The book opens with Lilith, a human, giving birth. Situated in the baby’s perspective, the baby gradually becomes aware of sounds, tastes, and touches, demonstrating a developing ability to anticipate and recognize familiar stimuli. Dialogue reveals that the baby is a human-Oankali hybrid; the Oankali are an alien species that are covered in tentacles. They have three genders: men, women, and ooloi. Cosmetically, the baby appears human, but genetically, he is more Oankali.

The baby is named Akin. In this chapter, he begins to develop a sense of individuality, realizing he is both himself and part of the people who care for him. He quickly learns to distinguish between individuals through taste and touch, attaching identities to voices. Akin starts forming simple sentences, displaying a precocious ability for language acquisition. He also begins to explore his Oankali abilities, probing with his gray tongue into the cellular and genetic makeup of those around him. Otherwise, Akin appears human.

Akin learns he has a sibling growing inside Ahajas, one of his Oankali parents. He is able to exchange images with the sibling when Ahajas holds him, and he understands that she will grow to be female.