Two stories are told in parallel - one ancient and mythical, the other modern and scientific. In the distant past, a young boy called Wahneeta sets out with his friends to discover the source of a mysterious golden light, believing it will lead them to a new life beyond the mountains. On the way they meet a giant bird creature called K'tumon, who agrees to help them on their quest. During their many adventures together Wahneeta learns about the ancient world of Allegor, and K'tumon shows him how to see the world in a different light. However, before they reach the other side of the mountains, K'tumon is killed while saving Wahneeta from a pack of hungry wolf-creatures. Wahneeta buries K'tumon in a remote cave before eventually arriving at a beautiful land on the other side of the mountains. The modern story starts with the discovery of the ancient remains of a bizarre winged creature in a cave in Africa. This discovery changes the life of one of the archaeologists forever. Dr Sarah Pinkerton has the awesome idea that the newly discovered creature may have been responsible for the development of the modern human mind.
But this idea leads to public ridicule and, together with the news that her mother lies gravely ill in hospital, leads her into a downward spiral towards oblivion. As well as the bones found in the cave, the two stories are also linked by an enigmatic image scratched on an animal bone 60,000 years ago, and by a small lump of polished gold which helps Wahneeta summon K'tumon when he needs help. In the modern story the gold nodule - which has been recovered from an earlier archaeological dig - enables Dr Sarah Pinkerton to escape her nightmare and eventually find inner happiness and peace.