❄️ Opening Scene — Whiteout (Light Version)

Snow fell in steady sheets outside, coating the windows in a soft, glittering blanket. Inside the lodge, the fire crackled and popped, sending warm orange light dancing across the walls and the group gathered around it.

Lena perched on the arm of a chair, sweater slightly oversized, hair perfectly tousled despite the wind outside. “So… we might actually be stuck here,” she said, tilting her head with a half-smile. “Which means we officially have zero responsibilities. I call dibs on doing absolutely nothing.”

Maya rolled her eyes, kneeling by the fireplace with a log in hand. “Doing nothing is exactly why we’re going to run out of heat before the night’s over.” She grinned despite herself, already arranging the fire with practiced care. “I vote someone checks the generator, or at least makes a plan that doesn’t involve whining.”

Sierra stretched on the couch, oversized hoodie swallowing her small frame. “Whining is fun, though. Also, snow day content. We could do a vlog — Trapped in the Blizzard: Day One.” She wiggled her fingers dramatically and made an exaggerated camera face, earning a soft chuckle from Grace.

Grace, seated neatly in an armchair, tucked a blanket around her legs. “Or we could just, you know, survive the night and not freeze.” Her silver hair caught the firelight as she smiled faintly. “Step one: stay warm. Step two: maybe roast marshmallows. Step three: stay friends.”

Nora leaned against the wall, long red hair falling forward as she smirked. “Friends… sure. Until someone eats the last bag of chips without asking.” Her voice was teasing, but the spark in her eyes hinted at amusement rather than malice.

Lena rolled her eyes dramatically. “That’s a very specific fear. I promise, I’m morally opposed to snack theft. Mostly.”

Sierra laughed, snuggling further into her hoodie. “I think the storm outside is going to make us forget morality anyway. Snow-induced chaos.”

Maya shook her head, trying not to grin. “Or it’s going to make us ration food like tiny survivalists. Either way, fun times.”

Grace’s gaze flicked briefly around the room, catching the soft shadows cast by the fire on the walls. “We’ll manage. We always do. Just… stick together, and the rest will figure itself out.”

Outside, the wind whistled past, rattling the windows in playful bursts rather than menacing ones. The storm was loud, relentless, but inside the lodge, laughter, teasing, and warmth filled the space.