Woman: Anton, Yulia! How many times do I have to tell you? Why won't you ever listen to me?
Woman: It's such a long journey here. What if something had happened to you during that storm?
In response to the woman's scolding, the boy points toward the door.
Anton: We didn't come here on our own.
Yulia: Elisha came with us!
Elisha: WOOF!
Woman: What am I to do with all of you!
Caught between laughter and tears, the woman rubs her forehead in exasperation, while two sets of curious, wide eyes direct their attention to Kiperina.
Anton: Mamma, is she Daksha?
Yulia: Is this our sister? Are you Daksha?
The woman knocks gently on their little heads.
Woman: You're avoiding my questions. And why do you think everyone we meet must be Daksha?
Woman: Daksha still has a few years more before she would grow as tall as this sister.
Observing this interaction between the mother and her children, Kiperina smiles, but soon a question arises in her thoughts.
Kiperina: And these kids, they are ...
Woman: This is my son, Anton, and beside him is his sister, Yulia.
Woman: Don't let their innocent looks fool you; they're both little rascals. They inherited Arseny's spirit, no doubt.
Anton: Hello, miss.
Yulia: Hi!
Kiperina: I see. It's nice to meet you both. But ...
Kiperina thinks carefully about how to phrase her next words without causing offense, but the little salamander in her pocket pays no mind to matters of social etiquette.
Han Zhang: Hold on. I thought you said your husband croaked!?
Han Zhang: But you've got two little ones here after all that? I mean, uh, how did that happen?
Kiperina: Mr. Han Zhang! That's such a rude question.
She looks at the woman anxiously, seeing her eyes widen in surprise before she bursts into laughter.
Woman: Oh, my goodness! It's my fault. You misunderstood.
Woman: My husband was badly hurt in the attack. He still finds it hard to leave the house, but my Arseny is alive and well.
Woman: I don't remember much of that night, just that I was rushing through the dorm looking for them, until I spotted Arseny lying in the snow.
Woman: They say I was the one who stopped his bleeding, and I shouted so loudly, louder than they'd ever heard, for everyone to get him to the hospital.
Woman: Looking back, I must say, I'm quite impressed with myself.
Han Zhang: Oh, so that's the deal! Yeah, I got to admit I completely misunderstood.
Han Zhang shakes its head, as if relieved. After processing the details, Kiperina allows herself to smile again.
Kiperina: That's wonderful. So Arseny is alive! That's such very good news.
Kiperina: Still alive, still able to see and speak to each other. There's nothing better.
She shifts her gaze to the two little ones watching Han Zhang with intense curiosity.
Kiperina: Anton, Yulia, such good names.
Kiperina: It seems I was just worrying for nothing. I thought ...
She still believes that the woman before her is trapped in the memories of the blizzard long ago.
Perhaps she doesn't have the right to say it, but deep down, she understands—
Woman: Life must go on. We must all keep looking forward.
Woman: I've been searching for her ever since, and I still cry for her often.
Woman: But I have a good life with Arseny and our children. We have to let ourselves find happiness again.
She looks over to her two young children, her expression deep in both longing and joy.
Woman: Even after Anton was born, I found myself worrying that maybe Daksha would hold it against me.
Kiperina: No, it's not like that. You're such a good person, and I'm sure your daughter Daksha must also be a wonderful child.
Kiperina: None of this is your fault; Daksha would not want you to be unhappy.
Kiperina: At least, if it were me, I'd hope that those I care about, and those who care about me, would find happiness again.
In that moment, Kiperina feels something stir in her heart.
Woman: Yes. This may just be wishful thinking, but I think ...
Woman: Those who are bound by love share their hearts forever, and those who love us hope for our happiness as well.
Woman: I will always have a place for her in my heart. But there is room enough for others, for Arseny, for Anton, and for Yulia. A heart can never be too full; it expands to fit new love.
Woman: And I know she would love them just as I do.
Yulia: Yup, we all would!
Anton: Of course!
The two children bounce over to her, and the woman pulls them into her arms. Their expressions matching in warmth and tenderness.
Woman: I struggled with it for a long time, but in the end, my children helped me understand.
Woman: It's the love we receive that gives us the strength to overcome our suffering.
Woman: That's how we are able to move forward from tragedy, to find our future without losing the past.
She meets Kiperina's eyes, glistening teardrops illuminated by the sunlight pouring in from the window.
Woman: I don't know what happened to you, but ...
Woman: Perhaps you'd be willing to share it with us?
For a moment, Kiperina feels as though she too is wrapped in their embrace.
But the truth about the "Storm" cannot be disclosed to outsiders, and so the truth has to remain with her.
Kiperina: I am looking for a circus, the Utrennyaya Circus.
Kiperina: However, it seems I've come to the wrong place. They're not here.
Yulia: Utrennyaya!
Anton: We know Utrennyaya!
Kiperina: Hmm?
The two children scramble to pull out a crumpled poster from Anton's pocket.
Anton: Look!
Kiperina: This is ...!
The familiar lettering on the poster leaves Kiperina on the edge of tears.
Kiperina: It's true. But why? It really is Utrennyaya!
Anton: Because you're in the wrong place, lady. Look, it says, "The performance of a lifetime awaits you in Kandalaksha! See you there."
Anton: The show is in Kandalaksha, not here.
Yulia: We want to watch the show as well, but the postman said we won't make it in time.
Yulia: He said it's really, really far away.
Woman: Let me see. Oh, yes, I'm afraid it is, children.
The woman takes the poster into her hands and shakes her head regretfully at the children.
Woman: It says their performance starts at seven, but Kandalaksha is over 200 kilometers away. We'd never make it in time.
Woman: How about this? I'll ask the postman to keep an eye out for news about the circus, so we'll know when their next show is.
Woman: I'll take you next time, okay?
Yulia: Fine.
Anton: And that's a promise now, Mamma!
The two children nod obediently, but she can't help but feel the same disappointment she sees in their eyes.
Kiperina: Wait, maybe ...
She reaches into her pocket.
Kiperina: Maybe I can take you there.
Kiperina: To Utrennyaya.
