The open image of aspen leaf miners, the mazes etched into every leaf over the forest is such a strong image to open on, the hollowing of the heart of the forest, and it going unnoticed!

The lack of understanding regarding religious belief between the friends is so well told, and the depth you give to it. Damn, this is a tough round! The idea of these two friends who have grown up doing so much together, and one of them has found this greater meaning in something, and his friend just doesn't get it. It feels like it has put distance between them, that Anton thinks less of his friend for doing it, and that Gennadiy thinks less of Anton for not getting it, you play it subtle, but you trend that line of how a belief, regardless of what it is in comes between people, especially in kids who maybe don't really understand each other or have fully formed empathy can come between them. The way Genna dismisses him to find a spot to cross the river, and then Anton disrupts what he friend is trying to do. It's almost like a balance of disharmony (if that isn't an oxymoron) how religion leads slowly to people not understanding each other, and really, it is just from a desire to be closer. really, Anton just wants his attention, he doesn't want him to stop and do what he is going to do, and have to leave him in peace for however long, because Anton wants to spend the time with him, but over time, and annoyance, it stops feeling that way.

The two boys don't fully understand the world around them, the forest, what's going on, they notice it's warmer, and therefore the ice will be thinner, but they don't get the wider implication, nor the meaning of the appearance of the invasive species. They also, don't understand each other in a way, although, for as much as they don't understand each other they are coming from exactly the same place (wanting the same thing from each other). They do not know how much they do not know. It almost feels like they are so caught up int themselves, they don't notice Drogol until it is almost too late.

And the sheer breadth of the unknown looms before them in a space ship. Who knows if they would have been able to save Drogol, but it feels as though they didn't appreciate the world around them, the forest passed them by unnoticed, destroyed on a whim, they didn't appreciate each other, and their dog, left to look after himself, no wonder Ursula turned up ;)