The Wanderer follows 15-year-old Elena, Ele, who faces the tragic loss of her parents to a fever that is sweeping the neighboring town. Ele knows that she cannot manage the family farm alone nor does she want to. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she sets out for town but finds it eerily deserted and learns of her uncle's death. Comforted by her friend Auntie Perkins, she returns to the farm to bury her parents and ultimately decides to embark on an adventure to see the world just as her grandfather before her.
With her horse Dragon and the guidance of a mysterious mentor, Zedum, Ele learns how to fight, learns meditation, healing and her true power while forming bonds with fellow traveler Robert and a wolf named Shanko. Zedum introduces Ele to an equally mysterious woman named Zelda who teaches her how to make herb remedies, as well as a potion that allows Ele to take spiritual journeys that teaches her the interconnectedness among all living beings. As Ele transforms from a fearful girl into a confident young woman, she discovers her identity, her destiny, her power, and her connection to the universe.
The story intertwines themes of destiny, compassion, mystery, and personal growth, especially as Ele confronts challenges and the legacy of her family heritage.
