The Trial -- Episode #317

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:

Dar (Daniel Goddard) and Tao (Jackson Raine) trudge through the dense jungle to meet Arina (Marjean Holden), when Sharak, scouting the area from above, suddenly lets out a shriek. Sharak informs Dar that he saw Arina being held captive by a band of hunters. Dar immediately takes off through the forest in search of her, fighting off numerous hunters in the process. He finds Arina just as one hunter tightens a rope around her neck, and another is about to attack. Several feet away from Arina, Dar spots a puma that has also been captured by the hunters. With both Arina and the puma's lives in grave danger, Dar has only a split second to choose whose life to save first. Torn, Dar makes the decision to help Arina, sure that she will reciprocate by helping him save the puma. Before Dar can react, however, a hunter hurls his spear directly at the puma, but the spear miraculously stops just short of the animal. It hovers in mid-air, then changes direction and heads straight for the hunter, hitting him in the shoulder.

As the remaining hunters flee the scene, Dar, Tao and Arina find themselves face to face with Manaka (Isla Fisher), a powerful nature demon just like her lost sister, Curupira. Manaka accuses the BeastMaster of reneging on his promise to Curupira by choosing to save the life of a human over that of an animal. She insists that because Dar has broken his promise to protect Curupira's animals, he must stand trial in her court. If Manaka finds Dar guilty, he will be stripped of his powers and sent to the Eternal Darklands.

Moments later, Dar, Tao and Arina enter a clearing in the jungle where numerous animals have gathered for the trial. Enraged, Manaka begins by claiming that this is not the first time Dar has failed to protect the animals. She argues that unicorns no longer walk the earth because humans killed them for their horns, hunters have killed pigs for mere sport, and elephants were slaughtered by the Umpatra Warrior. Angered by Manaka's accusations, Tao and Arina speak in support of Dar, stating that he had ultimately taught the killing tribes to respect nature, and to take only what they needed to eat. Manaka counters that Curupira didn't give him his powers in order to teach humans, but to save animals.

When Tao suggests that Manaka consider all the animals Dar did save, she still
stands firm in her beliefs on behalf of her lost sister. Tao insists that Curupira was right in choosing Dar to be BeastMaster. She knew that Dar's lived in harmony with nature, and that it was not Dar's powers that made him the BeastMaster, but his love and compassion for the animals. Tao maintains that Dar is the only one who can save the animals, and if Manaka banishes him, there will be no one to protect them.

Dar finally gives in, feeling that Manaka has already made up her mind. He promised Curupira that he would save her animals, and feels that he has failed her. Dar is ready to accept his fate, knowing that Manaka is actually bitter with him for not saving Curupira from the evil demon Iara.

With her decision made, Manaka raises her hand to cast the spell that will terminate his powers and banish him from the land. Suddenly, Tao realizes that the animals have not been allowed to speak on Dar's behalf. Sharak lands on a branch beside Dar, glaring defiantly at Manaka. Ruh, Kodo and Podo also stand by Dar's side. Even the puma crosses to Dar's side in an act of solidarity. Soon, Dar finds himself surrounded by all his animal companions, who have vowed together to follow Dar wherever he goes. Manaka is deeply moved by this display of loyalty, and decides to let Dar return to his quest, warning him that she'll be watching closely.