In the years following a vicious war, the Empire of Zol now controls the land and citizens of rival Aquafa -- except for Aquafa's Fire Horse Territory, where wild dogs that once carried the deadly Black Wolf Fever continue to roam free. When a pack of dogs race through a Zol-controlled mine, Van, an enslaved former soldier, and a young girl named Yuna are both bitten, but manage to escape as the sole survivors of the attack. Finally free, Van and Yuna seek out a simple, peaceful existence in the countryside. But as the deadly disease once again runs rampant, they find themselves at the crossroads of a struggle much larger than any one nation. I really enjoyed the relationship between Van and Yuna. Kenoi is the Dog King and the reason the Black Wolf Fever is attacking the Aquafas and the Empire of Zol. Kenoi wants Van and Yuna to be the chosen ones to be his successor and the Black Wolves. Van takes the title and becomes the Deer King.