When Susan called me to rescue Pepper, I almost told her that it would have to wait till the next day. I had been watching a storm front approaching on the weather radar all day, and it was now getting very close. I did not think I would have enough time to get packed and drive out there in rush-hour traffic before the storm arrived. But I said I would proceed as if I did and re-assess as I go. As it turned out, when I arrived at the site, the weather was calm with little hint of the storm that was approaching.
I found Pepper about 25 feet high in the same tree where I rescued her before over two months ago. Pepper was a very easy-going, cooperative cat for the first rescue, so I was expecting the same from her this time. I set up my rope on a branch just a few feet above her knowing that it was highly unlikely that I would need to chase her higher in the tree.

After slowing down my movements, I noticed that she began to calm down even as I began to climb up toward her. In fact, she now seemed happy to see me and made some motions toward me. Pepper had gone up a branch that sloped a bit too steeply for her to go back down, so she stopped and settled in an awkward position standing on some small limbs. She could not come any closer to me, so I needed to get closer to her.
I pulled myself around the two stems and up a little higher so that I was within reach of her. As I was doing so, there was a sudden, close, powerful rumble of thunder that came with no warning. I had not heard any distant rumblings of thunder prior to this, so it came as a surprise. There was no time to dawdle now.

As she was stepping into the carrier, the rain began to fall and another round of thunder rumbled through the air. Fortunately, the rain was light, and we were now done. All I had to do was go down as quickly as possible and pack up.
Unlike last time, I did not have time to spend with Pepper afterward. She's a sweet cat, and I would have enjoyed that. Instead, I packed up as quickly as possible and headed home. On the way home, the storm really hit with full force: heavy rain, flash flooding, close and scary lightning. Driving home in that weather was the dangerous part, but I made it home safe and sound. And I am especially glad that Pepper did not have to endure the fury of that storm in the tree.