What do you think Karana and Rontu-Aru experience at the end of chapter 27?

That would be an earthquake. Karana runs inland just in time to save herself, but a second wave is even larger. She has to cling to the cliff for her life. The flooding leaves her stranded for the night, and she sleeps at the foot of the cliff.

When she finally gets home, Rontu-Aru is thrilled to see her. That evening, Karana is out gathering water from the spring when a large earthquake throws her to the ground. Although the earthquake damages the entrance to her house, she is not upset, but rather relieved that it did not do more damage.