The Beast Player

The Beast Player (獣の奏者, Kemono no Sōj) is a Japanese novel series written by Nahoko Uehashi and published by Kodansha between 2006 and 2009. Its manga adaptation serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Sirius since October 25, 2008, and the anime series entitled Kemono no Sōja Erin aired in Japan from January 10 to December 26, 2009.

Plot
10-year-old Erin is a young girl who lives with her mother in the Alhan region in the small village of Ake. She has a big love for animals, especially the Touda, dragon-like creatures used in the war. Her mother So-yon was originally of the Mist People, an ancient clan who have members with green hair and eyes, and is rumored to follow in the ancient ways, practice magic, and hide in the mist. But despite her genealogy, they stay in the village because Erin's late father was the son of the village chief and So-yon is the head Touda doctor.

But one night, the Kiba, the Grand Duke's strongest Touda, mysteriously dies. According to law, since So-yon was the person who was charged with caring for them, she is responsible for their condition and was sentenced to death. Erin tries to save her mother, but So-yon refuses to be rescued, and Erin is swayed along the river as her mother is eaten by the wild Touda.

Erin is taken into the Yoje region and is found and adopted by a beekeeper. There, she learns of the "king of beasts" the Ouju. Erin's spark for learning takes her to the Kazalm Ouju Breeding School, and leads her to the baby Ouju Lilan. As Erin stays at Kazalm and spends more time with Lilan, she creates a miraculous bond with her that is said to be impossible and ends up getting involved in a civil war between the Alhan and the Yoje regions.