A storm is approaching. Sky and Faygar journey to the cave to investigate Sky's discovery but Faygar doesn't like what she finds. Gwyn files her first spy report to Shadow. Leanne and Sal attempt to bake bread. And Erin wishes he didn't try to get out of the daily chores as his fascination and fear of the machines and forbidden zone is forever present.

Now in control of the Privileged tribe, the Harmony panics when she discovers she has a spot. That is not the perfection she demands in everyone, let alone herself. Sky and Dan arrive back at the Ant camp with the Stranger as a prisoner and return all of the items he stole. Faygar is concerned about the prophecies and prays for guidance, as the Stranger begins to make ominous patterns with grain.

The Stranger has a close encounter with the machines. At the Ant camp Faygar is upset that Leanne and Erin haven't been doing their chores. Flame adjusts to his life as a prisoner. Sky and Dan plan an escape. Faygar and Zora clash about their beliefs.

Sky pursues Dan but both get caught in a Barb trap and are taken prisoner. In the Barb camp they meet the warrior queen, Zora, and attempt to arrange a meeting of reconciliation between the Barbs and Ants. Meanwhile, the Privileged tribe is revealed to be the real threat.

At the Ant camp Faygar assures Omar that bringing the tribes together will work out. Zora tries to do the same with Jag at the Barb camp. Despite warnings and the dangers of the machines, Dan wanders into the forbidden zone. The Ants and the Barbs form an uneasy alliance, which is put under strain as they attempt to get to know each other.

After Sky is accused of being a spy, the spiritual healer, Faygar, suggests that he be given a chance anyway. But other members disagree. In the Privileged tribe, Flame and his scheming deputy, Harmony, discuss strategy regarding the Ants. At the Barb camp, Erin decides to go hunting alone for the first time. But he goes too close to the forbidden zone and encounters the ominous machines.

The morning after his fight with Flame, Sky awakens in a cave and finds some artifacts and ancient etchings in the stone, including one of a teardrop that he recognizes. Meanwhile, Flame, furious that Sky beat him, wallows in misery. Faygar decides to visit Zora. Dan joins the Barb tribe.

After running away from the Ant tribe, Dan finds himself alone in the forest. Zora tries to contain her second-in-command, who doesn't trust Sky. At the Ant camp, Omar is happy that Sky and Dan have both left. In the Privileged tribe, Shadow prepares the Warps, for an attack on the Ant camp. Shadow advises that they will be ready in a week but Flame wants the attack to happen the next day.

After escaping the Discard camp, Sky and Dan journey back to the Ant camp and discover the Stranger watching them. They pursue the Stranger and find all the items he has stolen from the Ant camp. The Ants and Barbs decide to release Flame. But under strict conditions. Some consider that it is a truly unwise course of action.

After realizing that they have both been so suspicious of each other, Harmony and Shadow consider teaming up, believing that they both have a lot in common. At the Barb camp Dan wonders whether Gwyn truly wants to be a Barb or not. Sky worries if he is a descendant of the ancient ancestor, Zoot - the source of much frightening folklore.