The Balloon Dog explodes, killing the monk and itself. Defenseless without their Cantus powers against the Queerats, the children flee, but Saki and her friend Satoru are captured by Queerats. After escaping confinement, the pair is rescued by Squealer, a Queerat from the Robber Fly colony who takes them before his queen and asks for their help against the invading rivals of the Ground (Feral) Spider colony of Queerats who originally captured them. Saki and Satoru do not reveal that their Cantus powers are sealed, and flee through the underground tunnels when the invasion begins.