Free Caught on Camera by Meg Maguire

visibility. Kate’s pack contained a flare gun, but there was no point setting one off to try to alert the safety team, not in these conditions. At this rate the dogs’ tracks would be obliterated within the hour. They needed to at least get to that fork, and fast.
    The silence out here was eerie, broken only by the creaking of their boots in the wet snow. Trudging a few paces behind her, Ty spoke, his muffled words wasted. He jogged a few steps to walk on her good side. “Kate?”
    â€œDon’t talk to me.”
    For a long time, the better half of an hour, he didn’t. When he did speak again, all he said was, “We need to think about shelter.”
    Kate didn’t reply at first. She got the camera out and handed Ty the empty case to carry. Flicking on the power, she trained the viewfinder on his tired face.
    â€œNot now, Kate.”
    â€œDo your job,” she said coldly. “I’ve always done mine.”
    Ty sighed and the look in his eyes was one of sad obedience. As he walked, Ty addressed the camera, informing the audience about Saskatchewan, about the unseasonable weather currently dogging them, about gear. Kate tuned out, lost in her own worries. Eventually Ty fell silent and she shut the camera off. They continued in heavy silence and even heavier snow.
    Eventually Kate broke the long lapse in conversation. “This really doesn’t look good.” She stared at the ominous pewter sky swirling above them.
    Ty shook his head in agreement. “We’re not going to make it to the safety crew.”
    â€œNo, we haven’t even reached the fork.” She thought for a moment. “Tent’s on the sled.”
    â€œYeah. We may need to build something.”
    Kate sighed, accepting her fate. At least this was their area of expertise, plus working kept her calm. She turned the camera back on. “Rolling.”
    â€œJesus, Kate. Now?”
    â€œYeah, we’ve still got to bring home forty-two minutes’ worth of airable footage. We’re not giving up just because we lost the fishing spot. This is better, even—you’re always complaining about authenticity.”
    The corner of his mouth twitched. “Fine. But don’t think I don’t suspect you’re doing this to get out of helping.” Hisattempt at reestablishing their old levity didn’t stand a chance against Kate’s current mood.
    â€œWhat are you going to do, Ty? Fire me?” She hid the true bitterness of her words behind the lens, making them sound light and pithy, though she was still fuming. He may as well have fired her. That’s exactly what it felt like. Still… Her track record for talking Ty into things was impressive, and if she could just be patient and let the shock of the accident fade, she might be able to change his mind about his ridiculous decision.
    â€œOkay,” Ty said to the camera. “I’ve decided that reaching the safety crew’s not going to happen fast enough in this storm, so I’ve got to reprioritize and get a shelter assembled, in case I can’t get out of here before tomorrow. The things I’m most concerned with are the cold and dampness. I need to get something built up off the ground—” he mimed a shape with his hands “—with a buffer against the wind, even if I don’t have time to get four walls in place. We’re working with a few more hours of so-called daylight, I’d guess. I’m also worried about a fire, since the film crew and I got pretty wet when the sled pitched us.
    â€œNow, looking around—” he waved his arms around at the snowy, slushy scene, and Kate scanned it with the camera “—you wouldn’t reckon we’d have much luck trying to get a fire going. But if you’ve watched this show enough times I hope I’ve taught you that you can almost always get a fire started even if the tinder’s looking grim. Anyhow, I’m