The worst drought in living memory grips the Rift Valley of East Africa. At the height of the subsequent famine, Chemone, a young Pokot girl, and her lover, Akur, flee from Apo, the man who has purchased her from her father to be his new bride. Far from home they run low on food and more importantly, water. Akur proves to be treacherous, deserting Chemone in the wilderness far from their tribal territory. Just before she succumbs to a lack of water, Chemone is rescued by Lokwa, a young warrior from the Turkana tribe. Lokwa nurses Chemone back to health and she comes to love her rescuer, eventually marrying him. She quickly settles into a new life in Lokwa's village deep in Turkana territory. However, Apo, the man who has paid her bride price, is wealthy and influential. Chemone belongs to him, and he wants her back. He believes she is hiding from him in Turkana territory. He hires young Pokot warriors to seek out Chemone. It's merely a matter of time before they find her and drag her back to Apo. She's not sure she'll survive her return.