Deep in the Bear Kingdom of Gatuan, the story follows Elesa von Ruei, a grumpy, sharp-tongued guard stationed at the rarely used West Gate during a cold, uneventful night shift. As she endures the boredom and creeping exhaustion, her irritation grows, revealing her disdain for the stillness that forces her to confront unwelcome memories. Though she complains about the monotony, a part of her craves the unexpected—anything to break the silence.