The Piano
                                                                   ~Part 11



      "Wow. Its so... so like a human town," Tom gasped. Slerge laughed.
      "Yeah, yeah, I guess so," he agreed. The two headed down into the valley and headed toward the south side of the valley.
      "Where are we going?" Tom asked.
      "To see the leader," Slerge announced. Tom nodded a little nervously. They entered one of the smallest holes in the hillside. They traveled down the  dark tunnel for a little ways. Other tunnels branched off to the sides. Soon the tunnel began to brighten. It opened into a large hollow. Small caves bordered the larger one. At the back, was a cave larger than the rest. Hanging mosses hid the interior. Slerge motioned for Tom to wait.
      "Hey, Delo!" he called. A small black fox scurried from one of the caves.
      "Hello, Slerge!Ah..." the fox noticed Tom watching. "Uh, who is this?" he softly questioned Slerge. "Friend or foe?"
      Slerge laughed. "Friend." Then he added, winking at Tom," ...I think." Delo nodded then gave a quick howl. Another smaller fox bounded out, tripping on his over-sized paws.  Delo sighed.
      "Basax, how many times have I told you to SLOW DOWN!" Delo reprimanded him. Basax mumbled an apology, staring at Tom."Now, watch the human while I converse with Slerge." Basax vigorously nodded his head. The other two foxes went a little ways away. Tom looked down at Basax, who's back only came up to his knee. He wondered how old he was or how foxes counted age. The other two foxes returned.
      "Bad news," Slerge announced.