Vele is on the hunt. He will stop at nothing to ensnare Elizabeth Lawson. His desire for her is all-consuming. The Tanifa, a group of guardians who fight Vele, know that the evil shapeshifter is now changing strategies but his attacks are elusive. Elizabeth is left scrambling to improve her skills as a jumper and escape. She travels the length of Santa Isabel island learning from the other Tanifa. On her walkabout she discovers four old shapeshifters who have become stuck as strangler figs. The trees hold many secrets. They remember things - magic Vele might not know. Time is ticking down. Vele's strikes get closer and closer to the heart of the Tanifa. Elizabeth must piece together the knowledge of the trees to defeat Vele before he kills all of the Tanifa she has come to love.