175 She is Indeed Stuck (2/2)

”Yup! You better get started soon, or we'll be too late.” She prodded.

”While I am inexperienced in digging, I'll do my best.” Liam said as scales formed along his fore-arms and his fingers became dragon claws. He immediately got to work.

Gerard was watching from the cover of the trees. He didn't notice that a large furry creature slowly descended next to him on a gossamer string. But for some reason, he shifted his eyes to his side. A large, tarantula -like spider hissed at him.

”Aaaah!” He screamed, leaping away from the spider, and out into the open. Regular spiders were fine, but this one was as big as his face! He shuddered, and edged away from the trees.

”Oh come now! It's only a giant singing spider! They're harmless. Now you've gone and scared it off. Probably frightened the poor dear half to death.” Chelsea clicked her tongue.

Gerard didn't say anything. But he spoke within his heart. I wanna see you encounter one of these sneaking up on you and not have your heart jump up into your throat.

”Well, now that you're here, you might as well be helpful.” Chelsea smiled.

Gerard didn't like that smile at all.

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Finally, Christian had calmed down enough for Robin to get a word in edgewise.

”Like I said before, I'm fine.” Robin rolled her eyes. ”At the very least, I don't lack air.”

”Robin, can you tell me how far down ye are?” Ayva called from behind Christian.

”I used an entire new bobbin of tent repair string, and the phone is still fourteen feet short of the ground.” Robin replied.

Earlier, when Bobble had reached the grate, it had stopped at nine feet high.In order to reach it, Robin had created a stone pillar. But after Quinn picked it up, the phone reeled up once more, five more feet. So Robin had to make the pillar taller before she could reach the phone.

”How long do ye fathom that length of string is, roughly?” Ayva asked, snatching the phone from Christian outright. Robin considered.

”I'd say it's about...at least a hundred dwarves in length. Robin said.

”Aish! Thar be three hunderd feet deep!' Yer practically back on the third level, me dear!” Ayva exclaimed.

”I'm not certain how deep it really is.” Robin said. ”But you can have Quinn ask Bobble if there are any twists and turns in the air vent.”

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Chelsea looked up at the sun.

”We're cutting it kinda close...” She muttered, glancing over at Liam. He had already dug a sizeable hole in the loosened dirt and rocks, and there were still no signs of reaching even a small pocket of air.

She looked around, and saw a recently-made pile of bamboo poles. It was probably from clearing out the underbrush. But the shape of them gave her an idea. She looked down the middle of a few of them, and soon found one to her liking.

”Out of the way, Liam!” Chelsea called. Liam looked up just in time to dodge out of the way as Chelsea speared a bamboo pole into the area he was digging.

”Come on, help me push it through!” She strained to pierce through the dirt. Liam was still confused, but he put a hand on the end behind her, and pushed. It went in about three feet before the resistance suddenly gave way.

”Now, blow on this end to make sure there's no dirt blocking the insides.” Chelsea instructed. Liam followed the instruction, still confused.

When he was done, wind whooshed into the pipe, as if sucked into a vacuum.

”Now, even if we're late, at least he won't suffocate.” Chelsea sighed.

”He? Chelsea, is there someone trapped under all of this?” Liam asked.

”You could say that.” Chelsea nodded.

”In that case, even if there's an airway, he might still suffocate if he's trapped under a heavy piece of debris. Why didn't you tell me?” Liam asked.

”If you had hurried, you might have triggered another avalanche.” Chelsea looked sidelong at him. ”I know you're stronger in your other form, but this sort of operation requires delicacy.”

”I've brought them, Chelsea!” Gerard called, as he led a crowd of dwarven builders to the area. Diong so, he subconsciously skirted around the area where he had met that large spider.

”Well it's about time!” Chelsea sniffed. ”What took you so long?”

”The Assist Manager wouldn't believe me. I had to grab a group that was just returning.” Gerard explained.