Out of Breath is barely a man when he first dreams of a powerful white animal- a shining giant that runs unseen through the desert as quickly and easi;y as water runs through his fingers. His people tell Out of Breath that visions are suspect, and in any case properly had by old men, not by young ones. But he is driven and relentless, and must leave to search the desert himself. When he returns, he is leading a beast who's like no one has ever seen before-a tall, bony creature who says its name is Horse. The people of Red Earth City are afraid of it-all except the beautiful, willful Wants the Moon, who first thinks of riding on its back.

Together, Out of Breath and Wants the Moon will prove what the gift of Horse may mean to their people and to the Buffalo Hunters of the Grass. As yet, only Coyote the Trickster wishes that he could undo the danger that has ridden in unwanted and unseen on Horse's sleek back...The Trickster's gifts come with a price. A long time ago he gave a new animal to our ancestors, and changed the world...