When scientists on Oriel discover a new planet, they decide it would be an ideal environment for an experiment. Given different environments, opportunities and skills, how far would educated people progress over a couple hundred years? It was all innocent enough until they introduced mascots - humans genetically modified with the genes of animals. Next they created laws that forbade contact between the colonies. Finally a devastating plague resulted in the scientists abandoning the experiment, leaving the colonists and mascots on the planet to survive as best they could. The story begins thirty years later in Nyumbani, one of the original five colonies. Donte, a young mascot captive, embarks on a mission to bring the colonies together. It begins with a harrowing escape and a trek across snow-capped mountains and a desert. His escape is complicated by a promise to escort a female captive safely to her colony and a dedication to honor above all else. Donte knows that mascots were created to guide and protect the colonists - humans, as he calls them - and he feels honor bound to do so. His mission places him in one perilous situation after another in unfamiliar territory. Donte is plagued by doubts about his past, and challenged by questions about his future. He blames himself for the death of his mate and children. Before he can embrace the future, he must let go of the past.