There is a severe forest fire, and there are only a few who can help save the people from the fire and the drought..As Daja Kisubo, trangshi of the Traders, is working with metal, a stranger enters the forge. This stranger is a Trader. When she discovered that Daja is a trangshi - an outcast - she acts as if she is not there. Anger at her unfair treatment, though it was expected, cause Daja to throw her emotions into bars of metal, which created a living vine, made purely from metal. When the caravan of Traders wish to buy the vine, one must be able to speak to her. The bargaining continues as Daja and her three friends try to stop the forest fire, and the drought. But the forest fire spreads as the caravan is leaving. Will Daja be able to save the Traders?