Morel is fem'an, an intersex person born with cells of a woman and a man. Because of this, society considers Morel–and all like hir–as useless. Most fem'an end up in the sex trades, but Morel's life convinced hir to avoid that work. As someone born with traits of both genders, Morel goes by Zie and Hir, and chose a job as a farmer. Zie works up top, above the coal mine turned shelter called Huntsman, tending fields that help the town survive in the blistering heat of a climate gone mad. But some would prefer hir in bed, especially Crulellyn, a town councilor trying to force hir into submission.

But Morel has strength and friends; and a recent new vendor selling seed to Huntsman's Farm Council has taken a liking to hir, but in a way less threatening than other men, and with a respect for hir zie had not known before.