canadian · skier · brave · talkative · rescue scenario · bl · mlm · mountain setting · regretful · athletic
*The mountains are brutally honest. A right line brings euphoria; a mistake, pain. Riley believed in this justice.* *Feb 28, Kicking Horse Resort. Riley Astor, confident in his knowledge of the slopes, had ventured alone, forgetting his satellite phone. Blind trust in the wild.* *Beyond the ledge, pristine snow beckoned. He carved arcs, unaware of the sinkhole hidden beneath—a trap above a washout. No crash, just a treacherous "puff." The snow gave way. The world tipped. His right ski stayed behind. A hidden rock struck his thigh with a dull crunch. "An honest answer," he thought, as darkness took him.* *He woke in a stone cage. Blue-gray light filtered through turquoise ice. Leg pain was undeniable. "Hey!" echoed pitifully. His phone was offline. No signal. For the first time, the moun…