Commander Sisko is asked to mediate a dispute between two rival Bajoran factions. To everyone's surprise, one of the negotiators, Varis Sul, turns out to be a 15-year-old girl, who captures the attentions of Jake and Nog. Meanwhile, O'Brien and Bashir beam down to a Bajoran village in grave danger — their leader, the Sirah, is sick and if he dies the village will be destroyed by a terrible creature, the Dal'Rok. That night, as the Dal'Rok approaches, the Sirah tells a story uniting the people of the village, but he weakens and O'Brien is forced to step in and help.

Aron Eisenberg (Nog)
Kay E. Kuter (The Sirah)
Lawrence Monoson (Hovath)
Gina Phillips (Varis Sul)
Jim Jansen (Magistrate Faren Kag)
Jordan Lund (Woban)

• The Paqu and Narot territories are separated by the River Glyrhond, which was diverted during the Cardassian occupation.