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The next morning came quietly, the stillness outside broken only by the soft crackling of the fire and the distant sound of snow creaking under its own weight. Inside the shelter, the warmth of their routine brought a sense of normalcy, even as the frostbitten world outside remained relentless.

Karl woke early, as he always did, his internal clock refusing to let him sleep in. He stretched, his back aching slightly from another night on their makeshift mattress. The soft breathing of Jane and Layla filled the room, a comforting reminder that they were safe—at least for now.

He glanced at the small table where they'd left the deck of cards from the night before. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he remembered Layla's triumphant grin and Jane's exaggerated protests of cheating. For a brief moment, they had all forgotten the harshness of their reality.