Calling Crow travels down the Southeast coast in search of his wife, Juana, taken by the Spanish. He is captured and badly wounded by the Coosa people. Unable to care for himself, he is saved from a slow, painful death and nursed back to health by Green Bird Woman, who he grows to love. Adopted by the Coosa, Calling Crow becomes their chief.
One day word arrives that French Protestant colonists have settled to the north. Then, Spanish Catholic colonists settle near Calling Crow's village and he discovers that Juana is among them. The two European groups learn of each other's presence and make war plans. Now Calling Crow must prevent the coming battle from destroying his adopted people, and the two women he loves, one of which he must choose.
