The Last Caravan
An illustrated story by Kervan Studio · Fantasy · Artistic · All ages · Turkish, English
Also in: Türkçe
A young camel driver and an old storyteller carry the last seed of a lost tree across the desert where the stars walk, to a dying city.
The great Moon Tree of the city of Lâl has withered and its wells have dried; only one glowing seed is left. Old storyteller Sitare Ana chooses young camel driver Emir to carry it across the Desert of Walking Stars, where the stars move and only those who can read their dance find the way. Through a sandstorm and a mirage, with the stubborn camel Fındık, Emir learns that the seed doesn't need water to grow, but a story.
Characters
- Emir (Young camel driver): A nineteen-year-old camel driver who has never led anything but camels.
- Sitare Ana (Old storyteller): An ancient storyteller who reads the dance of the walking stars.
- Fındık (Stubborn camel): Emir's stubborn, loyal camel, who has opinions about everything.
Episode 1: The Walking Stars
Sitare Ana gives Emir the last seed of the Moon Tree. The caravan sets out, the stars start to walk, and a sandstorm tests them.
The last tree of Lâl had withered. Only one seed was left.
Sitare Ana: You will carry this seed to Lâl, Emir.
Emir: Me? I'm just a camel driver!
Hrrmph!
The next evening, the last caravan set out.
Emir: The stars are moving! How will we find the way?
Sitare Ana: The stars walk, but they also dance. Count their steps.
Emir: Three steps left... one step back...
Sitare Ana: Sandstorm! Make the camels kneel!
Emir: Protect the seed, Fındık!
When the storm had passed, the seed was still glowing.
Sitare Ana: Half the road is behind us. The stars will tell you the rest.
Episode 2: The Garden of Lâl
Emir leads the caravan past a mirage to the dying city. The seed will not grow until he tells it the story of their journey.
Now it was Emir who led the caravan.
Emir: That's a mirage. The stars point another way.
Hrrmph!
Emir: Fındık, trust me!
Sitare Ana: There is Lâl. Or what's left of it.
The wells had dried, and the people had forgotten hope.
Emir: All this way... I hope it is enough.
Emir: Maybe we're too late.
Sitare Ana: The seed is waiting for a story, not water. Tell it our journey.
Emir: Once upon a time, in a desert where the stars walked...
Sitare Ana: Now you are a storyteller too.
And Lâl bloomed again.