SILK ROAD RUNAWAYS
Feature, Drama, Adventure, Romance
In 15th-century Mongolia, a rebellious, slingshot-wielding teenage girl saves a young eagle huntress from marauders, forging an unbreakable bond. Defying an arranged marriage, she escapes with her ally on a perilous quest across vast grasslands to find her long-lost mother, uncovering family secrets and forbidden love as they battle violent warriors and a vengeful warlord..

SYNOPSIS for Silk Road Runaways

SILK ROAD RUNAWAYS Feature by Christine Inserra

Life in 15th-century Mongolia is generally peaceful: shear sheep, collect dung for fuel, sweep the yurt, milk horses—except when marauders ride through to kill men and abduct women and children. That’s why Altan, a sling-wielding teenage girl, and her boy cousins serve as lookouts for the village. One day, Altan spies a plume of dust. She signals with a mirror, saving her village. Later, she witnesses a Steppe Rider molesting Kengi, a young eagle huntress from a distant tribe—reflexively, her sling WHOOSHES; THWAP—her first kill. A deep friendship grows as Altan’s survival skills help the girls return to camp safely.

Altan implodes when her aunt and uncle discover she has become a woman and insist she marry a wealthy merchant—unaware he plans to sell her as a war bride. Through a shaman’s vision, Altan learns her fragmented nightmares are memories from infancy: of the raid that killed her father and took her mother. But is her mother alive? Bodo, the shaman, can only confirm that her mother’s love endures, advising Altan to listen to her heart and promises, “She may find you… but there is much danger ahead.” After enduring the humiliation of wife training and serving her ‘husband-to-be’ a meal, Altan plots her escape. That night, she and Kengi secretly set off on a treacherous quest—to return Kengi to her mountain home and find Altan’s mother.

On horseback, with Altan’s dog and Kengi’s golden eagle by their side, the girls hone their warrior skills, bracing for danger. When five Steppe Riders descend on them, they, along with the dog and eagle, prove to be worthy opponents, capturing the squad leader, Sol. His secret mission: to bring Kengi and her brother, Tamir, back to their father, tribal chief Baluan. Tamir, searching for Kengi, arrives just in time and takes charge of the prisoner. Sol urges Tamir to return and train as the next chief, but Tamir resolutely rejects his father’s violent way of life. As Kengi and Altan’s love grows, so does their yearning for a life of freedom together.

When the foursome reaches Kengi’s mountain fortress, Altan and Sol are imprisoned for “safekeeping.” Kengi’s mother, Kyran, leads a band of abused, runaway women turned warriors. From their cell, Altan overhears that Sol is Kengi and Tamir’s birth father—a coward who refused to leave his tribe to help Kyran escape her abusive husband, Baluan. Now, Sol warns, Baluan will soon arrive with a small army to retrieve his wife and children. Kyran shouts, “All hands on deck!” and Altan is thrust into training for the looming battle, though she’s appalled by the impending violence. She professes her love for Kengi, pleading with her to leave, but Kengi, a lifelong warrior, is torn; heartbroken, she refuses to leave with Altan.

Afterward, Kyran questions Altan intently, growing suspicious that she might know her. During their sparring, Kyran spots a tattoo on Altan’s chest—the mark her mother gave her as a newborn. Recognition strikes, and a tearful moment ensues. “Mother?” Altan asks. Choking back the painful truth, Kyran explains that Altan’s mother, Sarnai, was beaten and left for dead by Baluan. Kyran nursed her back to life at the mountain fortress. Since then, Sarnai’s heart has cried out for Altan, calling her to join them as the next generation of freedom warriors. In mournful silence, Altan clings to Kyran, understanding that her mother now walks in the spirit world.

Suddenly, the ram’s horn blasts—Baluan has arrived. The battle erupts. From above, Kyran’s warriors rain down arrows and hurl rocks, slaughtering over half of Baluan’s men. Amid the chaos, Altan stuns Kengi by shouting, “My mother was Sarnai!” Together, they convince Sol to join them in Altan’s daring ruse. On the open field, Baluan’s men clash with Kyran’s Amazons. Arrows fly from both sides in a storm of whistling death. Altan and Kengi leap into the fray, joined by Sol, who presents Tamir as his “captive.”

When a tracker arrives to retrieve Altan for her fiancé, she defies him, boldly declaring her love for Kengi. Sol refuses to surrender Tamir, revealing himself as the biological father of both Tamir and Kengi. Baluan and two of his men SNAP whips around the necks of Kyran, Kengi, and Altan, yanking them off their horses mid-negotiation. Then come the WHISTLES—a signal for Altan’s dog, Kengi’s eagle, and a flock of Kyran’s falcons to attack. The air erupts into chaos as the animals swarm Baluan’s men. Altan and Kengi break free, snatching their bows. It takes the combined strength and arrows of every Amazon to shoot Baluan dead and save Kyran.

With the monster Baluan slain, his men flee. Safe for now, the Amazons and the newly reunited family ride back to the fortress. Altan and Kengi have found peace together as they enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the night sky.ife in ancient Mongolia is pretty peaceful: shear sheep, collect dung for fuel, sweep the yurt, milk horses– except when marauders ride through to abduct women and children. That’s why Altan, a sling-wielding teenage girl, and her boy cousins work as security lookouts. One day, Altan spies a plume of dust. She signals with a mirror and saves her village. She witnesses a Steppe Rider molesting a young eagle huntress from a distant tribe. Reflexively her sling WHOOSHES; THWAP, her first kill. A deep friendship grows as Altan’s survival skills help the girls return to camp safely.

Altan implodes when her aunt and uncle insist she marry a wealthy merchant. (Unbeknownst to them, he plans to sell her as a war bride!) Through a shaman’s vision, Altan discovers that her nightmares have been memories of the raid that killed her father and abducted her mother, who is still alive! Desperate to escape, Altan is on fire to find her mother and return Kengi, the eagle huntress, to her mountain home. The two plan their escape and set out on a treacherous journey.

On horseback, along with Altan’s dog and Kengi’s golden eagle, they prepare for certain danger by honing warrior skills. Five Steppe Riders descend on them, but the girls prove worthy opponents. They take the squad leader, Sol, prisoner. His secret mission is to bring Kengi, Tamir, her brother, and their mother back to tribal chief Baluan. Tamir, who has been searching for Kengi, arrives on the scene and guards this prisoner. Sol asks Tamir to return and train to be the next chief. Tamir rejects his father’s offer and violent life. As Kengi and Altan’s love grows, so does their desire to live a free life together.

When the foursome arrives at Kengi’s “mountain fortress,” Altan and Sol are imprisoned for “safekeeping.” Kengi’s mother, Kyran, is the leader of a band of abused, runaway women turned warriors. Imprisoned, will Altan find her mother? The girls overhear that Sol is Kengi and Tamir’s birth father, who, in his cowardice, wouldn’t leave his tribe to help Kyran escape the abusive Baluan. Sol warns that Baluan will come with a small army to bring his wife and children back. Kyran orders, “All hands on deck!” Altan must train for the big battle, but she is appalled by the violence that is about to ensue. Professing her love for Kengi, she pleads with her to leave. Kengi, like her father, has trained to be a warrior. It breaks her heart, but she must stay. Kyran discovers an identity tattoo on Altan’s chest, the one she gave her firstborn. A tearful mother-daughter reunion ensues.

Baluan attacks and the battle commences. Kyran’s warriors slaughter more than half his men by dropping rocks and assailing them with arrows. Altan shocks Kengi, “I’ve found my mother; we’re half-sisters!” The two convince Sol to join them in Altan’s planned ruse. Retreating to the open battlefield, Baluan’s men and Kyran’s Amazons let arrows fly. Altan and Kengi join the fight, as does Sol, who delivers an “apparently captive,” Tamir. Altan refuses to surrender to a tracker sent to bring her back to her fiancé, and she openly declares her love for Kengi. Sol refuses to give up Tamir, revealing that he is Tamir and Kengi’s true father. Baluan’s men SNAP whips around the necks of Kyran, Kengi, and Altan and pull them off their horses during “negotiations.” WHISTLE! Dog, an eagle, and a flock of Kyran’s falcons attack, creating pandemonium as they mob Baluan and his men. Altan and Kengi get loose and grab their bows. It takes all the Amazons to shoot Baluan dead and save Kyran. With the monster Baluan slain, his men flee. Safe for now, the Amazons and Kyran’s family ride back home. Altan and Kengi have found peace together as they enjoy the beauty of the mountains and night sky.