A teenage boy and his genetically-modified, telepathic dog struggle to survive in a wasteland that resulted from the Third World War. The pair encounters obstacles of love and bloodshed that puts their symbiotic realtionship to the test.

After one of her young low-income students shows up to class disheveled, a female teacher from Chicago makes it her mission to create a strong bond with the girl in hopes it will prevent her from dropping out of school.