California, 1862. In an obscure and faraway corner of the new state, a military officer struggles to keep the peace between local Natives and remote settlers. Lieutenant George Crook also works to uphold a truce among the untrusting tribe of local Indians and his own men, soldiers who are far from home and out of place in the isolated backcountry. But something is terribly wrong. Whole Indian villages are strangely deserted. Soldiers are coming up missing. An ancient Native American evil has awakened, and it threatens to destroy everyone, whatever their traditions or origin. Crook finds he must join the local tribal Chief in a fight for survival, hoping to prevail against an odious and wicked foe. But will such an alliance save the future, or does fate offer something more dreadful to the prospect of unity amongst former enemies?