She is Louise

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying home. My face is disfigured!" the poor girl was completely confused. She knew where Niels lived, just as she knew that there was a spark between them. An invisible thread had stretched out. First love, like in a fairy tale. One part of her soul had to find and see Niels at all costs, and the other part didn't want the shame of meeting someone else. What to do?

Niels… but they hadn't even met. Is there such a thing? Just fall in love. She's only twelve, she's a child – but her heart says otherwise. She's a magical girl, and Niels is just an ordinary man. A boy. Not Butterfly at all. She will fly, and what about him – standing on the ground and watching? It's not fair! "Maybe I don't need these wings so much? " Louise pondered. "That's what mom and dad don't need me. I'll take it and not accept this silly magic! I'll go to the City and look at people – to spite them! Mommy loved Daddy, just Daddy, so why can't I?"

Louise decided not to be discouraged. She dressed quickly, pinned her hair back, tied her apron and promised Galya to be there for lunch.

"Run. Look for love," the old woman only smiled. But she was uneasy at heart – what could those young men from the City do? At first glance it seemed that there was no one but farmers and butterflies in the Forests and Steppes – but there were not. There were those who flew. Those who hid. Those who lived underground. And then there were Galya and Louise. By the way, the girl often asked if there were no other Butterflies in the neighborhood; Galya answered in the negative, and it was true. Louise was really alone – at least, if she didn't get a visit from her mommy.

Chapter Six

Once again, she followed the path. The same path that led to the border. In a way it could be called the Path of Life – it led Louise forward. The girl reached the cottage where she had watched Niels yesterday, but today there was no one there. The windows were not curtained, and Louise could even make out some furniture inside. "That's strange, it's summer. And today is also Saturday. He's not here. Maybe I have found the wrong house?" the girl was upset, but suddenly she heard a butterfly – it landed on her shoulder.

– Run away from here!" squeaked the butterfly. – Stay away from people!

– Excuse me, but what's the matter?

– There are teenagers infiltrating our Steppes and Forests. They…

– I think I saw them. And then I cried.

– Poor child! You see!" replied the butterfly sympathetically.

– There were four of them," said Louise, rather to herself.

– Yes, and they got into the Forest! They got into the Hollow of our Tree. I helped to drive them away, but they didn't seem to believe in good magic yet.

– They're not dead? " the girl asked.

– No. But they'll come home and panic. We could be attacked.

– By who? Just people? And we – whom do you mean?

– Woodland and prairie creatures, of course! We, butterflies, just so you know, belong to two worlds at once – the Forest and the Steppes.

– So do I. I'm a Butterfly. And I belong to both our world and the human world.

– Are you gonna fight?

– What?! No, I'm not…

– Do you know other Butterfly people, Louise?

– How do you know me?

– You've been living here forever.

– I'm only twelve, I don't…

– Not for you, but for us, insects, it's an eternity.

– I see, but what shall we do?

– Go to the City and destroy it.

– You've got to be kidding me.

– Not at all.

– I've got a better idea," said Louise. – Why don't just follow those teenagers?

– You're younger than them, girl.

– What's the big deal? Younger doesn't mean dumber, does it?

– It's their own fault. Nature's tired of it. Tired of humans. They can't go unpunished forever.

– They must have a king. Who do we have?" asked the girl, though she didn't know much about politics.

– Our Tree, of course. It is life.

– Mine too?

– My little head is tired of questions. I have to leave," the butterfly replied and disappeared into the dazzling blue of the sky.

The day was sunny, but the little girl's soul was suddenly troubled.

"Maybe that's why Galya sent me to get the newspaper? Did she just want to know the news? But I'll be brave – I'll take it and go to the City. But before I do that, I'll see the boy Niels. At least with one eye…"

There are insect butterflies and there are human butterflies. How are they different?

Niels rode silently on the wagon with the rest of the boys. It was so unusual, in the age of automobiles and peregrine falcons, to travel by horseback; she was doing a good job, though.

"I don't feel like doing it. Why did I listen to my parents?" thought Niels, while the sun was beating down mercilessly on his red head.

Where is Louise? So modest, yet so mysterious. Fragile and small. Niels, of course, could not yet know how strong Louise was at heart. "A magical girl. That's for sure. Good thing I'm learning Latin".

– Why are you learning Latin?

– To read some spell…

After about an hour (they had to gather the others along the way), the road finally brought Niels and his companions to a huge clearing. There were flowers growing all around, with bees and butterflies darting between them. No one tried to trample them – why should they? The warriors stood in a line – they all wore the same uniform, and their eyes were a little sad, expressing some strange tension. They waited for the first command, but had no idea what was to come.

– Attention! Hands at your side!" they heard the voice of a man with a beard and high boots. The service had begun.

Louise was upset and went home; it was too early for lunch, so she would go to the Glade where she could lie down, relax and think hard. She was a nature girl, so she wasn't afraid to wear out her dress with loose earth. And she had almost forgotten about the stains on her face.

On the way, Louise had to stop – a group of people caught her attention. The girl came closer – there were boys. Not a single girl. And they were all wearing uniforms. Louise had seen something like this in pictures in textbooks and realized that they were soldiers. Military.

"Was the butterfly right, and do people really want to hurt us?"