Maarja seisis aknal ja vaatas välja halli, külma linna poole.

Maarja stood at the window and looked out towards the gray, cold city.

Talv oli jõudnud haripunkti.

Winter had reached its peak.

Puud olid paljad, majad vaiksed ja tänavad inimtühjad.

The trees were bare, the houses quiet, and the streets deserted.

Maarja tundis muret, kuid teadis, et peab olema tugev oma klassikaaslaste jaoks.

Maarja was worried, but she knew she had to be strong for her classmates.

"Nüüd peab liikuma," ütles Maarja, pöörates Taavi ja Karli poole.

"Now we have to move," said Maarja, turning to Taavi and Karli.

Nad ootasid, igaüks oma muremõtetes.

They were waiting, each lost in their own thoughts.

Taavi noogutas kergelt.

Taavi nodded slightly.

Tema mure oli alati ressursside pärast, samal ajal kui Maarja muretses turvalisuse üle.

His concern was always about resources, while Maarja worried about safety.

Karli, noor ja täis lootust, küsis: "Kas jõuame uude kooli täna?"

Karli, young and full of hope, asked, "Will we reach the new school today?"

Maarja naeratas kergelt ja vastas: "Jah, Karli.

Maarja smiled slightly and replied, "Yes, Karli.

See kindlus aitab meid."

This fortress will help us."

Otsus viia oma tühine kool uude, kaitstud kohta oli Maarja peas keerelnud nädalaid.

The decision to move their modest school to a new, protected place had been on Maarja's mind for weeks.

Vana kindlus linna ääres tundus ainus võimalus – kindel ja tugev, nagu Maarja soovis ka tema rühma olevat.

The old fortress at the edge of the city seemed the only option—strong and secure, just as Maarja wished her group to be.

Nad kogusid oma vähesed asjad kokku ja suundusid teele.

They gathered their few belongings and set out.

Maarja juhtis teed, hoides end ja teisi valvel.

Maarja led the way, keeping herself and others vigilant.

Teel kindluse poole oli palju ohtusid: mahajäetud autod, varisemisohus majad ja metsikud loomad.

On the way to the fortress, there were many dangers: abandoned cars, houses at risk of collapsing, and wild animals.

Halvim neist olid siiski marodööride rühmad, kes rändasid ringi, otsides saaki.

The worst, however, were the marauder groups roaming about, seeking prey.

Lähenedes kindlustele, kuulsid nad kedagi lähenemas.

As they approached the fortress, they heard someone approaching.

Maarja katsus oma südame lööke aeglustada.

Maarja tried to slow her heartbeat.

"Varju!"

"Hide!"

käskis ta vaikse häälega.

she commanded in a quiet voice.

Nad pugesid rusuhunnikute taha, hoides hingamist kinni.

They hid behind piles of rubble, holding their breath.

Marodöörid olid lähedal, kolm tumedat kuju liikusid vaikselt.

The marauders were close, three dark figures moving silently.

Maarja pani kiiresti plaani paika.

Maarja quickly devised a plan.

Ta viipas Taavile, kes sai hetkega aru.

She signaled to Taavi, who understood immediately.

Taavi suutis alati improviseerida.

Taavi could always improvise.

Ta leidis kivi ja heitis selle ettevaatlikult eemale.

He found a stone and carefully threw it away.

Kivi maandus mürtsuga, meelitades marodöörid vastassuunas.

The stone landed with a thud, luring the marauders in the opposite direction.

Kui ohud olid möödas, hingasid kõik kergendatult.

Once the dangers had passed, everyone sighed with relief.

"Hea töö, Maarja," sosistas Taavi.

"Good job, Maarja," whispered Taavi.

Nad jõudsid kindluseni, varjudes madala taeva all läbi lund ja tuult.

They reached the fortress, slipping beneath the low sky through snow and wind.

Kindlus oli suur ja imposantne, vanad kivimüürid seisid tugevana vastu ajale ja ilmale.

The fortress was large and imposing, its old stone walls standing strong against time and weather.

Sisenedes tundsid nad, nagu oleks nad leidnud kindlust ja varju.

Entering, they felt as if they had found strength and shelter.

Maarja vaatas oma sõpradele silma.

Maarja looked her friends in the eyes.

"Oleme kohal," ütles ta, ja kõik naeratasid.

"We're here," she said, and everyone smiled.

Maarja tundis rahulolu.

Maarja felt contentment.

Nad olid elus, ja nüüd oli neil uus alguspaik.

They were alive, and now they had a new starting point.

Koos hakkasid nad kindlust kooliks muutma, kaasates isegi Karli väikeseid ideid.

Together, they began turning the fortress into a school, even incorporating Karli's small ideas.

Maarja mõistis, et igaühe panus on oluline.

Maarja realized that everyone's contribution was important.

Nüüd, kindluses, tundis Maarja end tõelise juhina.

Now, in the fortress, Maarja felt like a true leader.

Ta teadis, et ettevaatus on oluline, kuid ta õppis ka, et lootus ja ühistegevus toovad tulevikus edu.

She knew caution was important, but she also learned that hope and collaboration would lead to success in the future.

Nii alustasid nad ühiselt, hoides kooli ja lootuse elus.

Thus, they began together, keeping the school and hope alive.