*** Just honored as a medal-winning Finalist in the Novella category of the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards! *** In this tale set in the world of a nearly extinct Native American tribe which prospered thousands of years before that same locale became the city of Los Angeles, a young Tongva brave, Tacu, struggles to understand and survive the baffling and often dangerous lessons of Takoda, his mysterious mentor from the North. Until he does so successfully, he won't be allowed to travel to the village at the Place of the Stones to undergo his vision quest and formal initiation into manhood - and only by doing so can he earn back the respect of his peers and court the maiden he loves, for he is now shunned by the village as a despicable coward. But he is being held to a different and difficult path by Takoda. He must go through harrowing life lessons and experiences to prepare him to face his future courageously and with honor, and bring him to recognize his own spirituality. Tacu never imagines the crucial impact these teachings will have on him, the spiritual gifts with which he will be endowed, or how dramatically his life will change before his journey to manhood is complete. A thoughtful and moving addition to the treasure trove of inspirational stories about America's First People.