The land in which the story takes place is inspired by the African Sahel, but is not an attempt to illustrate any particular story from this area.This fictitious land was controlled for centuries by the nomadic families of The Dogs, that is until The Crocodiles arrived in search of water. After a long struggle for control of the land and therefore the water, The Crocodiles emerged as victors.They exiled The Dogs into the southern desert, redrawing the borders of the land, leaving them disconnected from water.The Dogs, inspired by the Painted Wolf or Lycaon pictus, found throughout Africa, are dying due to lack of water. The story follows one dog on his quest to find water for his dying daughter and community in general. He decides to leave his home heading off in the direction of The Black Mountains. The name of this mountain range is all he knows as it has been the only object on the horizon for years. He has never left his family and has never traveled across the border into the old land of The Dogs. He has been told there was once a wonderful labyrinth of a city...