One day while Abruc the otter and his son Stugg are out foraging for food, they find the bodies of two badgers; an old one, dead, and a giant one who is barely clinging to life. The otters take the giant back to their colony, where he is revived and reveals himself to be called Lonna Bowstripe. He is told that his attacker is most likely the pirate Raga Bol and his crew of sea-rats, whose ship has been lost and are moving inland. Lonna vows to hunt down and kill the entire crew. He is grateful to the otters for saving his life, but tells them he must go alone to avenge to death of his friend, Grawn. Abruc makes Lonna a bowstring for his journey. Armed with his bow and arrows, he sets out to exact his revenge.