Aar-Twan is the youngest prince among eight brothers, whose mother, Tyria dies giving birth to him. Aar-Twan's father, Keldor, the High King Of LeRaen names him Aar-Twan after the greatest warrior of LeRaen and the first High King of LeRaen, because Tyria chose it. This angers his seven other sons. This is because Aar-Twan is born with a defect in his leg so that he will never walk normal. They do not believe a cripple should be named after the most famous warrior and the first High King of LeRaen. Aar-Twan would grow up with seven brothers that despised and tormented him behind their father's back. Aar-Twan survives because he has a kind and forgiving soul; and a talent for making friends with wild creatures, including a bear called Bryarrgghh. One day Bryarrghh takes Aar-Twan deep into the Forest Yrrengh to meet Lei-Shana, the moon orchid, becoming the first human to see a moon orchid in over a thousand years.
