Buck watched his family leave without him. Suddenly regretting his decision. How was it that only a couple hours ago he was sure of his decision to stay. Buck shook back the tears and turned to his new home. Little Creek and Little River followed. Little River patted Buck's neck. This made him feel a little better. Buck hoped that in a couple days he would be as happy as he was a day ago.
Three days past and Buck still missed home. He walked around the camp early in the morning. The sun was rising slowly and all the villagers were still asleep. He was in deep thought about leaving here or staying. He went to Little Rivers tent. He peeked his head in. She was sleeping with her father on the other side of the tent. He began to feel guilty. She had a father and no mother. Buck had both a mom and a dad, also grandparents who one of which he had just been reunited with.
He made up his mind. He backed out of the tent and nickered quietly as a good bye. He turned to home and leaped into a fast gallop. He ran for two hours without stopping. He found a river and drank from it. The sound of a stick cracking made Buck jerk his head and look around. He saw nothing but somehow he knew he wasn't alone. Fear ran through his body. His leg wasn't fully healed yet and he wouldn't be able to escape a cougar attack. He burst into a gallop into the river. Whatever had been watching him was now following him through the water.
He reached the other side and looked back to see his predator. It was the humans. The calvary men were following with ropes. He galloped on hoping to lose them.
He galloped for an hour when his leg started throbbing with pain. He ran on with his leg dangling in the air. He only went for 5 minutes until he had to stop, it was to painful to even walk. He fell to the ground and the calvary men surrounded him. He heard the men talking about how worthless a horse with an injured leg is. Then he heard them say shoot it. Buck closed his eyes tight hoping it was all a dream. He heard the gun cock and when he opened his eyes he stared into the round tube that they had pointed at his father. He wished he had left with his family. He would be home, where he would be safe and now he was staring death in the face.
A flash of yellow ran past and knocked the gun out of the hands of the man. He looked up to see his father rearing at the man. He wondered why his father was way out here. His father brought his legs down upon the man. The man laid motionless. He almost forgot about the other men until one of them fell to the ground whimpering. Buck could tell he was crying and the man laying on the ground was dead. He heard the other man who had been crying shout at Spirit and he ran to pick up the gun. Spirit ran desperate to get away from him. Buck heard the gun roar and saw his father fall to the ground. The men got back on their horses.
Buck stared at his father. He didn't move. It felt as if Buck's heart were in his throat. He struggled to hold back tears. He finally found the strength to move his legs. He walked slowely to his father's side. He saw tears of red flowing from a hole in his father's shoulder. Buck licked the wound clean and looked at Spirit. His body was completely motionless. Buck waited for him to get up and take him home. When he didn't move tears poured from Buck's eyes. He felt guilty for what happened. He stood by his father hoping that somehow he would come back.