There it was, stuck in a recessed corner by the second ledge! No wonder she'd missed it so many times: It was hidden in a shadow, and she couldn't see it until she'd given more light. Artemis gave a good, running leap and jumped up onto the ledge, her tail starting to wag furiously. She was so close! Artie savored the ease of the jump onto the second ledge. It had seemed to taunt her from above when she couldn't make the jump onto it from the pit's floor...
The rest of the ledges came easily as she ascended from the pit, to where she could clearly see the last several ledges without the least bit of aid from her glowy thingy. Her ears perked as she heard her rider's squeak of glee at her appearance over the edge of the pit, and she let out a growling bark in response before climbing out. She paused once climbing out of the pit to shake off.
Her tasks finally finished, she trotted happily over the finish line and dropped the glowy thingy in Nicky's hands.
