The Hunt Pack

In the rugged heart of the Chilkoot Pass, the Saxon Saloon bursts with raucous celebration. Packers and stampeders, cloaked in furs and mud‑streaked coats, crowd around gaming tables and a roaring stove, swapping tall tales while the air swirls with smoke, music, and laughter. The atmosphere crackles with camaraderie, a brief reprieve from the deadly climbs and frozen rivers that have already claimed many hopeful prospectors.

Against this backdrop, a frost‑bitten couple staggers in, their parkas still steaming as icicles melt on the hearth. Their sudden appearance draws the wary eye of Tom Bassett, a hard‑nosed veteran whose grip tightens around the newcomer’s shoulder, demanding names and motives. The tension hints at hidden rivalries and unsettled debts among the hardened adventurers, promising a clash that could ripple through the fragile peace of Happy Camp.