Shelter in the storm

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across the group as they huddled close, their bodies still chilled from the icy water. The heat of the flames was a welcome relief, but their bodies remained tense, knowing the trials had only just begun.

Tanaka stood tall beside the fire, his piercing eyes scanning the group. His usual calm demeanor had returned, but there was a subtle urgency in the way he carried himself now. The exhaustion from the swim still hung in the air, but they couldn’t afford to linger in complacency.

“Alright,” Tanaka began, his voice carrying authority yet a hint of encouragement. “First off, well done, everyone. You made it to shore. That’s no small feat. Marcus,” he turned to the fourth-year student who had led the charge in starting the fire, “good thinking. We could’ve easily ended up with hypothermia if we hadn’t gotten that fire going. Thank you for that.”