People of the Clouds

Forced from their lands the Emerald Water Tribe travel vast distances in giant watercraft to save themselves. This story is set in ancient times when the megafauna birds known as the Moa were abundant. The old regime revered women's wisdom and ability to give birth but a new order sets a sadistic killer to target women. A girl named Aõ who anxiously finds herself on the verge of being traded seeks to add value to her status by hunting-a newly forbidden activity for women. Almost murdered on the return from her first hunting trip Aõ is placed in the care of the medicine man Ahan who discovers a clutch of Moa eggs. Stealing one he gives it to Aõ. The egg hatches and the bird imprints on her. Unaware of the danger she is in Aõ is attacked again but is unexpectedly protected by a territorial Moa flock.