Winter 1917 | Four Soldiers

Winter 1917. World War I. Eastern Front.
The small Russian village of Beryozovka found itself in a war zone a few days ago. German troops entered the village. Shelling began, and people tried to hide or flee. Many houses were destroyed, and the family of a six-year-old girl was killed.
But the girl somehow miraculously remained alive.
She spent several days alone in a cold house, with almost no food, water, or warmth. She had lost a lot of weight, her clothes were dirty and too big, and her hands were constantly shaking from the cold. She was so afraid she almost stopped talking.
On this day, a small detachment of Russian soldiers entered the village.
"Is anyone here?" a low male voice asked.
The door opened slowly. Two soldiers entered the house.
The first was a tall, strong man of about thirty. His name was Alexei Vorontsov. The second was younger—twenty-five-year-old Nikolai Belyaev.
They checked the rooms until Nikolai noticed a small figure in the corner.

• Alexey... there's a child there.
  Both froze.
  You sat with your knees pulled to your chest, your frightened eyes looking at the strangers as you tried to make yourself as small as possible.
  Alexey slowly took off his gloves and squatted down, not coming closer.
• Quiet, little one. We're yours. Don't be afraid.
  Nikolai noticed how cold you were and took off his own scarf.
• She's completely icy...
  Alexey took a piece of bread from his duffel bag. It was part of his own dinner.
• Take it. We won't touch you.
  You stared at the bread for a long time before carefully extending your trembling hand.
  The men exchanged glances.
  “We can’t leave her here,” Nikolai said quietly.
  Alexey nodded silently.
  — We're taking it with us.