WAR

Chapter 21

"No." I whisper. Thunder keeps cantering. "Thunder, do you remember Jay?" Thunder snorts. 'She's that black mare right? Her foal was a black as well.' "Yeah. Her foal is named Blue. Also Heartfelts foal, Golden, is also Emmas. She named them and took care of them." 'What happened to that chestnut? Leafs foal?' "Ember? I kept her. There's been no foals in ages. Some of the dogs had another litter though, two more poodle/doberman, Dust Storm and Hail, and 5 new Chow Chows. This is Cracker, then there are Mia, Rover, Oceania, and Anne. You saw all the dogs in that kennel. I wonder what their names were. What was this place gonna do anyway?"

'They raided villages with us. Taking everything. People, Dogs, Chickens, Horses, Cows, Sheep, You never saw the Sheep and Cows and Chickens. Cause a few miles away there are some herd dogs, and a few horses. They have coops for the chickens, some tents, and herds apon herd of steer, bulls, cows, and sheep. They also have a few goats i think. Then people there are mostly women. Making bread, cheese, shearing sheep, delivering animal babies. They have a few huts. It's pretty impressive.' "Have you been there Thunder?"

'Yes. Once. I was ridden by someone.' "Also, have you seen Blue or Golden? I was not paying attention to the horses as I released them. Also they could have been on the other side too."

Thunder shakes his head. 'I did not see a Blue or Golden.'

I frown. "They must still be with Avas side."

We continue the ride in complete silence. Me thinking about Jay. And only Thunder knows what he was thinking about. When I reach the forest edge I dismount and walk side by side with the dogs and Thunder. "Storm, Cracker, will you go tell the remaining dogs and horses that we are back?" Storm glares at me but she and Cracker disappear behind the waterfall. Thunder and I continue to the wall. Which is broken down. I frown. "What happened?" As I look inside, Storm and Cracker are nowhere to be seen. Thunder prances. "Thunder?" 'It's not safe-' I spin around giving him my attention. To see Ava, Holding a gun right up to his neck. "Don't move! Or I will shoot Hermosa." I almost burst out laughing. "Hermosa?" I ask her. "Yes, this is Hermosa right? Or was my horse named Hermosa?" I glare at her. "Comet will no longer be in your care. She was a special gift to you and you have not taken care of her. Just release Thunder and be on your way." Ava glares at me. "Have you ever had a horse called Hermosa?" I nod. "She is behind you." Ava spins around and I jump forward. Thunder gallops out of range from Avas gun and I grab it from her hand. Only Ember stood in the doorway. She rears, And i jump onto her back. "Hands up Ava!" I yell at her. Avas hands slowly go up. Then I hear a high pitch scream. Storm.

"What did you do? I snarl at Ava. She smiles. "Poor poor doggies." That's it. I pull the trigger. Getting her cleanly through her shoulder and urging Ember toward the sound. We reach a clearing I once used as a training zone once. And where Hermosa and Ember and I once talked about the wolves.

Storm lies in the middle. Blood pouring out of a shot wound. Cracker lays nearby. No sound coming from his lips. Storm twitches her leg then lies still. "Storm? Cracker?" 'There dead.' Says Thunder. Who followed us here "No." They can't be. I raised them. I cared for them. I trained them. I was with them for every little detail of their life. NO! Then my mind shakes the idea. Fight it. Fights a battle it cannot win. Then my mind slowly accepts the idea. Then all i feel is an overwhelming sense of anger. "Who did this?" 'People. Men. An old looking man that you once called Max shot Storm. Another old looking woman shot Cracker. There was nothing I could do but watch. Anger blurs my vision. "Max. Emma. I once trusted them. Now, I have to get revenge. I walk briskly toward my home. Grab a steel dagger, and put a few bits of food into my saddlebag. Which I put over Thunder's withers. The steel knife I hide behind my hair. An old bow and arrow are attached to the saddlebag. Then, pausing for a moment, I take out the dagger and grab a brush. Wincing as I pull it though my very tangly hair. After about 10 minutes night starts to take over. I clap once and the lights in my cave turn on. I abandoned the brush and Using the strands of hair that love my face I braid them back, then adding more air I braid down. Then I slip the Dagger in an easy to reach spot. And return to the clearing with Storm and Cracker. With only a strong stick picked up from the ground I start to dig their graves.

After two well sized holes are made a pick up Storm and gently drop her into the deep hole. Even though I have never seen foxes around, I don't want anything to get at them. I bury her and, crying all the way, bury Cracker. Then I stood up. And wipe my dirty hands on my clothes. "I will avenge your deaths. You are both loyal dogs and I know everyone here will miss you deeply.

I quietly mount Thunder and Ember follows. We trot out of the house, Ava stills lies there with blood slowly trickling out of her wound. She looks up at me and I aim the gun down and shoot. Right in the chest. Then I continue to patch up the wall. Leaving a tiny hole for the dogs. We continue north. Deeper into the woods. South lies Rivers land. West is Max's. East and North lie more woods. No one knows how deep they go. I reach out my mind as far as I can. 'Hermosa. Tell everyone with you to not return to the cave. Emma has killed Cracker, and Max has killed Storm. Thunder and Ember are with me. Please follow us to where the wolves live. I will tell you if i have an update. And, is Jay really dead?'

Almost immediately a response. 'Ray, yes Jay is dead and I will be making my way over. I am with Cloud's herd right now. Every herd has split up, many moving north and west. Not wanting trouble with Ava and Max. All of the dogs are with me. Some humans dragged Jay away. I have not seen Golden or Blue. Though there are many horses and I have not met them all.'

'Cracker? Is cracker really dead?' Comes the breathless reply from Butterfly. 'Yes. I am sorry Butterfly, Wish Please will you tell the news to your pups? I have a plan to avenge them. But please make your way to the wolves pack. 'STORM!' Yells Bell though the link. 'Storm?' Asks Riley. Bells mate. 'Please tell me she's ok?' Asks Dust Storm. 'No. I am truly sorry.'

I shut the link and continue on my journey. 'Jay was shot 5 times.' Mumbles Ember. "Oh, Ember, did you see her?" I ask her. Ember ducks her head and snorts. 'They fired bullets at every moving creature. I would not be here if it was not for a brave mare called August. August said she had been a slave to them since after Leaf, and was ready to move on. I helped her into the forest where she bled out over me. She said she wanted me to carry on her legacy and become a lead mare and loyally follow you. She told me to tell you that she was sorry that she never got to see you again. Did you know her?' I almost fall off Thunder. "Ember, August is dead? Oh I wish you could have met her when she was free. She was called Fern in my world. She had Leaf. And nursed Hermosa. She was your grandma."

Ember stays quiet. Thinking over what I have said. The stars fill the sky. The full moon fills the sky. A sharp pain thorns in my hand. I look down and in the horrible light I see scraps and slivers. Not having felt the pain when I was finding Storm and Cracker. "Wait, Thunder, Ember, When I sent Storm and Cracker in-in the cave, How did I not hear the gunshots? But heard Storm cry out?"

Thunder twitches his ears. 'Group of horses coming from the West. They have dogs. Also, Jake has invented a new type of gun. They are silent. I feel that Storm and Cracker were simply subjects in this. They must have left through the cave door. Knowing you would kill Ava, and then find Storm and Cracker.' I nod. Then realize he can't see me. "Thanks Thunder." then i push out my mind.'Hermosa?' I call. 'Yes Ray. We approach from the West.' Hermosa comes trotting from the trees. Effortlessly blending in with Ember and me. The dogs make a steady pace but soon they tire. "Ok, let's stop for a moment. Soon it will be day and we have been traveling for hours. Let's take a good few hours to get some rest. Ava has been eliminated. Max still remains, And, River has not died. The world has been fooled yet again by the two twins. Max and River were together for this. They worked out a way that they could make it seem that River was dead and Max lived. Though Max never thought that River would stab him in the back. So, Emma is River. River and Max must have planned together to make that happen. Anyway, get some sleep. We leave at dawn. The wolves are very far away."

I walk over to Bell. Pulling her close and snuggling her. Hermosa lies nearby. Then the dogs pile on top of us all. Everyone sleeps together. I see Thunder and Ember talking. Then Ember and her mother Leaf talking. Bell and i snuggle with Hermosa for the entire night. All of us the original. Bell having lost a daughter. Hermosa having lost a horse that was with her since birth. And me having lost friends, allies. Together we comfort each other.