He starts to follow, then stops when both the girls let out huge, wet sobs, feeling like as close to a bad parent as he has in a while. "Be careful," he calls, dropping into a crouch and trying to soothe them, though they're both glaring at him through their tears. "There could be more of the little bastards."

Then a frightened whine and some angry hissing from down the hall, and the girls somehow manage to yell all the animals' names simultaneously. Mike curses under his breath. At least it sounds like they're alive. "They okay?"