A new evolution.
?????
Later in the day, the human Stella gathers a small group of us beneath the main cave’s tree - Maysee and me, Faith, and several other humans. Shorek and Zoxsym join at my back as well.
“Look,” Stella whispers, holding her tablet up for all of us to see. Several of the camera screens are offline, now. Either destroyed by the tornado or drowned in the floods. On the still functioning screens, the storm rages on. Another blinks out as we watch. One that was on the human ship itself. Then another, and another, until only the highest remains.
“This is catastrophic,” Faith says, watching it with wide, reddened eyes. “Will anything function on the ship after this?”
“I’m sure we can salvage some things,” Stella says. Her skin has grown more and more pale as we watched the screens.
“Is that it, then?” one of the other humans asks, “We’re stuck? We’re really trapped here...”
Stella shakes her head. “I saved what I could of our comms systems. We could still contact Earth. We could-”
“Enough!” Faith’s eyes are closed. “Enough. We won’t stand around and speculate and worry ourselves sick.” Her eyes open and narrow, determined now. “One task at a time.” She nods at Macy. “We will be grateful that we’ve survived so far, and we’ll rebuild. Or build anew. After the storm.”
“After the storm.” Everyone agrees, nodding, steeling themselves against their fears and worries. It’s impressive, really, how these humans face such adversity and disappointment and still trudge on with their heads held high.
“It will be a long haul. Whatever we’re able to do. So, we have to get comfortable with this. Comfortable on this planet. And one more important question.” Faith raises her eyebrows. “Who rescued some liquor?”