Surviving a massacre of wise Mayan priestesses, Earth Thunder flees her temple and journeys north to teach those who wish to know Mother Earth and her great circles of life. Meanwhile, a European noblewoman sends her family across the ocean to renew a spiritual link with native America. To her grandniece, Helle, she entrusts a mission.

In her quest to share her ancient knowledge, Earth Thunder meets River Singing, a slave girl who becomes her apprentice, as does Helle. They build a new temple of learning in the Deer Lodge valley of Montana Territory. There they live by the old wisdom of life: One is the sun, Two is the Earth … Five is the human self.

When enemies threaten to destroy them all, the Deer Lodge people will fight bravely and leave their mark in time.