Drought has come to the prehistoric world of the Named. Under the leadership of the strong-willed Ratha, the clan of intelligent cats searches out new grazing land for the herd beasts upon which their survival depends. Miles away, on the coast, a young wild cat battles desperately for her own survival. Rejected by the languageless unnamed cats, and lamed physically and emotionally by a cubhood trauma, Newt forges a symbiotic relationship with a group of docile sea mammals. When Thakur, a scout for the Named, discovers her, he is intrigued by her ingenuity and tenacity. He does not realize that Newt and Ratha have an unexpected bond. . . .