Boy of the Painted Cave

One afternoon when Tao and Ram are out hunting, they see the other hunters stalking a herd of deer. Ram wants to attack, but Tao holds him back. Tao thinks that if he can get close enough and time it perfectly, he can let Ram go and the hunters will see how the wolf dog helps catch game animals. He watches carefully, and when he thinks it is the last possible moment, he releases Ram. Ram attacks, but it spooks the deer, and the herd escapes. Volt, seeing the wolf dog, roars that it is a “ghost of evil” and commands the other hunters to help him catch and kill Ram. Tao leaps in front of Volt’s spear, knocking it out of the way and saving Ram. He tries to explain to the hunters that Ram is good, but the men say he is an evil spirit. Ram and Tao flee, barely managing to escape the hunters. Soon, Tao realizes that Volt and the others have set a grass fire, preventing Tao and Ram from circling back around. Tao commands Ram to cross the river, where he knows the hunters will not follow. Just after Ram disappears into the trees on the other side of the river, Tao hears the hunters arriving.