𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

36.. creatures lurk below the deck

The group stood there for a moment, contemplating the situation. The cavern was pretty much a dead-end, at least as far as they could tell.

The walls were solid rock, and the waterfall was the only entrance or exit they could find.

Frypan crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, that ain't good."

Nancy was looking around too, her brows furrowed. "So we're stuck here, then?"

Minho ran his hand along the wall, feeling the smooth rock. "Yeah, I doubt we're going to find an hidden passage or anything."

Thèrèse let out a frustrated sigh, eyeing the wall skeptically. "This is exactly the kind of situation we didn't need. Stuck in a dead-end, soaking wet. Great."

Nancy and the others murmured their agreement, the reality of the situation beginning to sink in.

They were effectively trapped in the cave.

Harriet leaned back against the wall, folding her arms. "Well, we have one option here."

Sonya raised an eyebrow. "And that is...?"

Gally was the first to figure out Harriet's implication. He let out a low whistle. "You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"

Harriet met his gaze with a serious nod. "Looks like it. We might have to swim back through the waterfall. It's our only way out."

"And leave the ship behind?" Luke looked around in a judgemental manner.

The others looked at each other, the idea sinking in. Leaving the ship was risky. It was their only transport, their source of safety and supplies. But the alternatives were limited.

Frypan spoke up with a heavy sigh, "It's not ideal, but what choice do we have?"

Teresa frowned, her mind going over the different scenarios. "This is... not good. We're talking about several days, if not weeks, of travel without a ship to get back to the Safe Haven. It's dangerous enough as it is out there. Without the safety and supplies we have on the ship..."

Nancy spoke up next, her voice filled with worry. "She's right. Without the ship, we're exposed. More vulnerable. And it'll be a hell of a lot harder to find our way back home."

The others listened, knowing that she was right. Surviving outside, especially on an Island infested with Cranks and with no vehicle, no shelter... It was a grim prospect.

The silence that fell over the group was tense, each of them thinking about the consequences. Minho was the first to speak up, his voice serious.

"I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice. We can't stay here. That waterfall is the only way out, which means we have to leave the ship."

"Can't the ship get through?" Hugo asked.

Thèrèse shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The waterfall is too strong and the path through is too narrow for a ship this big. It would get stuck, or worse, damaged if it tried to go through."

Thomas chimed in, "We'd pretty much be screwed if we tried to ram our way through. And even if we did make it, there's no telling what could break on the ship in the process."

"Exactly," Thèrèse nodded grimly. "We'd risk a lot more by trying to force the ship through, not to mention wasting valuable supplies in the process. It's a risk we can't afford to take."

The others nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. It was a tough call, but leaving the ship seemed like the only viable option.

Frypan sighed, looking around the group. "So, it's decided then. We're swimming back through the waterfall."