Short story about 3 people stuck on a mountain who luckily found their way off and back to safety.
Three friends—Lena, Jake, and Marco—set off on a weekend hiking trip, eager to explore the towering peaks of the Appalachian Mountains. The weather had been clear when they began, but by midday, clouds rolled in, and the trail began to disappear beneath layers of fog. Lena, who had been leading the hike, glanced at her map, but the dense mist made it difficult to make out any landmarks. "I think we might’ve missed the path," she said, concern creeping into her voice. Jake, always the optimist, grinned. "No worries. We’ll find our way back." He squinted into the white void surrounding them. "We just need to keep moving." But hours passed, and the fog grew thicker. Their phones had no signal, and the temperature dropped. Marco, usually calm, was now visibly anxious. "We should’ve turned around when we first noticed the fog," he muttered, scanning the endless mist for any sign of the trail. As evening approached, they found a small rock outcropping ...