The Trail To Home

LOGLINE: When a nearby war looms, a young adventurer is sent out to find a new home for their village.

SYNOPSIS: Reeds of Singing Birds is an axolotl  living in a small village. When a war in a neighbouring country gets too close, Reeds is sent ahead of the displaced axolotls to find somewhere new to put down roots. On their adventures, they encounter wild beasts and unfamiliar terrain. It’s the furthest they’ve ever been from home. Hungry, homesick, and afraid, they meet Sir Augustus Reginald Pembroke, a giant hippo martial artist. After chatting and sharing stories of their homes, Augustus invites Reeds and their people to live near his family’s estate. Reeds becomes his apprentice, despite their slowly emerging wild magic powers pulling them towards a life of sorcery. 

OUTLINE:

• There’s a town meeting discussing what to do about a war looming closer

• Reeds volunteers to scout ahead of the relocating caravan, since they’re an apprentice cartographer. They think it will be fun, and that they’ll find somewhere within a few weeks

• Before leaving, they’re given a few sketches from their friend Sky Where Clouds Gather, and a capelet with a sun embroidered on the shoulder from their Grammie

• After wandering around for a week or two alone, they’re starting to get lonely, chatting with the crow that has been carrying messages between the caravan and Reeds

• They see a dragon flying above where they’ve been hiking and chase it, catching a fallen scale just as they tumble off a short cliff, breaking their backpack’s strap and hurting their ankle in the process

• They begin to cry, but floating lights appear, distracting them. The light’s origin is unknown to them, but it is later revealed it is their tears forming dancing lights in the air

• After calming down, they gather their things, tie the bag back together, grab a walking stick, and continue on, semi-following the lights until they disappear

• Bandits encounter Reeds in the woods, and claim to be fellow travellers. Reeds gets swindled out of most valuables they have, including the cloak from their Grammie

• After discovering the treachery, Reeds tries to pursue, but their hurt ankle stops them before long

• Augustus comes across them, and offers to help. 

• Bandits are tracked and dealt with 

• Reeds and Augustus make a fire and chat, at one point Augustus makes a joke about how small Reeds is (they are 4’7”, he is 8’2”) prompting them to get angry and start stomping, causing the ground to shake a little, but they don’t notice because it hurts their ankle– Augustus does notice, and figures out they have magical powers

• Augustus apologizes and offers to take Reeds under his wing

• Reeds says they’d love to (was very excited about the fight with the bandits) but they’re on a mission for their people

• Augustus offers some land near his family’s estate, which would mean Reeds would be able to train with him

• The other axolotls arrive, and Reed’s training commences!They fight internally about whether they want to stay with their people or feed their newfound love for exploring and adventuring, but currently are happy to have a foot in both worlds