06 Rescue!

CHAPTER 6 RESCUE! Tag held his breath. They weren't falling. They were flying! He opened his eyes. They were soaring over the hole! "Hold on!" the caterpillar yelled. There was nothing below them but darkness.

Tag hugged the caterpillar tight until they landed on the other side of the hole with a huge BUMP! Tag fell onto the ground. His heart was pounding. "Look!" the caterpillar said. Tag watched as the massive marble reached the end of the path on the other side. It fell down, down, down, into the hole. "How deep do you think that hole is?" Tag asked. The caterpillar shivered. "I don't know. And I never want to find out." Tag turned to face the caterpillar. "Thank you for saving me," he said. "I'm Tag."

The caterpillar gave Tag a wide smile. "I'm Charlie." "Are you lost in this maze, too?" Tag asked. The caterpillar yawned loudly, then shook his head. "I have lived in the maze for a very, very long time," he said. "But the maze has always been still and quiet. Until now, that is." "I wonder why it woke up?" Tag said. He suddenly remembered Skyla, Blaze, and Claw. "My friends are lost!" he cried. "A squirrel, a firehawk, and a vulture. Have you seen them?" Charlie shook his head. "I haven't seen anyone in this maze for a very long time," he said.

"I have to find my friends. They might be in trouble. Do you know the way out of here?" Tag asked. "I've never left the maze, so I'm not sure," Charlie said. "But I'll try to help you." He slid off into a dark tunnel, and Tag followed. Then Charlie gasped! Bright orange and red and yellow lights sparkled all around them. The tunnel exploded with fireworks!