She grabbed her daughter, holding her tight, feeling the small body trembling against hers. "We're safe up here," she whispered, almost to convince herself. "We're high. The cave will protect us."
Outside, the storm hit with sudden ferocity. Trees were uprooted, their roots clawing at the earth before snapping and flying in all directions. Debris collided with the ground, creating an eerie, chaotic symphony. The waves crashed against the coastline far below, tearing sand, trees, and anything in their path into a whirling, unstoppable tide.
She crouched deeper in the cave, covering her daughter with her arms and wrapping herself around her. Each roar of the water, each crash of a fallen tree, sent shivers down her spine. She knew that anyone still down there—any survivors in the lowlands—had no chance against the sheer power of the incoming tsunami.
From the cave entrance, she risked a glance, her pulse hammering in her temples. The water surged like a living thing, ripping through the lower forest and fields. Trees were stripped bare, entire groves uprooted and tossed like matchsticks. Clouds of mud and spray filled the air, and she could see remnants of huts and structures from below being obliterated, swallowed by the immense force.
Tears threatened, but she held her daughter tighter. "We survived," she murmured, feeling the warmth of life pressed against her chest. "We survived because we were smart, because we moved early."
Her daughter, despite her fear, clung to her tightly. She whispered, "Mom… it's gone… everything…"
"Yes," she replied softly. "But we're here. And we're safe. We'll stay alive."
Hours passed, the storm battering the mountain with rain and wind, but the cave held firm. The roaring of the tsunami faded into the distance, leaving only a devastated, transformed world below. She held her daughter close, exhausted but vigilant, knowing that the real challenge would come now—finding food, water, and rebuilding some semblance of life in a land forever changed.
For now, though, she allowed herself to breathe, to feel the warmth of her daughter pressed against her chest, and to watch the aftermath in silence. They were alive. That was all that mattered in this moment.
The storm finally eased, leaving behind a heavy, humid calm. The rain had stopped, and the wind now whispered through the treetops instead of howling. Exhausted, she and her daughter had curled together in their makeshift cave beds, holding each other through the night. Sleep came in short, restless waves, but it was enough to restore some of their strength.
As morning light filtered through the cave entrance, she stirred, blinking against the dim glow. Her daughter yawned and stretched beside her, hair damp from the lingering humidity. Carefully, they both rose, muscles stiff from days of travel, stress, and the long night of tension.
She pulled her daughter close, feeling her warmth and the reassuring rise and fall of her chest. "Good morning, my brave girl," she whispered, brushing hair from her daughter's face. "Let's see what the world looks like today."
They stepped slowly to the cave entrance. The forest stretched out before them, washed clean by the storm. Muddy trails snaked down the slopes, and the air smelled of wet earth, broken leaves, and salt carried on the breeze.
Her daughter clutched her hand tightly, eyes wide as she took in the devastation. "Mom… everything…" she whispered.
"I know, love," she replied softly, gripping her daughter's hand back. "It's a lot. But we're high enough. We're safe."
She took a deep breath, scanning the horizon. Far below, the water that had carried the tsunami had receded, leaving small, muddy pools. The forest floor glistened, and some of the larger trees that had survived the wave swayed gently, as if sighing with relief. Birds cautiously returned, their calls hesitant but growing stronger.
She felt her pulse steady, determination growing. "Come on, Kate. Today, we keep moving. Today, we make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."
Her daughter nodded, trust shining in her eyes. Together, they stepped further out of the cave, into the aftermath of the tsunami, ready to face the transformed world.
We sat on the grass mats we had made inside the cave, eating the fruits and vegetables we had stored. The small wild yams were soft, the tropical spinach slightly bitter, but together with the mango and passion fruit, it was enough to keep our strength up. Kate chewed slowly, her eyes bright but thoughtful, and I smiled at her.
"We need to make a list," I said, my voice low but steady. "What we have, what we need, and what we should try to find today."
Kate nodded. "More water?" she asked.
"Yes, always," I replied. "The small spring is good, but we need to check for another one. And food—more fruits, maybe something we can trap. Rabbits or something like them. And firewood. We need to keep the fire alive, especially if it rains again."
I traced the outline of the mountain in the dirt with a stick. "We've seen those huts on the other side," I said slowly. "But we don't know if they survived the tsunami. We can't tell from here. The water could have reached them, or maybe they were high enough… we just don't know."
Kate's eyes widened. "Other people?"
"Yes," I said softly. "They might be safe, or they might be gone. We can't be sure. We need to plan carefully before we go there. Observation first. And we keep ourselves safe."
I paused, thinking aloud. "For now, we survive on what we have. Water, food, fire, shelter… and maybe weapons if we can make them stronger. We need to stay alert. If the huts are untouched, we'll decide what to do next. If they were hit, then the forest might hold everything we need."
Kate looked at me seriously. "Do you think anyone survived?"
I shook my head slowly, brushing her hair back. "We can't count on anyone. Not yet. We survived because we were careful. That's all we have. But if the huts are safe… maybe we'll find someone there. For now, though, we focus on us, on staying strong and alive."
We ate in silence for a while, letting the food warm our bodies and calm our nerves. I stared toward the other side of the mountain, imagining the huts and wondering what had become of them. For now, though, I felt a quiet resolve settle over me. We were high enough to be safe from the water, hidden enough to avoid danger, and strong enough—together—to plan our next move.