Raised in a secluded cabin by the poet Sylvan, Teddy, an Irish wolfhound, learned words by listening to Sylvan read aloud. Sylvan tells Teddy that only poets and little children will be able to understand him, and when his beloved owner dies, Teddy wonders if anyone will ever understand him again. Then, one day Teddy learns Sylvan was right: He rescues Nickel and Flora from a snowstorm, and to their great shock, the children discover they can understand Teddy! Together, they wait out the storm in the cabin, but when the storm ends, will Teddy ever find anyone to talk to again?