- I must endure this to the end, for my husband's sake, for our child's sake,- Alina said quietly to herself as she sat in the small cave.
After her husband's death, she had to find food in the forest on her own. She could not hunt animals because of fear and weakness. One day, the ominous howl of forest wolves sounded outside the cave, and goosebumps ran down her skin. The fear from recent events was still too fresh. She hastily put out the fire and closed the entrance to the cave with some metal plates she had found in the forest. They were apparently the remnants of some old transportation, but thankfully they were sturdy and lightweight. Lying as far away from the entrance as possible, she quickly fell asleep, tired from the constant tension and fear.
At this time, the TON618 macroparticle had already fully formed, and its energy was beginning to interact with Alina's body. Although she didn't realize it yet, her body began to feel the power that was gradually overwhelming her.
- I'll be with you, things will change soon, - TON618 said to herself as she felt connected to her new life.
Waking up the next morning, Alina felt surprisingly calm. Her body, despite being pregnant, was full of new energy. The fears that plagued her every day had receded into the background, and she realized: it was time to find a safe place for herself and the baby that would ensure their survival. After gathering some forest berries and drinking river water, she set out on her journey. She needed to find a settlement or shelter where she could safely give birth.
For three days Alina wandered through the forest until she finally came to an open area. After walking a few more kilometers, she spotted the figure of an old woman walking towards her with two baskets of food. The woman was dressed in simple clothes that already showed signs of time and wear and tear.
Alina was a little confused. She had not seen people other than her husband for a long time.
- Good afternoon! Let me help you, - she addressed the woman with kindness in her voice.
The old woman stopped and looked at Alina. In her eyes read years of suffering, but there was a warm smile on her face.
- Don't, my daughter, it's not easy for you now, - she answered quietly.
- No, it's okay, let me take one of the baskets, - said Alina, taking one of the baskets.
As it turned out, the old woman had once worked as a nurse, but due to her low ranking she was forced to leave the city and live on the outskirts. She was on her way to a small camp that she and a few of her friends had organized for those in similar situations. The camp became a shelter for people who had nowhere else to go.
- I'm old now, my daughter, - she continued, -My friends are too. We decided to help those who are younger. We won't live much longer, and they still have to live on, they still have a chance for the future ....
Alina, having learned more about this temporary shelter, decided to go along with the old woman. On the way she felt warmed by her words, as if she had found a new ray of hope in this gloomy world. When they reached the camp, Alina saw the small tents that the inhabitants had made with their own hands. Both sides of the tents were protected by tall trees that served as a natural barrier against wild animals and bad weather. There were about ten people in the camp, most of them older. Former engineers, teachers, medics - all these people were united by a common goal to survive.
Although at first the people in the camp were distrustful of Alina - after all, over the years of hard life many people have brought them only problems - later, after learning about her difficult situation, they changed their attitude. They sympathized with a pregnant woman who had lost her husband and was struggling to survive in the wild forest. Gradually, realizing that Alina was not a threat and really needed help, the campers decided to accept her into their circle and support her during this difficult period. People in the camp quickly agreed to help with her problem - someone gave pregnancy advice, someone brought food. The younger campers took on the most dangerous tasks: they walked through forests, fields, old towns, and some even ventured into new towns to bring medicine and essential goods that they exchanged or bought. Not everyone came back, however - infiltrating a city of unrated people was a heavy punishment. The camp became a temporary refuge for her, where she could count on help and care. Despite the hardships, all the campers were one big family that supported each other.
This camp, without a name, became for Alina a temporary but more reliable refuge than the forest.
There was only one month left before Zero was born....