In a time soon to come, only the children, the birds, and the animals are left to enjoy earth's beauty. Five adults - an artist, a nymph, a wanderer, a pregnant woman, and a savior have also been spared from the plague that has swept everyone else away. Only the creatures understand, in part, the purpose that requires these five to come together in a special place at a special time. Gad the cat, Simon the ram, and the four ravens - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - are charged with the heavy responsibility of making sure that all goes according to plan. And deep in a quiet pool in the green and pleasant countryside, Old Trout, who knows almost everything about the great mystery that is unfolding, anxiously awaits the arrival of the child....