[5] The story begins with the discovery of the headless corpse of a horse that belongs to wealthy businessman Eric Lombard, in the French Pyrenees town of Saint-Martin-de-Comminges.

The case is then investigated by Commander Martin Servaz, assisted by local police Captain Irène Ziegler.

Hirtmann, however, is incarcerated at Warnier, a high-security psychiatric prison, where young psychiatrist Diane Berg is showing an unusual interest in him.

[10] The image used in the title sequence was inspired by a painting by August Friedrich Schenck and represents the harshness of winter and the cruelty of predators towards their prey.

The title sequence is accompanied by a children's choir rendition of the song "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.