Bright Moon's father is dead. He died the night their caravan was attacked. The trauma left her mother so ill, she will not survive. Without his leadership, the remnants of her tribe were unable to fend for themselves. Absorbed by another caravan, they find themselves being used as pack animals. Bright Moon discovers the new caravan leader, Long Tusk, is not only a tyrant, but also the one responsible for the attack that left them in this condition. Critical of his methods, she continually defies him while he, in his quest for absolute power, attempts to break her. Failing in this, he must find a way to eliminate her as a problem. Can she survive kidnapping and life at the hand of others?