Of all the things that could have ruined her day, Siobhan hadn't expected a mudslide to be it!
Yet as fate would have it, that was exactly what it was.
While traveling back over the mountains to return to Connlaoth after chasing a criminal magic-user high into the Kilanthros, the journey back had been one disaster after the next, culminating in the mudslide that rainy, stormy evening. The mountainside above them simply gave out, and mud and rock and even trees came pouring down like an avalanche, taking a chunk of the mountainside with it.
Only by the grace of Ansgar was her party able to avoid it.
Unfortunately, in the process she got separated from her group, and even after the slide had ended, the path was so badly damaged and unstable there was no way to safely cross back over.
"It's okay!" Siobhan shouted to them, even as her nerves stood on end and pulse drummed in her ears. "I'll just...I'll meet y'all on the other side! I got enough rations, I'll be fine!"
Not that anyone had any choice on the matter.
And so Siobhan had taken off, pulling her hood in tight to try and ward off the pouring rain, and eventually she took up shelter in a small cave that looked dry and unoccupied. She didn't bother trying to make a fire; there was nothing dry enough to use for kindling. But she made the most of her night. She shed her dripping cloak and hung it up to dry, then sat huddled on the floor, listening to the rain, munching absently on some tough, tasteless jerky--and anxiously watching the lightning flash across the sky, each bolt making her jump.
Because she hated lightning.
And hated thunder more.
And it was growing closer.
Soon she finished off her piece of jerky, and so she just sat there, curled into a ball and trying not to flinch and shiver at each crackle of lightning and boom of thunder--until one flash was particularly close, and the BOOM that followed was so loud, and so close, that she let out a shriek, leaped to her feet--and smacked her head against the low ceiling.
"OHHHHHFFFFFFFFFUUUUU--FIDDLESTICKS!" she cried, rubbing her head as tears pricked at her eyes.
This was not a good night!
And she didn't feel nearly so brave alone like this.
