It tells the story of an abandoned cat who goes to live with a maltreated hound dog underneath a crooked old house in a bayou on the border between Louisiana and Texas.

[5] The story takes place underneath a ramshackle house, in the bayou near the Texas-Louisiana border.

Ever since his leg was shot accidentally by his evil owner, Gar Face, Ranger has been chained up to serve only as a warning system.

When her daughter Night Song changes form to marry Hawk Man, Grandmother feels betrayed and tricks her daughter into changing back into a serpent, since magical creatures who return to their original forms are stuck that way forever.

Horn Book Magazine called it a "lyrical, circling narrative" that stands out because of "the originality of the story and the fresh beauty of its author’s voice".

[6] Kirkus Reviews called it a "magical tale of betrayal, revenge, love and the importance of keeping promises".

[8] Booklist admitted that some readers "may struggle with Appelt’s repeated phrases and poetic fragments" but that most "will be pulled forward by the vulnerable pets’ survival adventure".