Dead in the Snow

Opening my eyes, I felt something next to me in my cot. I turned to look at what it was, and noticed Luna slumbering peacefully against my side. Checking my watch revealed it was 5:45 in the morning, 15 minutes before I had to officially get up. Still, I thought fuck it and got up anyway; and in turn bent down to wake Luna.

“Hey Luna, come on get up.”

“Hmm...five more minutes Tia, too early.”

“Luna, it's 5:45, we've gotta get going.”

“Nooooo...sleep.”

Oh fuck it. I thought to myself. I bent down and poked Luna in the belly, causing her to bolt up and me to laugh like a banshee behind my hand.

“Max, why would though do that?!”

“Sorry Luna I just, *hicc* wanted you to, *hicc* get up.”

“It's not funny!” Luna's pout as she said this nearly gave me diabetes. To save myself from a life of little sugar, which I adored, I decided to get us some breakfast.

“So Luna, I'm going to see if Karl is up yet and get some breakfast. What do you eat exactly? I know you eat plants, but do you prefer them cooked, raw…?”

“Cooked thank you.”

“Alright, be back in a sec.”
*****
I opened the tent flap and was slapped by a cold wind and snow. Of course, it couldn't be a warm summer afternoon huh? After my momentary temperature adjustment, I went to the mess to get breakfast. Karl was up early, which I enjoyed as I could talk with him.

Walking up to the mess, I approached Karl to speak and grab whatever gruel was being given from the food rations.

“Hey Karl, how are you?”

“Oh, hey Max. I'm well, and yourself?”

“Shitty. Yesterday's battle was horrible Karl. I killed at least 250 men, I know it's what we were trained for but still! It doesn't make it any easier...anyway what's on the menu?”

Giving a quick glance of his ration booklet, Karl turned back to reply to me.

“Let's see; cooked carrots and cabbage, chicken and eggs, and some sausage. For once, we have good breakfast food! Yesterday was ok, but eggs are divine! Best part, they aren't the powdered shit we usually have.”

“No way! Real eggs?!”

“Yep, got em’ in last night after 6:00. I tried to tell you, but your tent was locked up, I figured you had gone to bed, so I didn't want to barge in.”

“Thanks Karl. Yeah I went to sleep early, battle took a lot out of me. Anyway, I'm hungry, I take my grub and go back to the tent if that be alright with you my good man.” I finished my sentence with a bow and shit eating grin. Karl just laughed and gave me my portion for breakfast.
*****
I opened my tent and slipped inside, happy to be out of the biting and clawing cold. Luna was laying on the cot with her legs under her, I approached her and gave her the carrots I got.

“Here you go; cooked carrots for you, and chicken, eggs, and sausage for me. The carrots are alright right? I can see about getting something else if not.”

Luna looked at her meal and smiled.

“No Max, this is fine thank you.”
*****
POV: Luna

As I took the first bite of my carrots, I realized I had been staring at Max for the last two minutes, luckily he hadn't noticed so I tore my gaze away. Why was I staring at him, and why do I feel warm? This is odd, I like this feeling, but it's still odd.

POV: Max

I noticed that Luna had been staring at me for the past two minutes, but I ignored it so as not to embarrass her.

Karl has outdone himself on breakfast, I'll have to tell him. I Thought to myself as I ate my food. The eggs were cooked to perfection; with salt and pepper, while the chicken and sausage were sweetened with sugar.

It was just then that I noticed Luna had nestled herself against my side, which I didn't mind. We sat together for 30 minutes in companionable silence, just enjoying the others presence. I heard a rustle outside and told Luna to hide, an officer walked in.

I instantly jumped up and saluted

“Greetings Heer Kommandant, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I had to hold back a sneer as I bullshit my way through the customary greeting.

“At ease private, I've come to give you news. You are to be transferred to Army Group South for the push on the Caucasus. You will redeploy this June to the LVI Panzer Korps. To answer your next question, you have been promoted to a junior tank commander due to your bravery the past few days. Congratulations sir.”

Just like that I was a tank commander. God damnit it. Luna made herself visible again and walked up next to me.

“Tis good right? Getting a promotion and all.”

“No, it's not good Luna, because I have to train for new equipment and I won't get leave due to training. In other words, I'm fucking stuck here.” I felt something rub against my shoulder. I turned and saw Luna standing by my left side with her head slightly raised, the oddest thing was her blush.

“Luna...what are you doing?”

“We're…we're, showing affection.”

“Oh, like between friends.”

“Yes...like between friends.”

“Why are you blushing?”

“No reason that should get you worried.”

“Ok.”

I was about to say more, but was cut short by a whistle and then explosion. I cursed under my breath before turning back to Luna.

“Luna the Soviets are counter attacking, command said they were beat but...I didn't believe a word they said. I need to go outside to see if I can help, you can come if you want but keep yourself close to me and hidden.”

Before getting a reply, I hoisted an MG-42 over my shoulder and sprinted to the nearest machine gun nest. I set up the gun and Karl jumped in next to me.

“Max, I'll keep your ammo stocked! You just focus on keeping us alive got it?!”

“No problem Karl, millions of men are attacking but I can totally repel them all.”

“Oh shut up and keep us safe you son of a bitch!”

“Heh, since you asked nicely.”

With my gun cocked and loaded, aimed towards the field in front of me. I could move the gun nearly 90 degrees, so I could cover the front and flanks effectively. The explosion rang out around me as I fired into what was, simply put, a human wave.

Round after round went out and more fell. In a few minutes I was out of ammo, but Karl fed me more ammo keeping me going. Another hundred gone, and another. I kept firing and firing, wondering when it would end. After 20 minutes, we had exhausted our ammunition, we simply waited for the end. Instead, an officer hoped into the nest and yelled at us to get in the fucking trucks.

I yanked the 42 free and ran to the nearest truck to evacuate, Karl sat to my left in the canvas covered storage space. Once we were on the road, Luna who was invisible and next to me on the truck whispered into my ear.

“Max don't worry, we're here with you. We’re unharmed and fine, we are getting out of here right?”

I managed to choke out a strangled yes, before I leaned over to Karl and began sobbing. Several other men were sobbing as well.

“Karl, I- I killed so many! Why did I have to be draf-drafted?! I never asked for this, I just want to go home!”

“I know Max, I do too.”