Russian Doll

One: Blitz-Attack

Who knew that my whole life would change by going out to walk the bloody dog?

Not me, I can tell you that much.

For me it was just like any other night, one in which I made sure to leave as the sun was setting and the crisp autumn air caused me to shiver and huddle closer into my jacket. Pulling up the collar as to not let the cold air get to me, my eyes were darting around, flitting across the landscape, never settling on anything for longer than a fraction of a second.

It was automatic, almost instinctual.

That's what the Military does to you, after all. Trains you to see everything, analyze all the sensory input that assaults your senses 24/7, leaving no room for error. Always watching, always looking over your shoulder.

The ground creaked under my sneakers as I walked, the dead leaves of the trees now laying on the ground that surrounded me, crunching under my feet as I walked briskly across the sodden ground, the mud clinging to the bottom of my shoes, making them heavier. I cursed under my breath as I almost lost my footing, but I caught myself and gracefully avoided face-planting myself on the hard forest floor. Breathing in deeply I focused on my footsteps, my footfall becoming lighter, until I was walking silently. No point in making a lot of noise and alert everyone to my presence.

Not that there was anyone else.

Today, just like all the other days, I was alone...

...although...alone?

Silence settled upon me as I looked around, picking up the slightest movement from the corner of my eyes. On my left side a dark shape darted in between the trees, and I smiled as I recognized Zakhar, my dog. He disappeared just as silently as he'd come, making his way through the trees with ease, soundlessly treading the cold hard ground.

It was peacefully quiet, the silence settling over me and bringing me a calm that eased my worries and gave me a temporary peace of mind. But even thought there were no noises of traffic, or civilization in general, it wasn't really quiet. Not truly. Nature had a way of making relative calm appear bustling with activity, of bringing tumultuous noise to what otherwise appeared deserted and lonely. Even now, with the wind rustling through the leaves, I could hear the sound of ruffled feathers, of silent teeny tiny paws and feet treading across the forest ground, of water lapping at the edge of the shore somewhere ahead of me. The night was coming alive around me, and nothing brought me more peace of mind that knowing that amidst all of this, I was alone. Not truly and utterly alone, but about as alone with my thoughts as I was going to get this night.

Somewhere ahead of me another shape burst out of the treeline, flitting across the darkening landscape and disappearing across a low hillside, barely making a sound. I smiled. Arkady. Again my companions proved to be silent minions of the night, their path undisturbed and their passage silent.

Evening walks like this served to calm the chaotic jumble that was my mind at the end of each day laboring at the University research facilities. Submerging myself in my work always brought me a semblance of comfort, but in the end I needed some time to myself, some time to process the events of the day.

And this was the only way I could get it.

Used to the isolation, the harsh weather, it brought me solace to walk through these deserted hills alone at night. The Campsies near Glasgow proved to be a sight to behold, and ever since I'd moved here I'd spent almost every evening going out for nocturnal walks through the often barren and desolate landscapes. But I found them to be teeming with wildlife, full with bustling biodiversity that just proved how resourceful Mother Nature really was.