Year 2000. The Second Caucasian War is still raging, but the army has already transferred combat missions to other security forces. The main character is a professional military man, a combat veteran. He paid his debt to his homeland and returns to his native village in the Stavropol region. Dropping anchor and living an ordinary life is what occupies him now. But can he pass by the call for help, past people who are in mortal danger? Of course not. Moreover, the danger threatens the same village as the one in which he grew up. Unhappy people have nowhere to run and no help to come from. The veteran agrees to stand up for them. Several more people join him: his fellow countryman is also a military officer; an elderly huntsman; a police sergeant is a closed person who carries within himself the pain of his colleagues who died through his fault; two shepherd brothers, and a young guy from the village - the son of a farmer wounded by bandits. They are opposed by a gang of well-trained and well-armed militants, led by an experienced and ruthless leader.