I understand," said Dooro sympathetically. "Aiera the wolf gives us grief, too, but one thing he cannot do is sneak up on us from underwater. That's why we are working so hard right now to keep the water high. Kits are being born. My mother has two new ones."
"Really, where are they? I haven't seen them," exclaimed Miena with interest.
"Oh, she will bring them out soon. They are not yet a week old, but already she is teaching them how to swim. They learn at the edge of the eating shelf inside the lodge."
"Eating shelf?"
"Oh, I forgot, you have never been inside a lodge, " said Dooro. "We have two levels. The upper level is for sleeping and the lower level slopes to the water and is for eating and a place to dry off. Would you like to see it?"
"Oh, I couldn't disturb your mother and her babies," said Miena.
"No. I will show you my lodge," said Dooro proudly. It's the smaller one near the dam. The back entrance isn't that long."
"Back entrance?
"A tunnel I made from the bottom of the pond to my lodge, maybe 20 feet long. It's a couple of feet wide. I'm sure you could make it."
"I don't know." Miena said. She didn't mind diving, but the image of a dark tunnel unnerved her.
Dooro insisted. "Come on. I will be with you." He coaxed her into the water and over to the area above his tunnel. Then they dove, Dooro leading the way.