The story of Little Moon, a Tsalagi maiden, spans four years and runs full circle from the child's being kidnapped by slavers to her return to the Land of a Thousand Smokes as a young woman.
A beautiful tribal child raised with a reverence for nature, mindful of omens, and believing in spirits, Little Moon ponders the acceptance of white man's ways by some tribes. When a runaway, injured, Black slave is sheltered by her people, she is awestruck by his size and appearance. White slavers are on his trail and eager to do business, even if it means taking Little Moon and selling her to a Creek tribe.
During her days as a Creek slave, Little Moon contrasts the Creek way of life with that of the Tsalagi. The reader sees the maneuverings of the beautiful but jealous Laughing Eyes, who owns Little Moon, to keep her from the brave Panther Shadow. The reader sees the relationship between Indian girls and mothers. Eventually, Laughing Eyes connives to have Little Moon taken by white slavers who then sell her to a white plantation owner. Now the reader gets a picture of white man's slavery through Little Moon's eyes.
Relationships between Little Moon and the plantation's Black slaves are explored. They befriend her and teach her English. Jeremiah, who her people had sheltered, has been recaptured and returned to this plantation. The two become friends and execute an escape that is doomed to end in the slaver's hands. But, out on a hunt, Panther Shadow intercedes and vanquishes the slavers. He ushers Little Moon and Jeremiah safely back to The Land Of A Thousand Smokes where he declares his love for the now beautiful young woman. The story ends happily with the ritual of the engagement offering.
