Imagine living 10,000 years ago in a remote valley deep in the heart of the Himalayas. That's where this story begins. 10-year-old Tracker hopes to become a great hunter one day, like his brothers. But Tracker has other ambitions as well, and after a fight with one of the other boys in his camp, he is forced to leave his home valley or be killed. His journey takes him through the High Lands. But after being taken hostage by a tribe of marauding riders the boy is left for dead beside the Steps of Mormor. Rescued by Adea, a mysterious young slave girl, Tracker accompanies her across the Stony Wastes and through the treacherous Caves of Siwalik to the Inlands - her homelands. But Tracker has a mission - to find his father who abandoned him when he was little more than a baby. Forced to abandon his ony friend, Tracker's quest ends in near disaster when he is imprisoned in Kazakh Khan's city. Escaping with the Water Rats following a night of flood and fire, Tracker finally reaches the shores of the frozen sea. Only then does the young boy finally discover the true reason for his amazing journey.