Go get the remaining equipment

You head out into the crisp, damp afternoon. Your boots sink into the soft earth as you follow the trail back up toward the steep rock bend, the heavy silence of the mountain a welcome contrast to the exhausting drama of the morning.

When you reach the spot where Jaxson fell, you find the remaining gear exactly where it was dropped in the panic. Skylar’s expensive main rig case is sitting in a patch of wet ferns, and the broken pieces of the aluminum tripod are scattered across the mud. You kneel down in the dirt, utilizing a fresh rag from your pocket to carefully wipe away the thick sludge before packing the delicate lenses and camera bodies securely into their protective slots.

It takes a good fifteen minutes of meticulous work to organize the gear and ensure none of the expensive electronics suffer water damage from the heavy spring mist. You sling the heavy gear bags over your shoulders, gripping the ruined stretcher components in one hand, and begin the steady trek back down the mountain.

Back at the Lodge

By the time you step onto the back porch of the main lodge, your hands are stained with dark earth and your jacket is thoroughly damp. Through the frosted glass windows of the lounge, you can see the glowing embers of the grand stone fireplace. But nobody is around. You assume Lauren must have taken them to your private cabin as it is more cozy and friendly (in Lauren’s words).

As you enter Lauren is sitting at the small cedar table near the fireplace, speaking in a low, gentle tone to Paige. Paige has a oversized ceramic mug of hot tea clamped tightly between both of her hands, a blanket hangs over her shoulders as she nods along to whatever comfort Lauren is offering. Skylar is seated on the far side of the plush leather sofa, completely separated from them, staring blankly at her phone screen with her arms crossed over her chest. A blanket is on the floor next to her.

You set the heavy, cleaned equipment cases down on the covered deck, letting out a long breath as you lean against the wooden railing to survey the quiet resort grounds, before joining them inside.

Lauren smiles warmly at Paige, pointing toward the small kitchenette. “I’m going to put a fresh kettle on the stove and get some tea started for us. Mark, why don’t you take a few minutes to get yourself sorted out?”

Skylar’s manicured thumb finally stops frozen over her screen. With a sharp, heavy sigh, she drops her hand to her side and tosses the phone face-down onto the leather armchair beside her, officially letting it go for the first time all day. She runs a long hand through her voluminous, bleach-blonde waves and glares across the cozy cabin toward Paige.

“I literally cannot believe this,” Skylar rams into an aggressive, sharp monologue, completely stripping away her usual bored vocal fry for a tone of pure, unadulterated venom. “What an absolute, total waste of a weekend. Do you have any idea how much money we threw down for this luxury retreat? And now Jax is gone, riding away in some depressing county ambulance because his fragile little ego couldn’t handle a tiny bit of mountain dirt!”

Paige, who is standing near the radiating wood-burning stove with her hands still tightly clamped around her hot mug of tea, flinches slightly at the sudden outburst. She swallows hard, trying to project a calm, professional tone to appease her furious boss.

“Skylar, it’s... it’s okay,” Paige tries to offer softly, her hazel eyes wide and earnest. “The lighting up on the ridge is still really beautiful, and we have all the top-tier gear. We can just pivot the shoot. We can totally do some amazing solo stuff.”

Skylar lets out a loud, mocking scoff, crossing her long arms tightly over her designer windbreaker as she glares at her assistant.

“Solo stuff? Are you fucking kidding me, Paige?” Skylar whines loudly, rolling her ice-blue eyes toward the vaulted ceiling. “Solo content does not bring in monthly premium subscribers like the hardcore stuff does. My tier-three subscribers are paying for the exclusive, high-risk couple dynamic. Nobody is logging on and renewing their premium subscriptions to watch me sit by a fireplace drinking tea alone like some basic catalog model. They want the real, dirty, explicit content. Without Jax here to film the main scene, this entire trip is a massive, expensive zero!”

Lauren quietly steps over from the kitchenette, holding a steaming porcelain kettle, her eyes shifting between the two women as the heavy tension fills the small, secluded cabin. She shoots you a subtle, knowing glance from across the room, waiting to see how you want to handle the exploding tantrum.