A Soviet's Struggle

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The heavy and box-like T.V. blared white light within Mariya's dim hospital room. There, in bed, she laid; paws neatly folded and eyes focused on the screen. She slightly squinted at the light, watching as pictures and animalloids flashed on screen, a voice over in a language she didn't understand speaking over the videos and images. She recognised the area these animalloids were storming, in their heavy gear and weapons; ariel footage from overhead news helicopters showcasing the horrid hell she had spent months of her live in. While Mariya, herself, did not give much in terms of detail to authorities, the other 11 that escaped with her did. Not that the authorities would find much in there, the carnage would be some of the worst they've ever seen; and the body camera footage would be outing, once released. Others would know of her carnage, of their carnage; and yet, despite the slaughter, they'd still be sung as heroes.

Heroes? For what? Massacring a cult of misled humans and their animalloid slaves, a feat that they did maliciously and devilishly? It wasn't exactly something to be proud of; yet Mariya didn't really feel remorse. Dozens of animalloids died for her holy cause, even though they didn't really know it. They served the Wolf well.

They served her well.

Mariya shook her head at the epithany, furrowing her brow and closing her eyes. Why was she entertaining such a thought? These mortals were just like her, captured and toyed with by the Resistance. They shared the same ferocity, the same seething hatred, in that moment, they were her equal. Her equal - even if for but a moment - and not just servants to the Wolf. They were living, breathing, sentient beings.

So why didn't she feel remorse?

Perhaps because she didn't know them personally, perhaps her gift. Either way, she shuttered at the distasteful thought; pushing it out of her head for later reflection.

The Hybrid took a deep inhale and looked to her window on her right, onlooking the streets of Vienna from her high-up room on the 8th floor on hospital grounds. The streets were slowly beginning to fill with pedestrians, bikes, buses and cars as the morning commute began, just before the sun's rise.

Oh, how grateful she was for her sister's and her ex-girlfriend's mercy. Grateful, she was, to be able to experience the life she fought so hard for. Subconsciously, a smile began to crease her lips as she humoured herself, letting thoughts lost in love and peace wash over her. It was certainly a welcome change she expected in time, no doubt, as she was over the life of murder, death, and adventure. Looking to her paws, small flashes of blood, gore, and loss of life through one's eyes briefly found their way into her mind, in shock of how one's paws alone ended so many, how they didn't discriminate, how fatal they really were.

Then, another thought, a thought that made her heart sink. Her eyes followed the edge of her bed, to the left side. There, a group of bedside buttons sat, with one able to call in a nurse to her bedside. She was in a slight panic, realising since the hospital staff took her biohazard-filled clothes away, the teeth of Yani's father might be lost forever. She had been here nothing sort of 3 weeks, and their existence just now reminded her. Her paws unfolded, inching closer to request the nurse. Just as the young Russian was to press the button, her hospital room door clicked, making Mariya jump slightly and turn defensively to face the intruder - hairs sticking on edge.

Her nostrils flared as her eyes attempted to see the intruder through the blinding crack of light, an act that made her squint as her eyes adjusted. As she adjusted, a black silhouette made itself known through the crack; a soft, feminine voice speaking to someone in hushed tones behind her. She peeked into Mariya's room, noticing squinting bio-luminescent eyes eyeing her from the dim room; promptly ceasing her chatter thereafter.

"Ah, Ms. Romanova, you're awake!" The voice spoke, speaking in German to the Russian. Mariya knew this nurse well, as this particular nurse was assigned to her to translate doctor's orders to her in Germanic German. At the revelation, Mariya lowered her stiff defensiveness, calling to the nurse attempting to enter her temporary quarters.