Teska and Del have never been very far from their fishing village home, but one day Teska's father shows them a huge reindeer hide and tells them a story about a trader's encounter with a man who could turn into a reindeer. Then nothing can keep Teska from setting out to find the reindeer people, and Del, as usual, follows along. When they come to the open barrens, though, Del discovers her own curiosity is much stronger than Teska's.

"Sharper and More Fragrant" is a fantasy short story with an historical, anthropological slant.