relatively small bomb loads. Without warning, the left engine of another Pe-3 directly to the right of Pavel burst into flames, its wing being raked by machine gun fire. Frantically searching the skies, Pavel spotted a group of German fighters diving onto the formation.
Turning quickly, Pavel shook Viktor’s shoulder. “109’s!” He shouted, identifying the planes from what he could see.
Viktor quickly turned, spotting the planes as they rapidly descended. “They must be returning from patrol! Protect the formation!” He shouted back, turning back to watch their front.
In rapid succession, Pavel fired burst of gun fire at the diving fighters, though he could see no visible effect. There had to be at least nineteen planes. The rearward gunners of all others soon began to return fire, though the fighters quickly swept over them, critically damaging several in less than a minute.
As the formation began their descent, their target became visible. A small airfield, with only a dirt runway, though many German fighters covered its edges. Just as they had spotted it, AA fire began to explode around them, quickly ripping yet another Pe-3 out of the sky. Pavel began to worry, they were quickly being singled out as planes around them began to spread out to avoid the enemy fire. The formation began to line up their targets, preparing to drop their bombs before they would use their primary machine guns on the remaining planes.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoed inside the cockpit. Gun fire tore through the cockpit, peppering the side just behind where Pavel sat. Searing pain burned through his arm as he realized one of the bullets had grazed him just below the right shoulder.
“Viktor?! Are you okay?” He shouted, turning to look over his shoulder. Blood was spattered across the gauges, Viktor holding tightly onto his neck as crimson ran down his uniform. Horrified, Pavel turned to try and help his comrade. The plane then violently jerked to the right, throwing Pavel up against the side of the cockpit. The tail rudders had taken heavy damage from AA fire and the plane was beginning to go into a nose dive.
Frantically, Pavel let go of his gun and reached for the yoke, trying to pull the plane out of the deadly dive. Just as he had grabbed hold of it, the plane jerked violently again and the darkness took him.
~~~
(From here on out all parts from Pavel’s perspective will be in first person)
I awoke with a start, jerking up from where I lay. I immediately regretted it, as pain shot through my body, my head pounding as if someone was beating me with a stone. My vision slowly returned to me as I became aware of my surroundings. Heat beared down on me like nothing that should be possible in the early Russian winter.
As I blinked my eyes a few times, I immediately knew something was wrong. Sand. I was surrounded by nothing but sand. ‘What the...am I...no no... I couldn’t be...am I...dead?’ Rubbing my eyes, I paused for a moment before opening them. Sand. ‘Oh no...I’m dead.’ I began to worry. As I surveyed what I thought to be the afterlife, I then noticed the bits of unbroken glass that still clung to the frame of the cockpit. ‘Wait...planes don’t follow you into death?....Do they?’ Tentatively, I reach out, my fingers slowly running across the metal. ‘Yes! I’m not dead....only...’
I tried to call out for Viktor, though as soon as I did, it felt as if my throat caught alight with flame, a burning sensation that ran from my mouth to my gut tightened my throat. I felt as if I might puke from the one pulse alone. Coughing hoarsely, I grabbed my throat and tried to speak again. The same pain, though at least two-fold shot through my neck again, making me almost lose what food I had in my stomach.
I soon realized that the plane was leaning heavily to the right, to the point of almost tipping. Slowly edging forward, I realized there was a large hole in the glass. ‘Gun fire must have weakened it’ I thought to myself. As I crawled forward, I took my first full look at the environment around me. As I had seen before, nothing but endless sand surrounded me, a few dunes here and there but there was no mistake, I was in the middle of a desert.
For a moment I looked down at the foot of the dune and what I say immediately horrified me. At the foot of the dune, in a large stain of blood on sand lay Viktor’s crumpled form. As quickly as I could, I was down the dune and beside him. Tentatively rolling him over as gently as I could, my heart sank as I saw his injuries. Multiple lacerations covered his face and neck as well as two bullet wounds that had pierced his back and one in his neck. ‘Shit.....I guess I’m alone now...’
The wind suddenly began to pick up and the metal husk of the plane began to groan, slowly sliding down the dune.
Hurriedly, I grabbed Viktor’s body, hauling him onto my shoulder before I began to trek through the sand in whatever direction I was going.
~~~
The Sun beat down on me like an insect under a magnifying glass. I had been walking for hours. I had long since shed my coat, its insulation would do nothing but make the heat worse. I had never thought I could sweat so much, feeling like someone had just thrown a bucket of water on me. ‘Water....’ I mouthed to myself; my throat was so dry it felt as if it would crack. Viktor’s body was becoming heavier by the minute, I doubted I could carry it much longer.
Taking a short step, I stumbled. I did not lose my balance but a small thump below me caught my attention. Looking down I saw a small device of wood and metal lying in the sand. A rusty old M1895 Revolver. Looking to Viktor’s body, I noticed a small open holster under his jacket I’d not spotted before. I smiled a bit. ‘Even in death, you’re still watching out for me.’
I bent down, taking hold of the small weapon before stuffing it under my belt and continuing on. As I continued on, I felt the heat begin to takes its toll on me in earnest. I could feel sand somehow making its way into my boots, feeling as if I were walking on glass.
I had been walking for at least an hour more before something caught my attention. The sound of wings flapping drew closer from behind me. Turning, I had to shade my eyes as the Sun attempted to blind me. There above me, floated three strange shadowy shapes, what confused me however, was the wings that sprouted from their backs. ‘Wait...wings?! Okay, the heat has finally done me in...’ I stared for a moment before one of the shadows screeched, the two others diving for me and tackling me to the ground. Whatever they were trying to do, I didn’t want it happening. Swinging wildly, my fist connected with one of the creatures faces, knocking it to the side.
I quickly attempted to strike my second attacker, but was met with a swift punch across my jaw. A taloned claw took hold of my throat as the other creature took hold of my right arm, drawing a sickly looking dagger. Right as I felt the dagger would plunge down into my chest, a second screech stopped the daggers fall.
-“Idiot! Don’t kill it! The meat’s only good when it’s fresh!”-
Though I could not understand what was said, the voice sounded feminine.
I could barely make out my attackers, my vision blurring from the lack of oxygen making it to my head. Feathered creatures, at least the size of Great Dane, and they appeared to have beaks. ‘Talking birds? Where the hell am I?!’ I screamed mentally.
-“Knock it out, we’ll take it back to camp and eat it proper.”-
My eyes went back to the two that held me down. One of the creatures raised its claw, balling it into a fist.
‘Oh Sh-’ Thwack!
~~~
The darkness slowly receded from eyes. They fell upon large ropes that bound my hands together, as well as my legs. I could hear a low rabble before me, the glow of a fire barely making it into my field of view. Slowly looking up, I saw that I was no longer in the hellish desert. Instead I was surrounded by low growing grass and a canopy of trees for as far as I could see. For once since I had awoken here, I felt a cool breeze wisp past my face.
My three attackers sat about ten feet away from me, huddled around the fire. I had been right, they were bird creatures, but none that I had ever expected to see. ‘Griffins!’ I shouted inwardly, all of what I knew about the world (admittedly not much) frantically struggling to place this mythical creatures.
-“Oi, looks who awake.”- The middlemost pointed at me, a gruff male voice punctuating his words.
-“Calm down Gale, we just got the fire started. No way we can cook ‘im right now.”- The female spoke next.
-“What if I like my meat raw?”- The male retorted back. -“Besides, who put you in charge anyway Gilda?”-
-“The fact that I could beat your sorry tail into the ground, that’s who, dweeb.”- The female growled lowly, giving the male a menacing glare.
As the two squawked at each other, my hand fell against something cold. Slowly shifting my eyes down, I saw the grip of the revolver poking out from under my belt.
‘Yes! They must have missed it when they tied me up....now I just have to wait for a good opportunity.’
-“Ugh, why did we have to make camp in this bloody forest? If those ponies caught us out here hunting those things we’d be arrested.”-
-“Where else are we gonna have such quick access to supplies and the Humans? Dodge Junction is a trade post, they’ve got everything we need.”-
-“Why not back in Gryphonia? We could eat a Human in public and no one would bat an eye.”-
-“Tell you what, Gale. Find me more than one Human anywhere near Gryphonia and we’ll go back. They’re not there anymore! They may be animals but they know enough to get away from what’s killing them.”-
The male grumbled, turning to rifling through his bag to get away from the conversation.
Time passed slowly, the only thing I had to look at was the fire the Griffins continued to build up from a satchel of small pieces of wood.
‘Something tells me they're not building that for heat.’
-“It’s definitely better looking than any other Humans we’ve found out here. Shame the other was already dead, we might have just eaten it and brought this one along with us.”-
-“Oh please, you’re not thinking of fucking it like those damn ponies are you?”- The male from before sounded as if he was chiding the female.
-“Why not? It’s not like either of you two could do the job any better.”- She smirked, hoping her insult had landed. Standing up, she began to walk towards me.
-“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to play with your food, Gilda?”- The third spoke up, his remark more of a joke than an insult.
The female drew closer. My fingers slowly curled around the grip of the weapon that sat hidden in my clothes. ‘Please be a double action...please be a double action...shit...please work.’ I prayed to whatever gods existed in this hell.
When the creature was less than a foot away from me, I jerked the revolver from its hiding place, pulling the trigger twice in rapid succession. Two shots echoed out as the Griffin’s head snapped back, its body falling limp to the side. The other two were frozen in shock. Acting quickly, I aimed for the second, firing twice before aiming at the last and firing twice more. One of my shots landed, catching the first in the neck as the other two pierced the Griffin across his chest.
As the ringing subsided, I realized I was breathing a lot faster than I thought I was, damn near hyperventilating. It was the first time I had been face to face with anyone I had killed and shit did it feel different. Shaking my head to wear off the shock of my own, I spotted a small blade that hung on a belt the female wore. Returning the weapon to its place, I rolled over, crawling to the body and cutting my binds.
‘This looks like a fairly permanent camp, they’ve got to keep water here somewhere!’ I began to tear through the small satchels piled near the fire, finding nothing but trinkets and useless items. Just as I was about to give up, I spotted a leather water pouch tied to the belt of another one of my attackers. Practically running the short distance to it, I grabbed at the pouch, almost ripping the belt it clung to. I pulled the cork from the top, guzzling the cool liquid as fast as I could.
‘Hmm....if they were gonna be staying here they’d have to have supplies...’ I quickly took another swig of water. ‘There’s got to be some sort of town or something. I might be able to get a landmark or something. Wait...why am I even looking anymore? Griffins don’t exist in the real world, what sort of landmark would I even look for?’ Turning to look at the three bodies that littered the ground, a sudden bit of movement caught my eye. The one that I had shot first’s wing was twitching.
Shaking my head a few times I rubbed my bloodshot eyes and looked again, The body lay still. ‘Or....maybe I’m just hallucinating all of this...’ I lifted the pouch for one last swig as I pondered which would be best for my sanity. ‘.......Yep, definitely hallucinating.’ I quickly pushed myself to my feet, running off into the foliage so I could distance myself from any notion that I may be wrong.
~~~
I had walked for two whole days now. Two whole days and nothing but three mythical creatures that had been trying to kill me, near unbearable heat bearing down on me and now endless trees, weeds, and bushes that I had become lost in. My feet ached, my legs burned and my skin had long been burned red by the unforgiving sun. The last bullet in my revolver was starting to seem really friendly with each hour. I lifted the damp water pouch to my lips, the last drop of water rushing past my lips to sate my dry throat.
Stuffing the empty pouch into my pocket, I continued to walk onward. After about an hour more I was just about ready to stick the gun in my mouth and be done with this, but as I walked around a large dirt mound, something caught my eye. A field with trees peppered with red in there leaves. ‘Oh it couldn’t be....’ I picked up my pace, running through the last bit of the forest. I burst from the confines of the trees and bushes out into an open field, absolutely covered with cherry trees.
'Oh by Stalin’s shriveled right hand! This is beautiful!’ I rushed to one of the trees, pulling cherries from any low hanging branches I could see. Stuffing several in my mouth at once, I had to stop and savor the taste. They were they best cherries I had ever tasted. Not that I had many times. They were practically nonexistent in the small snow covered town I grew up in. I hadn’t even tasted one until I had joined the military and even then it tasted like dirt.
These however, they were heavenly. If not for the pits I would have to spit out I’d say they were the most divine thing I had ever eaten. Searching for more, I soon stumbled upon a basket full with no stems to be seen. ‘I’ll apologize later....’ I dropped to my knees, grabbing a handful of the wonderful fruit and proceeded to stuff my face. In my euphoria, I failed to acknowledge the creeping feeling something was behind me.
Snap! A twig cracked under the weight of someones step.
‘Huh?-’ I turned to look behind me, only to be met with a shovel flying towards my face.
‘Clang!’
~~~
“Cherry Pie! Get me some rope! There’s a Human out here eatin’ our cherries!” Cherry Jubilee called to her daughter, keeping close watch on the unconscious creature that lay at the foot of one of her best cherry trees. A dark purple spot began to show on the left of the Human’s forehead, a little fringe of blood seeping out on the edges.
Soon her daughter ran up behind her, giving her the rope.
“Wow Mom, ya really did a number on him. Ya sure that was necessary? It was just hungry.”
“Hungry or not, he was eating some of the best cherries we’ve grown this year.” Jubilee replied, pulling a knot tight around the Human’s legs.
“Say....he’s mighty strangely dressed to just be running around in the woods. I thought only those high life ponies in Canterlot put clothes on their Humans?”
“Oh.....shoot you may be right dear. Here, help me look for its tags.”
They began to look through his clothing. Around the neck, in the pockets, they even looked for the brand somewhere on his body where there would maybe be a name or cutie mark.
“Oh I think I found something!” Cherry Pie peeled back the shirt he wore at his collar, what they assumed to be words were scribbled in letters they didn’t recognize.
Павел Овечкин
“What is Faust name is that? That’s not Equestrian letters. Not Gryphonian either. Where do you reckon he comes from?”
“I don’t know Mom, but he looks pretty valuable. Just look at him. I haven’t seen many Humans but the ones I have seen don’t look anything like this. They’re all dirty and look half rabid most of the time. This one’s....somewhat clean, looks like he’s been walking around in the desert. Nothing a little water can’t fix though. Imagine how many bits we could get for it in Canterlot!”
“Now I don’t know about that Cherry, what if someone comes looking for him? What are we gonna tell them then?”
“Mom, no one around here owns Humans, wherever it got the clothes it could have been wearing them for a while. We’d be able to buy all that equipment you been fretting about for so long. C’mon, let me load it up with the cherries going to Canterlot in a couple days. I’ll sell it to somepony who actually markets them for a high price and we’ll be golden!”
Cherry Jubilee pondered on the idea for a bit. It was a good idea, and they would be able to buy the things they needed to keep the farm maintained; maybe even have a little spending money left. If some high life pony came looking for him though....
“Oh well...what they don’t know can’t hurt them.” Cherry made her decision, nodding to her daughter.
“Alright, help me get him back to the barn and I’ll send you off with him.”
“Awesome!” Cherry Pie grinned and took hold of the ropes that bound the Human with her teeth, dragging him towards the house with the help of her mother.
