Heart of Siberia
Chapter 1: Arrival in the Wild In the heart of Siberia, where the snow blanketed the landscape like a thick, white quilt, stood a small village named Verkhoyansk. It was a place of breathtaking beauty, surrounded by towering evergreens and frozen rivers. Elena had arrived in late December, seeking solace from the chaos of her life back in Moscow. She had always dreamed of experiencing the wildness of Siberia, and now, with the winter solstice approaching, the world felt particularly magical. As she stepped off the bus, the air hit her with a sharp, icy bite. The village was quiet, save for the distant sound of laughter and the crackling of a fire from the nearby communal hall. Elena wrapped her scarf tightly around her neck and headed toward the inn where she’d be staying. Inside, the warmth enveloped her like a hug. The walls were adorned with photographs of locals, smiling and celebrating life in this remote part of the world. She checked in, and the innkeeper, an older woman wi...