In the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a twelve-year-old Lakota boy (Goes Alone) comes upon a wounded cavalry soldier (James) hiding in the grass. When Goes Alone sees James about to take his own life rather than be captured, the boy takes pity on him and allows him to escape into a ravine. The next morning, Goes Alone goes looking for James and finds him by a creek, wounded and dying. Over the next two days, Goes Alone and James form a bond that grows into a friendship as Goes Alone tries to help the dying soldier. The price they both pay for the friendship they share is high as their two cultures come into contact again in a startling and emotional conclusion.