The Savage

Set during the Black Hills gold rush era, the plot centers on the clash between U.S. expansion and Native sovereignty. Government orders to relocate Indians surface as gold discoveries raise the stakes. The time period highlights shifting loyalties, treaties, and military actions on the plains.

The story unfolds across a frontier military outpost and the surrounding plains. Fort Duane serves as the central hub where soldiers and scouts operate and interact with local tribes. The Black Hills region and the Crow and Sioux territories frame the struggle over sovereignty and the looming threat of forced relocation.

🪶 Identity & Loyalty

Jim Aherne Jr., raised as War Bonnet, embodies a conflicted loyalty between his Sioux upbringing and his white heritage. The narrative follows his attempts to reconcile two cultures without losing himself. Family bonds, cultural belonging, and personal duty drive his choices and shape the outcome.

📜 Treaty & Betrayal

The plot centers on the fragile promises of treaties between the U.S. government and the Sioux. As orders to relocate Indians surface, Jim suspects the white world may not honor the agreement. The tension between law, policy, and on-the-ground reality fuels mistrust and clashes.

⚖️ Leadership & Consequence

War Bonnet's leadership is tested as he weighs strategic actions against Sioux law and clan loyalties. His decisions—whether to attack or spare—have moral and practical consequences for tribes and soldiers alike. The resolution hinges on balancing survival with ethical restraint.