The warm current of the ocean is a stranger to this place.
The long-silent dock seems to be pining for use, for visitors, to bustle once more with industry.
A lone figure stands there, resolute, unblinking.
Evgeni: ...
Vila stretches out as she stands beside him. The scales on her wrists and ankles catch the light, shimmering against a white reflection in the water.
Vila: Do you really think it's a good idea to turn to Zeno for help?
Evgeni: We have drawn almost every man and woman from the mining facilities to get rid of the critters nesting around the port.
Evgeni: Most of the defense team were injured. Some lightly, but others got much worse. It will be weeks before they can return to duty.
Evgeni: If an attack like the one at the rehearsal happens again, I'm not sure we will be able to protect ourselves.
His stance doesn't waver, but his face turns stiffly toward the abandoned mine far in the distance.
Kittiwakes screech as they swoop down over the vast white tundra.
Vila: ...
Evgeni: I know most of our people are frustrated with Zeno's arrival. But I expected better from you, Vila.
Evgeni: People trust you, and they will follow you, but that doesn't make you right. Maybe you're still too young to see the dangers.
Vila: I might be wrong, but history is a long lesson in learning what is right through being unafraid to be wrong.
Evgeni: Sadly, we don't have time for trial and error.
Vila: And this is your excuse for making decisions for us against our will?
Evgeni: I will hold myself responsible for my decisions. In that, you have my word.
Their conversation reaches deadlock once again.
Fortunately, elsewhere, there are others with fewer and simpler burdens.
Avgust: Today is the day of our welcome ceremony. Vila said, when the bell rings, the important people from the tortoise academy will arrive.
Avgust: Everyone looks excited.
Avgust: Nina has put on her best dress. I know she will be great on stage.
Avgust: Pasono will duel with Pyotr. It's his duty to protect the princess.
Avgust: As for me, I got a new job from Mr. Evgeni.
Avgust: "Salute, shake hands, and give them the warmest welcome."
The child nods solemnly, aware of the weighty mission he must undertake.
The little standard-bearer stands ready to receive Rayashki's latest guests.
Qiqirn: Boawh ... arrh!
Avgust: What this? There are bubbles in the water!
The critter pops its head out of the water, two eyes staring out at the boy with bewilderment.
Avgust: We meet again, Qiqirn! Are you planting sunflowers under the water?
Qiqirn: blows bubbles
Avgust: Have you brought your friends?
Bubbles swell on the open surface of the water as more Qiqirns break up through the slurry of ice.
Though their peculiar appearances differ from one to the next, they all possess large, lamp-like eyes that look out and around with curiosity.
Avgust: One, two ... Oh, your friends also have six legs!
Avgust: Look, they are wearing needlegrass and flat files on their legs.
Avgust: Are you also here for the ceremony?
The child takes pride in his imagined duties.
Avgust: Welcome, Qiqirn and friends!
Avgust: Welcome to the prettiest town in all of the Arctic—Rayashki!
Avgust: Please enjoy our song—
His cheeks flush as spirited childish voices reverberate in unison out into the sea ahead.
Seagulls take flight as a distant stern statue springs to life and rushes over.
Evgeni: Comrade Avgust, what are you doing?!
Avgust: Oh? I'm welcoming the Qiqirn.
The child happily salutes the Qiqirns as they step onto the dock.
Evgeni: Get out of there. They are dangerous!
Evgeni: Defense team, drive them away!
Vila: Wait! These are Qiqirn. They are not aggressive! They are just curious about us. The kids seem to like them.
The defense team moves swiftly and without hesitation.
Evgeni: Get rid of them.
Guard I: As you command, comrade!
COMBAT
Sprays of bullets and bursts of flame disrupt the water's surface, following the Qiqirns as they dive in, one after another.
Alarms wail in the distance, but the Qiqirns are already long gone.
The children who came to see them are left on the ground, gripping their hats over their ears.
Nina: The Qiqirns are all gone. I think they don't like us anymore.
Kids: ...
Vila: Comrade Evgeni ...
Evgeni: Take the kids back to where they were, Comrade Vila. It was your duty to protect them.
His orders fizzle out as soon as they are said.
Pyotr: Maybe if we make the town a better place, more friends will come back.
Pyotr: Then they will also come back!
Pasono: That makes sense!
The researcher observes all this from a nearby vantage. Her notebook rustles with a sigh.
Windsong: The family of Qiqirn includes dozens of subspecies, but none of them are so greatly adapted to water as this. That is to say ...
Windsong: They might also be affected by the ley energy under Rayashki.
Windsong: Pity that they were driven away. There was much we could have learned from them.
She looks up. A blanket of clouds obscures the sun, with only a few rays of light breaking through.
Windsong: gasps
Windsong: The temperature here is rising much faster than expected, and much earlier in the season.
Windsong: I imagine if you asked the weather bureau, they would say this is just an "odd occurrence of unseasonable weather outside of expected ranges."
*boom*
The booming sound of cannon fire interrupts Windsong's train of thought.
Evgeni: It's time. The Zeno investigators should be here any minute.
Evgeni: I must stress again how important this ceremony could be for our future.
Evgeni: Our town's economy is facing a cliff, and I am sure each one of you has noticed the increased rationing.
Evgeni: If we wish to take care of our people in the future and protect our friends and family from these frequent critter attacks, we need Zeno's support.
Evgeni: So we will work with Zeno. Because we must!
Evgeni: The future of Rayashki is in our hands, so is the future of every comrade here.
Evgeni: And we need the cooperation of every man and woman here.
His stare falls toward the Rusalka's vibrant tail.
After a pause, his target replies.
Vila: Zeno's ships are very fast, so, as soon as they appear on the horizon,
Vila: our ceremony will begin.
Choir Members: Understood.
The choir rises in unison, looking out at the pale blue horizon.
The sea responds placidly.
Salmon leap out from the water. Seagulls circling along the empty coastline.
Yet no sign of the anticipated ship appears.
The quiet expectations of the adults set the children to whisper.
Pasono: Zeno is late.
Pyotr: So late that Ms. Vila would say they were absent!
Nina: Do you think something bad happened to them?
Avgust: What are they doing there?
No answers come, but a new event catches their attention.
Avgust: Oh! Something is falling!
Avgust: Light and soft, like a polar bear's hair!
Dark clouds press down on them, blocking out the final rays of sunlight.
Avgust: Poor bear, losing all his hair.
Snowflakes flutter down across the gray sky.
Converging in the blustering wind, they fall towards the town.
Nina: Mmm?
Pasono: It's snow!
Pyotr: What?! How can there be snow in summer?
Pasono: Mm? Is this related to the strange thing Avgust said earlier?
Nina: If so, I'm happy that these aren't stones or a dark cloud's spit.
The children huddle near Avgust, astonished by the accuracy of his predictions.
Pasono: Avgust, I can't believe it! You were never right before!
Nina: shivers Oh, oh, it's chilly. The snow is biting against my skin.
Pyotr: I'm sorry, Avgust. I shouldn't call you a liar.
He lowers his head hesitantly.
Pyotr: But will Rayashki really get into trouble?
A gentle hand nudges Pyotr, a motion learned from someone older and wiser.
Avgust: Pyotr, we will not be defeated, not by clouds, or bears.
Avgust: Look!
Avgust: Mr. Tortoise is walking very slowly.
Avgust: But no one has left their position.
Avgust: For Rayashki.
Avgust: You little swans must go back to your lake too! Go as fast as you can!
Nina: We will!
Pyotr: Don't forget your own job, Avgust!
The children return to their positions and ready themselves.
Windsong: So, this milky white line is this snowstorm.
Windsong: The average temperature in Rayashki has reached its highest point in the last five years, which, together with the abnormally rich air moisture, has produced an unseasonal and odd kind of snow.
Windsong: The weather forecast was wrong; ley lines were right!
Windsong can't hide her excitement.
She leans up on a wall some distance from the event, her pen flying across page after page of notes.
Until she is compelled to snap back to reality.
Windsong: Mm?
The assembly before her has barely moved.
The snow claims more territory by the minute.
Over sea and land, piling up on the railings, and rising over boots, large and small.
Windsong: ...!
A distant foghorn accompanies the sight of a flag piercing up into the horizon. Zeno arrives at last.
Evgeni: Everyone, listen!
Evgeni: Our ceremony will begin.
Residents: As you command, comrade!
Evgeni: Music, please!
Residents: "Let go of yesterday, let it fade away."
Residents: "Each step paints a brand-new day."
Residents: "Don't look behind, no shadows will be seen in the daylight."
Residents: "Under brighter skies, we leave on our journey."
The steamship pulls into their rudimentary harbor, but no further movement follows.
A porthole opens, but no voice comes out, no sound whatsoever beyond the lapping waves.
A letter flutters out toward the anxious crowd.
???: It's a pleasure to speak to you all, our valued friends in Rayashki.
???: On behalf of Zeno Arms Academy, I am here to announce the details of the "Zeno-Rayashki Cooperation Agreement."
???: As many of you have expected, a squad of armed troops will soon be sent to aid you with the critter problem.
???: However, having given it careful consideration, we have decided that the town of Rayashki is no longer viable for our continued support and must be abandoned. We advise that all residents prepare to be transferred to a new post, immediately.
???: Thank you for your cooperation.
Vila: What?!