A small, horned almost-rabbit hops along a country road. Three little girls chase it. They are dressed in strange clothes, as are the two adult women who follow them, Erisen and Lucretia. The children have finer, silkier and more colorful clothes. They chat about the upcoming Return Festival. One of the little girls, Akaren, asks Lucretia why they call this Shark Road. Lucretia blows the question off and says the name comes "from before." The girls run further away from the adults.
Erisen badgers Lucretia about going to the Festival, but Lucretia doesn't want to go. Erisen says she has to. The other two little girls Hara and Tehanu say that Akaren has gone into the Dark Forest. Lucretia tells Erisen to watch the other girls, which she's happy to, because nobody goes into the Dark Forest.
Lucretia walks through the wounds alone. She hears things move in the forest, but she continues ahead. There isn't a path, but the underbrush is light. She examines the ground and finds a footprint. She follows it so far into the woods that she can barely see ahead of her in the darkness. She continues forward.
Lucretia hears Akaren scream and runs forward to find her. Lucretia stops next to the young girl who stares forward. Lucretia joins her. They stare at a massive column of black rock that has caves and a large shelf like a balcony. The column sits on an island that is just across a raging channel. The caves are covered with a glowing white algae.
Between the caves and the mainland stands a mechanical device for crossing the channel. Beyond that is a giant gate made from the jawbone of a massive shark.
Lucretia says they shouldn't be here, they are never supposed to go here. She takes Akaren's hand and they turn and quickly go back into the forest. As they exit the Dark Forest, Lucretia makes Akaren promise to NEVER go in the forest again.
The camera leaves them, goes back through the woods and stops to look at the cave structure. A lone figure emerges from the cave. It's not human. It is Essiri, a humanoid with scaly white skin. Essiri lifts up the Great Horn and blows. From the three passageways that go inside the rock, hundreds of similar creatures emerge. They are covered in scars and crude tattoos, but the marks have patterns and symbols that identify clans and accomplishments. The beings are all both male and female.
Among the beings is Teriel, younger than most and without scars or markings other than a small sun symbol. All of the beings have a symbol in the same marking on their chest near their right shoulder. In addition to the sun marking are: A leaf, a shark's fin, a fish, the moon, a wave. Adult beings wear a leather-like strap around their necks that hold a large shark's tooth. On the teeth are various black markings. Teriel's friends are Elfarran, with a leaf marking, and Kest, who has a fish marking.
The crowd settles and a group of Elders leads the meeting. There is one member of the Elders for each of the markings. The leader of the council is Uahto, the largest of the elders. The symbol on his chest is a shark-tooth and the tooth hanging from his neck is marked with a thick black X. Unlike any other being, Uahto wears a second token around his neck, the marking on this one looks like a crude crown.
Unlike the rest of the beings, though, Uahto has a second token hanging around their neck. This one looks like a crown. Essiri sets the Great Horn to the side of the the throne, next to the Bone Knife. Uahto taps each of the Elders on their right shoulder marking. Essiri carries the Great Horn to the side of the throne and sets it next to a knife carved out of bone. Uahto walks up to each of the Elders and briefly taps their hand on each Elder's right shoulder marking. Each nods in response.
Uahto picks up the Bone Knife and shows it to the crowd. They grunt in return. Uahto calls out Irioth. Irioth steps forward and Uahto carves a straight line across the front of their left shoulder. Uahto places a shark tooth token around Irioth's neck. On the tooth are two small X's.
Uahto calls for Teriel, who steps forward. Teriel gets the straight line on the left shoulder and a shark-tooth token. This one has three straight vertical lines on it. Uahto calls forth Elfarran, who gets the straight line marking and a shark-tooth token with two horizontal lines with a circle below them. Uahto calls forth Deyala, whose token has five small circles in the shape of a larger circle. Uahto calls forth Kest, whose token has three small circles in a triangle formation. Last up is Azer, whose token has two diagonal lines. The crowd repeatedly grunts while the new adults bleed.
Teriel, Elfarran and Kest run through the cave network, which includes several levels and chambers. They come to the end of the passage that goes topside and into the sunlight. They grab brimmed hats to put on before going outside. They are sensitive to the light. They go outside and others follow.
The emerge onto the Plateau Fields, the two acre-top of their cavern home. The top has a layer of soil, it's alive with plants, crops, livestock and many of the beings working or playing.
Near the center of the plateau, Uahto lounges with various beings, eating fruit and watching others work. Elfarran heads towards his duty of watching over a flock of sheep-like creatures. Kest and Teriel head towards the crops.
Segoy hands a staff to Elfarran and runs away free to play. Elfarran is comfortable with the animals. He runs and bumps into Irioth. He's knocked to the ground and screams. It scares the almost-sheep and one of them bolts towards the crops. Irioth orders Segoy to catch it.
Segoy chases, but it's too far away and too fast. He yells for Teriel to do something, since the almost-sheep barrels straight towards them. Teriel gets ready to tackle the beast but freezes up once it approaches and it bolts past them.
The almost-sheep barrels straight for the edge of the cliff. Teriel chases, but it looks like the creature will run to its own death. Kest runs from the nearby crops and tackles the beast and gets it under control.
Uahto calls Kest over and immediately gives Kest a new marking with the Bone Knife. The crowd grunts with approval.
Teriel, Elfarran and Kest go back inside and head down the passage to their living area, a level below where Uahto and his clan live.
Teriel enters the cave of Yevaud and their followers. Teriel and Yevaud exchange a greeting, but it is not repeated with Kest and Elfarran. Yevaud gives food to Teriel, who gives some to Kest and Elfarran.
Yevaud bangs on their chest to get everyone's attention and re-establish their leadership. Yevaud points to their own scars from the shark trials. They bring out a giant shark's tooth and smashes it against the wall, rejecting the central ceremony of their kind. The crowd are shocked. Yevaud goes to sleep.
Irioth pressures Deyala to have sex, but Deyala says no. Irioth offers Deyala a shark's tooth. They pull it back with Deyala reaches for it. Irioth instead goes in for a kiss. Irioth gives Deyala the sharks' tooth and Deyala agrees to have sex. They kiss passionately. Yevaud walks in on them and breaks it up. Yevaud sends Deyala away. Yevaud says they're going to tell Uahto and Irioth threatens Yevaud. Irioth walks away.
The entire community walks towards the Shark Gate as the Shark Trial song plays. The elders stand at the front of the crowd. Teriel and friends stand nearby. Uahto quiets the crowd. They call forth Irioth. The crowd chants Irioth's name. Uahto and Irioth greet each other. Two being bring out Segoy, who struggles to escape, but can't.
Deyala stands at the lever that controls a platform that moves into the middle of the channel when the switch is thrown. Irioth stands in the middle of the platform. Uahto slits Segoy's throat and several arteries. Irioth carries Segoy's bleeding corpse to the platform and covers it with blood. Deyala activates the lever and Irioth and Segoy's corpse move with he platform towards the center of the channel. Sharks gather for feeding time.
Sharks start to surface, following the blood. Next to Segoy's body is a short chain connected to the center of the platform. Irioth wraps the chain around their arm. The first shark attacks and nips Irioth's arm. Another shark drags Segoy's body into the water and the sharks tear it apart.
A shark leaps from the water and smashes into Irioth. They are knocked off balance, but pull themself back with the chain. A shark lands on the platform and Irioth kicks it back into the water. Another shark smashes into Irioth and knocks them into the water. Sharks nip at Irioth. Irioth grabs one of the sharks by the gills and it tries to shake Irioth off. The shark surfaces and Irioth begins to pummel it, bursting an eye.
Irioth falls off the shark and lands on the platform. The half-blind shark continues to thrash until Irioth stomps on its head. Another shark bites Irioth on the arm and doesn't let go. It pulls Irioth into the water. They grab the chain, though, and shake it loose. Irioth pulls themself back onto the platform and stomps on the dead shark's head until it can pull out the beast's jawbone.
Another shark jumps out of the water and Irioth uses the jaw bone as an axe, ripping it apart. Other sharks start to eat the shark Irioth rips apart. Back on the platform, Irioth holds the jawbone in the air. The crowd explodes. Triel and Kest are worried.
Irioth uses the shark's jawbone to make a vertical straight marking on their chest. Then a second for the second shark. Deyala cranks the platform back to shore. Uahto carves a star shape into Irioth's stomach, the symbol of completing the Shark Trial.
Another day, Teriel and the other young beings stand at the Shark Gate. Irioth cranks the handle and the platform moves three feet into the channel. A few sharks swim through the channel, but it isn't feeding time. Elfarran refuses the challenge and Irioth laughs at them. Elfarran pays a small shark tooth for refusing. Irioth runs towards the channel, leaps into the air and lands on the platform.
The others follow. Kest easily lands on the platform. Deyala lands on the platform and stumbles a little, but is never in danger of falling. Azver lands on the platform. Elfarran runs towards the channel, but bails before jumping and pays Irioth a small shark's tooth for failure.
Deyala moves the lever and the platform stops another foot away from the shore. Irioth lands on the platform again, with a massive grin. Teriel lands on the platform easily. Deyala tries the larger jump, misses short and falls into the water. Azver lands on the platform. Kest lands on the platform, but on the short end. Kest teeters, but manages to get onto the platform safely.
Deyala cranks the lever. The platform stops a foot further out. Irioth jumps too far and falls off the platform on the far end. Kest pays a shark tooth for refusing the jump. Azver does the same.
Teriel judges the distance and accepts. They plan the leap well. Teriel runs and jumps onto the platform. Teriel starts to slide off the far side, but grabs the chain in the center of the platform and hangs on. Teriel wins the game. Irioth gives the shark's teeth won throughout the game to Kest.
Teriel walks among the crowd headed to the plateau fields. The Mating Song plays. Teriel joins Kest and Elfarran in the crowd. Before the crowd, Irioth, Deyala and Azver stand before Uahto. Uahto starts the ceremony. Irioth's trio exchange gifts of fruit. Each takes a bite and then hands the rest of the fruit to the rest of the crowd. The trio move to a crude woolen mattress and the crowd closes a circle around them. Uahto symbolically ties the three together with strips of cloth. The Mating Song plays again. The crowd turns their back to the new lovers, except for the Elders, who watch. The three begin to kiss and caress each other.
The beings file out of the throne cave. Uahto approaches Kest. Uahto leads Kest into their room and offers Kest a drink. Uahto moves closer and brushes their hand down the side of Kest's face. Uahto propositions Kest, but Kest suggests they are too young. Uahto pushes forward. Kest backs off and runs away. Uahto grunts angrily.
Teriel and Elfarran recline in the grass near the crops in the secluded shade. Kest comes running towards them, laughing. They fall to the grass playfully and roll around with the others. Kest tells them of Uahto pursuing them. They take turns giving each other kisses. Deyala sees the three of them kissing. They run to tell Uahto. Uahto and their sidekicks walk down the hill and find Teriel, Elfarran and Kest getting sexual and orders the trio restrained.
Everyone fills the Throne Cave room. Uahto sits upon the throne. The Elders surround Uahto. Teriel, Kest and Elfarran stand before them. Uahto accuses them of having sex before the proper time. The crowd is shocked. Uahto compares them to the more honorable Irioth and the crowd nods. The Elders agree with Uahto and that the younger beings broke the rules.
The drums begin to play the Shark Trial music. Kest, Elfarran and Teriel are brought before the Shark Gate. Elfarran is forced to participate in the Shark Trial. Uahto cuts Kest's throat with the Bone Knife. Teriel breaks free from Deyala and Azver, but several other beings grab ahold of them.
Uahto bloodies Kest's body and puts it on the platform. Elfarran lays across the body and cries. Uahto cranks the lever and Kest's blood flows into the water. The sharks swarm.
Elfarran kisses Kest one last time and then stands up. The sharks attack Kest. Elfarran and Teriel makes eye contact and Elfarran waves. Elfarran kick's Kest's body into the water and the sharks attack. Elfarran goes to the other side of the platform and dives into the water. Uahto rages with anger. Elfarran swims to the far shore. Uahto and the others banish Elfarran. Elfarran runs into the Dark Forest and the crowd rages.
Teriel tries to sleep that night, but finds no rest. They stand up and leave Yevaud's cave. Teriel goes into the Throne Cave quietly. They pick up the Bone Knife and sticks in in their pocket. Teriel lifts the Great Horn and blows. Beings start to flow into the cave.
Uahto calls the meeting together and casts a questioning glance towards Teriel. Teriel communicates that NOW is the time for Teriel's shark trial. They all head to the gate and the Shark Trial song begins. Teriel steps on the platform and Azver cranks the lever. Teriel moves into the center of the channel as sharks swim past.
Irioth and Deyala bring a sheep to the front of the crowd. They slice its throat and stab it numerous times. They toss the bloody sheep to the sharks, riling them up. Sharks leap out of the water and nip at Teriel, who dodges them. A shark leaps at Teriel and knocks them into the water. Another shark clamps down on Teriel's leg and drags them away from the platform. Teriel grabs the Bone Knife as the shark carries them towards an underwater wall that blocks off the channel. It has a gate that lets sharks in and out and the shark heads for that open gate. But Teriel stabs them multiple times.
Another shark comes through the hole and bites Teriel's arm. Teriel's black blood joins the red blood of the shark. The shark pulls Teriel back towards the platform. Teriel stabs the shark and smashes it into the base of the platform. Teriel stabs it again and other sharks feed on it. Teriel swims away, heading for the shore opposite from home and the crowd.
As they emerge from the water, Teriel hides the Bone Knife. Teriel stands defiantly and stares back at the Elders and Uahto. For breaking the rules, the Elders, including Yevaud, vote to banish Teriel. Teriel walks into the Dark Forest as Uahto and Irioth smile in victory.
Teriel walks through the dark forest. They see human footprints curiously. Something moves through the forest and Teriel pulls out the Bone Knife. A hippo-sized creature charges Teriel. Teriel leaps onto the creature's back and stabs it. The beast smashes into a tree and breaks its neck. Teriel retrieves the Bone Knife and carves a Shark Trial marking into their flesh. Teriel goes to sleep.
Teriel wakes up as the sun goes down. Teriel doesn't recognize where they are at first, but then they remember. Teriel sees footprints on Shark Road, considers going back into the forest, and then walks down the road.
Later, Teriel grows tired. They are no longer in the Dark Woods. Teriel finds a place to sleep hidden in these woods.
Early the next morning, Teriel waks and spots one of the not-rabbits. Teriel catches the creature easily and eating it.
Meanwhile, Irioth walks into the Throne Cave and joins Uahto. Uahto points out that the Bone Knife is gone. Uahto points towards the Dark Forest and tells Irioth to take five others with them. Irioth takes the five, including Deyala and Azver, and they cross the channel.
Teriel comes to an intersection in the road and sees Castle Gensher for the first time. It's not a huge castle, and it's surrounded by a small village. At the intersection is a sturdy hut. Teriel sits in the middle of the road and stares at the castle and waits.
Lucretia walks out of her front door and waves to Teriel. He doesn't return it. She tries again and he awkwardly returns it. The sound of hooves can be heard coming from the castle. Lucretia tells him they're coming and points up the hill. Two armored and armed men arrive on six-legged almost-horses. Teriel pulls out the Bone Knife. Orm and Penthe tell Teriel to stand down. Teriel ignores them. Lucretia hides. They tell Teriel to drop their weapon. They flank Teriel and think they have an advantage, but Teriel attacks, nearly killing Penthe in one shot. He hits Teriel in the head with the butt of his sword.
As Teriel falls they stab the Bone Knife into Penthe's neck. Orm stabs Teriel with his sword and Teriel kicks him away savagely. Teriel attacks Orm and knocks him off balance. Orm stabs them again but Teriel stabs him with the Bone Knife. As Orm dies, he stabs Teriel again. Teriel falls to the ground, overcome with wounds. Lucretia comes to help him.
Teriel wakes up and is groggy and stumbles. Lucretia takes a step towards him and asks if he's okay. Teriel crashes to the ground again.
Teriel sleeps on a bed in Lucretia's hut. She sits watching them. Teriel awakens and cowers from Lucretia. She asks if Teriel is hungry. She tosses them a chunk of bread. Lucretia eats a piece of bread to show Teriel what to do. Teriel grabs the bread and chows down. Lucretia's cat Snoofa examines Teriel.
Lucretia stirs a pot and scoops stew into bowls and sets them at the table. Once Teriel realizes its more food, they consume several bowls. Lucretia tells him that more knights will be coming. She examines Teriel's wounds and discovers they are infected. She goes into her garden and tears the stalks off a few cactus-like plants. They ooze a clear liquid and she applies it to Teriel's wounds.
Teriel wakes up and sees that Lucretia isn't in her bed. They stand up and eat some bread. Teriel looks outside to see Lucretia standing on a rock. She leaps from one rock to the next. Then another. Teriel understands it's a game and jumps onto the first rock. Teriel leaps back-and-forth on the rocks, having fun. Lucretia joins in on the fun and laughter. Snoofa the cat has fun chasing away near-goats. Teriel goes back inside the hut and Lucretia follows.
Lucretia comes inside and Teriel stands looking out the window. She asks if they need anything and Teriel is hungry again. She decides to test Teriel by putting cat shit into one of the bowls of stew to see if Teriel will eat it or a stew without shit. Teriel gives he non-shit stew to Lucretia and prepares to eat the shit stew. Lucretia stops Teriel and gives them fresh stew.
As Lucretia serves Teriel, she notices the token around their neck. She runs and hunts down something. She comes back with Elfarran's token. Teriel instantly recognizes it. Lucretia says she met Teriel's friend. Teriel says their name is Elfarran. They tell each other their own names.
Teriel asks where Elfarran is. Lucretia says the king must have them. Teriel puts Elfarran's token around their own neck. Lucretia points to Castle Gensher in the distance. Lucretia hates the king and hides things from him, including her own prized necklace. Lucretia laments that there was a world before this one, but Teriel doesn't understand. She forces Teriel to go to sleep and rest.
Teriel walks the road towards the castle. Lucretia calls out to them. She tosses them a loaf of bread for the trip. Teriel waves and moves on. They move into the village and the humans are afraid of Teriel. They spread rumors that the beings eat children. A group of knights led by Benderesk surround Teriel and force them to move towards the castle. Benderesk tells knights Hatha and Serret to take Teriel in through the back way and to make sure Teriel doesn't see the "other one."
Benderesk walks into the throne room. King Maharion sits on the throne, with Queen Manan next to him. Benderesk says he captured another of the creatures. Manan is interested. Benderesk says the creature killed two of their men near Shark Road. They've kept Teriel away from their other captive. Maharion says it's time for a party. Manan leaves and goes into a library. A lot of the books are Earth books from the 1980s-2010s, suggesting this is a dystopian Earth future. She finds something about creatures like Teriel in one of the books and takes it out of the library.
The knights escort Teriel into the banquet hall. Maharion announces that tonight's entertainment has finally arrived. Manan notes that Teriel is significantly larger than expected. Maharion says Teriel is a disgusting monster. He wants to play a game. He throws fruit at Teriel to see how they react. Teriel snarls.
Manan interrupts the games and talks about the things she has learned from reading the works of the Great Researchers. Maharion gets angry. He storms out of the Banquet Room and towards Manan's library. He sets it on fire and Manan cries. He'll hear no more talk of books.
Maharion clubs Teriel with a flaming torch. Teriel doesn't catch fire and doesn't fight back. Maharion tries to figure out what scares Teriel. He grows bored and smashes Teriel in the head with the torch until Teriel falls to the ground. Maharion eats, drinks and declares it to be a party.
Later, Teriel opens their eyes and they are restrained by knights. Maharion inspects Teriel. Maharion says he couldn't figure out what the beings were when he had one of them, he wants to see what happens with two of them. He has Benderesk bring in Elfarran, who is alive, but injured.
Teriel breaks free and rushes towards Elfarran. Benderesk blocks their way. Teriel lunges forward and Benderesk stabs them in the ribs. Teriel loses confidence and backs off. Maharion steps forward with a knife to Elfarran's throat. Teriel backs down.
Maharion announces the monsters will be killed and the room cheers. Maharion threats to stab Elfarran for fun. Teriel launches at Maharion and the room erupts into chaos. Elfarran breaks free from their captors. Teriel holds Maharion's knife-wielding hand as they land on top of the king. Elfarran knocks one of the knights down and grabs the knight's loose sword. Maharion drops his knife as Teriel breaks his wrist. Teriel pulls out the Bone Knife and slits Maharion's throat. Elfarran stabs a knight.
Teriel grabs Elfarran and they head towards the exit. The chaos in the room lets them escape. Benderesk and Manan lean over Maharion's corpse. As they leave, Teriel grabs the crown and pockets it.
Manan sits on the throne while the room fills with chaos. Manan tells Benderesk to retrieve the crown from Teriel. She is the queen now and she wants her crown.
Teriel and Elfarran move towards Lucretia's hut. Teriel gives Elfarran their token back. Irioth emerges from the hut, covered in blood. The other beings join Irioth. Teriel is enraged by the blood and attacks. From the other direction come Benderesk and a dozen knights. Irioth punches Teriel, knocking them into a puddle of blood. Benderesk tells the creatures to stand down and turn over the crown. Irioth holds out a hand to Teriel, but they refuse. Irioth spits on Teriel and then rushes towards the knights.
The humans are quickly defeated. Benderesk is the last. He speaks with bravado, but Irioth easily kills him.
Irioth holds a sword over Elfarran, but stares at Teriel. Irioth moves to kill Elfarran and Teriel submits. Irioth finds the Bone Knife and the crown and claims them. The beings move their captives back towards home. After they are gone, Snoofa and Lucretia emerge safely.
Irioth and the beings later rest along the side of the road. Teriel and Elfarran are bound, but they secretly share kisses
Later, everyone is assembled in the throne room and the drums play the Shark Trial song. Uahto raises their hands to silence the drums and nods to the Elders. Irioth and the others bring forth Teriel and Elfaran. Irioth and Uahto are gleeful.
Irioth holds up the crown and the crowd is shocked. They cheer when Yevaud takes the crown from him and gives it to the other Elders. Yevaud hugs Elfarran and Teriel.
Uahto grunts and Irioth kills Yevaud. The crowd goes silent. Within second, other supporters of Uahto murder the other Elders.
Uahto orders Irioth to murder Elfarran and they slit Elfarran's throat. Teriel roars in anger, but is overpowered and driven to their knees. Irioth gloats as he prepares to kill Teriel.
Teriel explodes upward, breaking free and smashing the bone through Irioth's jaw and into their brain. Uahto screams and shark fin-marked beings rush Teriel. Teriel grabs the Bone Knife and kills the first being that attacks him. Deyala hits Teriel, but he stabs them. Another being rushes Teriel, who buries the knife in their eye socket. Azver leaps at Teriel, but they bury the knife in Azver's chest. Another being rushes Teriel, who smashes them into the wall and then stomps on their head.
Teriel catches Uahto and smashes their head into the ground over and over again.
Teriel rises from the blood as the new leader. The strongest beings kneel in fealty. The others follow. Teriel kisses Elfarran one last time, then adds Elfarran's token to their own. Then they take the king's token from Uahto's neck and adds that one. Teriel picks up the crown and puts it on their head and sits on the crown.