In this chapter, the Deryn explains that she and the rest of the crew are using a prayer machine to regenerate their bodies faster than ever before. The Deryns have come to Earth because the Earth was once part of their own planet, and they can use this knowledge to replicate their own species. The only problem, however, is that the Earth is already falling apart. In fact, Deryn says, it was used to refer to animals from which they originate as "school" and "sensei" , and humans as "your ancestors" . Deryn points out that humans are the same species as the other animals on Earth, because they are also animals. They enter a state of death, and their flesh and bones return to the Earth. The machine Deryn uses to regenerate her body is called a "machine for prayer" and was originally intended to help the humans in their time of need. But at some point, the machine stopped working, and the humans had to spend their days trying to figure out how to use it.