SHADOW PLAY (SYLUS)

19

"I think I’ve reached my limit! How much further?" Selina gasped, her breath coming in sharp, raspy bursts as she slouched, hands on her knees.

"Come on, we’re almost there! Just a few steps ahead!" Mark said, grinning widely, his enthusiasm infectious as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

"Oh yeah? It better be a few steps," Selina shot back, pushing herself onward, her legs shaking with fatigue.

"You've got this, Selina!" Regina chimed in, her eyes sparkling with encouragement as she gave her friend a reassuring pat on the back.

"Alright, how about this—last one to the top has to cook dinner tonight!" Ginna called out, a playful glint in her eyes as she tried to motivate Selina.

"You’ve got to be kidding me, Ginna! That's totally unfair!" Selina groaned, shooting her an exasperated look before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Better get moving if you don’t want to lose, sweetheart," Ginna teased, flashing her a cheeky grin.

"Oh, just wait—you’ll be the one cooking tonight!" Selina shot back with sudden determination, her exhaustion vanishing as she charged up the trail, full of renewed energy.

Regina chuckled, amused at how quickly Selina’s mood had flipped.

"We'll see about that!" Ginna called from further up, her voice echoing as they neared the top.

They finally reached the top just as the sun was dipping toward the horizon.

"Wow… look at this," Josh murmured, eyes wide as he gazed down at the sprawling forest and mountains, bathed in the soft, golden light of the evening. The scene was breathtaking.

The others stood in awe, letting out quiet wows as they took in the view.

"Totally worth all the pain," Selina admitted, still catching her breath. Despite being the most exhausted, her mood lifted instantly in the face of such beauty.

Regina stood in awe, feeling a rush of happiness she’d never experienced before. The view was stunning, but being here with these people made it even more special.

"Alright, everyone, let’s get to work! Time to set up the tents," Mark called out, already gathering the supplies with a determined look.

As the guys started assembling the tents, the girls began prepping food, working together under the fading light of the sunset.

As the sun disappeared and the moon rose, casting a soft glow over the mountain, darkness settled in. They turned on their headlamps and lanterns to light the campsite. The food was finally ready, and the girls called out to the others.

"Dinner’s ready, guys!" Jane shouted. There were five girls and six boys, making up their group of eleven.

The boys quickly gathered around where the food had been laid out, eager to dig in after a long day.

“Wow, this looks incredible!” Dante exclaimed, rubbing his hands together eagerly, his eyes wide with anticipation as he leaned closer to the feast.

“Not just looks incredible, it tastes even better,” Selina replied, setting the plates down with a playful huff, feigning annoyance as she shot him a teasing glare.

“Mmm,” Josh murmured, savoring every bite of his chicken leg, his eyes fluttering shut in bliss as the flavors exploded in his mouth. “This is pure heaven.”

“We’re so glad to have you guys as our friends!” Mark exclaimed, his mouth full of food, but his eyes sparkled with genuine warmth.

“You should feel lucky,” Ginna chimed in, grinning as she took a hearty bite of her own meal.