Reconnect.

The women wouldn’t let me take sole custodianship of Ambra. Ambra tried to follow every step of mine, but there were places she wouldn’t go. The forest was a safe place for her, I could see it. The giant trees were literally her friends. It was strange at first to see her hug a tree. But at least she was hugging something alive. I called it progress, but whenever I left to the villages around, she remained behind, silent.

Ella was with her, the first time I left the woods with Ambra following me in the woods. She tried to console her and incredibly careful she took her hand. Ambra let Ella take her hand and guide her back to the camp. Ella had thus found an extra sister, older and younger than her at the same time. To see them together, almost on their ease, my heart smiled at Ella, grateful for her caring ways towards Ambra. Ella asked for advice, talked to Kate, Kara and Kylie. Even if I didn’t want to feel love for Ella, being her so young, I did feel love for her. Platonic love though, as I felt she was way too young. And yet older too than her age would let on. Perhaps that was why Ella and Ambra were so good together.

Ella connected to Ambra, but also connected to Kylie, Kate and Kara. It was if she was part of our inner circle without the intimacy that was implemented in our circle before. We would have to adapt to different kinds of relationships within our circle.

The three women noticed my platonic love towards Ella. They didn’t speak about it, nor teased me with it. But I saw their glances, bright smiles when I was looking at Ella. Ella remained a quiet soul to me, her actions spoke louder.

I also noted private conversations between Kylie or Kate and Sophia and Clara. Kara was a bit more reserved towards Sophia and Clara. Perhaps it wasn’t that exactly, but it wasn’t resentment either. Even when I forgave them for something that shouldn’t need forgiveness, I knew Kara didn’t share my attitude. In her own way she felt she needed to protect me, perhaps, given her own past. I hadn’t had a second conversation with Sophia and Clara, with all the extra care I was giving Ambra.

But living in close quarters, having a common goal, continued polite behavior and respect, improved our relations slowly. I didn’t know if they were still dreaming about a relationship with me, but I didn’t ask about it. We still had separate operations. Their section was more involved in training the women of the villages, expanding a sort of intel network, making sure everyone in the villages was taken care of and keeping a close watch on the social fabric.

As Ella was part of their section, Ambra and Ella were seen together, patrolling the areas and verifying if the patrols of the villagers were well executed. Being on patrol would become risky though, Ambra needed training, if she would venture more in the forests.

So I did the only thing I could do.

“Sophia? Can you come here for a moment? And take Ambra and Ella with you?” I invited them to a private conversation.

“Sure, I’ll gather them.” She responded politely.

She called Ella over, to bring Ambra with her. Soon we were sitting in the large fire pit.

“Look, I don’t mind Ambra joining the patrol duties and so on. She is together with Ella, she feels just fine with her.” I said to Sophia, while carefully smiling. I continued:

“The problem is that these patrols may become dangerous in the future. In the very near future even. With the Russians on the run, some or even a lot of them will desert. And look for whatever they like. If Ambra is with Ella on patrol, I want more protection for her. And you can’t give her more protection, with all the duties you have been taken upon you. So, I want your section to train her. Learning to shoot, to stay hidden, to patrol,... All the things we have taught you. Do it very carefully, don’t **** her, if she is **** doing something. Just do something else then.”

Sophia’s eyes twinkled at my request. Not sure exactly why, after all I just gave her an extra job. A very difficult one and if she somehow hurt Ambra, she could lose my respect. She too must have noticed I had quite the protective streak towards Ambra.

Sophia complied quickly with my request, smiling brightly. I was starting to get worried:

“Please don’t take this job if it is too much for you, or for your section. Don’t take it lightheartedly, it is a very serious task I am trusting you with, being the section commander. You can’t **** Ambra to anything. If she doesn’t want to listen, just leave her be.”

“Don’t worry, we will take this task very seriously. We... Never mind. Thank you for your trust in us.”

Perhaps she wanted to say something else, but she didn’t, so I left it at that, and hoped Ambra would comply to the orders Sophia gave her. Ambra was listening very intently to our conversation, staring intensely at me. Even if she didn’t understand it completely, Ella would translate it later. All of them left the firepit together, leaving me to think about other worries.