On a savage, outlying planet an enclave of psionically-trained humans have built a society that lives in harmony with all life. Shielded from the rest of the galaxy by the dangerous beasts that inhabit their lush, forested world, the village lives a simple life under their Home Dome. Each child of the Dome is tested at a young age to asses their abilities, and Cheobawn is marked with the Black Bead on her Choosing Day, a symbol of bad luck and shame. Yet there is something powerful about her that the elders don’t understand. Finally of age, Cheobawn is chosen to join a pack to act as the psychic Ear on a foraging mission outside the Home Dome. She knows this is her chance to prove herself. But something sinister stalks them and each member of the pack must draw on their unique strengths and a lifetime of training if they want to survive to see another day.