Inner Strength (book 2 of the Hope's Valley series )

Chapter 3: Strength

They had made it halfway home when they heard a twig snap behind them. Their conversation stopped as they turned to see what was watching them. They turned to see something they hoped never to see. Hunting dogs. They knew all to well what the dogs presence meant. Their parents had told them stories of how dangerous it was to be caught by them. Something was different about them though. These dogs didn't have collars. They were dirty, their fur in disarray.
They're strays. At least we don't have to add human hunters to our list of worries. Luckily, most of the dogs were terriers. There were six of them though. The dogs were growling menacingly, ready to make a kill for a nonexistent master. Shen dropped the rabbit. He hoped it would be enough to distract the dogs. Tenin and Shen bolted toward their home. They knew the small dogs could follow them. However, the dogs would have to come in one at a time. The brothers knew that they could defeat the dogs one on one. The rabbit Shen had thrown down did not keep the dogs busy for long. They soon heard the dogs barking following them. They were gaining on them. Shen realized that they wouldn't be able to make it. At least, not both of them anyways. Shen slowed, coming to stop. Tenin ran on, until he realized Shen wasn't running with him anymore. Tenin looked backed to see the dogs coming towards his brother. Tenin ran to his brother. He wouldn't let his brother die.

"No Tenin! Go back to the den! It's the only way!"

Tears sprang to Tenin's eyes.

"I'm not leaving you to die!"

The tears in Tenin's eyes began to fall. The dogs ran straight into Shen. The dogs growled and tried to tear Shen apart. Shen fought hard. He ripped off the ear of one dog. It ran off, but it's friends continued their attack. Shen injured many of the dogs. All but one. Only four of the dogs were attacking him now. Two of them snuck up behind Shen as the other two distracted Shen. Shen ripped open the chest of one of the dogs. The other, seeing it's friend dead, howled before running off in the direction the other dogs had gone. Shen was about to turn on the dogs behind him, but it was too late. Both of the dog's grabbed the base of Shen's tail. Tenin heard a ripping sound. It only took him a second to realize what had happened. They had ripped his tail clean off.

"No!"

Tenin took off towards the dogs. Shen collapsed, and the dogs tore more fur off, exposing his spine. Tenin came up behind the dogs, ripping the back of their necks open. The dogs tried to strike back, but Tenin scratched at their throats, quickly killing them. Tenin ran over to his brother's side. He cried as he saw the awful injuries the dogs had dealt his brother.

"I'm....sorry...I was so weak. I was supposed to protect you. I'm sorry. I was never the strong one, it was always you. You knew what to do. Your braver than I could ever hope to be."

Tenin wept over his brother's body until the sun began to set. He buried his brother, and marked the spot with a few of the dog's teeth he found. He padded home slowly, cursing himself for not saving his brother.

"I may have been strong on the outside, but Shen, you had an inner strength that was even stronger."

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