Hello everyone! This chapter is going to take an interesting turn, so be ready for it. I hope you enjoy this twist of events that are going to help us lead up to the rescue scene. Enjoy!

~CHAPTER 16~

Rain drizzled down from the cloudy sky. The forest floor was wet, yet still filled with life.

Pebbleblaze pushed herself parallel to the ground. Her blue eyes narrowed as she locked her gaze onto her target: a small mouse searching for seeds in the undergrowth. The small island was teeming with prey of all kinds, and she and Heronflight had decided to go hunting for some while Dawn set up their trophy in the tower.

Not daring to make a sound, Pebbleblaze held her breath. She wiggled her haunches and sprang.

The mouse let out a startled squeak and began darting for cover. But it was too late. Pebbleblaze grasped the warm body in her paws and finished it with the killing bite.

"Nice catch!" Heronflight praised, emerging from the bushes. He laid down a pair of voles. "I can't believe how much prey there is here!"

Pebbleblaze nodded. "It's absolutely crowded with them."

Suddenly, Heronflight dropped to the ground. His gray-and-white tail whisked behind him, sweeping up a few green fallen leaves. He motioned with his ears and Pebbleblaze followed his gesture.

Ahead of them, a rabbit was nibbling on the grass, unaware of the two RiverClan warriors. Pebbleblaze licked her lips, imagining biting into its juicy meat.

Heronflight stalked forward. Pebbleblaze kneaded the ground.

Then, as Heronflight neared the crouch, his paw stepped on a stray stick. It snapped in half, echoing out against the trees. The rabbit startled, froze, and then broke into a run.

Heronflight growled in frustration.

"StarClan-cursed twig," Pebbleblaze meowed in sympathy. But Heronflight didn't seem ready to give up. He bounded after his prey. Quickly, Pebbleblaze pursued him, catching up to him.

Heronflight sped up, nearing the rabbit. Pebbleblaze did as well, trying to get herself in front of the rabbit so that Heronflight could chase it into her paws.

There was a screech of panic from behind her. Whirling around, Pebbleblaze saw Heronflight tumbling into the earth. She yowled and hurried towards him, ignoring the fluffy white bobtail disappearing into a bush.

It seemed that a hole had suddenly opened up within the ground, creating a pocket that Heronflight had fallen into.

"Are you alright?" Pebbleblaze checked, anxiously circling the gap.

Heronflight shook out his pelt, the hole barely wide enough for him to stand. "Yeah. It just scared me, that's all."

Pebbleblaze let out a silent breath of relief. "Can you get out?"

Silence held for a second, followed by the scrabbling of Heronflight's paws against rough dirt.

"No," the gray-and-white tom responded, his tone remaining calm. "I can't find any pawholds and the dirt just falls apart when I try to make a crevice."

Pebbleblaze lashed her tail back and forth, pacing. "I'm going to go fetch Dawn for help," she decided aloud.

Leaving her mate trapped in his muddy prison, she headed for the tower. Upon arriving, she quickly climbed the rocks, wishing desperately that Heronflight could do the same in order for him to escape.

Dawn was busy sorting through the Twoleg clutter, organizing it neatly. The trophy was positioned on a higher shelf alongside a few other shiny Twoleg goods. The creamy she-cat rummaged through a box, sniffing around to identify what was in front of her.

"Dawn," Pebbleblaze mewed, grabbing her friend's attention.

Giving a friend wave of her tail, Dawn turned around. "Hi, Pebbleblaze!" she greeted cheerfully. "How did the hunting go?"

Pebbleblaze shook her head. "It was going good, until... Heronflight fell into a hole. Somehow the ground opened up and there was a pocket of earth. We have no idea how to get him out."

"I've heard of that happening before," Dawn murmured. "I never thought of it occurring around here. Eventually, the dirt beneath land can erode or shift away, which then opens a hole. The grass still covers it, which makes it impossible to see. And since it's raining, the conditions would be almost perfect for that to happen, since the moisture would help it to do so. You made sure he can't get out on his own?"

"Of course I did!" Pebbleblaze snapped. She drew back a paw. "Sorry. I'm just worried about Heronflight."

Dawn rested her tail on Pebbleblaze's back. "We'll rescue him, don't worry. He won't be trapped down there forever. Give me a minute to gather some supplies."

While she was waiting for Dawn to get ready, Pebbleblaze washed herself, feeling the heat of worry pulsing through her pelt. She could almost see dirt suddenly caving in around Heronflight, blocking out his air. What if it's too late when we get there?

Moments later, Dawn returned, carrying a rope. She spat it out on the ground. "It tastes really bad."

"I can help you carry it," Pebbleblaze offered. Dawn quickly accepted the generous volunteer.

Together, the she-cats heaved the rope through the forest to the location where Heronflight was still stuck. He didn't seem to be in panic, instead giving a welcome to his friends like he was still above the ground.

"Heronflight, we're going to get you out of there," Dawn promised dragging one end of the rope to the gap. She tossed it in, warning Heronflight to step aside to avoid being hit.

Pebbleblaze joined Dawn by the side of it, looking over. "How are we going to get him out?"

I know the obvious answer should be to let Heronflight take one end of the rope, Pebbleblaze told herself. But the hole is so narrow!

"We'll have to try the classic method," Dawn replied. "Heronflight, grab the end I put in there. Pebbleblaze and I will pull on the rope. You need to try and used your hind claws to grab onto the dirt and push yourself up to help us out. It'll be a tight squeeze, but I think we might be able to do it!"

Heronflight obeyed the command and latched his forepaws onto the thick string. Pebbleblaze took the end of the rope, while Dawn made for the part nearest to the hole. Both she-cats pulled, while Heronflight began forcing himself up, inching closer to the entrance.

StarClan, please help us! Pebbleblaze prayed.

The rope got lighter all of a sudden, and for a heartbeat, Pebbleblaze thought that Heronflight had managed to make it out. Her heart dropped when she saw Dawn sadly dropping her piece.

"I lost my grip," Heronflight reported. "The dirt is just too soft! I can barely get a firm grip on it."

"There's no other way to get you out," Dawn confirmed. "We have to keep trying."

A rustling noise came from the hole. Heronflight gasped.

"A pile of dirt just fell in beside me! I think the hole might be starting to cave in," he said, worry finally edging into his voice.

Fear tugged at Pebbleblaze like icy claws. Her fear was coming true: it might be too late to save her mate.

"Stay calm," Dawn reassured him, although there was a note of un-confidence with her order.

"We need to save him!" Pebbleblaze wailed, feeling her breath enter into her lungs strongly, as if she were hyperventilating.

Dawn yanked on her rope. "Pebbleblaze, take the end of the rope and hurry! We might not have much time. Once the hole begins to fall in, it won't stop falling in. If we want to save Heronflight, we need to act. Fast."

Pebbleblaze fiercely pulled. You won't take Heronflight! she screamed at the hole silently, putting all her strength into her ferocious towing. She closed her eyes and hoped for the best.

Then, a yowl of triumph came from Heronflight. He had made it out!

"Now run!" Dawn directed them, breaking for the nearby bushes. Pebbleblaze knew why she was telling them to do so; she could feel the earth tremble and vibrate beneath her paws. In a flash, she joined Dawn with Heronflight pushing in beside them.

She heard a deep rumbling sound as the dirt finished piling in, filling the crevice.

"That was close," Heronflight breath in astonishment. He rubbed his cheek against both Pebbleblaze and Dawn. "Thank you for saving me!"

"I would never leave you," Pebbleblaze reassured him.

An odd silence wafted from Dawn. Her face suddenly brightened. "I know where my friends are!" she exclaimed.

Heronflight and Pebbleblaze turned to her in confusion. "How?" Heronflight queried.

"When Heronflight was underground, and the hole was covering him, I realized that places underground might be the best places for hiding something - or someone," Dawn explained. "I wonder if there's an underground cave somewhere, or maybe even nearby, that they've been taken to. It all makes sense: no one would think to look underground!"