The trek back to the entrance takes the Mousecateers a while as the passageways are sometimes narrow and the rock surface difficult to navigate. Nero hopes that Lucinda’s light doesn’t fail, but she has assured him she has brought her portable charger if she needs it.
Brango springs up as soon as they appear, his tail vibrating. He welcomes each of them, nose touching and head bunting each one. They had been gone so long, he had feared for their safety.
When Nero tells them about the lake and their plan to ferry everyone over and escape to freedom, everyone’s ears prick up. Even the oldest cats look excited. They have all had enough of living in a damp cave. Nero’s confidence communicates to all. He doesn’t mention the eel. The cats must decide to try this plan, as he knows it will be the only choice they have.
Soon, Lucinda has them organised into groups to look for the supplies she needs and who will carry what. It will take several expeditions to get all the materials for the raft to the lake, so the first party sets off with what they can carry. They will return to gather more. The senior cats must rest and be helped through the tunnels when the raft is completed and trialled, and they are ready to leave. In the meantime, they must rest and gather their strength.
The images and videos were generated by AI from the author’s prompts.
