Little Running Deer has managed to escape from the reservation where he has spent his entire life. Alone except for his precious horse, Silver Moon Dancing, he rides off into the wilderness of the Black Hills in the hope of finding his brothers, who left the reservation a couple of years ahead of him. Little Running Deer runs away because he fears the American army is coming to take his horse away, but in his haste, he finds himself and his horse in much worse danger than he anticipated. He meets friends along his journey, as well as difficulties, and gets help from the last place he expected it.