 Pax insists on going out into the Dangerlands to find his father. He sneaks out, and is followed by Una, who also wants an adventure. Out in the Dangerlands, they are tricked by Pax s evil ancestor Senyaka, and end up poisoned by brackwater, and then attacked by the Shadows - Dangerlands monsters that can change their shape to look like the people they re attacking. During the attack, Pax thinks he sees Una falling off a cliff. It s actually a Shadow, but Pax doesn t know this and turns to Senyaka to help him get revenge.