Stephanie Harrington hates her imprisonment in the family estate on the mastered planet Sphinx, on the border with wild lands full of dangerous local animals, easily able to tear a person to pieces. However, Stephanie is still young and wants to make discoveries - and the biggest discovery awaits her: a reasonable alien creature. Wood cats resemble something between a lynx and a lemur (but with six paws and many deadly claws). But they are not only intelligent, they are also telepaths and are able to form a connection with gifted people, as with the genetically improved Stephanie .. But, as Stephanie discovers, her first-in-kind connection with a tree cat leads to rapidly approaching dangers. Plenty of high-ranking enemies are at stake for galactic-sized riches to make sure the planet Sphinx remains in human hands even if that means destroying another thinking species. Stephanie and the Lionheart are about to pass the greatest test that two alien beings can pass together. The first novel of a new teenage series from the incredibly popular saga - a multiple bestseller according to the New York Times and USA Today - Honor Harrington . Young Stephanie Harrington is none other than the founder of the dynasty, which is destined to lead the struggle for the freedom of mankind among the dangers of the galaxy. The text of the first part is verified with the translation of D. L. Gorbachev's original novella .