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.