The story begins in the normal world, in the households of Mossy and Tangle, who live on the border of Fairyland. The story ends with the pair climbing up the rainbow, moving into yet another world beyond earth's ken. In between, on a journey that takes a lifetime, they traverse Fairyland. They meet in a cottage in the woods and are set on their quest by Grandmother; they cross a strange valley, where they see the shadows of wondrous forms but not the forms which cast the shadows; becoming separated, they take different paths to the anteroom at the foot of the rain bow, where they meet again. On her way Tangle meets various guides who direct her through a succession of rocky passages, including one that leads into the bowels of the earth. Mossy completes his journey to the anteroom by walking eastward on the surface of...