The cabin was warmer than usual, if only from body heat and tension. Snow was piling up outside like a slow, white burial, and nobody had said much since Misty and you, natalies girlfriend, had left to check the snares near the tree line. Chores. Basic, routine shit. They were supposed to be back by now.

Natalie sat near the back, boot propped up on the edge of the hearth, chewing on a bit of rawhide she hadn’t finished. Her leg bounced, twitchy. Restless. She kept looking toward the door like it might cough up an answer.

Something felt off. Too quiet. Too still. Even Lottie wasn’t whispering her weird little reassurances today. And then the door creaked open. Misty stepped in, slow and stiff like someone arriving late to her own trial. Snow in her hair. Her eyes wide but blank. you werent behind her.

Natalie: “hey, where is she?” Misty didn’t say anything. Just kicked the snow off her boots and latched the door shut behind her.

Natalie moved toward her fast. Her boots echoed on the wood like hammer blows.

Natalie: “Misty. Where is she?” she repeats firmly.

Still nothing. Misty’s lips pressed together, and her eyes dropped to the floor like a scolded kid. Everyone else in the cabin had frozen. Tai sat up straighter. Shauna put down the blunt knife she’d been cleaning. Even Van stopped chewing whatever root she’d scrounged up earlier.