rning, and the fire, though still burning, was weaker.

ainsaw, she couldn't break down the logs and store them i

task. Dragging a log section nearly two feet in diamet

in her pack, slinging it over her shoulder and lea

ely turned to ice in the frigid air. A sharp, stabbi

back to camp, she collapsed, her lu

energy bar and took a few sips of water. As

vised. Continued high-exertion wi

ire's countdown was a relentless

t, her legs heavy as lead, an

og, her legs were shaking uncontrollably.

ntinued action will result in collaps

bled back to the fire and sat down

ogs to fuel, feeding them into the fire. The burn time climbed back up t

r pack, desperate for sleep, but the system's hourly campfire reminder

th a mountain of fuel, the fire req

of semi-awareness that did little to restore her energy. Her

She was drifting in a haze of

Crunching i

ast night. It was human.

right hand slipped into her pack and closed a

de the circle of firelight. A ma

ne there? We

, sharp and dangerous in the flickering light, were

er. "We just need to get warm. Some of us...

nothing. She didn't know them.

he footsteps retreated, fadin

in her hand. In this world, she understood with chilli

yes, but sleep w