C 𝛐 l d F r i e n d s || a tale of five friends staying in a cabin

.3.

Everyone gathered in the living room, huddling close to the fire for warmth. The cabin's main room, now their communal refuge, was dimly lit by the flickering flames and a few battery-operated lanterns they had found. Blankets were draped over shoulders, and the atmosphere was tense but hopeful."Man, this storm is something else," Donny said, rubbing his hands together to generate some heat. "I thought we'd just have a fun weekend, not a survival challenge.""We'll get through it," Mia replied, her voice steady. "We've got each other, and that's what matters."Isha stood up, stretching. "I'm going to check the kitchen, see if there's any food left. Ezro said he brought a lot of snacks, so hopefully, we still have some.""Good idea," Daphne said, giving Isha a supportive smile. "We'll need our energy."Isha made her way to the kitchen, the only sound her footsteps echoing softly in the otherwise silent cabin. She opened the pantry and started rummaging through the shelves. The familiar sight of snack bags and boxes brought a small smile to her face."Let's see what we've got," she muttered to herself, pulling out bags of chips, cookies, and a few granola bars. "Ezro really did bring a lot."She carried the armful of snacks back to the living room, her footsteps lighter with the small victory of finding food. As she entered the room, the others looked up, their faces hopeful."I found some goodies," she announced, laying the snacks on the coffee table. "We've got chips, cookies, and granola bars. It's not much, but it's something.""Yes! Thank you, Ezro," Donny exclaimed, grabbing a bag of chips and tearing it open. "You're a lifesaver."Ezro grinned, taking a cookie. "I aim to please."Mia took a granola bar and passed one to Daphne. "This should keep us going for a while. We just need to ration it out carefully.""Agreed. We don't know how long this storm will last, so let's not go crazy with the snacks," Ezro nodded.Isha sat down next to Daphne, opening a bag of cookies. "You know, this reminds me of those horror movies where a group of friends gets trapped somewhere.""Except this isn't a movie," Daphne said, her voice tinged with worry. "And there's no script telling us we'll be okay.""We'll be fine," Donny reassured, trying to keep everyone's spirits up. "We just need to stick together and stay positive.""Right," Mia agreed. "And remember, we're stronger as a group. We've got each other's backs."Ezro leaned back, munching on a cookie. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? Assuming the storm hasn't let up by then.""We'll check our supplies and make sure we still have enough wood for the fire," Mia said. "And we'll keep an eye on the weather. If it looks like it's getting worse, we might need to come up with a backup plan.""Sounds good," Donny said. "For now, let's just focus on staying warm and keeping our spirits up."Isha nodded, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. "And maybe we can come up with some games or something to pass the time. Keep our minds off the storm.""Great idea," Daphne said, smiling. "We could all use a little distraction."As they settled in for the evening, the group's conversation turned to lighter topics, sharing stories and reminiscing about happier times. Despite the storm raging outside, they found comfort in each other's company, drawing strength from their friendship.

As the group continued chatting, Mia suddenly had an idea. "Hey, why don't we play a game of hide and seek? It might help take our minds off the storm."Ezro raised an eyebrow. "Hide and seek? Really?""Yeah, why not?" Mia said, a playful grin spreading across her face. "It'll be fun, and it'll get us moving around a bit. Plus, this cabin is big enough to have some good hiding spots.""Alright, I'm in," Daphne agreed, standing up and stretching. "We need some fun right now."Donny and Isha nodded in agreement. "Okay, let's do it," Donny said. "Who's going to be the seeker?""I'll be the seeker," Ezro volunteered, smiling. "You all better find some good spots. I'll give you thirty seconds to hide."Ezro turned to face the wall and began counting down. "One, two, three..."The others scattered, giggling and searching for the best hiding places they could find in the cabin.Mia slipped into a small storage closet, quietly closing the door behind her. She could hear her friends' footsteps fading away as they found their own hiding spots. She held her breath, listening intently.Daphne found a spot behind a large armchair in the corner of the living room, trying to make herself as small as possible. She stifled a laugh, feeling the thrill of the game.Isha crawled under the dining table, using the long tablecloth as a cover. She lay still, her heart pounding with excitement.Donny, meanwhile, found a hiding spot behind the thick curtains in one of the bedrooms. He peeked out, watching for any sign of Ezro."Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty!" Ezro called out. "Ready or not, here I come!"He began searching the cabin methodically, checking each room and corner. The house, though large, had limited places to hide. Ezro knew he would find them eventually, but that was part of the fun.As he moved through the cabin, Ezro's footsteps echoed softly. He checked behind the armchair first, but Daphne held her breath and stayed hidden.He then moved to the dining room, peeking under the tablecloth. "Gotcha!" he said, tagging Isha."Aw, man," Isha said, laughing as she crawled out from under the table. "That was a good spot, though."Ezro continued his search, heading towards the bedrooms. Donny watched anxiously from behind the curtain, trying not to make a sound. Ezro checked the closet in one room, then the next. Finally, he pulled back the curtain. "Found you, Donny!"Donny laughed. "You got me. Nice job."The game continued as Ezro searched for Mia and Daphne. The excitement and laughter filled the cabin, momentarily distracting them from the storm outside. They were grateful for this bit of fun and camaraderie in the midst of the blizzard.Finally, Ezro found Daphne behind the armchair, and then Mia in the storage closet. They all regrouped in the living room, out of breath but smiling."That was fun," Mia said, her eyes sparkling. "Thanks for playing along, guys.""Anytime," Ezro replied, grinning. "It was a nice distraction. Now, how about we warm up with some hot cocoa?""Sounds perfect," Daphne agreed. "Let's get the kettle on."As they prepared the hot cocoa, the group felt a renewed sense of togetherness. The storm outside was fierce, but inside the cabin, they had each other and the warmth of their friendship to keep them going.