Tension was high within their home. The warriors of the tribe, and all of their canine companions were resting outside by the fire. Word had gotten around that war was to begin, with greedy people from the outside. This worried Kata very much, for he and Nah'ane were also paired outside by the fire. He did not worry for himself though, but for his boy, who had become a man by all rites, but in his eyes Nah'ane was still his boy. The white canine shifted his head slowly, bringing it to rest on the seated boys thigh. Thin lids fell slowly over his eyes, a soft huff expelled into the air as he rested. His mind wandered back to the times that war was not a thing on anyones mind. The times that he and Nah'ane would run and frolic through the tall grasses of nearby Fields. The two would go on wild rabbit hunts through the forest, the thrill of the hunt, but also much fun.

Something startled the resting canine, a sound off in the distance. Creamy sonars rose to stand stiff upon his skull, flickering only a bit at the sounds that ensued in the distance. Loud echoing bangs. He had heard of such things. Long sticks that shot rocks as hot as fire itself. His muscles tensed with the thought, head lifting to give a concerned look up at his boy. Nah'ane knew too. The boy placed a hand softly upon his head, and spoke words to him that he didn't understand, though he did understand the soft tone, relaxing and comforting. A quiet groan erupted from the canine's throat, head shifting to peer around slowly, gazing across the others that were crowded around the fire. Everyone was uneasy, all the other canines and horses were shifting about just as he was. Something was to happen this eve, and they all knew it.

Long legs pressed slowly to the ground, blackened talons grasping into the dirt as he brought himself to stand. The boy moved with him, standing straight and tall, as did the other pairs of warriors. The thunderous sounds of hoof beats echoed over the hill, they were growing near. Kata moved slowly to the side of Nah'ane, whimpering a soft plea to everything and anything. If he could he would grab the boy and drag him away, but that was not his way. He had honor and pride, he would protect his home. He would protect his boy. The muscles within his body were tense, his heart racing within his chest, pounding even louder than the hooves of those horses that drove their enemy near. Nah'ane looked uneasy, but the canine could see the fierce will to live, and the readiness to fight that shown within his companions eyes. It was now or never.

They came in waves, lines and lines of outsiders on horseback. They charged straight into their home, trampling everything and anything in their path. Fierce yells and aggressive barks and growls rung out through the whole land. Dust flew up and everything sped by as if it were only a dream. In all of the madness he and his boy had been separated, but he had not noticed. When one good hue sought out the form of his boy, it did not find what it was seeking. It was at that moment that everything changed. The swift creature charged forward, darting in and out of legs and ensuing battles. The metallic scent of blood had filled the air, drowning out the scent of his boy. Padded paws pounded upon the ground, heart racing just as fast as his paws did. He never saw it coming, the horses hooves smashed against his right side with harsh power.

This sent him flying, landing quite a few feet away. When the hooves had hit he heard the cracking of bones, felt the sharp pain within his side. Even as disoriented as he was, he was able to lift his head, and spot his boy lying a few feet off. There was an outsider standing over him pointed one of those long rock shooting sticks down at him. With everything that he had, everything that he could muster, the white canine rose. Stumbling paws took him, weak and fragile, to his boy and the outsider. Sensitive ears could hear the breathing of the boy as he neared him, and this filled his heart with hope. paws ceased to move when he reached his boy, body merely falling forward, landing limply over his boys body. BANG! He could feel the burning for only a second as it seered trough his flesh, past broken ribs and into his chest cavity, and then suddenly everything was black.

When his eyes opened there was nothing, nothing but he and his boy. His body was still laying over top of Nah'ane, and yet the boy did not breath. He no longer felt the burning, no longer did he feel the pain of the shattered ribs. Paws pushed softly, lifting him to stand, but as he did so he stood away from his own body. For as his gaze shifted to peer upon his boy, they peered upon his own body as well. He was dead. He backed slowly away, head lowering as he moved, turning from the sight of him and his dead boy. He had failed. He had failed to save Nah'ane's life as he had done for him so long ago. Eyes peered forward, and there stood the Totem, and he gazed upon it for a long while, moving slowly to it's base. There he slowly sat, eyes closing, head hanging. An awkward feeling came over him, and something tugged on him to open his eyes, and do he did. The scene from before was gone..he was home. Others and their companions were roaming, but..there was no boy.