Together, they turned and hurried down the street toward the nearby veterinary clinic where Peter worked—the very same emergency clinic where Katie had sent the first baby earlier. At the edge of the woods, the giant elephant stood still under the pouring rain, watching them go with a quiet, peaceful posture, as though it finally knew it could safely leave the babies in their hands.
Katie and Peter burst through the clinic doors, dripping wet and gasping for air. They rushed straight into the triage room, where the emergency veterinarian was already looking over the first baby under the bright medical lamps. They quickly handed over the remaining three freezing creatures. The vet took one look at their blue-tinged skin and deteriorating condition, his face tightening with intense gravity. He immediately reached for warming blankets and adrenaline shots. “Wait outside in the lobby right now,” he ordered sharply. “I need room to work immediately.”