Raign raises his long thin arms to the sky and calls down salty rain. This rain dissolves his entire carnival and all the members there of to swiftly sweep them away from trouble and confrontation. Where will they reappear next? They don't know. Or maybe they will finally make it to the resting season to recharge, take care of family matters, and tie up lose ends. Raign has the blood, but he's way past his years and calling down 'the melt' is getting harder and harder for him. Will they find his replacement before it's too late? They travel from town to town visiting orphanages and watching carnival visitors for ones that are special or different. The ones that stand out or seem odd to the 'townies'. These kids have had hard starts - each one with a different story, but all finally belong in the family and are protected by the giant salt circle that is laid around the encampment. Along the way you get to meet; Raign, an unusual leader who can pull down a melt. Cook, who has suffered tremendous burns down half of his body. Dime, a magician who can heal all kinds of wounds. Chally, second in charge and madly in love with Sambre. Sambre, a misplaced and unusual blood vampire who begs Chally to be changed to spend eternity with her. Twister, a swashbuckling charmer who likes to take things into his own hands. And Tupper, the king of the Ferris wheel, dancing with finesse and grace using body weight and gravity to run his wheel. Townies are usually a problem. They don't like strangers anyway, but when this strange band of misfits comes to town, some don't take kindly to it. Then there's the problem of running out of salt to make the protective circle before they make it back to resting season to reload. Will all of them find their place in the end?