After escaping from the underdark, Drizzt finds himself as an outcast on the surface. He lives for months in solitude with only the occasional visit form his magical panther Guenhyvar. He finds trouble in being judged by his appearance instead of his charachter. That is until the old, blind ranger Mooshie vouches for him. Mooshie then works with Drizzt into becoming a Ranger.
When Mooshie dies, Drizzt wanders and eventually ends up in Icewind Dale where he meets Bruenor BattleHammer and hios Daughter Cattie-Brie.