A giant wolf stalks the Scottish Highlands devouring humanity wherever it finds it. Against it, a war is being raged by a group known simply as "The Company". Terrified and hunted, the people retreat to the safety of the mountains. Yet, word reaches them of a terrifying new threat amid the escalating war that threatens their very survival. This is the world in which Inis, a young girl, must endure. And with the help of the inhuman Bairn, she might just succeed.

The ship appeared during the gloaming, when the snaking river turned silver and the city shimmered with a thousand lights. Its sails were paper-white amidst the vivid greens of the jungle, like a fluttering flag of intent. Almost as soon as it entered view, a chorus of bells swelled through the street and a rush of soldiers and those who were curious gathered by the long-abandoned docks. Something truly amazing was happening—for the first time in our history, outsiders had arrived.

She wore red vinyl heels and a tight, cherry-red dress, high and low in all the right places. Her black hair tumbled over her shoulders and framed her bright brown eyes and fat pink lips. And as soon as I saw her I felt my mind go spastic. I watched as she walked along the street, her hips swinging to the cha-cha-cha, and I slunk drunkenly along behind her. Eventually she turned around and flashed me a smile; "Honey, i'm not the kind of girl you think I am."