Englishman Jerome Westphal has come to the antebellum Illinois prairies on a hunting excursion, bagging elk, wolf, bear and panther. When a legendary white buffalo calf is born, many see it as a prophetic sign, but Westphal sees only a chance to add to his trophy list. When Lycurgus (Surge) Sherwood confronts Westphal and attempts to protect the calf, the Englishman is undeterred and abducts Sherwood's most trusted friend, his loyal wolf companion Lupa. Includes the short story Child of the Storm, in which Lycurgus first encounters the wolf, Lupa.