Hitting the Slopes

May 2nd 2025

“The ‘condo crew,’ as they now called themselves, moved with practiced efficiency, a well-oiled machine reclaiming their space after the annual onslaught of ski season renters. But beneath the surface of their tidying, a palpable energy thrummed. Their gazes kept drifting across the street, where the silent, snow-dusted slopes beckoned like a forbidden playground. The lure of that pristine white canvas was a siren song, promising release from the mundane.

For Katniss, the pull was primal. Back in her element, a wild spark ignited in her eyes. Tiny disturbances in the snow, the first tentative movements of creatures emerging from winter’s icy grip, set her senses alight. A hunter awakened, she was already on the phantom trail of unseen life stirring beneath the thawing surface.

Walking the deserted expanse of the mountain felt surreal. What had been a bustling hub of winter activity now stood as a breathtaking ghost town, eerily silent and devoid of human presence. An unsettling beauty hung in the crisp air, a stark contrast to the vibrant chaos it would soon become. This will all change within the month, they thought, a silent promise echoing in the stillness. Hang in there, PC. The storm of humanity is coming.“