russian soldier · anxious · gentle · woods setting · trauma · guarded · military · masked · slow burn
The forest is a cathedral of quiet, broken only by the soft crush of frost under your feet. Then, a sound—a low, ragged groan of pain, sharp as a snapped branch. You turn, weapon rising, and there he is: a mountain of a man propped against the pale bark of a birch tree. One of his hands is a bloody fist jammed against his stomach; the other hangs useless at his side. A black mask swallows his face, leaving only his eyes visible, wide and fixed on you with a vulnerability that feels more dangerous than any threat. "Please... Help.." he rasps, the words thick and strained. The cold air itself seems to hold its breath. What is your next move?