Alice and her company did not spend the days moping around, while they were stuck in the dungeon. Despite the bleak situation they were currently entrapped in, they tried to stay optimistic. However, being stuck underground got a damper on the overall mood. They spent each morning brain storming ideas of what to do. They had checked several times up above them to see if they could make it back. However, it was even worse each time. With ebbing shrinking the visibility and mobility.

They came up with ideas of charge through straight out the dungeon but rationalized they would be swarmed upon immediately. They theorized digging out, but it turned out the dungeon walls are much harder than the material would be naturally. There really weren’t many options. They had a lot of food and water, because of the fancy storage pack that could hold a near infinite number of items, called a bag of holding. The food and water weren’t infinite like the bag of holding though. It would run out eventually, which is what they worried about.

The foxes were acting rather sulky at first, almost as if they had lost their passion. The majority moping around with their tails tucked and heads down. That was until the massive beast Kitsune started growling and howling. This appeared to motivate the foxes to keep their head up. They ventured in the boss room and out to the first room on this level as well, but they never went up the stairs. They spent their time playing and wrestling. They also eight new baby fox kits that another vixen took over under the watchful eye of Kitsune. Several foxes would approach him only to be growled at and kicked in the face.

Their buffs eventually ended as the twenty- four hours had ended. When Alice and her teammates weren’t planning they were practicing. Alice spent hours in the armor twirling her spear like a typhoon. She had always known that she was rather advanced for her rank and level but after the last fight she knew that no matter how strong she was she could still encounter great tribulations that she wouldn’t be able to handle. She would spend hours spinning, slashing, and stabbing her spear with needle-threading precision. She would only call it over after collapsing in exhaustion.

Derk at suggested leveling up by killing a fox or two. It was a dungeon after all. He had Kitsune in his face growling before he could even finish his sentence, which was enough of an answer for everyone else. After the first night with all the foxes snuggling up to Derk, the poor boy had woken up the next morning face to face with a bloody fox that was still sleeping. Alice wanted to say that he had screamed like a girl, but even little girls have more dignity and a lower vocal range then that. Derk spent most his time going through his shield and axe forms, while interrupting it with body conditioning. He would finish a swing and go right into pushups or sprints. It was really quite impressive. He would also occasionally wrestle with the foxes after he got accustomed to them.

After Carter looked at the cracked amethyst, he said it was most likely the remains of this dungeons core. This focused around our largest hope and plan. He had said that in it’s current shape there was a good chance for it to resuscitate itself. If it did then it would be able to vanquish the remaining spiders. They ended up handing it over to Kitsune who carried it over to the new litter of kits. After that Carter didn’t talk. He would sit around and meditate or write in a journal.

Stelle spent her time reading through alchemist books as well as basic magic books. Alice occasionally joined her to have lengthy discussions with her and try to learn a few new types to improve. Stelle eventually offered to teach Alice a little bit of magic. Stelle’s reasoning was that it was known that teaching would better help her own understanding, while giving Alice a more versatile arsenal. By not learning magic you were limiting your full potential, plus it was a great way to develop additional strength, “Alice you are obviously very skilled with your spear, but with even a little assistance of magic you can increase your strength and versatility ten-fold.”

After giving it some thought, Alice readily agreed and added magic, under the tutelage of Stelle, to her routine. At first, she thought this was a great way to increase her versatility. There was no reason to have points in the strength and intelligence stat if you were only going to use it for planning. Even the most basic magic would increase her battle proficiency. This was until Alice discovered what type of versatility Stelle had in mind. This was also how she was fooled into laundry duty, “What do mean I can’t learn another spell until I master this one? It’s a freaking cleaning spell! How is that helping my versatility or strength?”

Stelle had just laughed it off and only helped her with things related to the cleaning spell. She was very determined to learn this as quick as possible. She was not going to remain their wash board the entire time they were stuck.

Daniel spent his time going through his sword forms. It seemed he also felt inept with his current skill and strength. He wove his two swords through a frightening dance as he practiced. He would occasionally watch over Alice’s and Derk’s training and give them tips as well sparing with them. He didn’t let Derk or Alice spar each other for he felt that their lack of experience might end up in a major wound. He allowed himself to spar with them for he felt that he could fold back his strength while avoiding any major damage. When he wasn’t practicing or lending a hand in others practice he would be sitting around and trying to figure a way out of their current situation.

With the passing of a day and a half after the initial attack of the spiders, there was finally new activity within the dungeon. He heard lots of screaming followed by lots of spider feet thundering around until they all halted. The sounds were echoing down to their floor. They thought they were under attack and gathered up everyone to get ready.

More pained screaming commenced. It was continuous. The foxes seemed a lot more chipper as they started wagging their tales around. A few went to the stair case, however they just whimpered and retreated. Then a large amount of granite sealed the stair case trapping them in here, but also removing the sound of screaming and sounds of feet. Daniel spoke, “Well that’s one less plan to worry about, plus I think the dungeon is awake now.”

An hour passed before it happened. All of a sudden, a new doorway started to form leading out of the second room. It seemed like the granite just dissolved. It continued for a while. Eventually it came to a halt after creating five more rooms total. They would occasionally come into each new room after being built. It was a slow pace, but progress was progress. On the fifth and final room it struck a under water aquafer. At first there was panic until it was plugged by granite. Then several trenches where built in each room cutting through it diagonally. In the end each room had a stream going through it. In the second room there was even a large pond. This ended up solving the water problem, but they were going to run out of food. They were concerned about suffocating at first until Carter reassured them that the dense mana in the dungeon was designed to help the creatures live and would end up creating new air.

** ** ** The House of the Fox ** ** **

Master has been busy.

Kitsune gleefully watched his master carve out more rooms in the dungeon. He was so pleased. Bastill had yet to say anything, but he knew it wasn’t his place to interrupt the masters thoughts.

He understood that any creature would be quite distraught after finding out he wasn’t as big as he used to be. Kitsune himself never had such problems of course. He was the alpha, but he had hold from the vixen that some of the other foxes were quite insecure about having smaller and therefore inferior parts.

Poor poor Bastill and his tiny jewel.

Kitsune after finding the gem with the humans had hidden it away with his new litter. He didn’t want his Master to wake and be a laughing stock of the dungeon. He looked at his offspring thoughtfully.

They’re like just like their mother.

They were all a light crimson with a dark red belly. But what captivated him was their little bright purple eyes. His own were a darker purple. Turning back to the room he watched the humans continue into each new room. This was good. It had been cramped and the humans smelled awful.

Luckily the sharp stick wielder had started learning magic and would wash everything. She was decent as far as humans went. She had fought alongside his wife, and additionally comforted her when she was dying. If it came to it he would be lenient to that one. If he had to kill her it would be quick and painless. He was a kind fox.

He growled at a female as she approached in a sultry manner, “Get the fuck away Bitch. Can’t you see I am spending time with my kits.”

He had learned several interesting words from Bastill whenever he had gotten a bit upset. Like when the squirrels had filled the pit fall traps with acorns. The other Foxes didn’t seem to understand the concept of the words, but that didn’t stop kitsune from using them. The vixen he cussed out looked at him, while trying to figure out the swear words. Seeing her hesitation, he kicked her in the face in order to get the message across. It seemed to work as she scampered away.

He did not want female attention right now. He still missed his old wife so much. Plus he had to train the little ones. She would have wanted that, “Little ones would you like to hear another story about your mother?”

Little kits that been rolling around and rough housing all ran up to kitsune, “YES! YES! YES! Another story! Please! Yay! I’m here! Please!”

All eight little kits began speaking at once, “Hush down younglings. This is story of your Mothers first hunt with me. Ruby and I were on a mission to gather the fiercest creatures in the realm for the master. I was spending more of my time tracking her sent then tracking the trails, but your mother was always focuses and alert. She noticed a change in the atmosphere. A bear came…”

He was interrupted by one of the kit’s, “What’s a bear?”

It was the one he had named after his wife, “Well little Ruby a bear is an enormous predator, in fact it’s the apex predator. Except if it came to monsters, but we never came across any of those. Back to the story. It was coming right for me and I had still been distracted by Ruby and hadn’t noticed it. She lunged at it to stop it from hitting me, but it tossed her aside and kept coming. The bear and I fought tooth and nail for a while. I was at my end and thought I was all alone, until your mother broke a branch up in a tree. Both your mother and the tree massive tree branch she had fell onto the bears head knocking it out. We enjoyed a romantic walk home as we dragged the unconscious bear back to the dungeon. From that day on I knew that not only was she the cleverest fox in the word, but she would never leave me behind.”

The happy little kits were all cuddled up at this point. Ruby asked another question, “Where is mom now?”

Kitsune shook the tear from his eye and nuzzle the little kit and gave it a lick, “She is a long way from here now, but don’t worry nothing can hurt her. Remember she is always focused and alert. She is the cleverest fox out there. Now go to bed little one.”

When all the kits had gone to sleep he heard his master’s voice in his head, “Hello Kitsune, sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I had a lot on my mind. I finished my current expansion project. Is there anything you can think of that I should work on? I notice you have some little ones with you now.”

Kitsune thought for a minute, “I think it would be beneficial to make more plants around here and maybe some wildlife. It would do the kits well to practice hunting. It would also greatly please the other foxes. I know we don’t have to eat, but it still is a pleasure and a learning experience.”

His master Replied, “That is a great idea, I’ll get on that project before I start expanding more. It will be easier on the mana. I can always count on you my old friend. It feels like I have known you forever.”

Kitsune smiled, “I at least have known you forever, you created me after all.”

His master thanked him graciously, “Thanks Kitsune for being here for me. I’ve had a lot happen to me that I didn’t expect.”

As Kitsune wrapped himself around his kits he continued to mentally reply, “You’re not any less of a dungeon core master. I have kept the secret from the other foxes.”

His master seemed genuinely confused, “What secret?”

Kitsune responded, “Master there is no shame in small jewels. I hear it’s how you use them that’s important.”