The rain pounded down, relentless and heavy, the storm showing no signs of stopping. Zhang, Maria, and Carter moved swiftly through the downpour, the deer still tied securely to the spear Zhang carried. The weight of their catch was exhausting, but the adrenaline of their narrow escape from the creature in the meadow kept them moving. The flashes of lightning illuminated their path as they made their way back toward the safe house.As they neared the tree line, something in the rain caught Zhang's eye. A low ripple in the flooded ground, moving unnaturally against the current. His instincts kicked in. He froze mid-step, eyes narrowing as he watched the dark shape slither closer through the murky water.Carter turned, noticing Zhang had stopped. "Zhang, what—"Before he could finish, Zhang raised his hand silently, signaling them to halt. His breath caught in his throat. There, in the muddy water not far from where they stood, was a massive Nile crocodile. The creature's eyes gleamed, barely visible through the rain, but unmistakable. It was slowly approaching, using the storm as cover.Zhang's mind raced. They couldn't afford to make a sound, couldn't afford to panic. His hand drifted toward his dagger, slowly pulling it from his belt. He gestured subtly to Carter and Maria, urging them to retreat back toward the safe house. Their eyes widened in realization, and they nodded silently, stepping back carefully, trying to stay as quiet as possible.The crocodile, massive and ancient, began to move faster, its powerful tail swishing through the water. It was only a matter of time before it struck.Zhang knew he had no choice. He couldn't let it reach the others.With a deep breath, Zhang lunged forward, plunging into the water. The impact sent ripples surging through the flooded ground, and in an instant, the crocodile reacted. Its jaws snapped open, aiming for Zhang's leg, but Zhang twisted just in time, diving deeper into the water. The rain was thick, blurring his vision, but he could feel the beast's presence, its body sliding past him as they both wrestled under the water.He drove the dagger into its side, but the thick scales were tougher than he expected. The blade glanced off, barely making a scratch. Zhang gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip, and thrust the dagger again, this time aiming for the softer skin near its belly.The crocodile thrashed violently, its tail whipping through the water with enough force to knock the breath out of Zhang's lungs. He struggled to hold on, his hands slipping in the rain and mud. His muscles burned from the effort, but he refused to let go.Suddenly, the crocodile's jaws snapped shut, inches from his face, the teeth gleaming in the brief flash of lightning. Zhang rolled to the side, plunging the dagger deep into its neck. The creature let out a low, guttural hiss, thrashing even harder now, desperate to throw him off. Zhang twisted the blade, feeling the resistance of muscle and sinew as he drove it deeper.With one final, violent spasm, the crocodile's movements slowed. The beast shuddered, its jaws clenching once more before it went still, its body sinking into the muddy water.Zhang gasped for air, the rain pouring down his face as he pulled himself out of the water. His chest heaved, his arms shaking from the strain of the fight. For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the massive body of the crocodile, trying to comprehend what had just happened.Carter and Maria rushed over, eyes wide with shock. "Zhang!" Maria shouted, her voice barely audible over the storm. "You—how—?"Zhang didn't answer right away. He was too exhausted to speak, his breath still coming in ragged gasps. Instead, he motioned for them to help him drag the crocodile out of the water. They moved quickly, working together to haul the heavy carcass toward the safe house.By the time they arrived, Jason was waiting at the door, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of the deer—and the crocodile."You guys weren't kidding," Jason muttered, shaking his head in astonishment. "You just brought home a whole damn zoo."Zhang, drenched and exhausted, managed a weak smile. "Got lucky."Jason didn't waste time. He grabbed some tools and quickly began preparing the meat, working with an efficiency that came from years of survival. As he worked, Zhang collapsed into a chair, wiping the rain from his face. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, leaving behind only the dull ache of fatigue.Maria, still buzzing with nervous energy, glanced at him. "You fought that thing... in the water? By yourself?"Zhang shrugged, wincing slightly as he shifted his sore muscles. "Didn't have much of a choice."Carter shook his head, still in disbelief. "Man, I've seen you do some crazy stuff, but that—" He trailed off, shaking his head again. "That was something else."Jason, already cutting strips of the crocodile meat, glanced up. "We'll eat well tonight. You saved our asses out there."Zhang leaned back in the chair, his body finally relaxing as the tension drained away. The storm outside still raged, the rain battering the windows, but for the first time in hours, Zhang felt a strange sense of peace. They had food, they had shelter, and for now, they were safe.The fight was over. But in the back of his mind, Zhang knew it wouldn't be the last.As Jason worked to prepare the meal, the group muttered softly to each other, their voices a low hum amidst the storm. The occasional crackle of thunder punctuated the quiet conversation, but despite the harsh weather, they all shared a sense of victory, of survival.Zhang stared out the window at the rain-soaked world beyond. The storm wasn't over—not by a long shot. But for tonight, they had won.