Just prior to the American Revolution a twelve year old Shawnee Indian boy and his best friend lie on the bank of the Muskingum River telling stories about The Little People and horse-headed snakes to scare their younger brothers. It is long after midnight but before the night is over his brother and his nephew will be knocked into the raging River, setting in motion a series of events that may end in the starvation of the people at Wapatomica.