Terry is a linguist studying an ancient language on a distant planet. In her daily search for anything to break up the monotony, she accidentally breaks her ankle and hits her head. When she comes to, she is being cared for by the local beings that they had all assumed were low intelligence animals. But she meets their doctor, sees their village and comes to befriend them. Her scientific mind and curious nature sets her on a new learning to communicate and live in harmony with the local beings.