Days Later
Nina: Ms. Vila, they've been doing strange things.
Pyotr: Father took out a lot of old books, and he spends most of his time looking over his blueprints now. He said, "They will be the key to saving the town."
Pyotr: Shame I can't read those books or help with anything.
Nina: My dad was acting strange, too. He started fiddling with the bottles from under his bed again.
Nina: But Mom didn't scold him this time. She even took out some of her treasures from the cabinet.
Nina: Reindeer horn, Noisy Birch sap, Golden-Teeth Seal whiskers.
Nina: Dad said his potions would keep everyone energetic for a whole day.
Pyotr: Even Mr. Miser took out his wand from the safe box!
The children cluster around Vila, pleading for answers.
Vila: Heh heh.
Vila is about to speak when hurried laboring footsteps interrupt her.
Patrik: Move, kids.
Patrik: Good luck, Comrade Vila.
Regrettably, his march cannot proceed.
As he's now become the children's newest focus.
Nina: Mr. Patrik.
Nina: Are you doing strange things, too?
The book bag on his shoulder cannot elude the children's scrutiny.
It is not a cookbook he carries, but something far weightier.
Nina: How to Use and Maintain Model Э-050, Operation Manual of Model СК-1562 ...
Nina: These dusty books ... They look older than me!
Patrik: Hahaha, these "old friends" are our textbooks.
Pasono: Do adults take exams, too?
Patrik: We're doing something far more important than exams, kids.
Patrik: We haven't used these old fellas since Zeno brought the new ones. Most of our comrades don't know how to operate them.
Patrik: Now is the time to put them back into use. Comrade Knut has been teaching us how to use these "outdated" technologies.
Vila: That's right. All the adults have been divided into many groups.
Vila: Knut is leader of the engineering group, and Pasono's uncle is in the investigation group, while Nina's father has joined the potion group.
Vila: All of them take part in the critter combat training at dusk every day, and we share our combat experience with each other.
Vila: And everyone is working hard to explore the mine.
The children burst into questions, seeking the current whereabouts and activity of every single adult they can think of.
Patrik: Haha! We will be able to live on our own without Zeno!
Pyotr: Ms. Vila, I want the town to be proud of me, too!
Nina: Is there anything that we can do?
Pasono: I have lots of metal toy trains. Can we make components out of them?
Pasono: They can spin and whistle like a mine cart!
Vila: That's a great idea. I'm sure it will inspire everyone.
Pyotr: No! Let them use mine first!
Hands shoot up among the children, each a ready volunteer.
Patrik: Calm down, children. I know you want to do your bit.
Patrik: But our future needs you.
Patrik: Now, your job is to study hard, so Rayashki can rely on you in the future.
Patrik: Understand?
Nina: Oh. What about Avgust? We can't find him.
Nina: He'll be so sad if he doesn't get to have a job too.
Vila: chuckles
Vila: Don't worry, Nina. He's helping the town in his own way.
Kikituk: roars
Avgust: Ears!
A gunshot sounds, and a Kikituk swiftly scurries away.
Kikituk: roars
Avgust: Whiskers!
The boy is a conductor of a symphony of arms.
Gunfire and the noise of battle follow in the wake of the little sunflower's hands.
Resident I: It's only been a few months. Can't believe the monsters have already occupied the whole place.
Resident II: Well, not a problem as long as we got our mischievous little comrade. He always knows exactly where they will come out.
Resident I: Things wouldn't have gone nearly as smoothly without him.
Resident II: I would never have believed he could do this if Comrade Windsong hadn't endorsed him.
Resident I: "Never underestimate any of our comrades, big or small." Do I need to repeat that again?
Of course, Avgust is securely guarded, despite his dangerous mission.
Windsong: Well done, Avgust. You protected everyone.
Avgust: Protected?
Avgust: But I was just teaching our monster friends how to dance right. They are slow learners.
Windsong: Yes, that's what we want you to do.
She struggles to match her words to her little friend's own imaginative interpretations.
Windsong: A performance with the Kikituks.
Windsong: Your job is to tell which critter, emm, I mean, which friend, is dancing wrong.
Windsong: That's your talent, isn't it? Just like you showed us before!
Avgust: Oh!
Avgust: But, what if they dance right?
Windsong: Mmm.
Avgust: Then, they deserve some Alenka chocolate, don't they?
Indeed, for all those scattered, many more come slinking in behind them.
They shadow every move, intent on repelling their intruders.
Avgust: Comrade Sergiyan, our new friend is right beside your boots. I think he is hoping to kiss them. Will you dance with him?
The Other Resident: What?
Windsong: Watch out!
Kikituk: roars
COMBAT
*zap*
The Other Resident: Ah!
Evgeni: Back off!
Evgeni surges forward, white light piercing the last Kikituk's nostrils.
Kikituk: ...!
Evgeni pushes the carcass aside, allowing blood to drip onto the snow.
He fixes intently on Windsong.
Evgeni: There are many more critters than we can deal with here.
Evgeni: Many of us are injured. We must retreat.
Faint moans rise from a stretcher, bandages and bloodstains accumulating in a small mound on the snow.
Knut: We made the decision to come here together, Comrade Evgeni.
Knut: We are so close to the depths. We must not give up now!
The Other Resident: Hiss, ah! I know everyone's wounded, but look how far we've gone. It's been worth it, don't you think?
Windsong: This is all my fault. I'm sorry.
Knut: Don't be, Comrade Windsong. You've given us a workable plan and helped us recognize our little comrade's potential, no?
He ruffles Avgust's head.
Evgeni: He's only a child.
Knut: He's one of us, Comrade Evgeni. I will keep him safe.
Knut: We aren't just digging a mine now.
Knut: If we manage to find this resource, no one will have to leave, and we can continue to live together, right?
Evgeni: Hmph!
Scattered applause burst up like firecrackers, until it becomes a thundering display.
Rifles, refurbished and polished, rise in harmony with pickaxes and tools.
Knut: These wounds are nothing compared to the glory of our future.
Evgeni: Again, I think this is a foolish idea.
He says nothing else, then turns to leave without looking back.
Windsong: ...!