Dawn broke with an eerie stillness, the jungle shrouded in mist. The storm had lessened, but the damage was done.
The ground was thick with mud, making every step treacherous. Water dripped from the heavy canopy above, the weight of the previous night's rain still clinging to the leaves.
A bone-deep chill settled over the survivors as they packed what little supplies they had and prepared to move.
Athena took the lead. She had barely slept, her mind racing with strategies and contingency plans.
The creatures might have retreated, but she knew they weren't gone. They were watching. Waiting.
"We need to find higher ground," she said, adjusting the straps of her bag.
"If the storm worsens again, staying in a low-lying area will be a death sentence. Floods will sweep us away."
The others nodded, exhaustion evident in their faces.
Lisa was hunched over, rubbing her arms for warmth. "What about the crew? They still haven't contacted us."
