When the Aleuts did not give the tribe a just payment for being able to hunt otter, a fight broke out between the two groups. The Aleuts escaped and many people, from both sides, died. One of them being Chowig, the leader of the tribe and Karana's father.
Karana's new life
With Chowig dead Kimki comes to power. He says that they should leave the island, to go to a place where he visted as a boy. One day a ship comes and the men aboard say they were sent by Kimki. The day is stormy and they need to board qickly, Ramo forgets his spear and goes back for it. However, by the time he returns the boat is gone. Karana not willing to leave him behind by himself jumps off the boat.
The Aleuts come back.
Karana and Roma work hard to keep their lives going until the ship returns for them. Their lives seem to be going well, untill one moring Karana wakes up to find Ramo gone. She goes out to look for him, only to find him dead, killed by the wild dogs.
Karana leaves the island
After Ramo's death Karana leaves the tribe's village and makes a new one. She makes a new house, with a fence around it to keep animals out. She makes many tools like new spears, a bow, many arrows, and a smaller canoe. She also befriends one of the wild dogs and names him Rontu, along with two birds. She also becomes friends with an otter though it does not live with her at her camp.
When the Aleuts come back Karana hides in a cave and makes it her temporary home. However, a girl a little older than Karana finds the cave. The girl introduces herself as Tutok, and even though they speak different languages the two become good friends. They share laughs hearing what the other calls certain items.
After many long and hard years of living on the island something amazing happens. A ship comes to the island, and she finally has a way off.