Seeking a cure for her sick mother, Courage "Rage" Winnoway and her dogs pass through a magical gateway to a strange land known as Valley where they must find, before the sand in an enchanted hourglass runs out, the powerful wizard noted for his healing magic.

When she is exiled to Obernewtyn after her psychic abilities are discovered, Elspeth encounters others with powers like her own and discovers dark secrets concerning the ambitious overlords who control the destinies of all the outcasts.

On a dangerous quest to the troll city of Underth, the healer, Little Fur, is mystified by a new companion--a scarred and angry fox whose strong spirit keeps him alive despite his wish to die.