BENEATH THE ICE

e cold. The wind continued to howl, pushing against him with a relentless force. Every step was a bat

eemed almost alive. The avalanche had not only buried his path but also turned the once-clear route into a treacherous m

ltered by a snowbank, providing a small but crucial respite from the wind. Ezekiel took refuge behind it, his body shivering

e took a few moments to gather his thoughts, focusing on the immediate needs of survival: warmth, shelter, and foo

ld provide some much-needed calories, but the water was a more pressing concern. The temperature was so low that even the wa

eat as he squinted through the storm, trying to make out the source of the disturbance. There, partially hidden in

food, but it was also a dangerous situation. The bear's mother was likely nearby, and any attempt to approach the

d deliberate, aiming to avoid startling the animal. As he neared the cub, he noticed its fear and pain, the

knew that if he didn't act quickly, the cub wouldn't survive the storm. He made a decision-he would put the cub out of

ub's suffering ended. Ezekiel felt a mix of relief and regret as he turned his attention to preparing the

eft him isolated and vulnerable. His supplies were limited, and the struggle for survival was far from over. He nee

rmth, and he used it to cook the meat. The smell of the cooking meat was a welcome change from the cold, and he savored t

ld need to find his way back to civilization. The mountain had tested him in ways he had never imagined, but he was resolved to ove