Balsa and Tanda, along with the hunters, are unable to catch up to Chagum, since the egg of the water spirit is controlling the way he moves. Balsa answers to the question about why she did not kill the hunters when she had the chance, saying that she has an oath of her own to keep. Shuga and Torogai learn a messenger sent by Gakai that the water spirit will be born in another location and race to get there before dawn. When Balsa and Tanda encounters two Egg Eaters, Tanda learns how to harm the creatures by eating the sig saluas, allowing the group to kill one of them.