The laws of gravity do not apply in Everworld as they do on earth. This bothers David to some degree; his is a calculating mind that balances his heroic impulses with good sense. For instance, he climbs onto Nidhoggr, a dragon so vast that David, a big guy, can crouch behind one eyebrow ridge and be completely hidden from sight: "And then, with wings at once so vast and tiny, he began to fly. Straight up. A blue whale flying directly vertical with only the leisurely flapping of wings that might, might on a good day have lifted my Buick." The four teens have coined an abbreviation for such things that defy logic: "WTE," which stands for "Welcome to Everworld."

David and his companions find themselves with ruby hearts instead of real hearts, a gift from Nidhoggr, who says that the ruby hearts will burn them to death...