Summary: Seven years ago, high on the slopes of Mount Kali’seum in Nassau, Kye-Kye is a teenage islander who is going through the dangerous Naming Ceremony of a koa warrior. The young fighter must swim against the strong currents to the outrigger channels alone to choose their name, their island; and build their home. Not too long before, Kye's best friend Makaio had tried to swim too far during his ceremony and was never seen again. Kye-Kye swam on, into sundown, into darkness — he swam on, into exhaustion, into pain — and beyond. The first land a koa warrior sets foot on in their Naming Ceremony is to be their home. During his rigorous journey, he comes across a shipwrecked sailor who he pulls ashore to safety. “Name’s Vanek,” said the castaway with a mountain accent. “I owe you my life Islander.” Vanek tells him that his friend Makaio is still alive, and that he goes by the name Matthew the Moul. He's joined the dangerous expedition into the Sabretooth mountains through the endless channels of the Multiverse. Kyle knows he must leave his world behind to help his friend.
In present day on the Sabretooth mountains, Tuch and Skinner have been traveling for six months straight without sign of human life, any life, since they embarked into the mountains to save the life of Unit-19 and their herd of 91 Kashmir Goatheads. That is until a group of Wildlings emerge from the whiteout of a storm to capture Tuch and hold him hostage. Skinner uses his soarin' speed to help Tuch "break free," who disarmed the Wildlings using the Sabres given to him by the Elder "RJ". Realizing Tuch and Skinner were not trespassers on the land, but welcomed members of a longstanding alliance, they are brought back to the Wildling encampment for food and rest. It's there that they meet "Moose," who was born in the Lost City of Pominville, and had memories of the way it was, and knowledge of the time since. Moose tells them that Unit-19 and the Goatheads are still alive, and he had come across Unit-19 in his recent travels. He passes along a message, and reunites Tuch with his companion, Slugger. Before they part ways, Moose warns of the darkness that lay ahead if they continue their journey. “Not all battles are fought with swords, my friend. Turn back.”
Back to seven years prior, on the rock of Mount Tsujimoto. Kye-Kye, now known as Kya, is a skilled warrior who can navigate the night sky better than the rest. He's learned the origins of the Multiverse, and has passed along his knowledge to the Audfolk. Alongside his friend Makaio, they've carried on an expedition through the Sabretooth Mountains for over a year. It's on one unfortunate night where he is ambushed by a pack of Coyotes, and though his injuries were healed by the son of Girgen Stone, he had been bitten by a Frost Tick that the wolves had carried, leaving his friend Makaio and the Girgen's son to carry on the expedition without him.
Released: March 2024