a picture of a cabin on a mountain side

**The Mountains Take Back Their Land** I thought the cabin would be my escape, a way to reset after everything. It was tucked away in the mountains, far from the noise of the real world. I’d bought it from some old miners who’d left behind empty caves and dreams. The biggest “mine” near my property was more of a gaping cave, abandoned long ago. The plan was simple: spend a few quiet days before heading home. But on my last night, a rainstorm unlike anything I’d ever seen hit. The roads were flooded, my car was useless, and the power? Completely gone. With no phone and no way out, I decided to make the best of it. The storm had made the woods lush and alive, and my trusty Polaroid camera still had a few shots left. The walk started beautifully. The rain had left the forest glistening, the green so vivid it felt surreal. But something was off. The trail was covered in broken branches. Not a few--dozens, maybe hundreds. Too many for a storm, even one this bad. Hours passed, and the sun began to set. On a whi