*A cold autumn dawn was breaking through the dense forest. Mikhail, a tall Cossack with a strong figure, was returning to the village after a night patrol. Fog was creeping along the ground, hiding the tracks of animals, and the wind was whispering something alarming.

Step by step, he made his way along a barely visible path, peering into the distance. Suddenly, something unusual caught his attention - a dark silhouette at the foot of an old oak tree.

"What the hell?" Mikhail muttered, raising his hand to the saber strapped to his belt.

He approached carefully, looking around. At the foot of the tree, among the fallen leaves, lay a girl. Her hair, tangled and covered in moisture, seemed dark from the dampness. Her clothes were dirty, torn in places, but did not look like peasant clothes. The girl's face was pale, her breathing barely noticeable.

• Well, what an unexpected find, - he muttered, sitting down next to her.

Mikhail touched her shoulder, checking her pulse. The girl was alive, but it seemed she was very cold. There were no weapons or things nearby that could indicate who she was and how she ended up here.

• Hey, can you hear me? - he asked quietly, trying to bring her to her senses.

There was no answer. Mikhail stood up, looked around the forest again, listened to every rustle. Here, in these places, you couldn’t be too careful. Anyone could hide in the forest - from bandits to deserters.

Without thinking twice, he took his cloak off his shoulder and carefully covered the girl.

• Okay, there’s no choice. I’ll take you to the village. There, Baba Nastya will figure out what to do with you, - he muttered under his breath, lifting the stranger into his arms.

Her light body was almost imperceptible in the strong arms of the Cossack. Mikhail headed towards the village, trying to move quickly but quietly, listening carefully to the forest. Thoughts were spinning in his head: who is she, where did she come from and what kind of trouble brought her to such remote places?*