Dima slowly came to, with his body full of horrible pain. He opened his eyes to see that he was inside what used to be the helicopter. It was now wrecked and he was hanging upside down in his seat. He tried to unbuckle himself, but he release was jammed. He looked up (or down, as it were) and saw his saperka laying on the ground. He reached for his saperka, shimmying himself until he finally managed to grab it. He began to run the sharpened edge along the restraints until it finally snapped, dropping to the floor. His attempts at standing were thwarted by a shock wave of pain surging through his body. He chose to crawl out of the left side wreckage and into the snow covered ground. When he made it about three meters from the helicopter, he took a good look at the damage.

The bottom of the fuselage was cracked, the rotors were shredded off, and by the marks on the ground they must have rolled over a few times. Dima found the strength to stagger on to his feet, propping himself with the side of the Kitsatka. He begun a search for his team. He walked towards the cockpit, and then wished he hadn't. Kiril's body was stuck half way out the windshield. His chest was impaled by a large piece of glass. Blood was splattered all over the inside of the cockpit. Dima checked his friends pulse, praying for something, anything... nothing. He then walked around to the right side of the helicopter, he saw Boris lying in the snow. Dima stumbled his way to him. Boris probably didn't strap in properly, he laid a few feet from the helicopter. Dima deduced that he died from the impact. He fell to his knees, feeling his eyes swelling up with a burning sensation, and wept bitter tears. Something that no man would ever do. But he didn't care. He just lost three of his friends. Dima shivered in the cold. He wasn't dressed for this weather. All he had was his black battle dress uniform and light sweater underneath. He knew what he had to do, and hated himself for it. He had to leave them, he would die if he didn't. He pulled Boris and placed him inside cockpit with Kiril. Trying his best to put them and Kiril into a comfortable postion.

“Rest in peace...” He said as a final good bye to them.

Dima gathered whatever weapons, food, and supplies he could find. He grabbed his rucksack, slung his AK-12 over his shoulder, holstered his pistol, and took a box grenades and as many spare mags as he could carry. Satisfied, he then set out into the frozen forest, with no idea where he's going. He stopped at the base of the tree line. The massive forest loomed in front of him. The sun was setting over the horizon, giving little light to the already pitch black woods. Reluctantly, Dima took a step into the tree line, rifle now in hand.

"Here goes nothing..."

He begun his treck into the dark forest. His boots crunched in the powdery snow. He walk past tree after tree, the dying light of the sun being smothered by the thick foliage. The first few minutes went without incident. There had been little in terms of anything. Nothing but trees. But Dima kept having a sinking feeling, as if he was being watched. He disregard the notion. The posibility of hostile life sounded absurd. After another hour of walking, it soon became too dark for Dima to continue without a light source. He pulled down his night vision system and flicked the power switch. Nothing happened. He tried again with no success. He pulled off the night vision device and began to inspect it. It didn't seemed damaged on the outside. Perhaps the batteries were dead? He oppened the battery compartment to check the power. They seemed fine, but Dima took them out and flipped them. He flicked the switch and thankfully the device came on. The forest seemed a lot more creepy under the green and black view of the NVG. The trees had a more sinister air to them. Dima hoped he wouldn't have to fight man-eating bushes.

He reluctantly continued on his way through the forest. The eerie quietness didn't help much. All that was to be heard was the crunch of his boots on the snow and dead leaves. All seemed normal until Dima heard a crack of a branch behind him. He quickly snapped his rifle to where he assumed the noise originated. He saw nothing through his night vision. He took a few steps backwards before turning around and continuing his march. He walked for another long while. The feeling of uneasiness was still high as he continued. Total night fall had come down upon him. The frigid air began nipping at Dima. The cold wind, the monotony of walking, and a low stomach growl convinced Dima to take a break from walking and set up a small camp fire. He chose to set up next to a fallen tree off to the right. He gathered dead branches and fallen logs for fuel and used his saperka to dig a fire pit. Using a flint and steel, he ignited a small amount of tinder. Then added it to the kindling at the base of his fire. He blew into the ember, causing the flame to grow until it engulfed the kindling twigs. After a few moments the main fuel logs of the fire caught and he now had a decent camp-fire going. He relished in the warmth it provided. The soothing crackling flames drowned out the eerie quiet of the forest. He reached his gloved hands out towards the dancing flames. Feeling slowly began to return to his finger tips. He reached into his bag and retrieved a ration.

“It taste like shit but it will keep you alive,” Dima said to himself as he cut open the bag with his shovel.

He opened the bag and pulled the large tin can labled "Number 4 (stewed beef)". He pried it open and gazed on the wad of meat drowning in fatty oil. He propped it against the fire in hopes to have a warm meal for the night. Sitting in front of the fire gave him time to think. His spirits were not very high. All he could think of was his regrets. He came to regret not getting the extra bagel at breakfast. He came to regret not bringing warmer clothes. He came to regret forgetting abandoning his friends at the helicopter. He came to deeply regret not trying harder to save Vlad. But most of all, he came to regret being the only one out of the four to survive, for now at least. He knew the he would run out of food eventually, and starvation is a horrible way to die. He decided that when if worst came to worst... drastic measures would be taken. He laid in the snow and tried to sleep. It was a long...long day. He had only slept for a few minutes until he woke up frightened by loud howling very close to him. It barred a striking resemblance to wolves. He quickly got to his feet and tried to identify the source. He looked out into the trees saw pairs of glowing green orbs floating in the dark along with growling and barking. He pulled out his MP-443 and prepared for a fight. The green orbs got closer and closer until they came into the light of the fire. Wolves definitely, but something was off about them.

“There made of...wood?”

One of them looked ready to pounce. Dima took aim and double tapped the wooden wolf in the head. Dima took aim at the others but felt a sharp pain on his leg. He look down and saw a wolf clamping it's teeth on his left leg. Dima grunted, drawing his saperka, and logged it a couple inches in the wolf's head. Another wolf pounced on Dima, knocking him to his back. The wolf gnashed its fangs at Dima while he held it at bay. Dima placed one hand behind the wooden wolf's head and the other on its muzzle. With one hard twist he snapped its neck. The dispatched wolf fell limp to the side. Dima reached for his pistol and fired at another wolf. The rest of the pack retreated into the darkness of the forest.

“No today,” Dima said.

He got to his feet and took aim. He took a four shots and killed another three wolves while they tried to flee. The rest got out of visual range before he could shoot them. Dima turned his attention to his leg, it was bleeding badly. With the scarf from his neck and a twig from a dead wolf he fashioned a tourniquet around his leg. As he went to gather his belongings, he noticed that the wolves got to it first. They tore a hole and stole all of his rations. He cursed them loudly with every word he knew and then some. He reached into his rucksack and into his medical bag. After fumbling around a little with the supplies, he pulled a morphine syrette. Dima injected the pain killer into the wound area, and after a few moments was walking shape again. Knowing the wooden wolves would come back, he decided not to waste time. He trekked through the terrain with a slight limp. Past what seemed an infinite forest he finally staggered out the edge woods on to a clear plot of land. He looked over and saw what looked like a wooden building of in the darkness.

“Impossible,” He whispered.

Drawing what little reserves of strength he had, he ran to the building. His spirits were high, maybe...just maybe there was someone there. He could see it clearly now. A barn? Who cares, he continued to the barn, shouting for help and shooting two bullets from his pistol. He pulled the doors open hoping to see another living thing. He dropped to his knees, his mouth slightly open in the shock of disbelief. The barn was empty. It's dilapidated interior looked like it had been abandoned for years. There was no sign off life anywhere. He shivered, having lost most feeling in his body from his time in the cold. Dima let out a yell of frustration, before droping to his hands and knees. A few tears fell to the floor. He had no hope left in him. In the spur of the moment, he only saw one option... drastic measures. He slowly drew his pistol from his holster and brought it up to his head.

“I gave it my best shot...” He said to himself.

He slowly began to squeeze the trigger, his whole body trembling in fear, he took a final deep breath and readied himself. Just before he squeezed the trigger he heard a voice behind him.

“What in tarnation?” The feminine voice said.

Dima spun around and saw a orange...horse? No to small, a pony perhaps? Wait, did that pony thing just...talk? No, no, this must be a hallucination. Dima could barely comprehend what was in front of him. It was so strange, on all fours the pony was about a meter tall, perhaps a little more. It was wearing a cowboy hat. It's blonde mane was tied back. The pony also had a tattoo of apples on it's...thighs? He quickly snapped the gun to the pony and it took a step back.

“O chem vy?” (What are you?) Dima asked in Russian.

The orange pony slowly approached him. Dima recoiled back, still keeping his sights at the creatures head.

“It's ok. I ain't gonna hurt ya,” The pony said in a female southern American accent.

“Vy govorite po angliyski?” (You speak English?) Thankfully Dima knew English.

“Ah'm sorry. Ah don't understand,” She said. Dima holstered his pistol.

“What are you?” Dima's English was accented but the pony understood.

“Ah should ask ya the same question. Ah ain't never seen your kind before”

“I'm a human. My name is Dimitri... uh, you can call me Dima”

“Dima? That's a weird name.”

“Do you have a name?”

“The name's Applejack partner.”

“Ha, and you say my name is funny.”

“That's big talk coming from an alien.”

“Well to me. You're the alien.” Applejack laughed when Dima said that.

“Ah like you mister Dima. Why don't we get ya outta the cold?” Applejack gestured outside the door with her hoof.

“Thank you.” He said graciously. He holstered his pistol and began to follow.

Applejack lead Dima through the snow and towards a small house. Applejack opened the door and gestured for Dima to enter. The warmth of the house felt like magic on Dima's frozen body. She lead him into what seemed to be a living room.

“Just wait here sugar cube, I'll be back.”

Dima took a seat in a chair next to a fire place. He took of his helmet and goggles, placing them on the floor, along with his rucksack and rifle. He liked the house, it was cozy. But he was wary of getting too comfortable. He had to keep moving. Movement equals survival in combat. This was no different. Applejack came back with a cup and tray in her mouth. She gently placed it on Dima's lap.

“Hope ya like hot apple cider.”

“Thank you.” Dima took a sip. Never having cider before, he was suprised that it tasted pretty good. Applejack took a seat in the chair adjacent of Dima.

“So uhh...Applejack, can you tell me where I am?”

"You're in the Apple family farm right now, partner. Home of the best apples in all of Equestria." Applejack replied enthusiastically, almost as if she were advertising it.

"No, I meant, like country, or region or something like that." Dima corrected, causing a slight 'oh' to escape the pony's lips.

"Well, this whole place is known as the Kingdom of Equestria, an' down the road a ways is Ponyville."

“Equestria? Well I guess I'm not Earth.”

“Earth?”

“Yeah, my home. We received some sort of signal from here and we were sent here through a portal to explore this place yesterday.”

“We? So there's more of yer kind here?”

“Three of my friends and myself. They... didn't make it. I rather not talk about it.” Applejack saw the grief-stricken look in face.

“Ah'm so sorry.” The mare couldn’t comprehend how much pain he must feel. To lose three friends, it was unimaginable.

“Don't be, it was not your fault.”

“So how did ya end up in my barn?” Applejack tried to change the subject.

“We crashed on the other side of the woods over there. I walked through the night and ended up here. But along the way I had to fight off a pack wolves made of wood. Are those common?”

“Ya fought off a pack of Timber Wolves all by yourself!?” Timber Wolves are know for their lethal efficiency.

“At a price. One of the got me in the leg when I wasn't looking. Which reminds me...” Dima looked down and noticed that he was still bleeding a little.

“You wouldn't happen it have a bathroom of some sort. I need to take care of this bite.”

“Yeah. Sure thing sugar cube, up the stairs and to the left”

Dima stood up, lifting his injured leg a little of the ground.

“Would ya like some help?” Applejack offered.

“No, I'm fine”

He pulled a first aid kit from his rucksack and limped his way up the stairs. He entered the first room he on the left. It was a small bathroom, it looked rather human, a shower, a sink and mirror. Except for the toilet, which seemed to be meant for their species. He dropped his black battle dress uniform pants and took a look at his wounds. Several puncture wounds from the bite, nothing he can't fix. He cleaned off the blood and put an anti-biotic cream in the wounds. He then wrapped a gauze bandage around it. He put his pants back on and went down stairs. Applejack was still sipping on her own cup of cider. Dima wondered how she was holding it without hands, but decided that even if she told him, he still wouldn't comprehend the logic.

“You alright?” She asked.

“Yeah, I stopped the bleeding.”

“So how did ya scare 'em away? Normally they would have killed a pony.”

“I killed most of them first.”

“How?” She inquired.

“Mostly with this.” Dima pulled out his pistol.

"Wow. Uhh, what is it?" Applejack tilted her head slightly in confusion. Examining the piece of equipment.

"A pistol."

“A what?”

“Basically it shoot pieces of metal out of it at a high velocity. In most cases it causes serious injury, or instant death in the hands of a professional.”

“Sounds awful.”

“Tell me about it, I’ve been hit a few times. Not fun.”

“Hay! Wait a minute! You were pointing that thing at me!”

“Sorry, my last encounter with the life here almost ate me,” Dima looked away in embarrasment. He just stared at the floor and twiddled his fingers. Applejack decided to let the matter go, she probably would have done the same if she was in his place.

“So... how do you live alone in these conditions? It's a blizzard out there” Dima tried to change the subject.

“Oh I ain't alone, mah brother, sister, and grandmother are outta town. And the storm, it'll be gone by tomorrow.”

“How can you be so sure? It looks pretty bad.”

“Well, It was scheduled to end.”

“Scheduled? How can you schedule the weather?”

“The Pegasus ponies control it. Duh.”

“Control weather? That's insane.”

“They don't control it where your from?”

“No...it just...happens.”

Dima stared out the window, the snow was dying down. Now was a good time to make shelter for the night. He began to gather his things.

“I better get going before it gets dark. Thanks for everything.”

“Where ya off to?”

“Got to make shelter before night fall.”

“It's awful cold out there. Ya sure?”

“I'll be fine. Thank you for the hospitality.”

Dima opened the door and began to walk out. But he stopped in his tracks. He turned his head to the air.

“Something wrong?” Applejack inquired.

Dima shushed her. Placing his index finger over her lips. She was offended at first until she too heard something. Howling, and it was close. Dima looked down and saw a small drops of blood forming a trail on the floor and the snow. Damn, they tracked him.

“Applejack, get inside.”

“What about you?”

“I got unfinished business.” Dima shouldered his AK-12.

He took it of safety and set it to semi-automatic. Bullets are finite here, got to make them count. He brought his face up to the iron sights, slowly panning around as he walked away from the house. The snow fall his killed visibility, he could barley see the house that was roughly twenty meters away. Not good. Dima saw a faint green glow in front of him, he fired a shot between the two green orbs and the glow ceased. A loud howl then rang out, Timber Wolves came from every direction and encircled him. One of them pounced. Dima side stepped out of the wolf's path and shot the wolf before it hit the ground. Another came from behind and jumped on his back. Dima reached behind him, grabbing the timber wolf by its neck and threw it to the ground and stompped on it's head. Dima made short work of another two approaching wolves with his rifle. The wolves began retreat, Dima chuckled at their fear. He feeling of certain victory soon cut short as a large alpha Timber Wolf appeared through the snow. The thing was as big as a bear! It was made of thick branches and vines. It growled in a low feral tone towards Dima and snapped its jaws.

“Nu, davai! Davai!” (Well? Come on. Come on!) Dima took a stance while he lined up his sights.

Dima steadied himself as the alpha wolf charged the soldier. As the alpha wolf pounced Dima threw himself backwards, letting it pass over him. He spun around and took aim, he fired eight shots in rapid succession. The alpha wolf didn't seem effected. It charged again, Dima lined up the perfect head shot. He held his breath and pulled the trigger *Click*. The one sound no soldier wants to hear in a fight. In one great swipe of it's claws, the alpha wolf struck Dima across the chest sending him flying far back. Murphy's law had seemed to strike once again. He regretted leaving his body armor in his rucksack. The wooden claws went through him like a knife through butter. The wolf pounced on him while he was on his back. Dima struggled to hold the alpha wolf at bay while it tried to rip out his throat. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt as blood poured out of his chest. The wolf barked madly in Dima's face, with breath that smelled like pine trees, and its saliva was some type of sap. Dima gave hard punches to it's face, leaving a dent in some of the wood. But the wolf still kept on him, viciously trying to bite him. The wolf used it's fore paws to pin down Dima's arms, it now had a clean shot. The wolf dove its head down to finish of the soldier. When suddenly the wolf was knocked over. Applejack bucked the wolf as hard as she could.

“Get off my friend!”

When the wolf got back on its feet Applejack was terrified of its size. The wolf now saw an easy target an ran towards her. By the time she turned around to run, it was too late. The Timber Wolf tackled her to the ground, she was overwhelmed by its strength. The wolf's teeth had just touched her neck when she heard yelling and a loud thud. Dima tackled it to the ground.

He was enraged, after all the kindness she had shown him, there was no way he will let her get hurt while he is still breathing. Dima pulled out his saperka shovel while the wolf rolled on to its feet. They slowly walked in a circle around each other. Dima's combat shirt had three large tears across the chest, revealing deep gashes that were bleeding profusely. The wolf bared its teeth and growled, Dima did the same. The wolf lunged at him, Dima side stepped and with a hard downward strike, he imbedded his saperka into the wolfs head. The wolf howled in pain. Dima then gave a hard round-house kick its face, knocking the wolf to the ground with a loud thud. Dima reclaimed his saperka and hacked at the wolfs neck. It twitched and let out blood curtailing cries of pain. The wolfs neon green blood splattered every where. He continued chopping until he was half way through. With a fit of adrenaline fueled rage he shoved his hands into the wolf's neck. He pulled harder and harder with the loud sound of wood cracking and the squelching of blood squirting. With one final heave Dima ripped the alpha Timber Wolf's head off its body.

“YA SPETSNAZ!” (I am Spetsnaz!) Dima took the head in his right hand and slowly walked towards the other timber wolves.

They trembled, whimpered, and cowered in fear, to scared to move an inch. Dima had blood splattered all over him, a combination of the alpha's and his own. Dima tossed the head in front of them.

“Who's next!”

They ran in terror to their sanctuary of the Everfree, not one of them looked back. Realizing that what ever it was they were attacking, it wasn't going down with out a fight. Dima then felt a horrible pain surge through his body. The adrenaline rush was wearing off. He buckled his knees and collapsed to the ground. Applejack ran to his side. She grimaced and the sight of him, the large slashes through Dima's chest was pouring blood.

“Dima?” She shook his body but got no response,

“Dima...wake up” She began to sob,

“Please...” She felt him breath slightly, he was alive. Dima eyes shot open and focused on her.

“Did...did he hurt you” The last thing he wanted was her to be hurt because of him,

“Of course not, you saved mah life” She said, wiping away a few tears.

“You saved me first” He smiled with his teeth stained red of blood.

“Then we are even” Applejack smiled

He looked down and saw that his wounds were slowly repairing itself in front of him, leaving three large scars running down his chest. The scars then faded away, leaving no trace of he previous damage.

“How is this possible?” He said, felling his chest to make sure it wasn't a hallucination.

“Timber Wolves are plants. The sap that flows inside is kinda like a chemical them makes them grow real big and strong. Ah guess it works with skin too.”

Applejack help Dima stand as she lead him to the front door of her house. Dima then turned around and walked back into the snow.

“Where ya going?” She asked.

“I forgot something.” He shouted.

Dima disappeared for a short while then returned with his rifle and the head of the alpha wolf.

“Why did ya bring that?” Applejack said pointing to the head,

“I worked hard for this, I’m keeping it.”

They then continued into the warmth of the house. Dima laid his belongings next to the door and removed his torn shirt. Applejack thought about averting her eyes while he changed shirts, but couldn't help but take a peak, or two. His upper body was well toned and very muscular. There were a few small scars and burns on different places of his body. Applejack snapped out of daze Dima placed on a fresh shirt from his bag. He begun to pack his belongings again.

“Ya still wanna leave? You could stay here if you want,” Apple Jack offered,

Dima looked outside, it was too late to build shelter for the night and the fight had really drained him. It would be better to move out in the morning.

“I guess I’ll take you up on that offer after all.”

Dima lead himself to the living room and plopped on the couch, completely drained of energy. He removed his boots and laid on his back. He slowly drifted to sleep, trying to rest from his stressful time here. That couch was the best thing he had slept on in years. Applejack walked over to Dima, handing him a blanket. He graciously took it and wrappe himself into it.

“Sleep tight,” Applejack whispered. then she proceeded upstairs to her room.

Applejack laid in her bed, trying to comprehend today's events. She didn't understand why she cared so much for somepony she had just met, well...not really a pony but you get the picture. Perhaps it's just the mystery of the creature that captivated her, and...maybe something else. But she couldn't tell what that "something else" was at the moment. But something was special about him, something she kind of liked. Slowly the night over took her. All cozy in her warm bed, she fell fast asleep.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it.

Notice: This chapter has been remastered and may be slightly different to those who have read the orignal version of this chapter.