The Deer King, Vol. 1 (novel): Survivors (The Deer King (novel))

Van, a former soldier made slave, toils away endlessly in a salt mine. An unexpected chance at liberation drops in his lap when a pack of infected dogs passes through, killing everyone but him and a young girl he names Yuna. Van hopes to make a peaceful life for them both now that theyve escaped. However, the disease that cleared out the mine begins to spread, endangering the nation and placing Van and his ward at the center of a conflict greater than any the world has ever seen. Thus begins a tale of ecosystems, viruses, and cultural relations. Van, a former soldier made slave, toils away endlessly in a salt mine. An expected chance at liberation drops in his lap when a pack of infected dogs pass through, killing everyone but him and a young girl called Yuna. Van hopes to make a peaceful life for himself now that hes escaped. However, the disease that cleared out the mine is rapidly spreading, placing him and his ward at the center of a conflict greater than any the world has ever seen. Vans chase for the kidnapped child Yuna leads him to the chief of the Ahfal Oma, the People of the Fire Horse. The leader is obsessed with reclaiming the land the empire took from his kin, but what does that have to do with Yuna? Meanwhile, Hohsalle continues pursuing the trail left by Van, convinced that finding him is the key to stopping the spread of black wolf fever. Could the disease be connected to the Ahfal Oma chiefs quest for revenge?