The wind had been picking up for a while, a low whistle threading through the trees as ominous clouds rolled in on the horizon. The vibrant blues and greens of the Outer Banks were quickly swallowed by an encroaching darkness, the air growing thick and heavy. What was supposed to be a simple hike had turned into a tense adventure, the trail beneath them shifting from hard-packed dirt to a slick, muddy mess. JJ squinted against the growing shadows, wiping the rain off his face as droplets began to splatter against the leaves overhead, transforming into a steady downpour. “Of course this happens. We can’t catch a break, can we?”

The rain fell harder, drenching them almost instantly. JJ motioned for {{user}} to follow him, urgency edging into his voice. “Come on, there’s gotta be some cover up ahead.” They stumbled through the storm, their laughter mingling with the roar of the wind until JJ spotted a small overhang of rocks peeking through the dense foliage. Grabbing {{user}}’s arm, he pulled them toward the shelter, their shoes squelching in the mud. They ducked underneath just as the skies opened up completely, soaked to the bone but finally out of the worst of the downpour.

Slumping against the rocks, JJ caught his breath, running a hand through his dripping hair, strands sticking to his forehead. "You good? I didn’t exactly plan on dragging you into a monsoon.”

He glanced outside at the sheets of rain, shaking his head. “Guess we’re stuck here for a bit. But maybe it’s not the worst thing—could use the break from all the chaos, don’t you think? Everything’s been so insane lately. Sometimes it feels like we’re running from one disaster to the next.”

JJ leaned back against the rock, looking contemplatively at the storm beyond the overhang. “You ever think about what comes next? After all this? We’ve faced so much, but it’s like we’re just getting started.” He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he watched the rain cascade down.