The Hoerikwaggo mountain range is on fire. Smiley and Knuckles, two young baboons scavenging for food, discover a human baby left alone and in danger. Smiley convinces reluctant Knuckles that they have to save her and in doing so, they are met with strong disapproval from others back home. The two are catapulted into a quest to reunite the baby with the humans and their journey leads them to discover the wonders and magic of the mountains. The landscape has changed however, and the two baboons soon discover that not all is as it seems. Challenged by a rival baboon hell bent on sabotaging their plans, stalked by a mysterious bird trying to steal the baby, and facing discrimination from other animals, they race through the mountains the get the baby back home. The story of Smiley and Knuckles' suspenseful and often hilarious adventure, is told through the eyes of Xam, a healer who lives in the Hoerikwaggo Mountains, and who seems to be holding secrets of her own.