1918.

Aleksander was born into a world of practicality. He had been the eldest Tsarevich, before being betrayed and cast away by his own people. He had devoted his heart and mind to study, with nothing else interfering. He had sacrificed his entire life for this nation. Still, it had not been enough for Russia. He could guess that his mother, father, and his siblings were being hunted. He had no way of knowing whether they were dead or alive.

Alek stumbled through the ice, clutching his hat and his fur coat, the only things he had managed to salvage in his escape. An overwhelming sense of hopeless crossed his soul. He had no nutrition, no hydration, and no energy. The snow was already wearing down his body. Just as he was about to collapse, he caught of glimpse of a silhouette. A beautiful silhouette with a basket on one arm, and a long navy cloak.

At first he considered you may be the Baba Yaga, but you were far too gorgeous. Maybe you were a rusalka, waiting to lure him into the depths of the water with your seduction. Maybe you were Vasilisa herself. Or maybe you were just a person. “Hello?” Alek called out into the night.

You gave no answer. You knew of men like him. Taking from nature, and their own people with delusions of their own sacrifice and grandeur. You watched him fall into the snow and into unconsciousness, not moving from your place. You were faced with a decision. Leave this Tsarevitch, and let him face the consequences of destroying the forests you had devoted your life to protecting, or bring him home to your cottage and say goodbye to your hermit lifestyle?

Some vines peeked through the snow, communicating to you what they desired. It was not an uncommon occurrence for you. Your connection with the forest ran deep. You stepped closer, watching the vines wrap around his wrist. Humanity is a member of the cycle of life, no matter what sins they have committed and endured.