The students rested while Shizu, Larissa, Umi (the guard with the coral), and Taro finished raising a second wall.
Lin observed the situation with the cold calculation of a combat veteran. Two walls of furious shadow stalkers, two companions lost in the depths, and night approaching. The decisions they made in the next few minutes would determine who survived.
"We need to decide on teams quickly," she announced with a firm voice, immediately capturing everyone's attention. "One group must return to camp to alert Zhao, while another remains here to attempt rescuing Ren and Han."
"I'm staying," Taro declared instantly.
"Me too," added Larissa.
Lin nodded, but raised a hand to stop the chorus of volunteers that would follow. "I need the rescue team staying with me to be small and specific. Larissa, Taro, Umi, Matilda, Min, and Mira will stay with me. We'll work on creating a rope long enough to lower down the hole while keeping the walls strong."
