Siberia, years ago
"Okay, Camus! I think we're done for today, right? The blizzard is getting stronger."
The little turquoise-haired boy stopped, trying to figure out what his master just said but quickly assented.
You should take your Russian lessons right now, you have to practise more, right? See you at home in fifteen minutes.
Camus sighed and turned to look for his backpack, missing somewhere covered by the heavy snow." My Russian is still pretty bad"
Suddenly he laid his eyes on the ground, not so far away from where he was standing.
A dog, maybe?
Curious, he approximated.
A fille?!
He rushed to check the black-haired girl, about the same height as he, who fainted on the snow.
"At least she is breathing"
With some struggle, he managed to carry her to his house.
"Hang in there…
"Camus! You took too long, I was worried, what ha- Oh my god – "
His master quickly picked the girl from his shoulders and laid her on the sofa, checking if she was alive
"I found her in the snow. Will she be okay?" The boy asked, scared.
"I don't know. She is clearly with hypothermia…but we'll help her. May Athena help this poor soul. "
Two days have passed since and the girl was still alive yet unconscious.
Camus was taking his lessons alone while keeping an eye on the girl; his master has been to the town to buy groceries
The girl started to cough and move a little under the heavy blankets, and slowly opened her eyes. Camus got alarmed.
"Est ce que ça va?Comme vous l'appelez?"
The girl frowned, not understanding a single word at all
"Pardon. English?"- he asked, still with a heavy accent
She nodded "A bit"
"Are you okay? What's your name?"
"Aurora." –she said with some difficulty.-" Who are you?"
"I'm Camus, I found you in the middle of the blizzard. My master and I were worried about you. You're at our house in Kohoutek, Siberia.
The door opened and his master arrived, back with some groceries.
"Oh, she's awake!" the man rushed towards them.
"Por favor, no me hagas volver!"- the girl suddenly started to cry
"Shh, calm down! Here, have some hot chocolate." he said, offering a mug "You're safe, I promise. So, can you tell us your name and how did you end up in the middle of that blizzard outside?
She took a sip and wiped her tears.
Camus observed all in silence, slightly startled, while his master tried to manage the situation with patience
The girl seemed ready to talk
"I'm Aurora. My parents were backpackers, from Spain. We were going on an adventure together; daddy wanted to show me the Aurora Borealis from Siberia. They said it was the most beautiful thing they ever saw and that's why they named me- she smiled, melancholically, and the tears started to come down again- But they were attacked by wolves and…"- she took a sip of the hot chocolate and took a deep breath before starting to talk again
"Since then I'm living in a shelter, but I don't wanna live there! People don't like me and I don't understand anyone. I-She started to cry again.
"I'm truly sorry"- the man hugged the little girl- "But I don't know what to do. Camus is my apprentice, he's learning to fight, I'm not sure if this is a good place for you. Maybe I can take you to Moscow and they'll send you to Spain, do you have any family left there?
She shook her head.
"Please, master, let her stay.- Camus finally interrupted the silence. – I'm far from my home as well, I know what she feels like. And she is strong, she'll survive here. She already did, didn't she? "
"I can learn how to fight too! And I can help if you need me, I promise, I won't be a burden!
"Okay, alright! Look"- the master took a deep sigh, defeated- "You'll two will have to work very hard together, okay? I know you are kids but it doesn't matter here if you want to survive. I must treat you like warriors."
The children assented.
"Fine…get some rest so we can start your training after you're completely recovered. Camus will help you"