The Piano
                                                                ~Part 12


     "The leader isn't here, a fact I had forgotten." Slerge explained." When he is gone, another fox is in charge."
      "What's so bad about that?" Tom questioned him, confusedly. "Can't we just tell the other fox?"
      Slerge and Delo exchanged a look. "Well, yes. But you'll most probably get a very different answer from what Aldero would say," Delo replied. Tom glanced from Delo to Slerge.
      "Why? Who is the other fox?" Tom asked.
      "He is a unusual fox. Unlike the black foxes,"Delo began. Slerge sighed.
     "He is a dark gray fox named Jarow. He showed up one day 8 years ago, with two cubs that had gone missing earlier. Aldero seemed to take a liking to him. Maybe he felt indebted to Jarow. No one rightly knows but plenty of rumors have circulated. Anyway, Jarow rose up in the ranks until he was second only to Aldero. Right about that time, our little incident with Zaro occured. Aldero seems to believe Zaro will prove a threat to the black foxes so he has gone to request assistance in our 'time of need'. That is where he is now, most likely," Slerge explained.
      "I still don't see why we can't ask Jarow. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy. He did save the cubs, of course," Tom objected. "Aldero even likes him, right? From what I've heard, Aldero doesn't sound bad."
      " Aldero isn't bad," Slerge affirmed. "But, Jarow isn't all Aldero thinks he is. A fox was passing by Jarow's den and overheard Jarow speaking with another fox. Jarow is going to overthrow the leader!"