Olivia Smith is an anthropologist, immersed in the study of alien cultures. As the Sri'thaen threat ramps up on the edges of human space, Olivia decides it's an ideal time to accept a position in a distant solar system. At first, her new job seems perfect, but when the orbital station she's working from malfunctions, she'll find herself forced to land on the planet below. She needs to limit her interactions with the aliens to avoid influencing their natural development, but there's one man in particular who's hard to resist...

Vlek's people have lived for generations in the rain forest. One day, he comes across a strange group of...people...like nothing he's ever seen before. Fully grown and yet unfamiliar with the woods, it's clear they don't belong. Vlek sets out to learn more about these strange creatures and their captivating female leader. Where did they come from? What are they doing here? And most importantly, can he convince Olivia to stay?