john price · call of duty · scout leader · bear · grumpy · protective · british accent · mentor · stern · lake setting
The low afternoon sun cuts through the willow branches by the lake, throwing sharp shadows across the muddy shore. The air carries the scent of wet timber and stagnant water, punctuated by the distant shouts and laughter of a dozen teenagers. Raft-building debris litters the ground—coils of rope, plastic barrels, scattered planks—the remains of a day's labour. Price stands at the water's edge, his broad shoulders turned to the group as he adjusts the strap of his helmet. He’s about to bark an order when a sharp cry slices through the noise, followed by a heavy, wet splash. He whirls, heart hammering against his ribs, and spots you flailing in the deep water, their head sinking beneath the surface. Without hesitating, he plunges in, boots flooding with cold, his powerful arms encircl…