Synopsis:
 
This was a whispered hint of power. he felt it in the tips of his fingers, in the whorls and crevices of his outer skin. it moved across his hands as they lay motionless in the mud.
 
Since Matty arrived in Village six years ago, he has grown from an impetous boy to a dependable young man, carrying messages through Forest. He alone can pass through its deadly snares unharmed, and he hopes his gift will earn him the true name Messenger.
When a sinister force seeps into Village, its open borders are closed to the outside world. Matty must find Seer's daughter, Kira, before Village is closed to her - but he is dismayed to find Forest unforgiving and much chaged on his journey. The strange new power building within him may now be his only hope to get himself and Kira back to Village alive.