Famine takes hold in the wake of a volcanic eruption, reshaping the lives of countless creatures as they seek to survive. A young girl steals an axe and makes her own way in the world. Two children must fend for themselves in the forest. Observing it all is a storyteller who straddles past and present.

Once weaves a vivid tapestry in which all lifeforms play a role, refashioning a classic folktale to tell a story both modern and timeless. This genre-bending work of eco-fiction grapples with the animalism of our species and presents a compelling tale about the interconnectedness of our world.