Two young siblings become orphaned and must fend for themselves, the elder sister often going barefoot as she shields and guides her brother. They are placed with various neighbors and face attempts at separation, precarious shelter, and the mixed kindness and severity of guardians. Their childhood mixes small domestic labors and village games with a persistent undercurrent of loss and longing. As they grow, episodes of exile, journeys through rural landscapes, unexpected benefactors, and hard labor test their resilience until they gradually find greater security and a more settled family life.