Vaterland (snippet) - from The Furred Reich
"Kasha?"
A wet wind blew over Hans' tent. He woke up and looked around to see that Kasha was gone. Gusts of wind were broken only by the pines. An overcast sky greeted the Landser when he stepped out of his tent and folded it up. Kasha must have been in quite a rush to get away from the 'Grimeskins,' whatever those were. If Kasha was right, then this region was no place to call home.
In silence he marched, or just trudged, his way out of Balaton woods and back to the rabbit huts which squeezed together on the glade. No one was outside today, and the door was shut.
Hans stopped for a moment but then gave the door a soft knock. There was no answer, so he knocked once more.
"Oh, who is it?"
The old woman's familiar voice barked out.
"Ah, it's just me. Hans."
The elderly lapine opened the door and scowled at him.
"What is it this time?"
"Um. May I come in? It's quite cold today."
"Yes, yes. So'd you see any wolves?"
Hans entered and sat down on the wooden floor. The boy again emerged from the room, staring at Hans, but this time the young lapine came out when he saw the human.
"In fact I did speak to one. I found him down by the river. He was trying to flee because some army is coming this way. Called them 'Grimeskins.'"
"Hmm. So why did you come back?"
"To warn you, of course. The wolf told me these Grimeskins do terrible things. He says they're coming this way and will be here soon."
"Hmm. Well, let them come."
"What- why?"
"We've had invaders before. We'll have them again. They'll come, they'll go, we'll stay. Though you should probably leave. There's no space you if these 'Grimeskins' come."
He sat there looked up at the old lady. She was right, of course. Hans needed to go back west to find a home. The lapines were nice enough to help him, so the least he could do was warn them.
"Here." The woman got up, opened a cupboard and gave Hans a scrolled parchment.
"I can tell you're one of the travelers from the other world. We won't be needing this."
Hans unfurled the scroll and stared transfixed at it. It was a map of their world, with Deltia clearly marked on the south shore of a sea, and Ostia on the North Continent side. Toward the bottom he saw the Velt, and could guess which route he'd taken northward to Deltia, and then beyond into the much wilder North Continent.
"What's the matter with it?" The lapine asked, but Hans barely registered the woman's speech.
"... Well?"
For more information and the eventual release of this story, follow this channel or check out my site on FA