Dark-eyed, handsome, and “less than thirty” (2), US Army First Lieutenant John Dunbar falls in love with the prairie and its people while assigned to a remote outpost. Unlike most settlers, who simply fear and loathe the people and other dangers of the Plains, Dunbar is drawn to them. He loves the peace and beauty of the prairie and feels disgust for those who would merely pillage it. Inquisitive, athletic, brave, and full of humor, Dunbar attracts the admiration of the nearby Comanche band; as he and they grow closer, Dunbar slowly discards his past culture and adopts theirs. Dunbar’s love for Stands With A Fist bonds him even more tightly to the Comanche; her example as an acclimated white member of the tribe encourages him in his attempts to do the same. His Comanche name, Dances With Wolves, suits him admirably, expressing his courage, his love for the land, and his gentle humor. 

Her family killed by Pawnee and she rescued and adopted by Comanche, the young Christine adopts them wholeheartedly and transforms into the Comanche woman Stands With A Fist. Her name derives from the day when, beleaguered by a bullying woman, she punches her and knocks her out.