Joe Hardy, sitting against the wall, leaned his head back. He could feel the tears forming. They were not a result of emotional or physical pain, but exhaustion, pure exhaustion at a level he had never experienced.

Joe had not known rest in several days, and now was no exception. He slowly rose to his feet and went over to the barrel that contained the water. Dipping out a cup full, he went over and handed it to the young girl.

"Joe, could you get some for Mrs. Dilmer as well?" Monica asked. As others began to put in their requests, Monica sighed. "Might just want to make a round and get some for everybody."

Joe went around and collected cups from everyone. He then went to the barrel to fill each one. Before dipping the first cup, he stared at his reflection on the calm surface. His hair was dirty, no filthy. His skin and clothes didn't look much better. He was sore from getting what little sleep he managed on the cold, bare floor and terribly exhausted.
Yet, he was one of the lucky ones.

He and Frank had anxiously awaited their trip to Alaska's Polar Paw Ski Lodge for weeks. The vacation spot was new and very isolated. The nearest town was more than 50 miles away, and everyone came or left by the plane that flew in only once a week. The electricity was powered purely by generators.

Frank and Joe had made quick friends with many of the twelve other guests who had flown to the lodge with them. With the staff in consideration, the entire population of the lodge had totaled 20. Now, Joe could only account for 15 of them.

Their first day had started out wonderfully. They had gotten in a good half day of skiing and were headed back to the lodge when a familiar yet unusual sound filled their ears.
Frank and Joe looked up to see two helicopters circle the lodge and continue their route to the mountain directly behind it, the one where the slopes were located. They had watched as the helicopters hovered there a few moments before two bright flashes shown below them, then a low, evil rumble began.

"Avalanche!" Frank exclaimed in terror. He grabbed Joe's arm and ran like mad toward the ski lodge. Joe managed a couple of glances over his shoulder as he ran, the huge white monster overshadowing everything in it's path.

Throwing open the door that led to the kitchen, Frank flung Joe in ahead of him.

"Get in the freezer!" Frank thundered. Joe quickly entered the walk in freezer and looked to Frank who was entering behind him. Just then, the wall of snow made impact with the lodge. Some of it spilled inside quickly. During these precious seconds, Frank had been attempting to close the door of the freezer. The snow, with its quick entrance, flung the door open, momentarily crushing Frank between the door and the wall.

"Frank!" Joe had yelled as his brother collapsed to the floor. The rumbling slowly died as he attended to his brother. Thanks to the heavy steel that helped insulate the freezer, Joe had come out alive and unhurt.

Over the course of the next few hours, Joe assessed the situation. Only himself and Monica, the desk clerk, had survived unhurt. Together, they located 13 survivors and made a makeshift hospital in the front lobby. With the lodge half buried and the back of it all but destroyed, they were forced to burn furniture to keep the fire going, the only hope they had for survival.

Joe had spent the past two days shoveling and melting snow for water, checking on the injured as best as he could-and worrying over Frank. His brother was running a very high fever and acting incoherently. Joe cringed to see him under the thin blanket next to the fire, shivering uncontrollably. The routine didn't require much thought, which left Joe to think of all that had happened.

He clearly remembered seeing flashes under the helicopters. Whoever was in those helicopters had deliberately set off explosions to trigger the avalanches, but who would be interested in destroying the lodge?