Turning The Tide

They kept moving around with worrisome faces hidden by their helms.

Minutes turned into an agonizing half-hour, the silence from Lara within the dome as deafening as the roar of the creatures that prowled the wilderness behind them.

The group, steadfast and unyielding, waited. Their suits hummed softly, the only sound amidst the oppressive quiet.

"We're sitting ducks out here," Decker remarked, his gaze fixed on the shadows that moved just beyond the range of their visors. "Those beasts won't ignore us forever."

Suleiman turned to address the team. "We hold our ground," he stated with resolve. "Lara knows we're coming. There has to be a reason for the silence. We stay put until we make contact."

"What if something has happened?" Clarise questioned with a tone of concern.

"That is plausible, but we still have to give her more time," Suleiman answered with a hopeful tone.