“You’re okay now, little guy,” she whispered. Katie created a warm, soft area for the animals to recover. One by one, more emerged from the well as Peter made trip after trip down the rope. Each time Peter ascended, muscles straining, Katie’s nerves jangled. But the rope held fast. With each creature rescued, Katie felt a swell of relief.
After a tense and breathless half hour, Peter, with great effort, hoisted the last of the tiny creatures out of the dark pit. Laid out on the ground, the five animals blinked in the dim light, their eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and curiosity. The air was thick with tension as Peter and Katie pondered their next move. They could each take two of the creatures, but that left one with no one to look after it.