An abused and unwanted daughter of the First Men Tribe, young Kiin knows the harsh realities of life in a frozen land at the top of the world. In an age of ice nine millenia past, her destiny is tied to the brave sons of orphaned chagak and her chieftain mate kayugh -- one to whom, kiin is promised, the, other for whom she yearns But the evil that her own family spawned drags the tormented young woman far from her people -- where savage cruelties, love and fate will strenghten and change her... and give her the courage to fight for the future of her own helpless progeny.