As the water buffalo prepare for their yearly migration, a terrible accident leaves their leader unable to go on--and in his place, young Echo is chosen by the Great Spirit to lead his herd. But the older buffalo can't believe such a young animal has been chosen--and refuse to follow his lead, threatening the migration that is necessary for the Great Spirit to bring the rains to the land. Meanwhile, Stride the cheetah is keeping secrets from his coalition that could get him killed for disloyalty. And young hyena Tailgrabber is desperate to find peace between her clan and the lions of Noblepride--even though a hyena seeking peace marks a betrayal of the hyenas' longstanding allegiance to the Great Devourer.