Can a naive young social worker feline heal the widening rift between humans and cats or is Nadine doomed to be one more victim in the war?
After a narrow escape from orphaned teenagers determined to use her for target practice, Nadine, a feline social worker, is left terrified and wondering if there's a way humans and felines can live together in peace in this post-plague world. She finds the answer in a story about a magical cat called the Baruhk Sh'Toole. Unfortunately, she disappeared years ago, taking her secrets with her. With only a map of the queen's last known location and a vague story to go on, the she-cat leaves for an adventure to the Outer Reaches, a place where the trappers will skin a cat alive and then consider killing it. There she must befriend a priest and hope he knows where to find the cat who can heal the world, but doesn't want to be found.