One main theme could be sacrifice. Characters might have to give up something important like their comfort or relationships in order to survive. Another could be the value of resources. In a survival situation, resources become crucial and the story may explore how characters obtain and manage them.
Without reading the 'the cost of survival short story', it's difficult to name the exact main characters. But in survival stories, there are often characters with different skills. For example, there could be a character who is good at finding food and water, and another who is better at building shelters. These types of characters would play important roles in the story's survival plot.
One idea could be a story about a lonely lighthouse keeper. He has spent years in isolation, watching the sea. One day, he discovers a strange object washed ashore. This object turns out to be a magical item that starts to change his life and the way he views the world around him.
Imagine a world where people can exchange their dreams. A person who is always dissatisfied with their own dreams decides to trade with others. But they soon realize that each dream has its own problems and that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Through this experience, they learn to appreciate their own dreams and the unique experiences they bring.
Perhaps 'Alone in the Jungle' is a short story about basic survival. It could depict someone lost in a jungle and having to use their wits and skills to find food, water, and shelter.
One common theme is self - reliance. Characters often have to rely on themselves to find food, water, and shelter. Another is the struggle against nature. For example, in 'To Build a Fire', the man battles the extreme cold. Also, there's the theme of human nature. In 'Lord of the Flies', the boys' survival situation reveals the darker side of human nature.
A girl finds an old, mysterious diary in the attic of her new home. As she starts reading it, she discovers that it was written by a girl who lived in the house decades ago. The diary reveals that the girl was into some dark magic and made a deal with an evil entity. Now, as the current girl reads the diary, she starts experiencing strange events. Things in her room move on their own, and she has nightmares of the entity from the diary coming to get her.
One idea could be a story about an old, abandoned house at the end of a dark lane. A young girl, curious about the rumors surrounding it, decides to enter. Once inside, she hears strange whispers and feels cold hands on her shoulders, but when she turns around, there's no one there. As she explores further, she discovers a locked room with a faint red glow seeping from under the door.
You could write a short story about a time - traveling journalist. He travels back to the Victorian era to cover a big event. But when he gets there, he realizes that his modern - day knowledge and gadgets make him stand out and cause all kinds of trouble. He has to blend in and complete his assignment while also trying not to change the course of history.