The warriors convened and made the decision that they needed to head home because the Mexicans had left them with nothing to fight with. Geronimo was deeply sadden to leave his deceased family behind and upon arriving back home burned all of their belongings which was customary. It was at this time that Geronimo decided that revenge against the Mexican troops was his and he became a total different type of warrior. He stated that God had spoken to him and had given him the power of prayer that worked on the minds of his enemies to make their bullets miss their targets and turn into water, which would help him to survive during battle. .
It took approximately a year for them to gather everything they needed for the warpath against Mexico. At the request of Mangus-Colorado, Geronimo went out to the tribes of Chokonen and the Nedni Apaches to asked for help in the revenge against Mexico, while he pleaded he also sent caution "Remember the rule in war---men may return or they may be killed. If any of these young men are killed I want no blame from their kinsman, for they themselves have chosen to go. If I am killed no one need mourn for me. My people have all been killed in that country, and I, too, will die if need be" (page 30). The tribes agreed to join the warpath and began to prepare for the journey. Geronimo led the way into Mexico, all of them on foot, even though Geronimo was not a chief they let him take control because he had lost more than any others. Geronimo wanted to gain the trust of the warriors and he began to relay the plan of attack. The first attack was on eight men, which they killed and scalped in hopes that this would bring the Mexican troops to them the next morning. The plan worked and they fought for two hours, the Cavalry, that killed Geronimo's family, was dead. Geronimo along with the Apaches celebrated the revenge with the war-whoop and they were happy that the Kaskiyeh killings were behind them.
His serious reading began at twelve with a collection of biographies titled The Genius of Solitude. ... The young man's boss was a seventy-nine-year-old wrangler raised by Apaches, who had ridden on war parties with Nana and Geronimo. ...
