In the twilight world between the luxury of the Invisible City and the terror of the Forbidden Territories, lie the Zones. Abandoned by a divided and ruthless society, Bradley, Victor, Floris and the wild dogs who have joined them must stick together to survive.

Their only relief is in the stories told to them by the mysterious Old Woman. Then, an unexpected event turns the children's own world to dust, sending them on a dangerous and difficult journey into the unknown. Can the Old Woman's stories help them survive in the wilderness?