Rannoch is born with a white mark on his forehead resembling an oak leaf, the symbol of the deer god, Herne.

The story begins the night Rannoch's father, Brechin, is murdered, and his mother, Eloin, is forced to become the mate of the Lord of the Herd, Drail.

So Rannoch, Bracken, five other fawns, and their mothers flee Drail's herd and take refuge with another, which they believe will be a place of safety.

Rannoch helps his friends by drawing off one of the hunters' dogs but is injured in the process, after which the other deer believe him to be dead.

Meanwhile, one of Drail's servants, Sgorr, tricks and murders Drail and militarizes the herd by making the stags sharpen their antlers, training and drilling the young bucks and having them gore each other in the forehead to make permanent scars.

Sgorr slowly expands his territory over many herds, intending to make himself lord over all Herla.

He stays close to the human dwelling and slowly begins to lose his ability to speak to other animals.

One day, a mole who has become his friend tells him his time around the humans is changing him, and Rannoch decides to leave.

Rannoch, torn between taking action and keeping the peace, tries to dissuade them, but his friends leave him to join the fight.

Searching for answers alone, Rannoch discovers that Sgorr has a terrible secret: he once killed a human child and ate its heart.

When the Lore is bruised and broken, Shattered like a blasted tree, Then shall Herne be justly woken, Born to set the Herla free.

He shall flee o'er hill and heather, And shall go where no deer can, Knowing secrets dark to Lera.

Air, water, earth, and fire, All shall ease his bitter pain, Till the elements conspire, To restore the Island Chain.

First the High Land grass shall flower, As he quests through wind and snow, Then he breaks an ancient power, And returns to face his foe.

When the Lord of Lies upbraids him, Then his wrath shall cloak the sun, And the Herla's foe shall aid him To confront the evil one.

Sacrifice shall be his meaning, He the darkest secret learn, Truths of beast and man revealing, Touching on the heart of Herne.

He was targeted by Sgorr and Drail due to having a white oak leaf on his forehead, which prompted him to run away from the herd early with his friends.

Sgorr is incredibly sadistic and power-hungry and is responsible for the creation of 'The Great Herd' and an army of violent, scarred deer called 'Sgorrla.'

A wolf whose life gets saved by Rannoch, who heals his injuries and brings him back to health.

One of Rannoch's friends who stayed in the Deer Park with his mother due to his weakened condition, but he later returns to fight Sgorr.