ACT 1
Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Conki who lived in a small mountain village along with his mother Yuma and father Dikembe. They were cloud herders, a group of people who used the power of their traditional Cagali instruments to move clouds wherever they wished. His mother, Yuma, just so happened to be the greatest of them all. This is how Conki learned to herd clouds.

Every day, Yuma, Dikembe, and other villagers would herd clouds to water the fields and provide surrounding towns with clean drinking water. Conki tried to use his Cagali to stir the clouds, but they refused to budge because Conki doubted. Sometimes Conki was chased by other children of the village who would make fun of him for not being able to herd clouds like his mother, Yuma. On those nights, Conki would cry himself to sleep. His mother, hearing his muffled cries from the other room, would comfort him by singing a special lullaby. The soothing sound of her voice would ease Conki to sleep. Yuma hoped that Conki would believe someday.

Until one day, Conki awoke to the sounds of his parents having a conversation with a stranger. Conki rose from his bed, turned the corner, and saw a man who was begging Yuma to travel to a village that was suffering from a drought. Yuma pulled Dikembe aside and they talked as Conki hid behind the corner, listening. Yuma told Dikembe that she would go but Dikembe reminded Yuma that she was still recovering from a long expedition that she just came back from. Trusting in Dikembe’s abilities, Yuma decided to send him to help instead. After Conki’s father leaves, Yuma gives Conki a very special family Cagali. Conki receives the gift with gladness and wants to try it out.

ACT 2
After their morning meal, Conki and his mother went outside and hiked to a ridge to try out the family Cagali that Yuma gave him. Yuma patiently talked with Conki about the basics of cloud herding and the belief one must have in the clouds and in one’s ability to move them. After listening to his mother Conki blew into his Cagali, but none of the clouds moved. Because of this, Yuma could see that doubt was creeping back into her son’s mind. So, she played her Cagali and lifted herself into the air to show Conki an example.

Upon seeing his mother in the clouds Conki faintly smiled in disappointment because he wished he could join her in the air. Because of this, Conki turned his back from Yuma and began to walk away from her. Yuma, attempting to get Conki’s attention, called out to him. But in doing so, she lost focus. Just then, the wind blew a cumulonimbus cloud above both Yuma and Conki, blocking out the sun. As Yuma tried to remain balanced, a sudden microburst shot down and tossed Yuma off her feet and into the air, separating Yuma from her Cagali.

Upon hearing the screams of his mother, Conki quickly turned and ran toward the edge of the mountain. Peering over the side, he saw Yuma bloodied and unable to move as she lay on a loose rock far below. Conki, in desperation, tried to stir the clouds over and over again. But still nothing. Yuma weakly called out to Conki once more, doing all she could to help him believe, but Conki’s fear and doubt overwhelmed him. Negative thoughts flooded his mind, telling him that he was a terrible son, untalented, and not good enough to even save his own mother. He remembered what the children of the village told him, and decided to run back into the forest, not knowing how to save his mother before the rock beneath her gave way to the ravine below.

ACT 3

As Conki cried on his knees in the dark forest surrounded by trees, he heard in the distance a faint melody coming from the ridge. His eyes opened wide as the last tear rolled down his cheek. He recognized this melody. It was the same song his mother sang to him when he felt afraid. Wiping the tears from his eyes, Conki picked up his Cagali and ran back towards the ridge where his mother was close to falling as the loose rock beneath her continued to give way. As he walked closer to the edge, Conki stopped, closed his eyes and played his Cagali one more time. Suddenly the clouds began to swirl above him and gained speed. For the first time, the clouds followed his lead because Conki needed to believe they would. They swiftly flew to Conki and lifted him up in the air. Following the teachings from his parents, Conki imagined the clouds taking him to his mother. The rock Yuma clung to began to move until it finally unlodged, sending Yuma into the air. Just then, Conki directed larger clouds to catch his mother’s wounded body. She fell into them like a soft bed. Continuing to play his Cagali, Conki herded the clouds safely back to the top of the mountain.

As his mother was laid on the ground in front of him, Conki kneeled down beside her and cradled her head. He moved her long hair out of her eyes and began wrapping her bloody arm with his tunic. Tears ran down Yuma’s face, relieved that she was safe, but so incredibly proud of her son. Conki eventually took his mother back home and bandaged her wounds.

Ever since that day, Conki always went with his parents to herd the clouds, growing daily in his courage and belief, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he can fly amongst the clouds too.