The story is set in 1719 on the great plains of the United States, where we follow a Comanche girl named Maru, who aspires to be a hunter like the men of her tribe despite societal expectations. She interprets a strange phenomenon in the sky as a sign for her initiation, which involves facing a formidable predator. Despite challenges and encounters with an invisible enemy and French fur traders, Maru proves her bravery and intelligence. With the help of her loyal dog Puccini and natural medicines that make her invisible to thermal vision, she ultimately defeats the alien hunter, earning her the title of war chief among her people. The story concludes with Maru returning to her tribe with the head of the alien as a trophy.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The story begins in 1719 in the Great Plains of what is now the United States.
2. A Comanche girl named Maru dreams of becoming a great hunter like her older brother.
3. Maru sees a strange phenomenon in the sky, which she interprets as a divine sign that the time for her initiation has arrived.
4. Maru's brother defends her when the other hunters tell her to leave.
5. The hunters go in search of a companion who seems to have been attacked by a puma.
6. Maru begins to heal the injured man, and it becomes evident that the puma fled because someone or something scared it.
7. Maru's brother goes after the puma, and Maru wants to accompany him but is told to go back to the camp with the injured man.
8. Maru discovers a trail of blood and huge footprints that do not match any known animal.
9. The hunters believe it is a bear, but Maru's brother is skeptical.
10. Maru's brother goes to hunt the puma alone and returns with its severed head.
11. The community celebrates, and Maru's brother is promoted to war chief.
12. Maru warns the hunters about a mysterious creature that killed a bear with ease, but they do not believe her.
13. Maru decides to go alone to look for the creature.
14. Maru encounters a group of French fur traders who have set traps in the area.
15. Maru discovers that the French traders were the ones who skinned the bison.
16. Maru's brother is captured by the French traders.
17. Maru and her brother escape from the French traders with the help of a hunter.
18. The hunter is revealed to be an alien warrior with advanced technology.
19. Maru and her brother fight the alien warrior, and Maru uses her knowledge of natural medicine to her advantage.
20. Maru's brother is killed by the alien warrior.
21. Maru seeks revenge against the alien warrior and the leader of the French traders.
22. Maru uses her skills and cunning to defeat the alien warrior and the French traders.
23. Maru returns to her tribe with the alien warrior's head as a trophy.
24. Maru is named war chief by her tribe.
Note: Some of the facts may be implicit or require interpretation, but I've tried to stick to the most objective and factual information.