Cutrats, snomos, einsteins, dexters. Hominins of unknown sorts live tucked away in the Canyonlands. Paeon can never be the same. The Vanguard is built to circumnavigate the planet and introduce diverse kinds of humans to each other, Complicating factors include a war. The horse-borns are on the march. Then there's the uncanny Miranda, young body, ancient soul.