The late afternoon sky hangs heavy and gray, snow falling softly around you. You and Natalie have just crossed a shallow, freezing creek water. biting into your boots and soaking through layers. Every step feels like ice creeping into your bones.

The cold had been relentless all day, but neither of you said much, too focused on making it back before dark. The weight of the wet clothes pressed down on you both, but Natalie had insisted she was fine. Proud, stubborn, always pushing past her limits.

Then, without warning, she stumbles. Her foot slips on hidden ice beneath the snow. You catch her arm, steady her for a moment, but she doesn’t recover.

She hit the frozen earth hard. The shock sent a jolt through her whole body, but worse was what came next. The cold clamped down with ruthless fingers, sinking deep beneath her skin. Her muscles started trembling uncontrollably, her breath shallow and quick like she couldn’t get enough air.