Accused of murdering her husband and dumped upon the prison world of Sanction with her unborn daughter, Rhiannon stumbles, alone, from her landing pod into an alien forest. Taking cover in a cave from a marauding patrol, it isn't long before the contractions hit and she is forced to bring her child, kicking and screaming, into a ruthless, inhospitable world.

Fast-forward five years. Rhiannon has struggled and adapted as best she can. Her daughter, Lee, has grown but, thanks to the native berries and roots (the only source of food), both Rhiannon and Lee have begun hearing voices. For Rhiannon, the voice of her dead husband has been haunting her with increasing frequency, blaming her for killing him; a claim Rhiannon resolutely denies.

In a rare moment of inattention, Lee is kidnapped by a small group of hunters. Rhiannon is forced to follow, beyond the mountains, into the uncharted territories of Sanction to get her back. All the while the voice in her head, and its accusations, are only getting stronger.