Eric has been gone for over the best part of a year, when Rab gets a visitor, 'Flower of the Morning' and her brother 3rd of the 1st house of trackers. Eric is in trouble and needs his help. They rush to the volcano where Eric is being held against his will by the new leader of the pack who is intent on doing away with Rab's friend Eric, only Rab and his new friends have other ideas. But to get back they will have to pass through the roving bands who are looking to prevent them getting home. Rab makes a new home and new friends but things do not go smoothly. Life gets complicated and downright dangerous at times, the religious element of his new home object strongly to his being there and try to have him removed ...with force. There is a Snake problem just down river in the swamp so the newly formed 'House of Raab' decide to get some new snake skin for the new canoe's.