Empty Well: Genre Undetermined

The well was empty when Jill went to fill her bucket. She didn't realize until she noticed that the rope that lowered the bucket had been unwinding for a really long time. Then there was the sickening plop of a bucket sinking into the mud. When she cranked the winch, she pushed it faster than usual. She couldn't believe her ears. She told herself that the plop was probably from a frog jumping around into the well. They'd had a couple of frogs die inside. That was all. They still had water. But when her bucket got to the lip of the well, it was empty except for a sludge of mud that ran down the side of it and clung to the inside. Jill looked around, her heart bleak. They still had water in the house, but all the animals were waiting by their water troughs, full of belief that she would be bringing them water soon.

Inspiration: None.
Story Potential: Medium. Nothing in and of itself, but I have a special interest in water and its presence or absence.
Notes: This is a quest story. Jill (not the name to finally use) goes on a quest for water. Could be interesting.