Lost Boy
The six-year-old boy was gone for almost a day already. Everyone was getting worried about the outcome of their search. It's been so long, and he was nowhere to be found.
But nothing could prepare them for what they would find in the woods. Or better said, whom they found in the same area where the boy was lost. It was a once-in-a-lifetime scene.
Only Six Years Old
Kaydon Leach was a six-year-old boy who was always full of energy and loved to play outside in the yard. His parents' home was near the woods, and sometimes they even took him on hikes.
But one day, the little boy would get lost in those same woods they loved exploring so much. His family was heartbroken.
Family Dispute
The parents were fighting a lot during the previous week. The bills kept piling up, and because of the stress, they lashed out at each other whenever they had the chance.
They thought their son didn't hear or care about their talks, but they couldn't be more wrong. And that was the main reason why he would disappear one day.
Disappearance
Kayden was last seen playing in the living room with his toys. It was just another Wednesday, and the family was getting ready for sleep.
When the mother went to check on him and tell him it was bedtime, he was nowhere to be found. It had been minutes since she last saw him. How could this be? It was like he vanished before her eyes.
Large-Scale Operation
The search was on when six-year-old Kaydon Leach disappeared from his home in Blount County, Tennessee. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and slip-on shoes.
Also missing was one of Kaydon's family dogs, a small black and white terrier. Where could the boy have gone to? Or did something happen to him?
The Chief
Blount County Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Marian O'Briant had said, "We've had resources out all night, and we are being assisted by the military who searched the area from the top by way of a Black Hawk helicopter with FLIR technology. We've also had boots on the ground all night."
The authorities had mobilized quickly to try and search for the boy. Would they find him in time, though?
The Community Unites
A large-scale search operation began around 7 o'clock that evening, including nearly 100 first responders in a 2,000-acre remote area of mountainous terrain.
Everyone in the neighborhood joined in on the search. The parents had hoped the boy would be found in no time. But that wasn't the case. The search was still on.
Getting Dark
Everyone in the search party was getting worried. It was getting colder, and the evening was turning into night. Time was of the essence.
But despite the huge manpower assigned to the search, there was no sign of the boy yet. The parents were getting desperate, but they still had hope. Not even a day had passed since he disappeared.
Losing Hope
But time doesn't wait for anyone. It was nighttime already, and some people were giving up the search and going home. They promised to resume the operation in the morning.
The authorities were reserved. The woods were filled with dangerous animals, and anything could have happened to the boy. Some people were losing hope, but the parents wouldn't give up no matter what.
Growling
When two men reached the dark path between the tall trees, they immediately saw some tracks that could have belonged to a little boy.
With their flashlights turned on, the two men approached the bushes where the tracks led to. But before they could get closer, a dangerously sounding growl stopped them on their feet. They were terrified. What was in the bushes?
Half A Mile Away
In the bushes, there was the little boy. About 22 hours after Kayden's disappearance, deputies spotted the little boy a half-mile away from his home. And the closer they got, the louder that sound of growling became.
They were happy he was safe, but they didn't know what that growling was and how to best approach the situation.
Protector
Kayden wasn't alone. In fact, he was accompanied by his guardian angel - the dog that left home at the same time with him.
The dog kept watching over the boy all that time, not leaving his side no matter what. The dog named Marco protected the little boy from wild animals and kept him company throughout the entire ordeal.
Safe And Sound
The boy was taken to the hospital to be checked by a doctor and to see if he was alright. The boy was totally fine.
Kayden was just a little dehydrated and incredibly happy that he was found. All in all, it took less than a day, so it was a successful operation that mobilized an entire community.
Hero
The dog Marco was a hero. Everyone made sure to let him know by giving him some extra treats and petting him extra hard.
The loyalty of a dog can go to surprising levels, and the boy's dog is living proof of that. He stayed with Kayden in the woods for almost a day, not leaving his side for a second.
Going Viral
The mother of the boy posted the incredible story on her social media, and it quickly garnered a lot of attention. It was a fantastic story, after all.
Many people liked and shared the post, and everyone praised the dog hero who stayed by the boy's side through many difficult hours. Marco was a true hero, and no one could deny that. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.