Madsaw, war chief of the Tillamook tribe, kidnaps Twana, the stepdaughter of the Nisqually shaman. Though their people are enemies, and to love a slave violates tribal law, Madsaw and Twana become lovers. Twana is endowed with an unusual power which allows her to mentally commune with animals and "see" them even though they are out of sight. Everyone in the Tillamook tribe who knows of her power hates and fears her. But when a halfmad grizzly bear stalks and terrorizes their village, Twana's power falls into great favor as she is able to warn when the bear is coming.