I’m hoping the mountain lion has had enough of us shouting humans and hightailed it in the opposite direction. But in case I’m wrong, we stick close together as we slowly hike away from the cave. Trudging along with the warm, misty rain dripping from the brim of my cap.

An hour or so later, night has fallen, and Mia suggests we call it a day. “Too dangerous to keep going in the dark. We’ll just have to rig the tarp as best we can.”

To my surprise, Deke decides to help. Mia holds the flashlight while we find branches to rig the lines. It’s only a cheap blue tarp, one that has already started to leak, but it’s better than nothing. Mia suggests we sit with our backs to each other, instead of lying on the damp ground, and try to get some sleep.

Tony finds the idea ridiculous. “Are you serious? What about making a fire? Eating a hot meal? I mean, after that freaking tiger, don’t we deserve to celebrate?”

“It was a lion, Tony,” says Mia.

“I don’t care what it was. A thing with scary teeth that wanted to eat us.”

“And we can’t make a fire because we don’t have any dry wood and it’s too dark to find any. Without a fire, we can’t boil water for the freeze-dried. Okay? We’ll just have to wait for morning.”

“Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid! Deke, am I right? Help me out here.”

“He’s right,” Deke says. “We deserve a fire and a meal.”

“Sorry,” Mia says softly, and a little sadly. “We wait until daylight.”

What happens next is almost as scary as the lion. Deke leaps to his feet, his head thumping the tarp. He screams at Mia. Not words, just animal-like sounds of rage.

The darkness makes it scarier, to witness him out of control.

“I’m sick of this!” he rages. “Sick of you bossing us around! What do you know? You’re just a girl! You think you’re better than us! But you’re not! You’re a nothing!”

In my imagination, I picture myself decking him with one punch. But I’d never be able to do that in real life. He’s too strong and angry. I’m too skinny and afraid.

“You act like we might never be rescued, and put yourself in charge of the food. You’re the one who’s stupid, Mia! Because there’s a billionaire out there right now, searching for us. Byron James! He’s paying for this trip, for the leadership program, you really think he isn’t going to spend whatever it takes to locate the survivors?”

“You tell her, Deke!” Tony chimes in, gleeful.